Naturally Obsessed

Who Am I...My name is Valerie. I have been natural for 3 years. My whole life I was told that I had unruly unmanageable hair. It has been a long hard journey. Once I thought I had everything down packed with the “Curly girl method”, I discovered that something still was not right. Well ladies, as if caring for curly hair isn’t hard enough, I discovered I am protein- sensitive as well. So right now I am on a journey to find what works best for my hair sans protein.

Whereabouts...I live in Orlando, Fl. I do not see many naturals on the regular but saw many at the 2011 Curly Nikki event. Hair History...I have been natural for a little over 3 years. I decided to go natural because I finally wanted to see what my REAL hair looked like.

The Opinions of Others...My mother was shocked at the fact that I actually went through with it and my older sister was negative about it (she is relaxed). I simply told them that I love the hair God gave me. My mother decided to go natural with me. My sister likes my curls but always comments on how she liked my straight hair better.

My Curl Routine...
**I do not use sulfates, silicones nor proteins in my hair**
-Wash 1x or 2x a week with a sulfate-free and protein-free shampoo, I wash in 2 sections
-De-tangle hair in front of mirror with conditioner (saves water). I use a paddle brush for ends and a big tooth comb for my roots. I de-tangle in 8 sections, 2 sections in each quadrant
-Deep condition 1x a week with my Hair Therapy Wrap -Put in leave-in conditioner (5 sections.. 2 in the back, 1 in the crown and 2 in the front)
-Seal with a oil or butter ** I stop at this step if I want to achieve a twist out
-Rack and shingle gel in (for a Wash and Go)
-Apply finisher
-Diffuse for a Wash and Go and Air dry for twist out
-Protect hair at night by sleep in a Satin Bonnet

Hair Goals & Actions I'm Taking To Get There...Yes I do have a hair goal! I would like to stop dying my hair and I want to get to bra strap length curly. I have a lot..A LOT of grey and I am only 22. I noticed that my new growth is healthier. So I guess I will have to deal with my silver strands. As for growing out my hair, I am moisturizing more frequently to combat dryness and break age. I am also playing around with protective styling.

About me...My name is Elle, also known as The Ebony Majesty on YouTube. I'm a 20-something year-old natural hair addict with waist length 3b/3c hair.

(Wash & go while transitioning)

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
I live in London, England. The majority of women I see have relaxed hair, although I do have a few friends who have decided to go natural. Nowadays I do see more natural divas compared to when I first did the big chop. I feel so happy when people decide to take the plunge, whether they are in my circle or not!

When and why did you decide to go natural?
I decided to go natural in December 2006. My hair was dyed red, and I had just relaxed my hair. It was damaged and that was the last straw for me. In my younger days I had long hair. However, growing up and experimenting with every style going was not good for my strands. I was also inspired by the ladies on Long Hair Care Forum.

I transitioned for 18 months and braved the big chop in June 2008 (my BC video). I was out with friends and had an overwhelming urge to go home and cut my hair (weird I know). It was liberating though!

About me...My name is Rachel, also known as Curlyt00 on the web. I am 24 (soon to be 25 in November) and I am a natural hair lover, I love everything about natural hair, the good and the bad. I am a Christian, a wife of 4 years, soon to be 5 in May, a student, an aspiring author, a self proclaim natural hair guru =). I am the founder of "www.natural-beauty-01.com"and the Naturally Beautiful Tips blog at "blog.natural-beauty-01.com". I enjoy life and continue to encourage others to enjoy it as well, one day at a time! I live in the sunshine state of Florida where natural hair is all around here. It seems that before I went natural I did not see many naturals, but now that I am conscience and aware, I see natural beauties everyday here. From big afros, to TWAs and from locks to buns, Florida is definitely on the map.

When and why did you decide to go natural? I went natural and did the BC on December 31 2008, after 3 months of transitioning. After seeing another natural beauty with long curly hair, I wondered what my natural hair would look like. So the next day at work I googled the "whole day" researching natural hair. I had just had a relaxer that burnt my scalp but I thought that was normal and I just had a sensitive scalp ya know. So Labor Day weekend 2008 was my last relaxer and then the journey begun. By the end of the year, I just could not wait any longer and said I would start new for the New Year. Never before had I had short short hair, but for some reason I was not afraid. Working with two textures was not easy for me and I researched more on how to care for natural hair verses caring for transitioning hair. Running my fingers through my roots and feeling what I thought was wavy hair; I was too excited to see. I don’t really remember my hair as a child before relaxers so it was a mystery for me. But I was ready, willing, and able to learn.

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision? If not, how were you able to move forward? My family and friends was very supportive. I have even inspired four of my friends to start their journey. My husband is my biggest fan, and a natural hair lover himself. When I did the big chop he knew it was coming but he was just as shock as I was, for a day or two he would say, "it looks good, just need to take some getting use to" after a few days he was hooked. I was hooked from day one so I am not really sure how I would have taken it if others didn’t like it, because I had fell in love from the moment I saw my first kink!

Describe your hair routine. I keep my current hair routine simple. Once I find something that works I am good. Every once in a while I will go out and try something new but my routine is to co wash only with suave naturals conditioner (cheap and durable, very moisturizing), I do not use shampoos at all. I am not against shampoos as long as it does not contain sulfates but I just don’t use them. I will detangle in the shower with my shower comb (usually one to three times a week depending on the style upkeep I have in my hair) I love to feel the water run through my hair, then after my hair is fully detangled I rinse, put in a leave in conditioner (Shea moisture leave in, hemp seed butter, Shea butter, mango butter, curl activator (depending on the style I am going to wear) and style my hair in a protective style, such as twists, twist outs and buns. I don’t not wear my hair out in a wash and go a lot anymore because of the tangles, but I will wear my hair out stretched in a twist out or braid out. Once a month I will do a rhassoul clay mask treatment and deep condition. I always wear satin to sleep in, whether it is a scarf or a bonnet.

What are your hair goals and what steps are you taking to achieve them? I have a few goals left for my natural hair, although one goal reached for me was to obtain a full pony. Once I got there I was satisfied with length. While I am not so length obsessed now, I would like to reach waist length one day. My main goal is to have healthy, reserved hair. That’s it!! I am trimming when needed, keeping my hair moisturized and hydrated and protecting it from over styling and the environment.

What's your favorite go to natural hair style? My favorite go to style at the moment is the small twist, only because it is protective and I can wear them up off of the material on my clothes and they do not take long to do (small ones not the mini and micros). I can get two styles out of them also. For a few days I can wear twist then a stretched twist out and then detangling is easy and I can co wash and do them over. I usually do my whole wash routine and section my hair in four sections and put my leave in on and use my Denman brush and give it one last detangling brush on wet hair and I sit in front of TV and twist, no comb no parts. I seal the ends with pure virgin coconut oil and I go, a few days later I just UN ravel and fluff and go =) I use to love love love wavy buns when I could first get a decent bun, but that lasted a few months and I do mini twist when I need a break from my hair for a month on blow dried stretched hair.

Curly girls have more fun because...we are versatile and you cannot put us in a box. With our hair the possibilities are endless an inspiring to others! Oh yeah and we don’t run from water =)

About Me...I am “Natural Jael”, co-founder of Natural Hair Community, who has been researching natural hair for years. I love meeting random natural women to hear their natural hair story. I am always amazed at the stories behind the beautiful head of hair. I enjoy playing Sudoku and reading the funnies during lunch.  

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
Sweet Home Alabama. The natural hair scene in Central Alabama is flourishing. It is not uncommon to see at least 7 to 10 natural haired women in passing at one location. On a smaller scale, there are 11 women in my office; 3 are completely natural, 1 attempted to go natural and 1 is starting to have open dialogue about the possibilities.

Before I started my job, the natural hair percentage there was only 14%, the day I arrived it jumped to 25% and the next year it rose to 27%. These statistics are evidence that natural hair is on the rise. Also, I have seen where stylists are becoming more open to serving women with natural hair. Salons are no longer “relaxer only” operations.

This openness offers natural hair women a greater range of styling options. Imagine my delight when I audited a local not-for-profit organization and the new director – to my surprise – was a woman with locs. They were long and beautiful. She was extremely professional and her locs were neat and well maintained.  
When and why did you decide to go natural?
This quote, by Arnold Glasow, sums up my journey in 12 little words: “Parents can tell but never teach, unless they practice what they preach.”

It was because of my daughter, that I began my transition. I watched her hair morph into lifeless strands from relaxers. There were no balding spots or sores – just limp, lifeless hair. I made the decision not to relax her hair and to keep it braided. I now know this was the start of her transition. After a year with braids, she started to wear her natural texture and that is when the teasing began. Kids can be so cruel and the constant teasing from the other kids devastated my daughter. As a parent, one of the hardest responsibilities that come with the job is to see your child hurting. Now comes the time to pick up the pieces. All of the teasing and name-calling was because her hair did not look like their hair – anymore.
I constantly told her that she was smart and beautiful, not just beautiful on the outside, but a beautiful person. I explained, as best I could, that God made us perfect. Our hair is exactly how it is supposed to be. If He wanted us to have straight hair, He would have given it to us. But He didn’t. So be happy with what you have. There I was with long flowing relaxed hair, giving encouragement to my daughter – who was natural with short tightly coiled hair. That did not make me feel good. As a parent, there are two things that I have to remind myself of: children will usually do as you do and hardly ever do what you say. I feel like I should be the best example for my children – if not me, then who? Now, feeling extremely hypocritical, I came to a pivotal point and a decision needed to be made. Either I stay relaxed and relax her hair again or she stays natural and I transition. Now, four years into my natural hair journey, I have no regrets.  

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision? If not, how were you able to move forward?
In the beginning, I did not receive any support, because I did not tell anyone. The reason I did not tell is because I did not want anyone to try and talk me out of my decision and I was not prepared to handle the criticism or the questions. Once I became confident with my decision, I was better equipped and able to handle the “why did you do that to your hair” or the “what about your job” type questions that ultimately came when I revealed that I was growing out my relaxer.

At this point in my journey, I felt that my reason for going natural was solid and I believed in it with all my heart. I had to believe in my reason and stand on my reason, so that I would not allow anyone’s disapproving comments or comments that were not 100% supportive to sway my journey. Fortunately, I was surrounded by people who supported me, even if they did not totally understand my reason why.  

Describe your current hair routine.
My hair routine is simple:
•I wear protective styles 98% of the time.
•I shampoo and deep condition with heat weekly.
•I henna monthly. I trim my ends when needed.
•I clarify when my hair stops responding to my products.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
Yes, my ultimate hair goal is to grow my hair to MBL by Memorial Day 2012. If not, I sure hope to be super close :)  

What's your favorite go to natural style and how do you achieve it?
My fav go-to style will have to be my Friday puff. I try to wear protective styles most of the time and only allow my hair to be loose one or two days out of the week – maximum. On Thursday nights, I take my protective style down and twist my hair in about 12 chunky twists. The twists are to stretch my hair for my puff the next morning.  

Curly girls have more fun because...we can enjoy walks in the rain and still have fabulous hair :)

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision? If not, how were you able to move forward?
Describe your hair routine.
My hair routine is easy. I cowash every week and shampoo about once a month. Deep conditioning I only do when I feel my hair needs it so that's about every 2 weeks. I moisturize my hair every evening before bed and every morning with a leave in conditioner. I use essential oils to keep moisture in my hair during the fall/winter but not during the spring/summer.

What are some of your favorite hair products?
My favorite hair products are; Kinky Curly Knot Today; Herbal Essence Hello Hydration; Castor Oil, Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose, Jojoba Oil, Giovanni Leave-In, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Kinky Curly Custard.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
How has being natural changed you?
Being natural changed my confidence. When I Big Chopped for the first 5 minutes I balled my eyes out. Lol. I had never had short hair before then and thought to myself, “What the hell have I done?” Lol. After a few minutes of admiring my new curly hair and knowing there was no way to attach my chopped locks back to my hair I started to realize that my beauty was not in my hair but it was in me. When I did my Big Chop is was empowering. I was no longer tied to that mentality of the longer your hair the prettier you are.

About me... Hi, I am Christina, 29 year old Namibian, I am a Poet, Writer, Explorer, Amateur Photographer, Traveler, Eternal student, Friend, Sister, Daughter, Truth seeker, Romantic,Award winning shower singer, budding shoe Fashionista, Namer (I like to give things names) ohhhh and blogger. Here is my little spot http://afropeanqueen.blogspot.com

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
Well right now, I live in Sweden, but before I lived in Nigeria and Austria. In all three countries there weren't too many natural heard sisters that I saw when I first moved, but now in Stockholm, I am seeing more and more ladies embrace Natural hair. Natural hair is taking over!!!!!!

When and why did you decide to go natural?
Ok, well, I have been natural on and off for a number of years, I wasn't really into hair that much growing up, so I would go months without a touch up or would have my hair in braids. But I really decided to be fully natural in 09, after my third attempt. My decision was to see it through and see how long I could go with my hair.Being natural now is more than just hair, I am taking better care of my skin, my body. I eat healthier, I drink healthier,I meditate, I exercise.I have taken steps to rid the negative from my life. My spirit is more alive now than better. I have a complete new Holistic approach to me life.

Were your friends and family supportive? If not, were you able to move forward?
I have done some stuff over the years to my hair - dyed red; Black/Blue; some funky light brown color, leave home with shoulder length care and come home with a Toni Braxton - Breathe again, cut!!!!!! So its wasn't such a shock to people who know me, also I had been living in a foreign country so most of my friends back home didn't really know what I had done. In terms of support, the first 2 times I Big Chopped ( I shaved my head) my sister did it with me. So I had a partner in crime. I have now shaved my head three times since 07 and 09 was my last time.

 What is your current hair routine?
Well, my hair and I are at odds, see when I started with my TWA in Nigeria, I would alternate with braids and cornrows and leave it alone. Just washing every other week and a deep condition when I felt like it. This did wonders for my hair. Then I moved to Sweden in 2010 December, so I arrived with braids and I got my YouTube and Blogger on, but its very difficult to find all the ' commercial hair products' that a lot of naturalista are using so I had to do my own research and use what I could get. So I bought some, Jojoba oil, Aloe Vera gel, Argan oil, Shea Butter, Glycerin,Castor oil, Avocado oil, Amla oil and Jasmine hair oil. The only 'commercial' product I have is Fantasia IC styling gel and some Aussie and Herbal Essences products. So I basically, make my own butters, water spritz and hair oils. Its mostly trial and error. Moreover, the last few weeks my hair has been changing - when I started with my hair journey, I knew my natural hair wasn't curly, its more wavy/curly. And as it grows longer it is becoming even more wavy with some parts straight. So unless I add tons of gel to my hair, I don't get a curl. When I wash my hair and leave it air dry, it dry wavy and straight. So I have made a deal with my hair ( we are cool like that) I oil her, co-wash her when necessary, deep condition every other week,, moisturize her every night, keep her in braid/cornrow/ twists, but I just leave her to do what she wants to do without manipulating her. This has been working out for both of us. Luckily for me I embrace change very well. It is what it is.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
Well,lol, my original goal was to have lovely curly hair, but that ain't in the script now anymore hahhahahah. So my goal is overall healthy hair in what ever state she grows. I am aiming for bra strap length for this year and waist for next year. From December 09 till March 2011 I didn't trim my hair. After March, I just recently did some dusting of the ends in June. apart from that, I drink tons of water, take come Spirulina tablets ( great for hair and skin and lots of energy), drink Aloe Vera juice 2 daily, exercise, eat right, enough sleep, tie my hair at night, sleep in a hair thingie (old pantyhose - hey I learnt that from my Grandma.And she had great hair)

What is your fav go- to style for your natural hair? Tell us how you achieve it?
Well when my hair decides hold a style, I used to love wash n go's with some gel in it. Also, my hair can be temperamental with a two strand twist. Sometimes it will hold a twist for a few days and then other times only one night. Right now, I just twisted my hair yesterday, so will see how she likes this. Apart from that,I haven't really experimented so much with my hair, I have kept things simple. I recently learned to do my own braids with extensions and Individual hair. So I like to do that.Its a process. A ever learning always changing process.
Curly girls have more fun because...lol. I am a wavy, very little kinky, not so much coily, even less curly and some parts straight natural girl. But on the real, we have more fun because we have more freedom to express ourselves, we make and break our own rules, we embrace our naturalness, And we smile at other naturals. We seek them out and when we find another Unique Being, we smile warmly because we know the Journey she is on.

Gorgeous sis, thanks for sharing :) -KKQ

KinkyKurlyQueen, I wanted to contact you and let you know that your YouTube videos, Fotki, and website have helped me so much during the process of becoming natural. I am not a member of any of these sites, hence you receiving an E-Mail from me :). Beginning my journey my hair short and brittle, with help from ladies like you willing to share your hair stories, my hair is now healthy, completely natural and longer. I went natural January 2007 (NO BIG CHOP!) to begin the journey of learning more about myself, not as a hair journey. Friends supported me going natural, because they saw an internal change in me, that was suited for such. Family on the other hand was skeptical and wasn't entirely comfortable with my...nappy roots.lol. What helped kept me motivated was inspiring youtube videos from women just like me. I come from a small town in Upstate,NY where there aren't many black Americans, let alone black Americans that embraced their natural hair.

I currently do not have any hair goals, except to keep my hair healthy by any means. My favorite style would have to be...my afro puff :) but people say its young looking so I'm constantly in and out of braids (which has actually saved my hair, seeing otherwise I cannot keep my hands out of it). Curly girls have more fun, because any other way...just isn't natural =D

Thank you Nana! You definitely put a a smile on my face this morning :) Such a sweet message to wake up to. To inspire other women has always been my goal through my videos, fotki, blog, etc. Even if I inspire only one, I know that I've done something. So your letter is very much appreciated :) Your hair regime is pretty simple and to the point and from what you've said, it's thriving. My only advice is to stick with what works for you. It can only get better!! Be blessed -KKQ
 

About me... Hi, my name is Helena! I'm a bi-racial girl, half Cameroonian and half Danish. One of my loves is natural hair, I enjoy caring for it and spending time on natural hair blogs and such. I also loves dancing and is both dancing hip hop, zumba, house and salsa. And music, but who don't like music lol. But I also like reading, traveling, culture and blogging (I have blog called curlycoilyheads.com) about exercise and health and much more.

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
I live in Denmark. The natural hair scene here is not big. I have only seen a few ladies here rocking their natural hair and there is not many products here, so when I buy I often do it online from British Curlies. But there is a few naturals and I have discovered a hair salon there specializes in natural hair care so that's good!

When and why did you decide to go natural?
All my life I have been natural(or nearly), but I didn't know how to care properly for it. My hair was cut short a couple times because it was really breaking. I cant believe how damaged it was now. When I was little it was good and healthy, but it started to get unhealthy when I was older and did my hair by myself. Then I wanted to relax my hair, and also got one. This resulted in dry, breaking and my hair was a lot thinner than before. My hair didn't even get straight. But I'm so happy now. After the failed relaxer attempt I wanted to learn to care for my hair, myself. I searched on websites and blogs on the internet and fell in love with natural hair. So I went to a hairdresser to get my thin straight ends chopped off and left with a TWA. I loved it and at first I just wanted to keep it like that forever. I really really loved it and to care for it and learn about it. Later on length became one of my goals, but I really started to love and learned to care for it there. That's about 2½ years ago now.

Were your friends and family supportive? If not, how were you able to move forward?
So much, I'm so lucky! My dad also took me first to this hair dresser so I could learn about my hair and my mom is also really supportive. They love my natural hair and support me.
Most of my friends support me too, even through not everybody is familiar with natural hair, but most people really like it and only a few who don't. But I guess it's like that everywhere and with everything, but as long as people show respect to your choices.

What is your current hair routine?
Once a week I start with detangling my hair. I use my fingers and a wide toothed comb either dry or spritzed with water and sometimes olive oil too. I then do a pre poo with either some oils and sometimes honey, but I really love ayurvedic powders like kalpi tone, amla, etc. I would love to soon experiment with washing with whole aritha soap nut and shikakai powder. To wash my hair I use either a sulphate free shampoo like Kinky-Curly Come Clean or a do a co-wash with one of my favorites, Garnier Triple Nutrition. I then always deep condition my hair. Right now I'm using Hairveda Sitrinillah Deep Conditioner, which I really like, and it happens that I sometimes do a natural deep conditioner by myself. Once at month I use Cassia Obovata and I switch between clarifying with a clarifying shampoo once at month and avc rinses that I sometimes do a little more often. After washing my hair I style, moisturize and seal the hair through the week as needed.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
I would like to grow my hair to full shoulder length-full armpit length when it's in it's natural state. Also my goal always is healthy hair, that's most important for me when it comes to my hair. To get there I just style and take care in a way that's best for my hair. I think I see more growth retaining and surely less shedding with the use of the ayurvedic powders, so that's something I will keep.


What is your fav go-to style for your natural hair? Tell us how you achieve it?
My favorite style is a braid out. I start out with freshly washed, damp hair. Then I add a leave-in conditioner. My favorites now are Komaza Califia Leave-In Conditioner and Kinky-Curly Knot Today. Then I braid about 16-25 braids. My favorites products are Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter with scent of island mango, which smells delicious and Miss Jessies Curly Pudding. I prefer butters and products alike for my out styles. I ordered sample ones of Bee Mine Deja's Hair Milk which I added after adding leave-in and it was really good working with the curly butter. I always twist the ends where I nearly can't braid any longer.

Curly girls have more fun because... Natural hair is beautiful and unique! And it radiates confidence. I also think...No two curls are exactly the same, every curl is unique so you wont find two with exactly the same hair.

About me...Hi my name is Kirstin. I'm a wife and mother of two~a girl and a boy! Currently I am a stay at home mom and natural hair junkie. I currently reside in Richmond, VA where the natural hair scene is booming. I recently transitioned my daughter, she is 8 and in the 2nd grade, and I'm so proud of the both of us and our curly hair. My husband is my biggest natural hair cheerleader and will talk anyone down from a relaxer..lol! I enjoy researching about natural hair, feeling natural hair, and the general natural hair musing. I'm basically glad to be apart of "The Club"!

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
Hi, I currently reside in Richmond, VA! Go VCU! The natural community hear is growing. It's nothing now to see another natural running around. I love how the city has embarrassed "curls". We are starting to get more meetups and it's really been fun watching it grow!

When and why did you decide to go natural?
It was the summer of 2008..I just had enough of my hair looking like everyone else and rocking the trusty, but boring, wrap! I BC'd Jan. 31 2009 and I did my own initial BC, I went to a salon and had it shaped up the next day!

Were your friends and family supportive?
If not, how were you able to move forward? My husband has always been my biggest cheerleader! My mom took awhile, but I'm happy to report that she has transitioned herself! I can't think of one negative statement I got, everybody loves it! But I do know if my maternal grandmother was still alive she would have a lot to say, rest her soul. I could hear her now, "what's going on with your hair..you need some money for a perm" LOL! I miss her!


What is your current hair routine?
I wash every 7-10 days, cowash in between when needed! I try to protective style most of the time but with the weather getting warm I'll be rocking more wash/go's. I give my hair moisture (water), every 3-4 days and then seal the moisture with Coconut Oil!

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
I want healthy, long hair. The health of my hair is the most important, so to achieve my goals I keep it moisturized, I remain gentle with my hair and I never touch it if I'm rushing or angry..LOL!

What is your fav go-to style for your natural hair? Tell us how you achieve it?
My favorite go-to style would have to be my chunky twistout! I had such trouble with twistouts, so when I mastered it, I was hooked. I do about 8 big twists, and bam I've got a fierce style once it dries. At that point, I style my hair how I desire rather it be an updo or down and cascading!

Where can you find me?
I'm on Twitter Jadison03, I have a blog supr-naturals.blogspot.com and I'm on Youtube, youtube.com/user/jadison03


Curly girls have more fun because...we have the most versatile hair! I can rock it rolled, tucked, pinned, swooped..etc and my hair will just mold right to what I want it to do at that moment..I love it!

Gorgeous Sis!!

About me...My Name Is Keri! I am a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. I am a die hard lover of fashion I’m also building up my fashion empire slowly that is known as Yes! Natty. I’m a makeup artist, blogger, secret stylist and lover of life.

Where do you live? How's the natural hair/loc community there?
I live In New York. The natural/loc community where I live isn’t huge in terms of locs, fros or just big curly natural hair. I’m surrounded by a lot of latinos so that’s mainly what I see in the BX. However, When I venture into the city I see lots of locs and big curly luscious hair.

When and why did you decide to loc your hair?
Believe it or not I always wanted locs, literally. I would say when I was 11 I definitely knew that I would loc my hair sooner than later, I made many attempts to loc my hair and my mother would always say you better comb your hair because you aren’t going to loc your hair ha. I grew up in a household in the Caribbean where my father always played reggae music from Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Culture, Third World & my mother was in a reggae band so I would always see these musicians with locs ,I always had a fascination with them. I also chose locs because I never wanted to straighten my hair because I thought I wouldn’t know what to do with my hair, when it comes to my hair I am very simple, it’s either down, flip to the side or in a bun. Moreover, I hate to spend hours in a salon I have no patience ha ha. So all of those factors helped me to decide that locs were for me and it just goes with my personality,a free spirit.

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision? If not, how were you able to move forward?
They were because they knew that this was something that I always wanted to do, even if they were not supportive I would not have affected my decision. Many people asked me “Why would you ruin your pretty hair?” That would upset me at times because I wondered how was I ruining my hair. If anything I was protecting it from chemicals and the elements but to each his own and everyone is different, I am very happy with my decision 4 years later.

Describe your hair routine.
My routine is simple. I try not to use too much products on my hair because I don’t want my locs to have crazy build up that would attract lint and dust. When I wash my hair I’m sure to use a gel shampoo like Suave (their Shampoo’s smell amazing) something that isn’t white and thick that would get stuck in my hair. I do not believe in using shampoo that is specifically for locs. I rarely use conditioner because it always get stuck in my hair no matter how much I wash it out, therefore, I just eliminate that all together. I re-twist my hair with every three to four weeks however; I do touch ups on the front in between. I use Lets Jam! Shinning and Conditioning Gel Regular Hold, I swear by it I never get build up and it makes up for me not conditioning my hair because it keeps my hair moisturized. I oil my scalp with Jamaican mango & lime island oil. That is pretty much it. I don’t like to spend a lot of time on my hair so I keep it simple, I don’t want to weigh down my hair with a million products that are just not effective.

What are some of your favorite hair products?
My favorite shampoo is Head & Shoulders Smooth & Silky. I was searching forever for a leave in conditioner that would keep my hair hydrated between washes and retwisting, so I use Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment. The product I have to have at all times is my Lets Jam Hair Gel, I would be stuck in a rut without it. I use it to re-twist my hair and do touch ups in between because I hate to see my hair looking all poofy, like a puppy that went through a wind storm Ha Ha!! I really love Carol's Daughter Tui Oil, it smells amazing and it keeps my hair soft and there is no build up which is important with locs that there is minimal residue.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
I don’t have any hair goals, because I try not to obsess about my hair & focus on it too much. I just want my hair to be healthy and grow longer.

What's the biggest misconception about locs and those who wear them?
There are so many where should I even start? People always ask how do you wash your hair? Or people who have locs smoke, are Rasta’s, we have bugs living in our hair (Like Seriously)?!? People believe that we are all obsessed about being natural (which I'm not). Like we are hippies or something. A lot of people think that once they see someone with locs that they had to cut their hair to begin their locs, which is not true for everyone. I didn’t cut my hair to start mine, my hair was never chemically straightened and before I began my locs my hair was a little past shoulder length and curly. There are numerous misconceptions I’m sure someone could write a book about all of them.

What are some of your obsessions?
I don’t really obsess about things, but lately I can’t get enough of these...ok I guess that is a little bit of obsessing..
• Chipotle Burrito’s (yum!) there is something about these big yummy wraps of goodness that I need to eat every week.
• I LOVE accessories! Big, bold pieces. I would buy jewelry instead of shoes any day.
• I’m in love with trousers. Unfortunately, I cannot find the perfect pair :(
• I am in LOVE with printed fabrics. Ethnic prints/African prints/animal prints...It just gives any outfit more personality.
• Love nail art! • I adore wearing my hair up in a bun (not really an obsession but why not) • I am excited about wearing lipstick for summer reds, pinks, nudes all of them!

About Me...I live in Atlanta and the natural scene is very prevalent here. You are guaranteed to see 3 or more natural hair women no matter where you go which is really awesome. Natural hair was really foreign to me. I was in high school at the time and I didn't know anyone who wore their hair natural. I stumbled upon Nappturality.com one summer day in 2004 and I thought the versatility and creativity on there was so beautiful. I clicked on that site and spent hours on end looking at Fotki pages of thick, luscious hair and I never looked back.
After that day I began my first transition I would cornrow my hair every week. I had not had a relaxer in four months until my mother figured out what I was doing just in time for back to school. My mother disapproved of me going natural especially leading into my senior year with prom coming up. So I was forced into getting a relaxer!
My last relaxer was May 4, 2005 for my senior prom. I transitioned for 10 months afterwards, using braids, rollersets, conrnrows, and even a few sew-in weaves (I had never worn a weave before then). I have know been natural for 5 years (Big Chop April 2, 2006).

My current hair routine...I wash my hair once a week (if I'm not being lazy) and decide on which 1000th product to use from my mini beauty supply closet LOL!  If it is a deep condition week I usually leave that in as long as possible as an excuse to not finish the job right away. I detangle (which is the longest part of the battle) and then I style. Styling is the fun part for me and I wish I had a personal shampoo girl to take care of the rest lol. I normally do styles that I create off of the top of my head, accessorize and go!

Products my hair luvvs...
•Organic Root Stimulator Lock & Twist Gel - great hold. This is my main stay for all styles really. I can't live without it!
•100% Unrefined organic coconut oil - gives great shine
•100% Pure Shea Butter - great versatile product. I use it on my hair in the winter and my body.

My favorite hairstyles...My favorite go to hairstyle is definitely a twist out. I love the versatility I can achieve by making the twists bigger or smaller. I also love to do creative styles --->HERE and retro updo's --->HERE.

My top 5 obsessions are...
•Bright nail polish
•Jumpsuits
•The Braxton Family Values ( their mom is hilarious!)
•Spin Class (those stationary bikes that hurt like hell, but the weight loss results are FAB)
•And now anything wedding related and not turning in to a Bridezilla! (I got engaged on Christmas Day)

How has being natural changed you?
Being natural gave me more confidence as I was somewhat shy growing up. I use my hair as an art expression and I use bold creative styles that always command attention. It has also allowed me to change other areas of my life regarding health including,drinking more water, vitamins, and exercise.

Advice for transitioners...
The transition may be rough dealing with the 2 textures, but it was honestly one of the best decisions I have made. There is no magic pill to take to get long hair enjoy your journey no matter what length your hair is. Maintain a positive attitude, love your hair, and focus on the bigger picture of your new beautiful head of natural hair!

Anything else you would like to add.
Upcoming Fall 'Fro Fashion Week September 23-25, 2011. Curlfriends Collectables t shirts! 9 characters with different hair styles and personalities.

To learn more about Tarin and all the exciting things she has going on highly recommend you visit her blog--> http://naturallymemedia.com and to stay updated on her latest tutorials and vlogs subscribe to her youtube channel ---> http://www.youtube.com/user/LadyTsTanglez. 

About me...Hi. I am currently a Fashion Merchandising student starting my second year at Philadelphia University in Philadelphia, Pa. I am really involved with the ministries at my church and hoping that God will lead me to the best career ever, lol. I am hoping to one day intern at Seventeen Magazine, and eventually end up in the fashion department at Essence Magazine. There are more things I want to do with my life, but I could spend all day listing those them.

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
I live in Wilmington, Delaware. The natural hair community is visual at times, but it is not as big. People mainly wear the straight styles. However in Philly, where I attend school there are many more naturals, especially in the Center City area.

When and why did you decide to go natural?
My choice to go natural was not really conscious, it really stemmed from frustration with my hair. In the summer of 2008 I was asked to be in a fashion show for my brother at his old high school. I needed my hair done for the show so I asked my aunt to give me a touch up. Well my hair came out nice and straight, but I felt it was too close to my scalp, to thin and it had absolutely no volume, and I love voluminous thick hair. So after being dissatisfied with my hair I decided to grow the perm out. Another fact is I always had admired one of my best friend's hair because it was so curly and pretty. I did not know I could have that type of hair too, I ignorantly thought you had to be mixed to have it. I have been natural for two years and 2 months, but I big chopped July 3rd this year in pure spite.

Were your friends and family supportive? If not, how were you able to move forward?
I never had a problem with support when I transitioned because I always would wear my hair straight. However, after I BC and really start wearing my hair curly, I could tell that my parents did not take it well at first. My mom was not phased by me wearing my hair curly, it was the cutting of my hair that bothered her for a while. That shouldn't of bothered her because I am always cutting my hair. My dad does not care for the natural look, but he loves me enough to accept it and let me be me. On the other hand, my siblings have been very supportive. My sister and my friend have now started to want to go natural. Plus I have a couple cousins who also are going natural so its great that I have this special bond to share with them. I really did not care who approved or disapproved but it was nice to have that support.

What is your current hair routine?
Oh boy. Well every week I deep condition with Herbal Essences Hydralicious Conditioner. Throughout the week I now wash my hair every 3-4 days. I try to wear my hair in protective styles from Monday to Saturday but I love touching my hair so much I wear my hair in at least 2 different styles per week. I know its bad to be in your hair all the time, but there are times where I don't like a particular protective style and decide I need to switch it up. On Sundays I mainly where my hair out in a braid out, twist out, or bantu-knot out (which are my favorites).

Everyday I moisturize my hair with Cantu Shea Butter, B&B Oil Moisturizer with Castor Oil and Aloe Vera, and from time to time I use ECO Styler Gel depending on the style. I was using African Essentials Carrot Oil to seal, but I ran out of it, lol so I am looking for something else. For the in-between the week co-washes I use Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner. I really love the Herbal Essences Conditioners but I am ready to start trying some others.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
My hair goals is to have mid-back length hair when stretched but to have APL hair while naturally curly in the next two years. I am going to try to wear my hair in more protective styles, especially in the winter time since I can't wash n' go anymore. I am also going to try to keep my hands out of my hair lol.

What is your fav go-to style for your natural hair? Tell us how you achieve it?
The Bantu-knot out and the braid out (or plat out as I would say) because the braid out really stretches my hair where I can see great length.

Curly girls have more fun because...our hair is a symbol of our strength, our faith and perseverance...and also because we don't have to worry about getting our scalps scorched anymore lol.

Thanks for sharing Sharaia :)

About Me...Hello! My name is Mary and I'm from O’Fallon IL. O’Fallon is a small town near St. Louis. You could actually drive through the whole town in like 7 mins. It’s predominantly Caucasian and growing up, there were plenty of times where I was one of a few African Americans in my class. Even in high school I didn’t know anyone who was openly natural (I say openly because the naturals straightened their hair and didn’t walk around in braid outs or anything). Senior year of high school I happened to know a few girls who were transitioning, but that’s it! There really isn’t any natural hair community at all.

When and why did you decide to go natural?
I was completely ignorant of natural hair. I would see pictures of natural curls and think, “I wish my hair was naturally curly”. I actually thought that when I washed my relaxed hair and didn’t flat iron it, that was my natural hair. So serious! Sad, isn’t it? I don’t remember how I stumbled across sites like CurlyNikki and Fotki, but seeing the pictures of African Americans with curly hair was mind blowing. I had NO idea our hair was curly. I was tired of my relaxed hair, but I wasn’t tired of it being straight. My original plan was to go natural just so I would have thicker straight hair. So Jun 2009, I decided to transition to natural.

What was your family's reaction to your natural hair?
At first my family and friends didn’t believe me. I don’t blame them, because I relaxed probably every few weeks, and straightened my hair twice a week. I was addicted to straight hair. I’m surprised I even had hair now that I think about it. After the first 4-5 months they started to take me seriously and supported the decision. After 13 months and 2 days, on July 23 2010, my boyfriend cut all my relaxed ends off. It was that day that I fell in love with my curls and decided not to straighten them.


Describe your current hair routine.
I will be 8 months natural on March 23 2011! My hair routine is actually simple compared to many naturals. I’m a college student who likes to spend her money on food or books instead of hair products. Maybe when I get a 9 to 5 ill go product crazy, but until then I’ll stick to the basics. At the moment I wash with Suave Almond and Shea Butter Shampoo. I condition with the Suave Almond and Shea Conditioner and detangle with a Tangle Teezer in the shower. After I detangle I put each section into fat twist. If I want to do I braid/twist out, I add Aussie moist conditioner then braid/twist it. If I was to wear my natural curls I put coconut oil on my hair and eco gel. Every morning I fluff with coconut oil and that’s it! Oh, I also deep condition every week with Coconut Oil Formula w/ Vitamin E Deep Conditioning Protein Pack. I’ve tried plenty of hair products and the ones I just describe are all my favorites.
Do you have any hair goals? If so, what steps are you taking to achieve them?
My hair was past bra strap length when it was relaxed, so my first goal is just to get right back to that length natural. My ultimate hair goal is to be between bra strap and waist length. I’m only 5 foot so waist length is just too much hair for me! To achieve this goal, I’m just doing what it tells me to do. If it says I’m dirty, I'll clarify it, if it says I’m dry, I’ll do more oils and deep condition it, if it says my ends are tired, I'll trim and do more protective styles. It’s all about listening to your hair and being consistent with your treatments.

How has being natural changed you?
Being natural has taught be to just love how God has made me and to become more comfortable in my skin. It took a lot for me to find myself attractive when I had a lil fro on my head, but I did it. I actually stopped wearing everyday makeup and eye shadows. I found that I just like the natural color or my skin. My natural hair has just broadened my definition of beautiful.

My top 5 obsessions are...
•Grey's Anatomy
•Styling my hair...I find it quite relaxing
•Photography/Photoshop
•Goldfish
•Music...My current fav song is Repeaterbeater by MEW


Anything else you would like to add...
I have a fotki! It has all the pictures since day 1 of my decision to transition. I love to share photos, hair styles and swap ideas around. Visit my Fotki --> http://members.fotki.com/-PeaceAndNatrility-/about/
Thanks for letting me share my story with others! ♥

About me...My name is Nichelle, or as I’ve had to say all my life Michelle with an N! If you’re into astrology then I am 100% scorpio inside and out. I love graphics, law, theatre, photograpy, writing and many other things but those specifically have my heart. I do have a blog that allows me to express my journalism side http://www.nichque.onsugar.com/. My work allows me to express my law, but I’m still searching for the theater, graphics and photography opportunities.

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
I live in Maryland also known as DMV. The natural hair community definitely isn’t as big as it is in Atlanta or NYC, but I can say that I’ve seen a lot of natural hair divas in the past year or so than I have ever seen before. It is very refreshing. Natural Chica is coming to the DMV area this weekend for a natural hair meet up although 25 is not a lot of people I still hope to stop by and maybe just side on the sidelines J because this is the first that I’ve ever heard of in this area.

When and why did you decide to go natural?
I decided to go natural about 4 years ago when I had gotten the worst hair breakage of my life with a perm. It literally ripped the nape area of my hair completely out. I did have hair in the back but it was broken off very bad. I tried to find every grow hair quick product I could until I finally just decided to cut my hair. At the time I had no idea it was called transitioning but that is what I was doing for the next 3 years but with heavy blow drying and flat ironing. It wasn’t until last year when I started researching heavy that I realized I had so much heat damage. At that point I still had no idea what type of texture I had but decided in may 2010 I was going to cut off all the heat damage and start fresh w/ what I was given.

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision?
I only told two people and one of them were supportive because she had big chopped years ago. The other eh not so much but when I did cut my hair everyone was very shocked but loved it nonetheless. Everyone knows when I make up my mind to do something I just do it and never look back.

What is your current hair routine?
Unfortunately I am a not so in the closet product junkie! So my routine varies every other week. However I do try to make it my business to deep condition every two weeks. I shampoo only when I feel my hair has had a lot of build up so that’s basically once a month maybe two. I co wash my hair about 3 times a week depending on what style I’m rocking at the moment. I TRY to detangle every Sunday but I have to admit I’ve let my hair go the longest 4 weeks w/o detangling just by pure laziness and I suffered.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
My hair goal is just to have healthy strong hair. Growing up my hair was really long so for me its not about length more than it’s about letting my hair grow the way it is meant to grow. Healthy natural and strong.

What is your fav go-to style for your natural hair? Tell us how you achieve it.
My favorite style that I know I can always count on is a puff with a pompadour. No matter what my hair is looking like I know I can gel down the sides leave some hair out in the front as if I wanted a bang. Clip that to the side while I use a goody headband to wrap around to create my puff. Once the puff is in place I slightly twist the bang piece I left out and pin it backwards with about four bobby pins. Fluff my puff and I’m out the door.


Curly girls have more fun because...we have a personal relationship with our hair; we fight, curse each other out and then make up in the same day. We also can slightly snicker while every other girl with a perm or weave is running for cover in the rain.

About me...My name is Nickey, I am 26. I work for a popular bank and also do some modeling on the side for fun. I am a carefree spirit who loves to have fun. I enjoy writing poems and music and singing. I am currently on a health kick..not a diet but a lifestyle change. I am working on becoming a better me..inside and out.

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
I live in Charlotte NC. The natural hair community exist here. It is becoming more popular. I don’t get as many odd looks from black women here in Charlotte. Now they ask questions and seem intuitive about how to transition and my upkeep/daily routine.

When and why did you decide to go natural?
My last full relaxer was August of 2009 and I transitioned until September 2010, that’s when I cut off the small amount of relaxer I had left. I decided to go natural because I was ready for a change and admired women who had natural hair. I finally did the research and decided it was the best thing I could do for my hair. No more creamy crack!

Were your friends and family supportive? If not, how were you able to move forward?
In the beginning my family didn’t know what to think. I transitioned with braids and weaves which they HATED and when I wore my natural they would COMPLAIN that my hair was too thick and seemed untamed. They were used to seeing my hair relaxed and ironed. Now they admire it and support me. My mother now recommends sites and products for me to try! Some of my friends love it and some make jokes about my “nappy” hair but at the end of the day I LOVE IT!

What is your current routine?
I wash my hair once every 2 weeks and co wash every 3-4 days. I use DR Bronner Peppermint Soap when I do wash and co-wash with Trader Joes Nourish Spa Moisturizing Conditioner. I find both for a really good price at Trader Joes. I deep condition with Olive Oil, Grape seed Oil with Trader Joes Nourish Spa Moisturizing Conditioner. I use Kinky Kurly Knot Today and Carols Daughter hair milk and Proclaim Natural 7 Oil as my leave in. My hair is naturally dry so I’m always on the hunt for anything to make my hair softer and manageable without breaking the bank! During the winter months I do twist outs and braid outs, in the summer wash and go’s!

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
I would love to achieve hair that reaches the middle of my back, but ultimately I just want healthy hair. I plan on reaching my goal by doing protective styles and keep my hair clean and moisturized. I plan to avoid applying heat (blow dryers..hooded dyers and flat irons). I also plan on taking my supplements(Vitamin D, E, and Biotin) and continue to eat better.

Describe your fav natural hair style.
You can never go wrong with a twist out! For my twist outs I co wash my hair and divided it into 4 parts, detangle with a wide tooth comb and apply liberally, grape seed oil and olive oil. I then add a little Carols Daughter hair milk and twist hair while wet. I sleep while its drying with a silk bonnet on my head and untwist the next day. I try not to sit under a dyer the next morning..only if its super wet the next morning..which rarely happens.

Curly girls have more fun because...we have no limits!

Follow Nickey on Twitter @readbetweenthe_

About me...I'm an introvert with a hearty laugh, I enjoy flats because it is likely I will fall over in heels, and anything related to cupcakes has my full attention. My name is Donica (pronounced Dawn-ee-ka), and I'm just months away from my Masters in Transpersonal Psychology: Art Therapy (whoot!). It was destiny arriving on a path as a helping professional where I get to include art, yoga, the law of attraction, play, and discussions of social constructs. Perfect!


Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
I live in Denver, CO. My community is my roommate! I'm sadly not connected which is why I began finding curlies online. When I do run into another, it is nothing but love and compliments.

When and why did you decide to go natural?
My mother always kept my hair in braids, so I finally asked for a relaxer in 8th grade to get away from that. In 2003 when I left for college, I could no longer afford the upkeep. I let my hair grow out and met my natural texture for the first time - then quickly hid it in a tight ponytail! Not until 2006 did I start to become curious about my hair.


Were your friends and family supportive of your decision? If so, how were you able to move forward?
My family made jokes about how birds-nesty my hair looked, but no one questioned it. The people I dated in undergrad had a problem with it, so I wore my hair straight often. *sigh* I wish I would have realized sooner those people were not worth dating.

Describe your hair routine.
I was a loyal user of Mixed Chicks, but now that my hair is longer, the product weighs it down. My philosophy is the taller, the bigger ....the better.

1. Wash with tiny amount of Organix Shampoo
2. Detangle with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
3. Condition with "Yes to Carrots" and Olive Oil. Sometimes I'll let it sit.
4. Apply Jane Carter Solutions: Leave in Conditioner and Condition & Sculpt
5. Diffuse.
6. Fluff with Cantu Shea Butter and coconut oil. Continue daily after morning shower.
7. Wear in a high ponytail, unless fancy outing calls for a wild child.

Some of my fav products are...Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo and Coconut Oil. My hair always smells like lemon coconut cookies with this combo.

Do you have any hair goals? If so, what steps are you taking to achieve them?
I REALLY love short hair and can't wait to chop this all off! Until then, I do have a hair goal of "get as long as possible!" I am interested in having a Greco-Roman themed wedding, and I see women in this mythological time having incredibly long chocolate curls. I have to remind myself to wear a bonnet when I sleep, and in the summer I need to condition my hair before hopping in the pool. I never wear the bonnet though, so I try to at least pineapple it.


How has being natural changed you?
It continues to bring out the Leo in me. I am terribly shy, and my hair is a gentle reminder that I've got some prowess and edge to me.... a little bit of free spiritedness.

My top 5 obsessions are...
1. My planner. color coded, post-it noted, write everything in it planner.
2. Sharpie Pens and permanent makers that do not bleed through paper. ugh.
3. Groceries: planning, budgeting, buying & putting them away. I'm pretty obsessed with food.
4. Learning about Relationships - especially the psychology of love and sexual attraction
5. Vampire Diaries. - I can't help it.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I just want to thank all the Curlies who are documenting their process and sharing the inspiration! Not only is it helpful for me, but it's something I use as a therapist with black women clients exploring their identity. The community helps me give resources and offer tips!

My roommate deserves a shout out because she is actually the one who does all the curly research to relay to me. (@only1misstiff).

I do not document my natural hair, but I do share my art therapy journey! If you are interested in art, therapy, manifestation, yoga, love, silliness, and the Universe from the perspective of a fellow curly... please come find me! It would be a pleasure to meet you. Namaste!

About Me...Well, I am a laid back person who loves to express herself creatively. I think of myself as the typical Aquarian spirit: chill to the point of sometimes being aloof; talented in many ways that force me to be a Jack-of-Multiple-Trades and a Master-of-Few; and shy and outgoing at the same time. I make acquaintances easily, but call very few people true friends. I can be the life-of-the-party or a total wallflower, depending on what day you catch me. All of this is demonstrated in my natural hair styles, because some days it's creative and stylish and other days, it's honestly a hot mess.

Where do you live? How is the natural hair community there?
I am currently living in Tuskegee, Alabama, a historically and culturally famous city for many reasons. The natural hair community is broken up the way the city is: the college side (Tuskegee University) versus the town side. On campus (where I interact a lot), people (particularly students) are very accepting and loving towards natural hair -- various individuals are always complementing me on my natural hair's texture regardless of style and there have even been forums and meet-and-greets for the student body's natural hair community. On the town side though, there are a lot of individuals (particularly older people) who are very old-fashioned and who have what I think of as the Jim Crow Mentality: there are a lot of issues and prejudices still in peoples' heads regarding natural hair and what it means -- I've been told to my face that my hair is unattractive and have even had people "lovingly" suggest that I straighten my hair if I want to catch a husband one day. It doesn't upset me though because I feel that it comes back to how people were treated when they were growing up: darker skinned women were deemed unattractive in their time, along with anyone who looked too "black." Natural hair was something people did in the past for political or radical reasons. I think that psychology is still ingrained in a lot of people's heads.

When and why did you decide to natural?
This is my third time going natural, so I guess I will explain why I went natural each time. First Time: When I was in high school, I became active in an after-school group that targeted young black youth and was focused on encouraging black activism, positivity, and pride. I was surrounded by women who had afros and locks and became influenced by not only their way of thinking, but their style as well. Naturally, I decided to cut off my permed hair because I wanted to be more authentic and real, the way they seemed to be. Second Time: When I first went natural, all I knew about styling was to wear an afro and pick my hair when it was wet. So in college, I ended up getting a perm again because I was tired of the same old afro-style. But after a few months of trying to put in retouches myself or paying others to do so, I was over the newness and ended up doing a big chop -- I section my hair into four ponytails, cut them off and went to a barber to have him trim it more professionally. Third Time: After several years of yet again wearing nothing but afros, I got curious about how my hair would look straightened, so I had my sisters perm it. They ended up having to use to boxes of perm because my hair had gotten so long. By the time it was finished, it hung to beneath my shoulder blades. I honestly loved the way it looked for quite some time and was consistent with getting it retouched, either professionally or by relatives. But then it started breaking off, even though I was wrapping it, conditioning it, etc. So I started feeling the itch and frustration to go natural. This time, the decision to Big Chop was much more traumatic because it was not accepted the way it had been in the past, by family and some friends.

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision? If not, how were you able to move forward?
The first two times I went natural, the reaction was one of either ambivalence or nonacceptance, depending on who I encountered. The first time, my mother was accepting but non-excited, but the rest of my family was either displeased or disgusted. I had one sister who was so disgusted, she started telling people at school I was her cousin and not her sister. I didn't take it seriously though, perhaps because I was in a more militant state of mind and viewed the lack of acceptance as ignorance of some kind. The second time, there wasn't really a lot of space for reaction, because I was in college and no one was around to see me when I cut my hair, they just kinda figured it out once I went home...by then it was too late to object. The third time I went natural, the decision to beforehand was controversial and inflammatory to many people around me. I think the issue this time was that my hair had gotten so long and straight that me deciding to cut it all off was just deemed almost sacrilegious. In the black community I was in by that point, no one could understand why a black girl who's own hair had grown so long would willingly let it go. I remember the worst experience was members of my family staging an "intervention" to convince me not to cut my hair off and go natural. To get results, one family member in particular went below the belt, saying things like "When you were natural all those other times, you just weren't pretty" or asking questions like "Don't you want to get married one day? Well, you won't if you don't look attractive." She even said that my white friends only like my hair natural because it kept me looking more black and unattractive, the way white people like. I went natural anyway and they accepted it with time. In fact, all of the women in my immediate family are now naturals, so all's well that ends well.

What is your current hair routine?
Right now, my routine is very laid back. Some weeks I co-wash every day in the shower, squeeze it dry with a t-shirt, coat it with Olive Oil or Hot Six Oil, then pull it back into a puff without picking it or combing it (I love my curls better that way, instead of the frizzed out look I get from picking it). Other weeks, I do a wash/detangle/deep condition session over the weekend, then try various styles for the rest of the week, such as a twist out, braid out, or puff. Each time I change my style during the week, I co-wash it and oil it. Right now, I am co-washing with a conditioner I got from the Dollar Tree (for a dollar of course) called Silkience. I like it mainly because it provides good slip, is cheap, and defines my curls. I almost dislike it sometimes though because it makes my hair very silky...for some strange reason, I sometimes prefer my hair to look more 4b and the Silkience sometimes creates a 3b affect for me.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
My main hair goal is to achieve health in my hair and scalp, facilitate growth to the full potential, and become proficient at trying new and attractive styles. To make this a dream come true, I am doing the following things: keeping my hair strong by conditioning it as much as possible, using only plant (and non-mineral) oils to moisturize it, combing it as little as possible (using my fingers instead to detangle and separate it), and taking advantage of Internet resources for hair style ideas.

What is your fav go-to style for your natural hair?
My ultimate, most typical go-to style is the puff. All I do is co-wash it, oil it, then pull it backwards by stying an elastic scarf around the hairline and continuously pulling the ends as the scarf slides backwards, which smooths the hair into a ponytail. Once the hair is as far as I want it to go, I just keep wrapping the scarf around the ponytail until it is tucked away and hidden and looks like an elastic band instead of a scarf.

Curly girls have more fun because...they take full advantage of the heath and vitality that their hair's natural state and texture allows, giving them the chance to be true to themselves, diverse with their style options, and all-natural divas.