Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
I was a transitioner. I started my journey after I met my then boyfriend (now husband) in 2010. I actually didn’t even know I was transitioning until I read about it online a year later. All I knew was that my husband loved my natural hair over my straightened hair. From then on my curls have changed so much from the loose damaged curls I had, to the voluminous curls I have today!
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Had you always embraced your texture?
No I have not. I did not like my curls as a child. I was taught straight hair was beautiful, and curly/kinky hair was not. It took me a while after I started transitioning to learn how much I loved my hair. It was hard for me to get used to and accept that my curls were beautiful and unique.
How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them?
My mom was not as accepting of me doing it. She liked my hair “tamed” which is how I would translate what she liked. My dad was fine with it. My sister loved it and started trying to go natural herself. She is still working at it because she straightens her hair a lot still. My husband is my biggest support in #teamnatural ha-ha. Slowly my mom has come around to natural hair and sometimes sports it herself, and let’s me give her advice about products!
Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
Mostly fine, to medium-ish hair. It’s thin, with low to medium porosity.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair?
The craziest think I’ve ever done to my hair was putting them into Bantu knots. The Bantu knots I just wear at home, but my family said I look like Cynthia, the doll from Rugrats. When I go out with a pineapple I was once told I look like a tree by some jerk, but otherwise I received nice compliments for my crazy hairdo.
What’s your biggest hair related regret?
My biggest hair regret is not going natural sooner! If I knew how much I’d love my hair, and how much confidence it has given me, I would have gone natural a long time ago! I love my hair more than I could ever imagine.
What’s your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
My current hair routine involves Devacurl’s products. I use the Devacurl decadence no-poo and one condition to cleanse and detangle my hair. To style I leave in a little one condition, curl keeper original, Deva Super Cream, & SheaMoisture curl enhancing smoothie to seal. I wash & deep treat about once a week. I don’t have a set day though. I’m trying to start co-washing mid wash week. I just started using light heat to deep treat my hair. My FAVORITE products would have to be my first loves, SheaMoisture curl enhancing smoothie and Curl Keeper original. My curls love these products together!
What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
My favorite hairstyle is my wash and go. I get inspiration from YouTube, Instagram, and NaturallyCurly.com
Who is your curl crush?
My current curl crush is curly.edgy and Bwatuwant from Instagram.
How do you maintain your hair at night?
I pineapple it, oil the ends, and stick it in a satin bonnet
How do you maintain healthy length?
No direct heat! I straighten my hair once, maybe twice, a year to get a length check. I don’t even blow dry my hair, if I do its always on a cool setting.
What’s the best thing about being natural?
I get my own personality from my hair. It shows my wild side, when I’m not able to. My hair is a character in itself, it can’t be tamed and I love it!
Where can folks find you on the web?
Instagram: curlyhairnesi, Twitter: anachelle, Facebook: Anesia Lima
