Were you a slow
transitioner or a Big Chopper & why? (tell us your
natural hair journey)
transitioner or a Big Chopper & why? (tell us your
natural hair journey)
I
big chopped in August of 2010 after wearing weaves on and off for about a year.
At the time, I had been recently laid off and my stylist was relocating his
business to another state, so taking the big chop plunge just seemed to make
sense (financial sense). I didn’t do any real transitioning. I had my last
relaxer in February that year, got one more weave and then I just went for it.
My philosophy is “it’s just hair.” If you feed and water it, it’ll grow back.
And if all else fails and you can’t achieve it, you can weave it!
big chopped in August of 2010 after wearing weaves on and off for about a year.
At the time, I had been recently laid off and my stylist was relocating his
business to another state, so taking the big chop plunge just seemed to make
sense (financial sense). I didn’t do any real transitioning. I had my last
relaxer in February that year, got one more weave and then I just went for it.
My philosophy is “it’s just hair.” If you feed and water it, it’ll grow back.
And if all else fails and you can’t achieve it, you can weave it!
Had you always embraced
your texture?
your texture?
I
was always very curious about what my natural hair would do, but I had a
relaxer from about the 3rd or 4th grade until my big chop.
I knew my hair could handle fewer relaxers. My stylist was just blow drying my
hair rather than doing repeated relaxing, so I knew that there was something
under there that I needed to check out! All of my close female family members
have wavy hair that’s a completely different texture from mine so I wasn’t sure
what I should expect of my hair. My texture has changed over the years. As a
child, it was very thick. It’s thinned out a bit as I’ve gotten older. I wanted
to know what my “real” hair would do, so I went natural. My stretched hair was
a couple inches past my shoulders until recently. I had a few inches chopped
off because I really believe I have some kind of “Hair ADHD.” I get bored very
easily and like to change my look. Some days, my hair isn’t even styled the
same from day-to-day. I have the hair jitters, I guess.
was always very curious about what my natural hair would do, but I had a
relaxer from about the 3rd or 4th grade until my big chop.
I knew my hair could handle fewer relaxers. My stylist was just blow drying my
hair rather than doing repeated relaxing, so I knew that there was something
under there that I needed to check out! All of my close female family members
have wavy hair that’s a completely different texture from mine so I wasn’t sure
what I should expect of my hair. My texture has changed over the years. As a
child, it was very thick. It’s thinned out a bit as I’ve gotten older. I wanted
to know what my “real” hair would do, so I went natural. My stretched hair was
a couple inches past my shoulders until recently. I had a few inches chopped
off because I really believe I have some kind of “Hair ADHD.” I get bored very
easily and like to change my look. Some days, my hair isn’t even styled the
same from day-to-day. I have the hair jitters, I guess.
How did family and
friends react to your decision to go natural? How did they react to the new
you? What was your response to them?
friends react to your decision to go natural? How did they react to the new
you? What was your response to them?
The
reactions from my family and friends were great. As my hair grew out, I did
have one person ask me if this was how I was going to wear my hair from now on.
I didn’t take that as an insult. I know, generationally, we tend to think that
hair has to be “done” in a certain way and I was wearing my hair in a big and
wild way that runs counter to that. Overall, the response to my hair has been
great. No one has said anything negative. My family members are quite hair
experimental anyway so it’s nothing to see a different color or length one week
and then something new the next.
reactions from my family and friends were great. As my hair grew out, I did
have one person ask me if this was how I was going to wear my hair from now on.
I didn’t take that as an insult. I know, generationally, we tend to think that
hair has to be “done” in a certain way and I was wearing my hair in a big and
wild way that runs counter to that. Overall, the response to my hair has been
great. No one has said anything negative. My family members are quite hair
experimental anyway so it’s nothing to see a different color or length one week
and then something new the next.
Describe
your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
My
hair is 4a/b-ish. It soaks up moisture like a sponge. You could sneeze near me
and my hair would frizz up. I struggled with humidity in the beginning, now I
just accept that it’s a part of the deal. I try to straighten my hair from time
to time just to dry it faster, stretch it out or get a “new” look. I usually
sweat it out right in the middle of the blow drying process. I just go with the
flow now. I got my hair professionally colored (red highlights) last year with
a color touch up earlier this year. When the color grew out some and started to
fade, I tried the Shea Moisture bright auburn color and it really warmed up my
highlights without changing the texture of my hair. I blogged about my experience with the color. I plan to re-do it very
soon.
hair is 4a/b-ish. It soaks up moisture like a sponge. You could sneeze near me
and my hair would frizz up. I struggled with humidity in the beginning, now I
just accept that it’s a part of the deal. I try to straighten my hair from time
to time just to dry it faster, stretch it out or get a “new” look. I usually
sweat it out right in the middle of the blow drying process. I just go with the
flow now. I got my hair professionally colored (red highlights) last year with
a color touch up earlier this year. When the color grew out some and started to
fade, I tried the Shea Moisture bright auburn color and it really warmed up my
highlights without changing the texture of my hair. I blogged about my experience with the color. I plan to re-do it very
soon.
What’s your
current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style?
favorite products! Deets!
current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style?
favorite products! Deets!
I’m
a bit of a product junkie. I’m in CurlBOX and Curlkit rehab. I have so many
leftover products from the subscriptions, plus I attend a lot of hair events
and I’m a blogger so I get free things to try out. I have one or two “holy
grail” products. I wash weekly. I perspire a lot. Actually, let’s call it what
it is… I sweat! I usually spray my hair down with a mix of oil, water and
conditioner after my workout. Then by the end of the week, I have to wash it. I
usually deep condition before I wash. I’ve found that process works better for
me even though, on paper, it seems out of order. When I’m feeling fancy, I’ll
deep condition under my Huetiful steamer. I’m a shampoo and conditioner girl. I
do use the As I Am coconut co-wash sometimes, but I really like to feel soap
bubbles in my hair. I’ve been using the nuNAAT Real Me Curl to Coil
collection’s shampoo and conditioner lately. They work really well. I also use
Oyin products (Hair Dew and Burnt Sugar Pomade), Elasta QP’s mango butter, Eden
Bodyworks peppermint tea tree oil and Beija Flor Natural’s crème brulee. My
holy grail product is nuNAAT’s Karite combing cream with shea butter. It’s
awesomeness in a bottle.
a bit of a product junkie. I’m in CurlBOX and Curlkit rehab. I have so many
leftover products from the subscriptions, plus I attend a lot of hair events
and I’m a blogger so I get free things to try out. I have one or two “holy
grail” products. I wash weekly. I perspire a lot. Actually, let’s call it what
it is… I sweat! I usually spray my hair down with a mix of oil, water and
conditioner after my workout. Then by the end of the week, I have to wash it. I
usually deep condition before I wash. I’ve found that process works better for
me even though, on paper, it seems out of order. When I’m feeling fancy, I’ll
deep condition under my Huetiful steamer. I’m a shampoo and conditioner girl. I
do use the As I Am coconut co-wash sometimes, but I really like to feel soap
bubbles in my hair. I’ve been using the nuNAAT Real Me Curl to Coil
collection’s shampoo and conditioner lately. They work really well. I also use
Oyin products (Hair Dew and Burnt Sugar Pomade), Elasta QP’s mango butter, Eden
Bodyworks peppermint tea tree oil and Beija Flor Natural’s crème brulee. My
holy grail product is nuNAAT’s Karite combing cream with shea butter. It’s
awesomeness in a bottle.
How do you maintain
your hair at night?
your hair at night?
My
hair does not like the pineapple, tie it down with a scarf, put it in a bun
thing or any of that stuff. It HAS to be retwisted nightly. The only thing that
I can get away with lately, now that it’s shorter, is doing a rod set and I can
sleep on it for a few nights if I do a “cute” sleep. Prior to cutting it, I
would do flat twists, Bantu knots or two-strand twists and then cover with a
scarf and a bonnet (I double up in case one slides off). I’m also a fan of the
magic bun. I have hair in different colors and textures for when I want to
create an updo look.
hair does not like the pineapple, tie it down with a scarf, put it in a bun
thing or any of that stuff. It HAS to be retwisted nightly. The only thing that
I can get away with lately, now that it’s shorter, is doing a rod set and I can
sleep on it for a few nights if I do a “cute” sleep. Prior to cutting it, I
would do flat twists, Bantu knots or two-strand twists and then cover with a
scarf and a bonnet (I double up in case one slides off). I’m also a fan of the
magic bun. I have hair in different colors and textures for when I want to
create an updo look.
How do you maintain
healthy length?
healthy length?
I
get my ends trimmed professionally at least once a year and I do self-checks of
my ends and cut whatever looks like it needs to be whacked. I’m a big believer
in deep conditioning, steaming, moisturizing and just letting my hair do what
it does. I do have color treated hair, so I make it a point to keep it
conditioned and moisturized. I do protective styles when I can (mini-twists or
twisted updos). Since I like to change my hair often, committing to one
protective style for an extended period of time can be a challenge.
get my ends trimmed professionally at least once a year and I do self-checks of
my ends and cut whatever looks like it needs to be whacked. I’m a big believer
in deep conditioning, steaming, moisturizing and just letting my hair do what
it does. I do have color treated hair, so I make it a point to keep it
conditioned and moisturized. I do protective styles when I can (mini-twists or
twisted updos). Since I like to change my hair often, committing to one
protective style for an extended period of time can be a challenge.
What’s the best
thing about being curly?
thing about being curly?
The
best part about being curly is the versatility of natural hair. I can wear it
in its most natural, tightly curled state if I want. I can put a little heat on
it and wear it straight. I can slick it down and wear it in a bun or unique
updo. I can create ringlets with Bantu knots. The options are really endless. I’ve
always viewed hair as a beautiful accessory, like a nice piece of jewelry. I
change it with my moods. I add hair, I subtract, but most importantly, I take
care of it. Don’t be fooled though, natural hair is a commitment. While I’m not
spending money to get my hair done a couple times a month anymore, I am putting
in the time to keep my hair “done” as a natural.
best part about being curly is the versatility of natural hair. I can wear it
in its most natural, tightly curled state if I want. I can put a little heat on
it and wear it straight. I can slick it down and wear it in a bun or unique
updo. I can create ringlets with Bantu knots. The options are really endless. I’ve
always viewed hair as a beautiful accessory, like a nice piece of jewelry. I
change it with my moods. I add hair, I subtract, but most importantly, I take
care of it. Don’t be fooled though, natural hair is a commitment. While I’m not
spending money to get my hair done a couple times a month anymore, I am putting
in the time to keep my hair “done” as a natural.
Where can folks find
you on the web?
you on the web?
I’m a social media manager
by day so I’m all over the Web. I can be found on the blog I co-founded (http://www.witchesbrewonline.com/)
by day so I’m all over the Web. I can be found on the blog I co-founded (http://www.witchesbrewonline.com/)
my personal site (http://www.yolandaarrington.com/)
