Leila's Curly Hair Journey

Leila Davis: Hello! I am Leila, I am a 17-year-old senior at Stratford High School. I grew up in a small town in Stratford, Connecticut. My mother is mostly Irish/ Portuguese decent and my father is from Jamaica. Everyone thinks I inherited my red hair from the Irish side but surprisingly, I got it from my father!

NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls?

LD: I started embracing my curls about two years ago when the “natural hair movement” became the fad. I realized how beautiful curly hair is, and ever since I have been embracing mine!

NC: What’s your current routine?

LD: I wash my hair with SheaMoisture Moisture Retention Shampoo and then I condition with Pantene Moisture Renewal Conditioner. I then finger comb my hair and rinse. Finally, I apply the SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie to my soaking wet hair and air dry.

NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what is your process?

LD: On a curly day, I do a hot oil treatment, wash my hair, condition of course and use my SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I use the raking and smoothing method.

NC: What are your favorite hairstyles to wear with your curls?

LD: I usually wear wash and gos but occasionally, I’ll do French braids or buns.

NC: What are your must-have products and tools?

LD: My must have product is the SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie! Without that product I don’t know if my hair would look as fab as it does :”>

NC: What do you do at nighttime for your hair?

LD: I wear a satin cap. NC: How often do you cut your hair?

LD: I get a trim once every six months.

NC: What reaction did you get when you first went natural?

LD: I have always been natural, but I would always wear my hair straight, so I had a lot of heat damage. I went completely heat-free in December of 2011.

NC: Did you ever have curly girl insecurities?

LD: My hair was always so huge, so when I was younger people called it a “lion mane.” This upset me and I took a straightener to my hair. I straightened it almost everyday!

NC: What is the best thing about being curly?

LD: Curly hair is diverse. You can wear lots of different hair styles that others can’t!

NC: How do you think having curly hair impacts your life

LD: I think curly hair has impacted my life in a good way. I see naturals and they stop me and say, “Oh my gosh, I cannot wait until my hair becomes your length!” or “People with hair like yours are the reason I went natural!”

NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?

LD: Curly hair is beautiful and unique! It’s the hair on your head and you were born with it…love it!

NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects!

LD: I am currently a full time student at Stratford High School…I guess you can say I have a typical teenage life. Right now I’m getting ready to apply for colleges!

You can find Leila on Facebook or on Instagram.