Tell me about yourself!
Hey ya’ll! I currently reside in the Windy City (Chicago) but I was born and raised in St. Louis! I’m a graphic designer, marketer, blogger, YouTuber and lover of DIY projects (and bacon – you can’t forget bacon)! By day I work in marketing, and by night I’m testing new recipes, freelancing graphic design, and trying out new DIY projects over at curlydeviants.com!
Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
I transitioned for about 6 months and then I had my Momma cut it all off! It was a pretty easy process. I started two-strand twisting my hair and wearing it like that and just rolled with it! Once I got tired of the two textures I left my Momma get scissor happy 🙂
Had you always embraced your texture?
Noooooooooooooo. Not at all. My Momma wore a very cute fro when I was in high school and I would always ask her, “How do you do that? My hair is too coarse, I just can’t.” When I hit 24 I realized that I was tired of relaxers – tired of the burning, the thin hair and the breakage. So I just stopped getting them, and eventually just let my hair LIVE. Best decision I’ve made in adulthood.
How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them?
They were SO happy and proud. My friends and family have always been extremely supportive of me being natural. My sister has gorgeous locs, my Momma is rocking her fro and 90% of my friends are natural.
Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
My hair is coarse and fine. It LOOKS thick, but I don’t have that many hair follicles on this here scalp 🙂 My hair is also has a very low porosity. It took me a very long time to find moisturizers that work for me! (shoutout to Oyin Handmade – ya’ll are my BOO’s!!!)
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair?
HA! Oh the things I’ve done. I think one of the most memorable is making a homemade avocado conditioner. Doesn’t sound too crazy right? WRONG. I’m allergic to avocado! Not 10 minutes after I had the conditioner on my head, it felt like fire ants were crawling on my scalp. Suffice to say – I never use hair products with avocado as an ingredient.
What’s your biggest hair related regret?
That I didn’t become natural sooner! It’s been a sure test on my patience, forreal doe, but I love it!
What’s your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
I wash either weekly or bi-weekly depending upon if I run or workout during the week. I wash my hair with SheaMoisture Yucca & Baobab Thickening Shampoo. I co-wash with Eden Body Work Coconut Co-wash. I typically make my own deep condition with Olive Oil, Honey, Aloe Vera, and whatever conditioner I have on-hand. I detangle with the Eden Body Work Coconut Co-wash – it makes detangling HEAVEN. Who knew? I moisturize with Oyin Handmades Hair Dew first and let that soak in until my hair is damp. Then I apply Qhemet Biologics Olive and Honey Hydrating Balm. I seal my ends with Oyin Handmades Burnt Sugar Pomade. I two-strand twist until dry. In the morning I just untwist, fluff and go!
What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
My current favorite hairstyle has to be my tapered afro! It’s SO easy to maintain and I love waking up in the morning with an automatic style.
As for inspiration – I get it everywhere! I follow SO many amazingly awesome natural on IG, Facebook and YouTube I’m inundated with inspiration on a daily basis.
Who is your curl crush?
My hair crush has got to be African Export! She just so happened to cut her hair in a tapered fro and got ALL the snaps from me! She. Betta. WERK. Love her hair and her personality.
How do you maintain your hair at night?
I moisturize every other night with Oyin Handmade Hair Dew, two-strand twist it and tie it with a satin scarf.
How do you maintain healthy length?
Well, no “healthy length” here – I just chopped it all off two weeks ago! 😀
What’s the best thing about being natural?
The growing community, the confidence and happiness it brings me, and the ability to inspire other women just by wearing my hair the way it grows out of my scalp.
Where can folks find you on the web?
Instagram: @mstbennett
Blog: http://curlydeviants.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/curlydeviants
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CurlyDeviants
