Sherry: Hi everyone! My name is Sherry and I am a twenty-something living in sunny Southern California.

NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls?

Sherry: I didn’t realize that I had curly hair until I was twenty-two. I went to a Nickelback concert and wanted to mousse my hair…I don’t know why but I did. Naturally, my hair took its own course and it became curly and defined. A friend complimented me and asked if I had permed my hair. I didn’t really know what a perm was, so I googled it and the light switch went on…I have curly hair! I finally figured out why my hair was the way it was. I understood why it became frizzy and puffy when I brushed it out. Though I knew I had curly hair I was too lazy and didn’t know how to take care of it. I didn’t embrace it until two years later. I had given myself a haircut, but messed it up so badly that I had to get it professionally cut. In order to fix my hair, the stylist had to cut my hair super short, to the point where I had to say bye-bye to my scrunchy. I was forced to educate myself on how to maintain curly hair and on the different types of hair products. Ever since then I’ve been rocking my naturally curly hair.

NC: What’s your current routine?

Sherry: Contrary to popular belief, curly hair is super easy to maintain and it doesn’t even take that long to style, compared to straightening my hair! I’m a low maintenance girl so I keep it really simple. I’m currently trying out the DevaCurl collection and I love it.

NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process?

Sherry: I start off with DevaCurl No-Poo and then use DevaCurl One Condition. After rinsing the conditioner out, I finger comb my hair and then use a cotton t-shirt to pat the excess water out of my hair. Then I use a quarter-size dollop of the DevaCurl One Condition and scrunch it into my hair. To finish, I use DevaCurl Light Defining Gel to help hold the curls and of course, I always air dry my hair.

NC: What are your favorite hairstyles to wear with your curls?

Sherry: There’s no better way to embrace your curls than to leave them down and that’s exactly the way I like to wear my hair…loose and free!

NC: What are your must-have products and tools?

Sherry: Right now I’m totally in love with DevaCurl hair products. They really do define and leave your curls soft. I’ve tried other brands but nothing works like DevaCurl!

NC: What do you do at nighttime for your hair?

Sherry: I haven’t quite figured out what to do with my hair when I sleep. For the time being, I just flip my hair over my pillow so that the weight of my head isn’t on my hair.

NC: What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural?

Sherry: My family asked if I had permed my hair, and they still ask me from time to time! Both of my parents are 100% Asian, so they don’t understand where my curly hair came from. I am the only one out of their ten kids with curly hair and I feel very blessed.

NC: Did you big chop or transition?

Sherry:I did a big chop. I was a bit terrified of how people would react since it’s not normal for Asians to have curly hair. When I first started out I always worried if my hair was too big or too frizzy. “Do I look like a mad woman?” I wondered. But after learning how to control my curls, I’m actually more confident with my hair and I no longer feel insecure. If my hair does look a bit wild, I can always use the weather and my curly hair as excuses!

NC: What is the best thing about being curly?

Sherry: The best thing about being curly is that you always look like you have spent hours on your hair, but you didn’t.

NC: How does having curly hair impacts your life?

Sherry: For most of my life I hated my hair, but now that I understand it, I’ve grown to love it. My hair looks great throughout the day and I don’t even have to do much! Since going natural, I have been so much more confident and I feel liberated! I don’t need to straighten my hair or hide it in a ponytail or bun to fit the Asian look.

NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?

Sherry: Change is a scary thing, but if you learn to accept and embrace it, it can be beautiful. I think the most important advice is to educate yourself on hair products. Learn what ingredients are good and bad for your hair. Try a variety of brands to find the products that fit you and your budget.

NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects!

Sherry: I am currently working at a few part-time jobs and freelancing. If I am not working, I am usually designing, doodling, or learning about photography. I am trying to stay away from a 9 to 5 job since I want to keep my options open and am still trying to figure out who I am.