What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?
I grew up in a traditional Puerto Rican home. My mother was never fond of curly hair. I clearly remember how many times I cried, as a child, while my mom or my older sister was untangling my hair. My hair was always frizzy and unmanageable. All efforts were in vain, my mom just didn’t know how to care for my thick, curly hair. Finally, at 9 years old, I was given my very first “Just for me” relaxer kit. I remember smelling the burn from my hair the next day while sitting in class. I had to leave my hair pin straight greasy for a few days before I was able to wash.
What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/coily/wavy hair?
At the end of 2018(entering 2019″>, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune deficiency disorder. This disorder triggered chronic eczema in my skin and scalp. I was told that applying heat to my scalp assisted in flare ups I was going through during that time. Nevertheless, I was stubborn and didn’t start my natural hair journey until March of 2019. It’s very hard for someone that has been raised with the mindset that curly hair makes you look “dirty or untidy” to break free from that mentality. When I made the commitment to embrace my natural hair I had to mentally prepare myself for the negativity I knew I would get. Although my biggest supporters were my 5 sisters, my mother was not thrilled about my decision to embrace my natural curly hair.
What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?
My most empowering moment of my natural hair journey was when the last of my damaged hair was removed. When I first started my journey, I went to a curly specialist that told me I had to get a pixie cut in order to move forward. I remember walking out sad and disillusioned, the one person I thought for sure will help me , crushed my hopes of transitioning to natural (because I knew I will not get a pixie cut”>. Finally I ran into a curl specialist profile and decided to message her, from that moment on everything changed for me. Coming to the realization that I had accomplished my goal and had a new appreciation and love for myself was my most empowering moment.
How do you protect your curls at night?
I protect my curls at night with an extra large satin handkerchief or bonnet.
Who is your curl crush?
My curl crush is the influencer kats.curls. She literally took me under her wing from the very beginning of my healthy hair journey.
What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?
My curly girl essential I can’t live without is my extra large satin handkerchiefs. I use them for working out, sleeping, protective styling from the sun, and even when I do a pineapple to clean around the house.
What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?
My current regimen is Enummi Shampoo and conditioner. I am a huge believer in having a good balanced routine to meet all the needs of your hair. In order to achieve this I use curlygenny_ hair masks weekly, Shea Moisture Deep conditioning hair masks 2x/ month and also use Olaplex 3 every 4 weeks. My current “go to” leave-in product is Curlsmith weightless air dry cream and in-shower styler fixer. I also make sure to take multivitamins and collagen to maintain optimal results with new hair growth. In addition to this, I scalp massage daily with righteous roots oil. I know…it’s a lot!! But it is SO WORTH IT!!!
What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?
My most challenging moment was 5 months into my journey. When you’ve reached the halfway point of the journey, you get into a very awkward stage where everything inside of you screams to fall back into old habits. I remember being invited to a wedding and almost straightening my hair. At that moment, I removed all my accumulated hot tools (worth over $700″> and gave them away, otherwise I knew I would fall back into old habits. When I decided to take this step, I knew that I was fully committed to the process.
Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?
One of the techniques that I believe has made a huge impact on my hair health is scalp massaging daily for a minimum of 5 minutes. Scalp massage has many benefits, hair growth being one of them. Another technique I adopted during my transition was finger coiling. Finger coiling encouraged my curls to take the form in which they have today. Yes, in the beginning it looks very unnatural, but when you get to the place where you no longer have to manipulate your curls to take form, it makes the process all worth it.
What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?
My advice for women struggling to love their natural texture is to give it time. It’s worth it! And the satisfaction you get from reaching your goal is priceless. As a mother of 3 curly girls, having them be active members of my process and journey of loving and embracing me for myself made a world of difference. I am raising 3 curly girls that love and embrace their natural curly hair.