CurlSTAR: India on Fine Type 4 Hair, Mini Braids and Starting DIY Microlocs
By Nikki Walton
Meet India (aka @ItsIndyBindy, a top beauty creator, hair educator, fellow fine-haired friend (hey girl!) , former braider, and present curlSTAR!
Hi! I’m India, a beauty creator and hair educator who loves making beauty maintenance feel easier and more approachable. I spent about seven years professionally braiding hair, and a huge part of my content has always centered on teaching women how to care for, style and maintain their own hair at home.
I have fine, lower-density type 4A-ish hair, so my personal hair journey has really been about learning how to work with my hair instead of constantly trying to make it behave like someone else’s. I recently started my own DIY microloc journey after years of wearing my natural hair loose and in protective styles, and I’ve been loving documenting that transition. Outside of hair, I’m obsessed with DIY beauty, fitness, wellness and all the little routines that help us feel good and take care of ourselves.
On her absolute favorite hair products right now…
Right now, I’m really into clarifying and lightweight products. My hair is fine, and I’m trying to avoid buildup in my locs. I’ve learned that more product doesn’t necessarily mean more moisture.
I love a lightweight spray like Camille Rose Mint Condition Braid and Scalp Spray, and a good clarifying shampoo like The Doux BREAKDOWN Clarifying Shampoo to keep my scalp and hair free of buildup. I use lightweight oils when I want a little extra softness or shine. Since starting my microlocs, I’ve become even more intentional about keeping my routine simple and avoiding unnecessary buildup.
On what has made the biggest difference in her length retention…
Doing less to my hair! For a long time, I thought retaining length meant constantly doing something to it. What has actually helped me most is reducing manipulation, keeping my hair in styles that allow me to leave it alone, being gentle when detangling and paying attention to what my own hair can tolerate.
My strands are fine, so even though my hair can handle a lot creatively, that doesn’t mean it should. Learning that distinction made a huge difference for me.
On what gave her the best curl definition before microlocs…
When I wore my hair loose, my best definition came from working in small sections on soaking-wet hair and making sure it was actually hydrated before adding styling product. I also learned not to overload my hair with layers of products. A simple routine with enough water and a styling product with good hold usually gave me better definition than using five different products at once.
On keeping her loose curls defined in humidity…
Instead of trying to eliminate frizz completely, I focused on using a styling product with enough hold, like The Doux BIG POPPA Defining Gel. I allowed my hair to dry fully before manipulating it, then kept my hands out of it once it was styled. Embracing a little frizz made my relationship with my natural hair much easier, too.
On her typical wash day, then and now…
I’m a big believer in keeping wash day straightforward. I wash about once a week. Before microlocs, I would shampoo, spray on a light leave-in and let my hair dry in braids so I could have a fire braid-out the next day.
Now that I have microlocs, wash day has become even simpler. My biggest priorities are keeping my scalp clean, rinsing everything thoroughly and allowing my locs to dry properly. I don’t want hair care to feel like an all-day event every single week.
On the styles that helped her protect her hair and retain length…
Mini braids have always been one of my favorites because they let me access my own hair and scalp while drastically reducing how often I have to manipulate my hair. I’ve also worn plenty of braided protective styles over the years, but I became more conscious of extension weight and tension as I learned what my fine strands could tolerate.
That’s part of what eventually led me to microlocs. I wanted a long-term style that still felt like my hair and allowed me to spend less time taking down and reinstalling protective styles.
On what she stopped doing…
I stopped assuming that every popular natural-hair practice was automatically right for me. I became more careful about excessive manipulation, heavy products, unnecessary tension and constantly switching styles. I also stopped treating length as the only sign that my hair was healthy.
The biggest shift has been learning my actual hair: its density, strand size, limits and what makes it thrive. I’m building my routine around that instead of chasing someone else’s.
Read More
- CurlSTAR: Alycea Adams’ Long Natural Hair Routine, Low-Tension Twists and Length-Retention Tips
- CurlSTAR: How @Beautosal Grows and Retains Long 4C Natural Hair With Enrichure
- CurlSTAR: Stephanie’s 4C Hair Growth Secrets, Favorite Products and Length-Retention Routine
- CurlSTAR: How BigHeadJustice Went From Ear-Length to Waist-Length Natural Hair
- How to Grow 4C Hair and Retain More Length
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