Texture Perspective is a new series of discussions involving the perspectives of four different women of different hair textures and types, of varying ages who are in different stages in life. We invite you to meet them and join in the discussion and interact with these ladies and the rest of the NaturallyCurly community by commenting. If you missed the first part of Texture Perspective, be sure to go back and meet Tracey. In this second introductory portion of Texture Perspective, meet another one of the four ladies, Quinn.
Quinn Smith: 3B
NaturallyCurly: Please, introduce yourself! Where are you from? Where do you live?
Quinn Smith: My name is Quinn Ryan Smith. When I was younger, I hated my name, because when people saw it, they always expected me to be a boy. As I got older, I began to appreciate the uniqueness of my name and grew to love it.
I live with my family north of Atlanta in Buford. I love it here. Though I am definitely not an outdoorsy kind of gal, I love that we are surrounded by nature and that my girls will have adequate exposure to God’s creation.
I’ll be 31 in August. For the most part, I’m okay with where I am in life, so I don’t have any particular issue with disclosing my age. My weight is a whole other story. Right now, my main occupation is wife and mother. Blogging is my side gig, and I am actively pursuing its growth and success.
I had my oldest daughter, Peyton, a month before my 19th birthday. While I got into my fair share of “trouble,” I effectively became an adult when the doctor came back with the results of that pregnancy test. My husband and I have been married for four years now. We have two daughters together: London, who will be 4 in June and Kensington, who is 17 months old.
NC: What’s your curl story? Have you always loved your hair? Did you just start embracing your curls? Why?
The biggest factor to change how I view my hair is my husband. I knew he was special because he preferred me just the way that I was; he was the first man who did not prefer my hair straight.
QS: When I was a little girl, my mother took such great care of my hair; it sort of set a precedent for me. I didn’t go to a hairdresser for the first time until I was in high school, but even after that, my visits to a salon have always been few and far between. I was always given kind of a hard time when I went to salons to get my hair done, like it was so bizarre that I didn’t have a relaxer and it was a huge hassle to straighten my hair. I’ve never had a relaxer. My mom always told me that I didn’t need one, and when I expressed any desire to have one, she put me off by telling me that I could get one when I turned 13 (I chose not to get one, a decision I’m very grateful for to this day”>.
Even when I started to do my own hair, it never even occurred to me to wear my hair curly until high school when I became good friends with another curly girl. Seeing my friend’s beautiful, curly tresses gave me the courage to finally wear my hair in its natural state. I still preferred to “tame” my mane until it was bone straight. I felt more “me” with straight hair. Curly was simply an alternative when I wanted to do something different, or felt too lazy to tackle the daunting task of straightening it.
And then there was Peyton. Let’s just say it’s hard to find the time to regularly (and painlessly”> wield extremely hot objects when you have a little one knocking you in the knees every five minutes. Curly finally became my regular state of being, but only by default.
The biggest factor to change how I view my hair is my husband. I knew he was special because he preferred me just the way that I was; he was the first man who did not prefer my hair straight. Then there was the discovery that our daughter was a curly girl too. To see the time and effort he (yes, HE does our daughter’s hair”> spends on making sure her hair looks its best, from researching new products and washing and taming those tangles. The two of them have really helped me to embrace the texture I was born with.
NC: What’s your approach to curly hair?
QS: My approach to my hair is sort of “less is more.” I try to be as low maintenance as possible, but I also like to treat my hair well. I wash and condition my hair, use some kind of frizz serum or cream and leave it alone. In general, I try not mess with it too much, because that causes tangles, and I LOATHE tangles. I prefer to use creams and oils, but only lightweight ones.
NC: What’s the BEST advice you ever got about your curly hair?
QS: My mom taught me that, in addition to making sure that your hair is well moisturized, it’s important to get regular trims and not to be afraid to cut off as much as you need to in order to get rid of split ends or damage. It may be a little scary at first to see your hair falling to the floor, or to see that haircut, but you’ll get used to it. More importantly, it will grow back longer, better and stronger. Just take care of it.
NC: What are some of your go to’s — styles, methods, tools, etc?
QS: My number one go to product is COCONUT OIL! I use it to detangle my hair before I wash it while it is dry. I use it as a deep treatment; I will literally drench my hair in it, twist it in a bun, put some kind of cap on, and leave it in at least overnight. My hair loves it! The best tools are my fingers. My hair is the best it’s ever been, and it has a lot to do with the fact that it’s been two months since I’ve straightened it or used a comb or brush in it.
NC: Tell us about YOU — what makes you unique?
QS: I am unique because I am. Gotta love that circular reasoning! I am a host of contradictions coexisting in (moderate”> peace within a single being. How does one put into words what makes them unique? I think the ability to articulate what makes you unique, negates that uniqueness. Whatever it is that makes a person unique, is unique because it cannot be identified or put into words. So there!
NC: What are you favorite things? What are you passionate about? Nail polish? Fashion? Shoes? Books?
QS: My favorite things are numerous and sundry. I love GOOD music of ALL kinds. I love fashion and have been obsessed with makeup and skincare for as long as I can remember. I collect pens and stationary, particularly Sanrio/Hello Kitty. But I think more than anything. I am PASSIONATE about writing. Not a day goes by when I don’t write something. It’s not just something I do, it’s who I am.
NC: What do you do for fun?
QS: I have the most fun being with my children. Watching them discover and enjoy the world and just be cute brings me the most joy. Dancing around with them and teaching them and just being with them fulfills me. And when my husband is with us and we are enjoying each other as a family. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing or where we are, I’m having fun.
NC: What’s going on in your life right now? Moving, relationship, etc?
QS: Right now I’m focused on being a good wife (I’m kind of throwback; I truly see my husband as my king and the head of our household, and I’m reminded why I love him every day”>, the best mommy to my girls (it’s a huge responsibility; they will learn what it is to be a lady from me”> and not lose myself in the mix. I spend what little spare time I have working on my blog. It’s my passion project and I’m working towards that being a bigger (paying”> side gig.
I was a little bitty thing before I had Peyton. I never made it back down to my pre baby weight, and after two more babies, I’m nowhere close to it presently. I feel like a skinny person stuck inside a not so skinny person’s body; my vision of myself doesn’t mesh with what I see in the mirror. I’m working towards getting those two images to match. It may sound trivial or vain, but honestly, right now, losing weight seems to be my biggest struggle.
NC: What is your NaturallyCurly.com username?
QS: Mamafashionista
Meet the other two Texture Perspective ladies tomorrow!
