Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
Hi, My name is Laura Jane. I’m 20 years old and I’ve been natural my whole life. Which means, unlike other naturals, I’ve never had to big chop or transition but those who do are such an inspiration to me.
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Had you always embraced your texture?
I haven’t always embraced my texture as around the age of 13/14 all my friends got their hair relaxed and my mum just wouldn’t let me as she had a bad experience with relaxer. I hated my afro. It never suited me, and I had no idea how to take care of it. It never seemed to grow either, so I’d straighten it for school to fit in more.
How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them?
Well as I’ve always been natural my family didn’t think anything of it, but once I started to take care of my own hair, learning new styles and cornrows, flat twists people used to mock me because I wasn’t very good. They would critisice and say “who did your hair?, let someone do it for you” or “good try” which as a young woman growing up was very painful and made me hate my hair more.
Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
I’ve got a pretty thick afro but my texture is pretty wavy. When I wash my hair it gains length before it shrinks and to be honest my shrinkage isn’t that noticeable. It lovessssss water! With a good spritz of water my hair can mold to any shape so twist outs work so well in my hair!
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair?
Tried to condition with oatmeal. I read it on a blog post, but couldn’t find the right oatmeal so I just used the normal stuff. WELL….. my sister said that it looked like my scalp was malting and she had to handpick bits of oatmeal out of my hair — Never again!
What’s your biggest hair related regret?
Cutting a full fringe… If you have ever seen a full afro fringe you will understand. It was so disgusting. I can’t even think about it! If I straightened it out then it would look quite nice, but as soon as it had past a few hours in the English weather it was a fluffy mess on my forehead.
What’s your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
I wash my hair once a week. I detangle with water. Do 4/6 big twists or plaits then wash my hair with Curls Unleashed sulfate free shampoo. Then I use Organics tea tree cholesterol conditioner and wash that out with freezing cold water. Then I deep condition with a heat hood thing which my mum gave me. In my deep conditioner, I have castor oil and olive oil and Organics shea butter plus. It leaves my hair feeling soft and fabulous.
Top Products
Castor oil
Olive oil
Organics Shea butter plus
Curls Unleashed sulphate free shampoo
Aubreys Honey Shampoo – gives my hair such softness my twists don’t even stay in! Expensive though unfortunately
Organics Tea Tree Cholesterol
WATER! 🙂
What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
Fav hairstyle is probably a huge puff on the top of my head or twist out because I am ALWAYS rocking those. I literally scale youtube hoping to find new styles each week because I love change. I look for inspiration everywhere mainly instagram. I follow so many naturals it’s a bit mad 😀
How do you maintain your hair at night?
I’m always trying to protective style, so if it’s in twists I leave it and put my satin scarf. If not I plait it in two or one french braid and put my satin scarf.
How do you maintain healthy length?
Protective style. I love protective styling even though its hard to be creative because when your hair is in cornrows or twists you haven’t really got much volume. Protect the ends as well. They need extra moisture, and when I condition I focus on them more than my roots.
What’s the best thing about being natural?
My hair can do anything! I can have straight hair, curly hair, wavy hair, shrunk hair, stretched hair the possibilities are endless!
Who is your hair crush?
Naptural85 all the way!
Where can folks find you on the web?
I’m all over the web so it’s not hard at all! I have an online shop (cute hair bows for sale)
laurajanefashion.etsy.com
laurajanes.tumblr.com
www.facebook.com/laurajanefashion
IG/Twitter & Pinterest – lillaurajane
