NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!
Marisol Correa: Hi, my name is Marisol. I’m a wife and mom to four healthy, happy and beautiful children. I’m also an event coordinator for Four Brothers, LLC, and during my spare time I blog, vlog and wear many other hats!
NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls?
MC: I embraced my curls later in life — I wish I would have done so sooner! I truly enjoy them now and I have never looked back.
NC: What is your current routine?
MC: I’m a bit of a “product junkie,” so my routine varies. I use a sulfate-free shampoo 1-2 times a month. I also co-wash every three days, more or less, deep condition weekly and always seal my ends with an oil or butter.
NC: What are your must-have products and tools?
MC: My must-have products are coconut oil, avocado butter, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, various oils, butters and creams…I’m a product junkie!
My must-have tools are my fingers, a wide-tooth shower comb, a Denman brush and a Tangle Teezer.
NC: What are your favorite hairstyles to wear with your curls?
MC: I’m a big fan of wash-and-gos, two-strand twists, twist outs, pony puffs, and twists and curls.
MORE: Real Texture Talk: Bita Pourtavoosi
NC: What do you do at nighttime for your hair?
MC: My nighttime routine depends on the type of style that I’m wearing. I always make sure to sleep with a bonnet, satin cap/scarf, or a satin pillowcase. When I do a wash-and-go I follow my wash-and-go routine.
NC: What about your hair stylists?
MC: I don’t have a stylist…I do my hair on my own! Now that I’m natural, I am very particular about who touches my hair. I was the same way when my hair was relaxed, but now it has gotten worse!
NC: What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural?
MC: There were plenty of haters…even family members ridiculed me! But it wasn’t about what made them happy; it was about what would make ME happy. I didn’t want to hide behind the “Creamy Crack” and live a “LYE.” I wanted to rock what God gave me and be proud as a Naturalista. Take me as I am!
NC: Did you big chop or transition, and for how long?
MC: I was a short-term transitioner; I transitioned for about six months. I chose to transition because I didn’t know what my natural hair texture was! I wanted to get reacquainted with my curls and do plenty of research before choosing to continue transitioning or do a big chop. I did my first big chop in June 2011. During the transitioning process, I had used heat on my hair to blend the two textures. I didn’t know much about heat damage at the time, so when I did my BC I had major heat damage!
I did my second big chop in July 2011 and cut my natural hair, which was about six inches long at the time, down to a half inch!
MORE: Real Texture Talk: Molly Geipel
NC: What is the best thing about being curly?
MC: I love the versatility. I love being able to experiment with products and find out what my hair loves. And I love just letting my curls go wild and free!
NC: How do you think having curly hair has impacted your life?
MC: I truly believe that it has impacted my life in a positive way! I’m into fashion, makeup and all things beauty — much more now than I was before. I personally feel that, for the first time in my life, I truly love myself. I accept myself for who I am!
NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?
MC: Surround yourself with positive and supportive people, whether it’s family or friends. And if it seems that you’ve run into a dead end and are thinking, “I can’t,” take a breather and reassure yourself that you can! Ask for help. Ask a family member or friend, consult with a natural hair beautician, search websites…and most importantly, don’t quit!
NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects!
MC: When I’m not taking care of my amazing children, spending time with my family, tending to the home front, working, blogging or vlogging, I’m working on getting back into my acting career! I used to model, act, sing and dance. I put it all on the back burner so that I could focus on my family. Now that they are getting older and are in school, I feel like I’ve gotten my second wind!
Where you can find Marisol:
Blog/Website: http://www.MamaNaturalista.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mamanaturalista
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MarisolCorrea
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/MarisolC79
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/MamaNaturalista
Pinterest: http://www.Pinterest.com/MamaNaturalista
