Search Results: Imani Dawson
This month on Curly Q&A we’re lucky to have a special guest answering your curly questions, Imani Dawson of Tribe Called Curl! Imani has been thoughtfully answering questions from our curly community, like this one from member LoveableAngel.
Question:
“Is baby oil good for your hair?”
Answer:
Baby oil is essentially mineral oil with fragrance. And while I’m personally not a fan of it in my hair, there are a number of curly, coily and kinky girls who swear by products containing mineral oil. Here’s a Naturally Curly article extolling the virtues of mineral oil. My advice would be to experiment with a little as seal once you’ve moisturized your hair, and see how your curls respond. Be sure and wash with a clarifying shampoo afterwards.
If you have your own questions you’d like answered by Imani, our community or any of our editors, post them here.
Life is filled with tedious but necessary tasks. As a lazy natural, washday is high on my list. During various points in my natural life, the amount of time to cleanse, detangle, and style my hair has stretched out in front of me like a vast, empty wasteland. I’ve spent as many as eight hours in a stretch on my quest for healthy, full curls and coils. Luckily, those days are long gone. While I haven’t yet figured out how to spend, say zero time on my regimen (if anyone has this covered, please let me know”>, I have streamlined the process to two hours or less from start to finish. Here’s how I keep washday as simple and painless as possible.
1. Scheduling
My elaborate ritual of washing, deep conditioning, detangling, moisturizing, and styling is a monthly affair. I co-wash in between to keep sweat, dirt, and tangles at bay. I make an appointment with myself to get the job done without interruptions or distractions. Dedicating time for your hair is half the battle.2. Detangling
Before beginning my shampoo, I saturate my hair with a sexy cocktail of oil, cheap conditioner (Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner for the win”>, and gently remove any knots, mats, and tangles. I never attempt to detangle without first saturating my strands. As a tender headed American, combing my hair dry has never brought me anything but headaches and tears. After quickly running my fingers through my curls, I divide my hair into four sections to prepare for washing.
3. Cleansing in sections
It might seem like cleansing your hair in multiple sections would add time to a washday regimen, but I’ve found that parting my tresses into four quadrants cuts down on both the time and tangles. After dousing my head with water, I use a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo such as SheaMoisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo. I apply the shampoo to my scalp and work it in with my fingers. I then massage the shampoo down the length of each twist without unraveling, and rinse. This takes approximately 10 minutes. [prodmod]
4. Conditioner detangling (30 minutes”>
I gently smooth my conditioner or deep treatment (try the Karen’s Body Beautiful Luscious Locks Hair Mask“> down the freshly washed twists, then untangle them to get into the nitty-gritty of detangling. If I need more conditioner, I slather it on. I’m definitely not stingy with my conditioner, because it’s the easiest way for me to detangle my hair. I divide each twist into two separate parts and gently work my way backwards, from ends to the roots with a comb.
After the hair is completely detangled, I cover my head with a shower cap and prep for the next steps while I let the deep conditioner penetrate. During the late fall and winter, I sit under my steamer for an extra moisture boost.
5. Cool Water Rinsing (<5 minutes”>
I finish off my wash process by rinsing with cool or cold water, which closes the pores, blocks dirt, and smoothes cuticles. It also seals in all the fabulous moisture from the conditioning treatment. A smoother, flatter cuticle reduces frizz and potential tangles due to friction.6. T-Shirt Drying (<5 minutes”>
Using an old t-shirt to squeeze (not blot”> the excess water from my curls dramatically cuts down my total drying time. Best of all, it keeps my hair smooth and frizz free for styling.7. Moisturizing and Styling (45 minutes”>
I add a leave in (currently loving Camille Rose Naturals Moisture Milk“> while styling, as kind of a two-in-one step. I section my hair into five or six parts, apply the leave-in from root to tip, and then twist or braid as desired. My go-to style is two strand twists, which I braid at the root for more stability.
There it is, a wash day regimen that doesn’t actually take all day. What’s your secret to a fast hair care regimen? Share your secrets below.
Don’t forget to check out Imani’s home at Tribecalledcurl.com
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Over the following three years, thick brown gel became my best friend. It was the nineties, way before textured hair was cool and people swapped tips and techniques online. I don’t think the Internet had even been invented yet. Okay, technically the Internet existed, but only for scientists and the government, and Al Gore, of course. I struggled to tame my cottony curls, and wore my hair in a gelled back, Sade-style braid every day. The middle of my head, filled with pen spring sized coils, became choppy and wild—it was my kinky little secret. My hair wasn’t exactly flourishing, but it was easy to manage and style. Wash days were a breeze with Crème of Nature shampoo, until I discovered it contained sodium hydroxide. My routine was set until I went to college and learned how to care for my hair with the help of a few upperclassmen.
Stepping on campus was like walking into to the set of Spike Lee’s “School Daze.” Although I didn’t attend a HBCU, the African American students had a major presence at my school. There was a whole contingent of women who were natural, rocking curls, coils, braids, and locs, and they took me under their wing. With their guidance, I learned how to properly detangle and moisturize my curls. I also discovered that when I two strand twisted my hair, it grew like dandelions. By junior year, my hair had reached waist length. I cut it because it was too much to handle, and to also rid myself of damaged ends. I experimented a bit with my hair, searching for the easiest and fastest ways to care for it. Through trial and error, I developed my lazy natural philosophy.
The key to my natural hair success is keeping it simple. No elaborate overnight deep conditioning marathons or chemist level understanding of pH balance and hair care. Not trying to master every new natural hairdo under the sun. Here are my hair care principles:
- Become an expert on your hair. There’s no getting around the time and energy needed to master your unique head of hair. Experiment with different products and wash routines. Figure out what make your texture tick. For me, glycerin and coconut oil have been my curly BFs. Products with those two ingredients generally work well for me.
- Master a few key styles. I keep my hair routine pretty basic. I love twists, twist outs, braid outs, puffs, and the occasional wash and go. While I admire trendsetting coifs on other people, I don’t play around much with different styles on my hair. I like having a signature look that I can usually manipulate to my liking.
- Visit a qualified natural hair stylist. Seeing a stylist has meant the difference between good hair and great hair, for me. I’ve occasionally trimmed my own ends on a single strand knot and split-end eliminating frenzy, but that’s never come close to the amazing shape I get when visiting a stylist. If I want something new or trendy, I go see a stylist. If I need surgery, I wouldn’t do it myself, I’d find a qualified doctor. I feel the same way about my curls.
These are my lazy natural rules of the road. They’ve served me well for the past 24 years, and now I’m passing them on to you. Over the course of this column, I’ll be sharing my best and easiest natural hair tips, techniques, and insights, all from my unapologetically lazy point of view. My goal is to add a bit of fun into your natural hair routine, because really, what’s the point if we can’t celebrate our curls? Going natural doesn’t have to mean a life sentence in your bathroom.
Are you a lazy natural? What are the bare necessities of your regimen?
