NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!
Chelsea March: My name is Chelsea March. I was born and raised in Southern New Jersey. I moved to New York City when I was 18 years old to pursue an education in fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls?
CM: There was always a routine involving my hair; I had to go to the hair salon to get my hair permed and then braided up starting when I was about five or six years old. The day at the salon was just what it sounds like: I would literally spend the entire day in the salon chair and it was an extremely uncomfortable process. When I started college in a New York City, I began to see many women embracing their natural hair. It was the first time I had ever seen natural hair in my life because where I came from everyone, and I mean everyone, permed their hair. Towards the end of my sophomore year, a friend of mine who had been natural for a few years inspired me to go natural. She looked so effortlessly beautiful. She did not shudder at the sight of rain or wind in fear that it would ruin her hair. I decided to let my roots just grow out. After a few months of letting my natural roots grow out I went to a friend who was a hairstylist and asked her to cut my hair as short as possible. She was continually asking me, “Are you sure you want to cut off your hair?” I affirmed yes. When she spun my chair around she did not cut it as short as I wanted it so the next morning, I got scissors out and took the job into my own hands, and on the morning of December 12, 2011, I became natural. That was the morning I feel like I truly became myself.NC: What’s your current routine?
CM: I only use 100% all natural products on my hair. I believe that it’s the best way to keep your hair as healthy as possible. I wash my hair once a week with Terressentials Hair Wash. I moisturize with SheaMoisture Deep Treatment Masque and seal it with Naptural85’s Hair and Body Oil.
NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process?
CM: I try to keep it pretty simple. I spritz my hair with a little bit of water, apply about a quarter-sized amount of SheaMoisture Deep Treatment Masque to my hair starting with my ends and spreading that around my hair. Then I seal it with my natural oil mixture.
NC: What are your favorite hairstyles to wear?
CM: I really love embracing my natural afro…you will usually see my with my hair out in its natural, wild ‘fro or up in a ponytail with a vintage inspired victory roll for my bangs.
NC: What are your must-have products and tools?
CM: My fingertips are my favorite tools to use. I do not use any heat on my hair at all. Since I only use 100% products I like to make many of my hair products if I cannot find what I need in stores.
NC: What do you do at nighttime for your hair?
CM: At night I lightly mist my hair with water and moisturize with shea butter. I have a silk pillowcase that I sleep on to prevent breakage.NC: What reaction did you get when you decided to go natural?
CM: Some members of my family were very unsure of my recent hair transformation; I was said be Afrocentric because I was the only one in our family to go natural. After a while, they realized that it was not just a phase, it was something I was committed to, and they began to embrace my decision. My friends loved the change particularly because they had never seen a real Afro before and loved getting to touch it.NC: Did you big chop or transition, and for how long?
CM: I transitioned for about five months and then decided to just big chop the rest of it off.
NC: What is the best thing about being curly?
CM: The best thing about being curly is the freedom to not have to worry about your hair. I also feel like I am myself more so now than ever before.NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?
CM: Just go for it and embrace your curls! Times are changing and beautiful, big, curly hair is desired by all and is quickly being accepted by society more and more.NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects.
CM: I am about to entire my senior year of college, so I am preparing myself for what this year has to bring in terms of my education. I also recently modeled for a company that I truly admire and support, STATE Bags. They are an amazing company that is about giving back first. I love their slogan, “Give Back Pack.” It fits perfectly…for every STATE backpack purchased, STATE hand-delivers a backpack to an American student in need. I am also working part-time for Warby Parker and with New York Fashion Week right around the corner, there will be a lot of PR and social media projects to come!
