NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!
Ms. Chu: I am Ms. Chu, a New York based DJ, fashionista and hair guru.
NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls, or have you always enjoyed and embraced your curls?
Ms. Chu: I had toyed with the idea of going natural on several occasions. I made a few attempts at growing my relaxer out, but always fell back into the habit of relaxing my hair. After experiencing a really bad relaxer that left my hair shedding terribly, I decided that it was time for me to embrace my natural hair. That was about three years ago. Today I am totally in love with my curls.NC: What is your current routine?
Ms. Chu: I keep my routine rather simple. I wash, condition and rod set my hair once per week. My daily routine consists of a teaspoon of Moroccan oil that I use to separate, fluff and refresh my curls.
NC: From start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process?
Ms. Chu: I wash my hair with Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo. I deep condition by sitting under a hooded dryer for twenty minutes with a Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask. Once the mask has been rinsed out, I condition my hair with Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner, rinse, and finally apply an ample amount of Avlon KeraCare Natural Textures Leave-In Conditioner. Then I begin parting my hair into small sections and rolling it on Jheri curl rod rollers. Once my entire head has rollers, I sit under the dryer for forty-five minutes to an hour. After the hair has dried, I remove the rollers and separate and fluff the curls for a full curly look.
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Ms. Chu: I sleep with a satin bonnet on.
NC: What are your favorite hairstyles to wear with your curls?
Ms. Chu: I enjoy wearing rod sets and twist-outs. When I’m feeling extra lazy, I just rock a ponytail with an afro puff. I also consider myself a weave queen, so during the colder months, I wear protective styles utilizing wigs and weaves.NC: What are your must-have products and tools?
Ms. Chu: I can’t live without Moroccanoil products! Moroccan oil is a miracle — it keeps my frizz to a minimum.NC: What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural?
Ms. Chu: I received mixed reviews. Women who were already natural embraced me and helped me celebrate my natural hair. Relaxed women would sometimes ridicule me and ask me why I chopped all my hair off, etc. My husband openly hated my hair for about a month. Once I became more comfortable with styling my hair, my husband began to appreciate it more.
NC: Did you big chop or transition, and for how long?
Ms. Chu: I did both. I transitioned with a weave for about a year, and then I decided that I was fed up with the weave and the two textures, so I did a big chop. Initially, I experienced a love-hate relationship with my hair. I felt free at first, but after about a month I thought to myself, “Why in the world did you cut all your hair off?!” Then the insecurities would quickly pass and I’d go right back to loving my new, natural hair!
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NC: What is the best thing about being curly?
Ms. Chu: Being curly gives me the styling versatility that I need. It’s also healthier than damaging and burning scalp and hair with a relaxer. I also enjoy having the option to wear my hair curly or straight.NC: Does having curly hair affect your everyday life?
Ms. Chu: I thought that going natural would give me carefree styling options. Shortly after cutting my hair, I realized that being natural would require more work than I expected. Once I found a signature, go-to style, I was able to get out of the house faster in the morning. But it was really tough at first.NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?
Ms. Chu: If you are thinking about going natural…just do it! It’s one of the most uplifting and invigorating things that you will experience. It may not be easy to find that signature style or the perfect routine right away, but be patient with your curls. Love your hair and your hair will love you back!NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects. Tell us about your life and what you are up to!
Ms. Chu: I will be performing at several venues around NYC. I also have an internet radio show called Beauty and the Beats, which airs on Mondays from 8PM-10PM EST on sikmixxradio.com! Tune in and you are guaranteed to dance! Read More: Real Texture Talk: Alessandra Christiani
