Cassidy BlackwellNaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!
Cassidy Blackwell: Hey Hey! My name is Cassidy and I am a P-R-O-U-D naturalista! I’m also the Marketing & PR Associate/Global Editor of TextureMedia.
NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls or have you always enjoyed/embraced your curls?
CB: It’s been about 2 years for me since I really started loving my teeny-weeny coils (named Lola”>. It was truly love at first sight- I haven’t looked back since!
NC: What is your current routine/regimen?
CB: I rarely stray from wash’n’gos and I like to my routine very very simple. I wash and style my hair about every 2-3 days and make sure to sleep every single night with a sleep cap.
NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process?
CB: I will cleanse with a gentle shampoo or a cleansing creme then condition with a moisture rich conditioner. If needed, I’ll detangle with the Ouidad Double Detangler (with the conditioner in!”>. Then I’ll follow with some sort of styling product. I’ve been really into products that act as a leave-in and styler all in one bottle. As I said, I like to keep it simple and the more I can cut down to just a single product, the better for me! Then I SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE my hair to fluff and set my coils and VOILA I’m done!
Read More: Coily Beginner’s Guide: Hair Washing Routine
NC: What about your hair stylists?
CB: I absolutely ADORE my hair stylist, Miss Marie Cesar of Madusalon in San Francisco. Since I wear almost wash’n’gos exclusively, she’s worked with me to give me some cool cuts with great volume that give my hair a lot of shape and style. She knows her way around a head of all types of curls like nobody’s business. I came to her with an idea of color and she totally rocked it giving me a coppery-cinnamon hue with golden highlights. I’ve never gotten more compliments on my hair!
NC: What are you favorite hair styles to wear with your curls?
CB: Wash’n’Go! I also liked having one side shaved down into a full-on fade. That was a fierce look!
NC: What are your must-have products and tools?
CB: My Ouidad Double Detangler, my fingers, Huetiful Steamer, and styling cremes and gels that allow me to set my coils quickly and easily. Scrunchies and a sleep cap for when I lay my head down at night. As for products, gosh, this is a difficult one because as a blogger, I end up trying any and everything! It’s awesome, because there’s so much great stuff out there on the market for curls these days. It’s a problem, because products have since taken up most of the available real estate in my home. These things should start paying rent!
NC: What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural or have you been relaxer free all your life?
CB: I doubted it. My family doubted it. But then I did the damn thing and everyone’s been singing Lola’s praises since!
NC: Did you big chop or transition?
CB: I transitioned for about a year before chopping the relaxer off. Since I did the transition in braids, it was pretty simple for me to just let my hair grow and not think about it too much. The big chop was done first by me when I got a bit scissor happy, and then I high-tailed it to a salon so they could fix my mess.
Read More: Transitioning to Natural Hair the Easy Way
NC: What do you do at night time for your hair?
CB: I pineapple! Well, because of my length and asymmetrical cut, I do a variation of pineappling using a couple of scrunchies secured around the base of the longest parts of my hair. Then I place a sleep cap on top.
NC: What is the best thing about being curly?
CB: THAT IT’S AWESOME. And distinctive. I love that my hair is uniquely me and one-of-a-kind!
NC: How do you think having curly hair has impacted your everyday life?
CB: To be able to fluff my hair and go in the mornings certainly makes my beauty regimen simpler.
NC: What would you tell others to encouraging them to embrace their curls?
CB: JUST DO IT! Your hair is gorgeous as is. Just figure out the right products and routine and you’ll be looking fly in no time!
NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects. Tell us about your life and what you are up to!
CB: Currently I’m in the midst of planning NaturallyCurly’s 2nd ANNUAL POOL PARTY! It’s going down in Orlando on June 2nd and trust us, you wont want to miss it!
Read More: Coily Manifesto: I LOVE My Stylist
