NaturallyCurly: Please, introduce yourself!
Christina George: Hi, my name is Christina, but they call me Kouki. I’m an Egyptian Curly head and proud of it! I’m 18 and in my senior year of high school!
NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls or have you always embraced your curls?
CG: I guess it all started like 3 or 4 years ago. When I was about 14. I have never been a big fan of straightening my hair. I did it only for weddings, but now it’s becoming a bit more acceptable to wear your hair natural for a wedding. So, I don’t think I have straightened my hair in 2 years. I started wearing my hair down when I learned how to make it less frizzy and how to take care of it on my own.
NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process for your hair? What methods have you developed to take care of your hair since you are not always able to get the products you want?
CG: After watching like a hundred videos and reading a thousand articles, this is what I came up with: It starts in the shower. I shampoo about once or twice a week. Then, I use conditioner and detangle my hair with the conditioner in it. I part it into 4 sections and using a wide tooth comb, I comb my hair from the ends up to the roots. Then after the shower, I put my hair in a towel or a t-shirt and pat it a little. I put my styling cream on it and put it in a high bun for like 5 minutes so it absorbs the cream. Then I do my way of the “Ouidad rake and shake.” I take the bun down, shake my head a little and then tie a little bun at the end of my hair so it doesn’t pull the curls until its dry. I wear it down and it lasts for about two days.
Read More: Help Christina Get a Curly Haircut
NC: What about your hair stylists? Have you learned to do your own hair or found someone who can help you with it?
CG: I do my own hair. I watch a lot of tutorials! I learned almost everything from NaturallyCurly. THANK YOU! Its a bit challenging to find something that works with my hair because there are a lot of tutorials, but really few styles really do work for my curly hair.
NC: What are your favorite hair styles to wear with your curls?
CG: Sometimes I put it in a ponytail or a messy bun, but I usually leave it down.
NC: I know you said it can be difficult to get products, but what are your must-have products and tools?
CG: My conditioner, my wide tooth comb and my oil replacement cream. I WOULD DIE WITHOUT THEM! For a “shampoo” I use Herbal Essences Hello Hydration or Sunsilk co-creation with Ouidad. For conditioner I also use Herbal Essences and Sunsilk. For styling cream I use Pantene Oil Replacement.
NC: What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural, or have you been relaxer free and curly all your life? How have you dealt with those around you who don’t appreciate curly hair?
CG: My parents, my friends and the people around me, love, like or are okay with my hair. Others, in general, have called me names, and said things like, “Have you been electrocuted?” or “Don’t you have a brush” and stuff like that. I got used to it, so I really don’t care about all those negative comments.
NC: What do you do at night time for your hair?
CG: Nothing much I put it in a high, loose bun and sleep on a silk pillow case.
Read More: Real Texture Talk: Sa Rah Shine’s Model Curls
NC: What is the best thing about being curly?
CG: EVERYTHING! It’s my crown and it suits my personality perfectly — wild fun and full of life.
NC: How does having curly hair affect your everyday life, what impact has going natural or being curly had on your life?
CG: It definitely brings attention, both good and bad! I’ve been stopped a few times and asked about my hair.
NC: What changes would you like to see or what do think the curly community here can do to reach out to curlies like you?
CG: It would be really nice if there were events here and a store that sells curly hair products too. That would be great.
NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?
CG: God created you in the most beautiful way you can be with your CURLY HAIR so, love it and be thankful for it, because I think it’s a blessing to have curly hair.
NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects. Tell us about your life and what you are up to! (And anything else you want to share with the NaturallyCurly community!”>
CG: Next year I’m excited that I will be in college. It’s a college for arts. I hope to become a wedding planner. For this summer I’m planning to make jewelry and DIY stuff from the internet so I can wear them in college. I LOVE kids and I go help my mum in her pre-school a lot. I’m thinking of donating my hair, but I can’t find any place here that does that, so I’m going to look harder. I’m CRAZY, I’m funny, I’m creative, and yeah, that’s me!
Also, I want to get a hair cut but I’m not sure what to get because there are no curly hair salons here, so I have to know what I want exactly. Maybe there is a way for me to cut it myself.
Do you have any suggestions about how Christina should cut her hair?
