Meet the stunning Tia Freeman. A 28-year-old viral creator, entrepreneur, and dog mom to Kairo! Tia has also been learning her curls again after a roller-skating accident required stitches and a section of her hair to be cut. She speaks about that with the same honesty she brings to length retention and the school-day memory that once made her want to hide her hair. First, let her introduce herself:
I’m Tia, a 28-year-old creative and entrepreneur, a dog mom to my beloved Yorkie son, Kairo, and honestly, just a girl figuring it out. I’m a dreamer, a manifester, and a spontaneous fairy who also happens to carry anxiety and is learning how to move through it so I can live more fully in my truth.
I’m someone who feels things very deeply and wants to get the fullest experience possible out of life. A huge part of what I love is inspiring other women to believe that their dreams are possible and that they can unlock versions of themselves they may not even know exist yet. Through my content and my own journey of self-discovery, I really just want to bring other women along with me as I figure it out, too.
On her absolute favorite hair products right now…
My current favorites are really a mix of moisture, scalp care, and definition. I’ve been loving the Hollywood Beauty Tea Tree & Rosemary Deep Hydration Masque for hydration, along with their Tea Tree & Rosemary Deep Shampoo and Scalp Soothing Shampoo. I also use the Sky Organics Batana & Coconut Oil Hair and Scalp Treatment when I want something really nourishing for my scalp and hair.
Hawaiian Silky has also made its way back into my routine, which feels nostalgic because my mom used to put it in our hair growing up to soften it. I recently picked up a bottle again, and I was reminded of how nourishing it is.
For styling and definition, I like Aunt Jackie’s Curl La La Defining Curl Custard, Camille Rose Curl Maker with Marshmallow & Agave Leaf Extract, and Redken Sculpting Curl Gel. I also love a good mousse when I want hold without something feeling too heavy. The Doux Mousse DEF Texture Foam never does me wrong. The Rizos Curls Gloss + Repair Mask has also been in rotation.
Overall, I gravitate toward products that give me moisture first and then enough definition and hold without leaving my hair feeling dry.
On what made the biggest difference in her length retention…
Honestly? Leaving my hair alone.
This summer, I wore a half wig for about two months straight with my natural hair oiled and plaited underneath, and my hair absolutely loved it. It grew a lot, stayed protected, and I didn’t have to constantly manipulate or restyle it.
Natural hair care can become exhausting when you feel like you always have to be doing something to your hair, so giving both myself and my hair a break was freeing. The less I manipulate it, the more I’ve noticed that it thrives.
On her best curl definition…
I focus on layering moisture and hold in a way that works with my hair instead of against it.
I usually start with a leave-in, then go in with a curl cream or custard to help shape and define my curls, and finish with a gel or mousse to lock everything in. I’ll also finger-coil certain sections if they need a little extra help, and I love using a curl-defining brush to encourage my curls to clump together.
One of the biggest things for me is letting my hair dry completely before touching it. I want that cast to fully set. Once it’s dry, I’ll use a nourishing hair oil to gently break the cast without disturbing the curl pattern too much.
That combination of moisture, definition, hold, and patience usually gives me my best results.
On keeping her hair defined and frizz-resistant in humidity…
For humidity, hold is everything for me.
I like using a mousse, and if I need a little more hold, I’ll layer in a gel. I may also finger-coil certain sections or use my curl-defining brush to help my curls clump and hold their shape.
Then I make sure my hair is completely dry before I start fluffing or touching it. I want a really good cast to form first. Once everything is set, I very gently break the cast with a nourishing oil.
The biggest thing is trying not to disturb the curls too early. Letting them fully set makes a huge difference for me when it comes to frizz.
On her typical wash day…
My typical wash day is pretty simple and moisture-focused. I usually wash my hair once a week, starting with a hydrating shampoo so I can cleanse without leaving my hair feeling stripped.
From there, I deep condition, and if my hair feels like it needs a little extra TLC that week, I’ll add a hair mask.
Once I’m out of the shower, I move into styling. I apply a leave-in first, then a curl cream or custard for moisture and definition, and finish with a gel or mousse depending on how much hold I want.
I usually let my hair air-dry completely so the cast can really set. Once it’s fully dry, I go in with a nourishing oil and gently break the cast to soften everything up.
For me, wash day is really about keeping my hair hydrated, paying attention to what it needs that particular week, and not overcomplicating the process.
On her go-to styles for protecting her hair and retaining length…
I love a half wig. That has probably become one of my favorite protective options because I can keep my natural hair moisturized, oiled, and plaited underneath while still having the freedom to switch up my look.
I also love braid-outs, a loose pineapple, and, if I’m being completely honest, a slick back.
I know slick backs aren’t necessarily considered the most protective style, but toward the end of the week, when I don’t know what else to do with my hair, I’m going to slick it back!
I just try to make it gentler. Instead of always using a strong gel, I’ll sometimes slick it back with Blue Magic grease so I’m adding some moisture and lubrication at the same time, and I use a softer-bristle brush instead of being overly aggressive with my hair.
On what she stopped doing that made a noticeable difference in her hair…
Doing too much.
I stopped feeling like I needed to constantly manipulate, restyle, or be in my hair every single day, and that has made one of the biggest differences in both the health and length of my hair.
Protective styling has helped a lot with that. This summer, for example, I wore a half wig for about two months with my natural hair oiled and plaited underneath, and my hair really thrived. It grew, stayed protected, and I wasn’t constantly thinking about styling it.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that sometimes the healthiest thing I can do for my hair is simply leave it alone.
On one piece of advice she’d give someone trying to grow and retain long, healthy natural hair…
Study your own hair.
Social media can be an amazing place to find inspiration, techniques, and products, but I don’t think you should automatically follow something just because it works for someone else or because it’s trending.
Your hair is unique to you. It may not respond to a product, technique, or routine the same way someone else’s does.
Pay attention to what your hair specifically needs. Notice how it responds to different products, methods, routines, and habits. Safely experiment with different things and use that information to create a personalized routine instead of trying to copy someone else’s perfectly.
The more you understand your own hair, the easier it becomes to actually give it what it needs.
On hair “rules” or popular natural-hair advice she personally doesn’t follow…
I don’t really believe in completely banning myself from a hairstyle.
For me, everything comes back to moderation and doing things as safely as possible. Hair is such a fun form of self-expression, and I never want to feel like I can’t straighten it, slick it back, color it, or experiment just because a particular style has been labeled a “no-no.”
Instead, I think about how I can minimize the potential damage.
If I’m doing a slick back, for example, I may use grease instead of a drying gel and reach for a softer brush. If I straighten my hair, I try to do as few passes as possible, protect the style during the day and at night, and avoid repeatedly adding more heat just because I want to touch it up.
I want to enjoy my hair. I just try to balance that self-expression with care.
On a final note…
I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is that your relationship with your hair is allowed to evolve.
When I was younger, especially growing up in predominantly white spaces, I really struggled with my hair. I didn’t understand it, I felt insecure about the volume, and I spent a lot of time trying to make it feel less noticeable.
I still remember being at school one day when my ponytail broke. I was so embarrassed that I asked to go to the nurse just so I wouldn’t have to walk around with my hair out. A girl saw me and made a comment about my hair, and at that age, moments like that really reinforced the feeling that my natural hair was something I should be ashamed of.
As I got older, that started to change. I learned how to care for my curls and began to see how unique, beautiful, and versatile they were. My hair actually became the beginning of my content-creation journey. I started on YouTube sharing hair routines, hairstyles, and things I was learning along the way.
At the same time, my relationship with my hair has never been completely linear. I’ve experimented with color, box dye, straightening, and dealt with some heat damage along the way. Earlier this year, I also had a roller-skating accident that required stitches in my head, and a significant section of my hair had to be cut. Since then, I’ve been navigating uneven lengths, different textures, and learning my hair all over again.
Right now, I’m in a season of being really gentle, with myself and with my hair.
I’m realizing that healthy hair doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from doing less, paying attention, and being willing to adjust. Your hair is unique to you, so the goal isn’t to copy someone else’s routine perfectly. It’s to study your own hair, figure out what it responds to, and give it what it needs.
And I still believe hair should be fun. It’s a form of self-expression. You can experiment, try different styles, straighten it sometimes, slick it back, wear a wig, whatever makes you feel like you. Just do it with intention, moderation, and care.
For me, that balance has become a huge part of learning to love my hair exactly as it is. 🤍
Follow Tia on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Read More
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- How to Grow 4C Hair and Retain More Length
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