Search Results: NaturallyCurly

@nikki_with_the_curls before transitioning

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

I remember being a teenager and I wanted to have long, straight hair, like all the other girls. I got bullied in school, so I wanted to fit in so badly. I would try to straighten my hair, but by the time gym class was done, my hair was frizzy and wavy again. I remember even faking a sprain before.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally wavy hair?

My 14 year old daughter was starting to embrace her natural waves and I was so proud of her. She encouraged me to do the same. So I did, while cheering her on and supporting her, while also being someone she could relate to.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

I would have to say that wearing my hair in its natural state in a professional setting is empowering to me. I’m so thankful to have a boss who supported me and even joined me on my journey to healthy curls.

How do you protect your curls at night?

I love wrapping my hair up in a satin scarf and I sleep on a silk pillowcase, in case the scarf falls off.

Who is your curl crush?

My aunt is my curl crush in real life. I remember always looking up to her when I was a little girl. I always wanted hair like hers. She had the most beautiful long, dark curly hair.

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

My scalp massager, hands down! I love that thing!!

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

My hair is fine, so I clarify once a week or every other week. I try to stick with a conditioner with protein. I always use a curl cream (just a little”>, a foam and smasters with gel. I’m all about the volume and my hair is loving all the foams lately that help me achieve that!

Nikki after her transition

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

Recently, I’ve realized my hair is more wavy than curly. I was always trying to brush style and manipulate with a ton of scrunching to try to make my hair more curly. But, I would always end up with hair that would look almost straight in the back. I recently got a very flattering hair cut that made me realize that I have wavy hair. Realizing this has made styling much easier.

What is your hair type?

2c

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Doing the smasters technique with a gel when my hair is about 60% dry has helped extend my wash day. Also, I’ve slowed down on using oils the weigh my hair down. Instead of scrunching out the crunch with oil, I’ve been using a pea size amount of cream. Now my hair is more bouncy.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

Keep it simple and have fun with it. Life is full of heaviness, your hair doesn’t have to be. And instead of trying what works for everyone else, listen to what your hair needs.

Image Source: @fropunzel_

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

As a child, having textured hair meant getting the bowrette bucket, pink moisturizing hair lotion, a cup of water, and a brush for my mom so that she could style my hair for the week with a few brush ups in between. When I was younger, I did not realize the value of the crown on my shoulders. I mainly grew up around girls with gorgeous, flowing, long straight hair, and no one really rocked their natural curls. The straight haired girls were considered “the pretty, popular” girls so, of course, immaturely, I wanted the same, and I asked my mom to relax my hair. My hair was beautiful relaxed, but I could never reach too far past shoulder length hair. It was not until I went natural in college that I finally achieved the length I wanted, and realized how much healthier my hair was without the creamy crack.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/coily hair?

Before going natural, my go-to hairstyle was a roller- wrap (curls at the top with straight hair around”>. I got extremely bored with my hair, and was at the point of just “dealing with it”. During my junior year of college, I moved into a house with 3 guy friends and one of their girlfriends who had natural hair. Naturally, being the only women, we started to hang and I began to experience her natural journey. I would watch her style her hair and how it would curl up so beautifully, naturally, but I could not experience this. I wanted to know the untainted parts of myself, and I wanted to learn how to undeniably love whoever that was. I began doing research and started learning the health benefits of going natural, and watching others’ journeys on YouTube, which encouraged me greatly.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

My most empowering moment was the day of my big chop. After doing some deep research, and transitioning for a year, I randomly decided to cut off my relaxed ends. I thought that because I stopped using the relaxer, my curls would automatically come in. I was still getting my hair straightened every two weeks after I stopped using a relaxer, which meant I was still giving myself heat damage. After washing my hair and preparing to cut it, my stylist determined the line of demarcation was much shorter than I thought. Instead of having curly hair down to my ears, I would have two inches of hair. I hated cutting my hair and would even cry sometimes! He asked if I was sure and started cutting. This became one of the most freeing experiences of my life and gave me so much more confidence as my raw, unaltered self.

Image Source: @fropunzel_

How do you protect your curls at night?

To protect my curls, I use silk pillow cases. Before going to sleep, I usually soak my hair bands in oil. I then put my hair in either one big pineapple or mini pineapples, and wrap it in my satin scarf, I then cover all of this with my jumbo bonnet that has silk on the inside. My bonnet has no band in it so that it does not damage my edges.

Who is your curl crush?

I definitely have more than one curl crush. I absolutely adore Jessica Lewis (Mahogany Curls“>, Tyjalayah Robertson (naturallylady“>, Alana Simone (ina90skindofworld“>, and Kimberly Cherrell. I adore these queens and their curls, not only, because of their hair, but they also influence and encourage their followers to laugh and focus on mental well being as well. They have so much personality, and are not to be themselves freely. I believe these ladies embrace the characteristics of the type of naturalista I believe that I am.

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

My curl girl essentials that I can not live without are water, my Aussie Moist Mega Moist conditioner, and my Michel Mercier Thick Hair detangling brush. These three things help me love on my curls and detangle them with ease and without damaging them. As a thick, oily natural, it can be difficult finding products that are hydrating and moisturizing enough and even harder to find styling tools that don’t rip my strands. These three things, however, are game changers and they are definitely my staples.

Image Source: @fropunzel_

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

I always shampoo my hair in the shower and I make sure to follow my hair regimen once every week. I LOVE the Giovanni Creamy Avocado & Olive Oil Shampoo. Then, I condition with Aussie Moist Mega Moist Conditioner while detangling, then I apply my Aussie Moist Mega Moist 3 Minute Conditioner. After rinsing this out I usually use a hair mask and sit under the dryer for about 30 minutes. Once I rinse this out, I apply rice water to my hair and allow it to sit in my hair for at least an hour before rinsing. I proceed with the L.O.C. method with water as my leave in, a mixture of oils, and Cantu’s Shea Butter Repair Cream Leave-in Conditioner as my cream before styling.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

The most challenging part of my journey has been fighting hair damage from using color and bleach. I have fought this battle twice now. It is very frustrating, because coloring hair is a structure altering process, similar to relaxing hair. Both times after coloring my hair, it changed from soft, shiny, and manageable to dry , dull, limp curls. It also causes so many more split ends, and trimming more often is a must.

Image Source: @fropunzel_

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

When I detangle my hair, I have learned to put my hair under the running water with the conditioner while brushing though it for an easier detangling process. I also have incorporated rice water into my regimen which has made my hair stronger, shinier, softer, and easier to detangle. The L.O.C. method is definitely a tried and true natural hair staple for hair health as well.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

I believe you simply need a change of perspective. Your natural hair texture was picked specially for you by God, because it is part of what makes you uniquely beautiful. Whether you can run your fingers straight through it, or barely stick your fingers in it, all textures of natural hair are beautiful. The main focus should be on the health of your hair. The day after I big chopped, I got a sew in, because I did not know how to embrace my curls nor the length, but I was forced to learn how and take out my sew in, because my leave out was too short and kept flying up. I am so happy this happened, because it made me look in the mirror and fall in love with who and what I saw. If you’re having a hard time, just find others with similar textures and see how they rock theirs, and maybe it will help you rock yours!

A comic gone south:

Reader Jessica (CurlTalk: missjessica”> sent this comic strip in. Tsk tsk, Ms. Guisewhite

Curl Bashing from E Online: “Chloe Sevigny looks like a cross between Shirley Temple and Elvira at the New York premiere of The Women. Her black teardrop-bodice pleated gown, black scarf, single rope of pearls and sheer black gloves can’t make up for that mop of tight fresh curls. Let this be a warning to women everywhere: This is what happens when good perms go bad.”

Image: @littlewithbigcurls_

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

Growing up in a Dominican household, my textured hair was considered a “Pajon” which pretty much meant “wild untamed big afro”. So when someone would tell my mother “You need to fix her pajon” that meant “Take your child to the salon”. My hair was relaxed at the age of 10 and I had to get my hair straightened EVERY weekend, which I hated. However, in my mind I had to keep my hair nice and straight because that was when I looked “pretty”.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

In 2007 I decided to cut off all my relaxed hair, because I was over the chemicals being added to my hair and how smelly my hair would get when I would sweat. Even though I still continued straightening my hair weekly, I would sometimes rock my curls until one day in 2014 I washed my hair and my curls were completely gone. I had MAJOR heat damage. So I went to work and educated myself on natural hair. I had no idea that there was a huge natural hair community out there to help guide me. I was in awe!

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far? 

 

The most empowering moment in my journey was in 2015 when I big chopped & never looked back. I now have been natural for 5 years :”> My healthy hair journey has been amazing! I learned to embrace & love myself & my curls. I’ve met so many amazing people on this same journey & knowing I have a whole community to lean on for support is really a great feeling.

Image: @littlewithbigcurls_

How do you protect your curls at night?

Before going to sleep I massage my scalp with my favorite oils combined, Jojoba & Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I put my hair in a high ponytail (Pineapple”>, wrap a satin/silk scarf around my head & I sleep with a satin pillow case. I move a lot when I sleep so if my scarf falls off (which it has”> I have my pillow to keep my curls protected.

Who is your curl crush?

Omg I have so many, but since I have to choose one I’m gonna say that my curl crush is @brandirell I just love her!

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

My curly girl essential I can’t live without is definitely my hair pick. I have one in every bag  own, one by my bed, one in my car, another in my office at work. lol

 

Image: @littlewithbigcurls_

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

Currently I wash my hair once a week, co-wash bi-weekly. I deep condition weekly religiously using either heat or steam. Once a month I do a hot oil treatment.

I style my hair using a cream/butter styler and sometimes I add gel on top of the cream/butter, it really just depends on the product I’m using. When applying the stylers I do it on drenching wet hair, I find when I do this I get the best results.

I air dry till my hair is about 70% dry then I diffuse. Once my hair is completely dry,  pick at my roots for more volume.

A few Of my favorite products are the Papaya Castor Scalp Cleanser by Eden Bodyworks, Honey Miracle Hair Mask by TGIN ‘Thank God It’s Natural”, As I Am Leave-In Conditioner, and Natural Curl Defining Creme by Eden Bodyworks. 

Image: @littlewithbigcurls_

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far? 

The most challenging moment of my natural hair journey was when I gave myself some heat damage by straightening my own hair. I know right!!! I would straighten my hair once a year for length check taking all protective measures. BUT it happened and I seriously cried and was so angry at myself. Like girl…you know better! I couldn’t believe I was dealing with heat damage AGAIN. But with a hair cut and EXTRA TLC my curls bounced right back!

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Scalp massaging nightly with essential oils has definitely helped with growth and keeping my hair and scalp healthy.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

Be patient. Take your time with learning your hair, what it likes and doesn’t like. Consistency is really important in achieving healthy hair. But most importantly, love & embrace YOUR hair. Its part of you!

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

I had straight hair until the summer before starting college when my texture completely changed. I was mostly in a state of denial and never took the time to care for my new texture.

Hairstylists told me they loved my curls, but then elders from the Cambodian community, including my own mother, were telling me that I needed to straighten my hair because my curls were unacceptable and unsightly.

Simultaneously, I felt like I was highly fetishized and sexualized by men of other races who found my hair to be “exotic”. I didn’t have anybody I could look up to from my own community who had hair like mine, nor did I see it represented in the media.

I was groomed into believing that, as an Asian woman, I could never be considered beautiful to my own race because of my hair texture, my skin color, and my body frame.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/wavy hair?

The year I started embracing my curls, my friend, Melanie, asked me to volunteer for her curl cutting class in March where she gave me a cut specific to my texture and gave me hair care tips. It was a very indisputable way for me to face what my texture actually was.

At the same time, I was naturally becoming more curious about curly hair through my former colleague, Tiffany, who has beautiful curly hair. She’d let me in on what it’s like living with her specific texture and how she took care of it. The more we talked about curls, the more I wanted to explore this part of my identity.

One day, I realized that I had to stop waiting for a role model who looked like me to magically appear. I decided to become my own role model instead.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

I’m very lucky to say that I have had many empowering moments during my natural hair journey, and those moments are embedded in each and every single message I receive from other women who express that they share similar experiences to mine and are appreciative that they came across a photo of my face with my natural hair texture.

It’s astonishing how impactful and reassuring it is to simply see someone else mirror the parts of yourself that you want to love and validate. Ultimately, these moments have become part of this synergy that I hope will positively influence other people to step into their own light as well.

How do you protect your curls at night?

Way before I started embracing my curls, I’ve been sleeping on a 100% pure non-dyed 19mm mulberry silk pillowcase I ordered from an Etsy vendor called AdorabellaBaby. Additionally, I put my hair up in a “pineapple”, with either a silk or satin scrunchie.

I’ve tried bonnets and scarves, but I still prefer just my pillowcase and pineapple.

Who is your curl crush?

I have so many!!! Here’s a list of a FEW curl crushes including influencers, celebrities, poets and writers:

@honestlizhere, @lalahdelia, @kellyshabahzian, @spisha, @theblendedbeauty, @jannelleoshaughnessy, @curlybritt, @mamacurlee, @cleowade, @tashimrod and @iamsandraohinsta

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

My diffuser! This particular tool and drying method is my biggest difference between having a good hair day and an OUTSTANDING hair day. My volume, bounce and definition is that much better when I diffuse compared to when I air dry. I don’t have any particular brand for a diffuser that I obsess over, I just use the attachment that came with my CONAIR blow dryer.

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

Cleansing/conditioning routine: I cleanse my scalp every time I wash my hair because it’s super fine and prone to buildup. While conditioning. I massage all my curl clumps with water and conditioner until every strand is properly coated (each clump should be smooth and slimy”>.

Wet styling routine: Divide my hair into 4 (top/bottom, left/right”> then finger rake leave in conditioner in each section. Then I’ll finger rake in some sort of a curl cream throughout my whole head, then use the praying hands method to apply gel in 4 sections. Depending on time, I’ll diffuse upside down with warm air or let air dry.

Product lineup: changes every so often but have recently fallen in love with Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair Mask (deep conditioning”>, and Innersense’s I Create Hold Gel and I Create Volume Lotion. Two of my favorite drugstore buys are Aunt Jackie’s Flaxseed Gel and Miss Jessie’s Jelly Soft Curls.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

The idea of attending a community event organized specifically for people with curly hair is quite unnerving for me because I’m concerned about being judged for taking up space, and I’m never sure if I’ll feel like I belong if I don’t see other people who look like me showing up in the same room.

I was in this situation not too long ago and had a lot of doubt about attending a particular event. At the time, I didn’t have enough energy, confidence or headspace to take on the reality that I more than likely will be reminded of my difference in a room full of people.

Through the encouragement from friends, I ended up going and am so grateful for it. I made some really great connections there and felt like I was at home.

I’m putting it out to the universe that I wish to see more events for the curly community in southern California please!

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Praying hands method will always be my favorite way to apply products during the wet styling process. On my hair personally, this particular application method guarantees less frizz with the best definition and doesn’t weigh my hair down.

I also am very committed to deep conditioning at least every 1-2 weeks.

When I first started, I didn’t have any heat or coloring damage, but it did take about 8 months before I started seeing ideal results. Being consistent and curious has been key to my hair health and the progress of my curls.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

Loving your natural texture is a choice and an effort that you have to make every single day. It’s something that you have to show up for on your own.

But you never have to do any of it alone.

Thanks to the internet, there are so many resources and groups you can join to connect with other people who share your story or who can help you learn the power of your curls.

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

It was very difficult because my hair was at a weird stage where it was big and puffy, but wasn’t necessarily curly. For the most part I always straightened it with a flat iron because I didn’t wanna deal with my natural hair.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/coily/wavy hair?

My mom was my curly hair inspiration growing up. She has the most beautiful bouncy curls I’ve ever seen. I wanted curls just like her and I know I had them in me deep down somewhere.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

Finding curly girl method groups and researching so much advice has helped so much. My hair is now my most noticeable and most complimented feature, so it lets me know all the experimenting and patience was all worth it in the end!

How do you protect your curls at night?

I wear a silk bonnet at night to protect my curls.

Who is your curl crush?

@curlsandblondies (Sanne”> on Instagram. Not only is she so informative, she is just so wise, raw and genuine when it comes to her curly hair journey. Her curls are absolutely gorgeous!

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

Shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie! Ever since I found out about this product I can’t live without it!

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

Jamaican black castor oil! It strengthens your hair, prevents breakage and promotes hair growth. I recommend it to everyone when including it in my curly hair routine.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

When I did a big chop to get rid of the blonde in my hair. Having it very short was difficult for me but it was so worth it to have fresh new curls.

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Finger coiling has definitely made a huge impact on my curls when styling. It removes any frizz and makes my hair last for 2 or even 3 more days without having to re-style.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

It is A LOT of work and it takes dedication, patience and experimenting but it’s so worth it in the end! I wouldn’t go back even if you paid me.

Image @kraziicurls

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

Growing up with textured hair was uncomfortable. My hair was seen as unruly and wild when it was out in its natural state. No one around me or in my community wore their hair in its natural state. Everyone during that time period glorified having straight hair. Not to mention this was a time when getting your hair chemically straightened was popular. Overall, growing up having my hair slicked down and neatly tucked away was the best way for me to feel comfortable.  

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

For starters, my mother started relaxing my hair when I was about 11 years old. As I got older, I can honestly say I did not know how to manage my hair nor knew what my natural texture was because my hair was constantly in a straightened state. When it come down to it, I was honestly tired of having to rely on chemical treatments and heat to maintain my hair.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far? 

The most empowering moment of my natural hair journey was when I let go of all the heat and chemically damaged hair. I felt empowered and like a brand new woman.

Image @kraziicurls

How do you protect your curls at night?

To protect my curls at night, I always make sure to sleep with my satin lined bonnet on while sleeping on a satin/silk pillowcase.

Who is your curl crush?

My curl crush is any curly girl that embraces their healthy natural hair.

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

Some of my curly girl essentials are my satin lined bonnet, hair pick, hair oil and most imprtantly water.

Image @kraziicurls

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

My hair regimen includes giving my hair what it needs. Sometimes my hair requires more moisture and other times it requires a protein treatment. Often times, my hair requires low manipulation such as protective hairstyles. Depending on how my hair feels and looks, I like to switch up my hairstyles and products. One of my brands to use is Miche Beauty, specifically the hydrating and twisting butter.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far? 

One of the most challenging moments of my journey was transitioning and getting to know my hair after the damage was cut. While transitioning, I needed to figure out what styles looked nice and which styles masked both hair textures. After transitioning, I needed to get to know my hair and figure out what kind of products and ingredients it liked and what it didn’t like.

Image @kraziicurls

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Wearing a satin/silk bonnet when I am home and going to bed has been a method that has made a huge impact. It has maintained the health of my hair while also keeping it hair moisturized for a longer period of time. Deep conditioning weekly, using products without harmful or harsh ingredients and not applying heat unless I am using a heat cap to deep condition have also made a great impact on the health of my hair.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

Work on loving yourself wholeheartedly and loving your natural texture will soon follow. Embrace your crown because not only is it yours but it is what makes you unique. You are beautiful and so is your natural texture.

Image: @curly.lori.lane

 

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

When I was a child, my mom had no idea how to handle my thick curly hair, so it was always cut really short. It was dry brushed daily.  I started hating my hair when I was about twelve. I remember writing about it in my diary,  hoping it would just look good for the next day at school.  But it never did. So I would put it in a bun or braid to hide it. I wished it could just be silky straight and smooth like everyone around me. My sister would occasionally straighten it for me with an iron. I don’t think flat irons even existed yet.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/wavy hair?

I’ve always worn my hair curly, only straightening or getting a blow out once in a while, for special events.  But I was starting to highlight it more often,  which caused it to dry out and loose curl.  I was about to get it chemically straightened and hope for the best when I saw a post on Facebook about plopping in leggings. I had no idea what that meant and clicked on the link to a Curly Girl Facebook group. My first thoughts were…. woah, this is too much. And after scrolling through posts, I thought…..ya there’s no way these people have really curly hair, they must be curling it or something.  A month later,  I figured I’d make an effort to see if this was real before looking into chemically straightening and I’m soooo happy I gave it a chance!

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far? 

Definitely being able to help other people struggling with their hair!  I was so overwhelmed when I was new, so I love being able to give back.

How do you protect your curls at night?

I sleep in a buff.  But now I’m thinking about trying a silk pillow case so my curls can be more free.

Who is your curl crush?

Jackie! @mymanecurls

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

As long as I have a conditioner and a gel, I’m good.  I have a few conditioners that work great for cowashing,  conditioning, deep conditioning,
and leave in.  

Image: @curly.lori.lane

 

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

Cowash, Then add conditioner with praying hands.  Squish to condish until my hair feels softer. Detangle with wide tooth comb and my fingers. Squish to condish again. Rinse all or most of the conditioner out. Divide hair in half and rake in leave in on each side. Flip head upside down and rake in more leave in, use a wide tooth comb to create clumps, praying hands to smooth, then gently scrunch.  Wide tooth comb again,  praying hands again, and gently scrunch again. Add gel with praying hands, then gently scrunch. Plop anywhere from 5-30 min. Sometimes microplop right before diffusing,  sometimes not. Diffuse for 15 min or air dry.

Some of my favorite products are Yes to Carrots Nourishing Conditioner, Vo5 Extra Body Volumizing Conditioner, GVP Conditioning Balm, Giovanni Direct Leave In, Herbal Essences Gel, LA Looks Blue Gel, Biotera Defining Gel, Blueberry Bliss Jelly, Jessicurl Spiralicious, Giovanni LA Hold Gel, MopTop Curly Custard and Treluxe Hi Definition Gel. 

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Image: @curly.lori.lane

 

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

The hardest part for me has always been learning how to keep my hair balanced between protein and moisture.

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Yes! Cowashing, squish to condish, taking my time when applying stylers, heated deep conditioning with protein, and avoiding coconut.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

Do not compare your hair! Instead, learn to love your own!

 

Image Source: @houseofcurlsuk

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

Being the only one within the family with thick, coarse, curly hair, I grew up not knowing how to care for my curls in the correct way. All my friends had straight hair, and then there was me, who had this mass of frizzy hair left to its own devices as my mum had no idea what to do with it. I looked up to my older cousins who would have the latest hairstyle and would make my mum take me to get my haircut just like them, however, it never turned out like theirs, and I didn’t understand why. I then turned to heated tools when I was older as I thought I had no other option to “smooth” and “tame” my hair, and wanted to fit in with everyone else.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/wavy hair?

As I got older, I grew to love my hair; however, the decision to start this healthy hair journey was so I could learn how to care for it properly. I was getting so tired of my hair feeling so dry and damaged, and spending each day forever using hot tongs to try and create these big curls, which unbeknownst to me, I already had! They just needed the right products, knowledge and care! The Curly Girl Method opened up this whole other world! I could see a difference after one wash, so I was hooked and intrigued.

Image Source: @houseofcurlsuk

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

Going on holiday and not constantly worrying about what I would do with my hair and how it would look. We took our daughter to Disneyland in Florida last July, and in a place where I would have been continuously stressing about ending up looking like Monica from friends, I was able to relax and not worry what my hair looked like, and that felt so good!

How do you protect your curls at night?

I have a really simple night time routine, I put my curls up into a pineapple with a satin scrunchie and then sleep on a silk pillowcase. I don’t like the feeling of anything on my head when sleeping so I haven’t been able to sleep with a buff on.

Who is your curl crush?

@chebella! She has length, gorgeous curls, and volume; everything a curly girl strives for!

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

My universal diffuser head, I now only have to take this if I travel and not worry about traveling with a hairdryer. The one I have is by GAMA and is really deep; I can fit a lot of hair in at one time which is great when you have a lot of it!

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

Image Source: @houseofcurlsuk

I like to keep things simple, so my routine is pretty straight forward. As I have so much hair it requires quite a bit of product to style, so I prefer to shampoo and alternate with a clarifying one every other wash, to ensure build up doesn’t occur. The Bounce Curl clarifying shampoo is great; not too harsh for frequent use, but cleansing enough to do the job. I also never forget to deep condition and do my scalp massages, I love Righteous Roots oil for this. I also do Olaplex treatments at home after I’ve had colour applied.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

Finding the right protein balance for my hair. The moisture/protein balance is one of the hardest aspects of this curly journey that I’ve found so far; it’s a very thin line between good and oh so wrong! My curls do not like a lot of protein due to having coarse, low porosity hair and can only really handle some of the less stronger ones. I try and stay away from products that have soy, wheat or too much keratin in and only use small amount of products with rice, vegetable or quinoa in. I will do a rice water rinse every 4-6 weeks or when I really need it. Unfortunately, there’s no magic solution to this, it’s all about trial and error and finding out what your hair likes and dislikes.

Image Source: @houseofcurlsuk

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Wet plopping has made a huge difference when it comes to curl training my curls and allowing excess product to be absorbed meaning less drying time, as I like to use a diffuser to dry this is great.

For product application styling my curls with my head upside down and using the praying hand’s technique has been a game-changer. I’ve got thicker, more defined curl clumps and less frizz.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

This journey is a process, and you have to trust it. The transitioning period is hard, but once you see good days happening more often than the bad ones, the satisfaction and sense of achievement is so worth it. Don’t strive for perfection or somebody else’s curls/waves or coils; each head of curls is unique, just do you!

@glorirovi

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

It was a nightmare because my mother didn’t have curls, and she didn’t know how to treat my hair. She brushed it! I always remember myself with a ponytail or short hair.

That made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

When I was 15, I started taking care of it and let it grow.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

Creating a very new curly hair community in Spain. Making a place for all Spanish curly women to share and learn.

How do you protect your curls at night?

I always sleep with a silk pillowcase, and the first 2 days I wear a buff.

@glorirovi

Who is your curl crush?

My curl crush is @stylefeen.

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

My hair dryer Diffon 1 from @Bellissima_es!

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

Every 6 weeks “Revival Pro” intensive protein protein treatment from @biosakure. And I love my combo Bounce Curl Cream Gel with Booster from @cocunat.

@glorirovi

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

Two years ago my curls were damaged by highlights and then my curls disappeared! I had to recover them by myself. Thanks to that terrible experience, I discovered this big curly hair community that I love so much!

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

The curly girl method, instensive protein treatments, and the Denman brush technique!

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

• Understand your curls
• Treat them with love
• Be patient and constant
• Use clean products
• Trim very often

Your hair will surprise you!

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

I grew up in a suburban, homogenous town, where the majority of girls and women had silky straight, usually blonde, hair. I actually never even had a friend with curly hair until I reached college! Curly hair was extremely rare in my town, and those who did have it usually straightened it. So when I reached puberty and curls started springing from my head, I soon became very insecure about them. I was super self-conscious and considered myself shy, and I definitely didn’t like not fitting in with everyone else around me. On top of it all, my teenage brothers would make fun of me for having “frizzy curly” hair, which made my eventual sprint to the straightener all the more easier.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly/wavy hair?

Throughout high school, I frequently got Brazilian Blowouts and keratin treatments. However, once I got to college and met friends who embraced their curly hair, I realized that having it wasn’t a bad thing, as I had grown up thinking. In fact, for the first time in my life I met people who (gasp!”> loved curly hair, and I started to see it as a blessing instead of a curse. I also became more confident and outgoing than I was in high school, so I didn’t feel the need to hide behind straightened hair anymore. I finally started to believe that curly hair was something that makes you unique, and I was no longer scared of standing out.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

After years of Brazilian blowouts and keratin treatments, I started to believe that I no longer had curly hair. As I now know, my curls start to become ringlets about 2-3 inches from my scalp, and I never let enough time go in between my treatments to see them form. After my last Brazilian blowout, I let my hair grow out more than usual because I had bad side effects from the treatment and didn’t want to get it again. Once I saw how different my new growth texture was from my treated texture, I decided to transition and let my hair grow out curly for the first time since the age of 15. I started my journey with a curly haircut (although, not a big chop”>, and since then I’ve been cutting it little by little. It has been amazing to see my curls transform since then.

How do you protect your curls at night?

My hair is too short to put into a pineapple, so I have been sleeping on a satin pillowcase ever since my first curly cut.

Who is your curl crush?

My curl crushes have evolved throughout my hair transitioning process, especially as my hair grows and gets curlier. However, one constant curl crush has been Keri Russell during her Felicity days. Oh, and Zendaya!

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

My Denman brush! The first time I used it I saw a huge difference in my curl definition, and I’ve been using it ever since. It makes my hair shiny, defined, and frizz-free.

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

I’ve tried a lot of new products over the past year as my hair has changed. Recently, though, after watching documentaries and reading about the toxic chemicals in beauty products, I’ve switched to non-toxic products only. I love all natural, non-toxic products like Calia and Innersense because they actually help my hair health in the long run. Since using Calia shampoo, I’ve gotten rid of my dandruff problems. Innersense Beauty’s gel and curl cream works wonders when you learn how much product your hair needs. I can feel my hair getting healthier as I keep using them, and it’s incredible! Switching to non-toxic products can be a bit of an adjustment, but the results for your hair are amazing.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

In high school, I was always very influenced by the opinions of others. Whenever my brothers said something negative about my hair, I believed them, and I started to associate having curly hair with my low self esteem. Since transitioning, I still hear a lot of “jokes” about my curly hair when I come home for school breaks, be it from my brothers or their friends. A month ago, one of my brother’s friends said some pretty negative things about girls with curly hair, and asked me why I don’t just straighten mine. It was a really good feeling to realize that those comments don’t affect me now like they did in high school, and that I didn’t feel the need to immediately straighten my hair after hearing them. I know now he’s just a boy who grew up in an isolated town who has certain views because of it, and it means nothing about me, or the rest of the world.

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Switching to non-toxic products has definitely changed my hair and scalp health for the better. Overall, though, I’d say that finding what works best for your hair and taking people’s advice with a grain of salt is the best thing you can do for your hair. Some things that work super well for one person’s curly hair can work way differently for yours. Find a way to wear your hair that you love and that works for you.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

I know it’s frustrating, but it gets better each day and it’s so worth it in the long run. The satisfaction of one good hair day during the curly hair transition is better than any satisfaction I got from a keratin treatment or from straightening. When I’m feeling discouraged, I look at pictures of my virgin hair (so, for me, pictures of when I was 15!”>, and think about how great it’s going to be when it gets to that state again. The short term struggle is worth the long term relief!

Image: @curlybeviie

What was it like for you growing up with natural hair?

 I have always been natural, I have never permed or relaxed my hair. With that I spent years trying to figure out what worked best for my hair and how I wanted to style it. Until middle school, my mother was the one who cared for my hair. She constantly kept my hair braided or in cute little puff or twisted styles. Around 13 is when I began attempting to care for my own hair… hot mess! I didn’t really know what to do with it so I wore it in a ponytail everyday. Then in high school I began wearing my hair down more but would very irritated by the shrinkage. I had no clue at the time what shrinkage was lol! Senior year i decided to dye my hair and start my process of styling my hair in a fro shape. The rest is history from there dealing with color damage, trying countless techniques/products, undercuts, watching videos, etc!. I always loved my natural hair despite the fact I didn’t really know what to do with it for a while.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

My mother installed confidence and love into me about my natural hair since I was little. She always taught me to love the way I was born and don’t let anyone tell me different. I owe it all to her the reason why I loved my natural for so long.

Image: @curlybeviie

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far? 

The most empowering moment is when people began addressing me in person and telling me how much I have inspired them. It’s crazy how people see my self confidence and embrace it for themselves. I never knew my hair could do so much for others. 

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far? 

The most challenging part are ignorant comments I receive telling me ‘I’m not black’ or “My “good hair” doesn’t count’. I seriously hate hearing that, it’s extremely annoying. I am fully black and have shared a struggle with my hair just like everyone else. Texturism and colorism are terrible concepts that have been accepted by some and people at times project that on me. 

Image: @curlybeviie

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Picking and scrunching have changed my life for the better. They are the key to how I keep definition while achieving volume. I started doing this back in early-ish 2017, and my fro has prospered since then.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

I know it’s hard sometimes, I have struggled too, but nothing is better than your natural self as a whole. Forget what you have been told is the ‘standard’ for beauty your whole life…YOU ARE THE STANDARD. Continue to strive caring for your natural hair by watching videos, trying techniques and products and trying new styles. It gets easier, I promise. 

Image: @curlybeviie

Tell us about your new hair care line, NeoCurly products. What inspired to create this line?

I seriously hate the concepts of texturism and colorism. My entire life, most of my friends were brown/darker skinned with type 4 hair. I always noticed how people approached and talked to me differently to them and I disliked it. I didn’t understand why they did until I got much older. I hate hearing them say how much they hated how they look or how their hair looked, how others saw them and lack of representation. Being lighter skinned with type 3/4 curls, I was often told I wasn’t “black enough”. After a year in grad school, I started working on NeoCurly. My inspiration was not myself, but all naturals I had came across. No matter the skin tone, curl pattern or texture or nationality, I wanted to make all blacks feel loved, welcomed, included, and catered to. That’s the mission of my brand, black unison.

Image: NeoCurly

What are the key ingredients?

As of now, it is rosemary and lemongrass. Research has shown these two combined help aid in hair growth and skin care. I know priority of a lot of naturals is length, so I wanted to start off with helping with that and moisture. I do a lot a research into my ingredients before I approve. 

What makes NeoCurly unique?

NeoCurly is more than a hair care brand, it is a community. My plan is for NeoCurly to be very prominent in charity and volunteer work aiding the black community. We launched in November and already had our first toy drive in December! My team and I want to do our part in bettering and uplifting our black community. There are plans for scholarships, ambassador opportunities, photoshoots, employment and more in the works through NeoCurly.

Image:@curly.glorii

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

From an early age It wasn’t a great experience. I was bullied as a kid for being a petite girl with long big curly hair. I was always getting called names. I would go to the bathroom when my hair got too puffy to soak it in water & make it flat but it only made it worse. I didn’t know how to take care of my hair. My mother would do anything to make me feel better by styling it but at the time we didn’t know much about working with curls or any products as we do now. After the teasing & bullying I went into a deep depression & had low self-esteem. I went to a salon & cut my hair into a pixie cut. Ever since I flat ironed and even relaxed my hair from middle-high school, I didn’t want to deal with it anymore.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

I went to a beauty school to get my hair done. There I realized my passion for hair. I enrolled into the same school the next day & I met a teacher who I spoke to regarding my curls. She taught me how to diffuse & how to train my curls. I started learning more about the CGM & what products to stay away from. I soaked in all the information I could from books & from YouTube. I never touched a relaxer again & I found my confidence through my curls.

Image:@curly.glorii

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

To be able to help others like me through my platform. Giving advice to younger girls to embrace their curls gives me such joy. I stand for not letting anyone put others down & to embrace your differences. Once you work on the inside the outside will flourish.

How do you protect your curls at night?

I sleep with my hair in a pineapple, with a silk bonnet over & a silk pillow case just in case!

Who is your curl crush?

I’d have to say Chellis Curls & Lynn Kate. They gave me a lot of inspiration when I started my journey.

Image:@curly.glorii

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

I’d say my pick but I use my hands more for volume, so I have to say my silk bonnet. It helps wonders to keep my wash & go lasting through the week!

What is your current hair regimen?

Any favorite products you’d like to share? I’m a LCGO kinda girl. (Leave In, Cream, Gel, Oil”> I make sure to distribute the products evenly then I use my denman brush to shape my curls & finger coil the curls that frame my face. I diffuse on low heat then apply oil to break the gel cast. I separate clumps, pick my roots then all done! I’m currently loving Camille Rose products especially the famous Curl Maker & Moisture Milk.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

The most challenging would have to be going blonde. You don’t see many platinum blonde curly girls. I knew the color I wanted & it took a very long time to achieve without damage & keeping my curls. Thanks to olaplex, trims, deep conditioning & taking my time, I was able to achieve this!

Image:@curly.glorii

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Trimming every 3 months, deep conditioning every week & scalp massaging have done wonders for my hair. It’s all about caring for it.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

I would tell them staying consistent will help you achieve the results you want. Watch youtube videos & don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remember who you are. Your hair is a part of you. If I can do it, you can too.

Image: @pgeeeeee

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

From as early as I can remember, hair has always been a struggle. I had no clue how to take care of it, and even though she tried, neither did my mother. I got teased tremendously about my big frizzy hair and it had a negative effect on me as a young girl. I got tired of trying to figure out what to do with my hair so I turned to a flat iron. I started straightening my hair everyday so I would no longer be teased. Little did I know, I was damaging my hair. I kept smashing my hair until it had severe heat damage.

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

I got tired of straightening my hair to fit into society standards of the norm. I started seeing other girls on the internet reviving their curls, and I thought to myself, I can do that too!

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

The most empowering moment has been inspiring others. I love when others tell me that they started their natural hair journey because of me.

Image: @pgeeeeee

How do you protect your curls at night?

I use a silk bonnet and I sleep on a silk pillowcase, just in case my bonnet slips off.

Who is your curl crush?

I would have to say Chelli’s Curls because she was one of the curly girls who I first started watching when I decided to go natural.

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

I don’t think I could live without my pick. I don’t feel right without volume. I used to do everything possible to make my hair flat, but now I wear my “frizzy” hair proudly!

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

I love a good wash and go. My hair regimen consists of deep conditioning, then shampooing, then applying styling products. Once the products are applied, I use my denman brush to help define my curls. To dry, I use a diffuser on medium. Once my curls are dry, I separate my curls with my hands and use a pick to create volume.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

The most challenging part has been to have the patience and understanding that healthy hair won’t come back overnight. I had to get comfortable rocking my damaged natural hair because I knew what my goal was.

Image: @pgeeeeee

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

Deep conditioning saved my hair! I deep conditioner about every five days or so and it does wonders for my hair.

Read more: Dos & Don’ts of Deep Conditioning

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

I would tell them to be confident in who they are no matter what their hair looks like. Patience is the key. There will be days where frustration hits, but the goal has to be kept in mind. Staying consistent in your regimen is the key to seeing results in the long run.

Image: @massielvaldez_

What was it like for you growing up with textured hair?

As far as I remember I have always loved my hair, the ones that didn’t love it were my family and friends. I had no problem with it, but for cultural aspects they didn’t know how to comb it or style it… So at the age of 11 they chemically relaxed my hair. During the years it sometimes produced scalp problems and damage… I remember I did like my hair being straight, but I didn’t like having to do the same procedure every 3 months, and the heat!

What made you decide to embrace your naturally curly hair?

I went through a path of acceptance, and also I wanted to connect with my true self; that’s why in March 2017 I decided to not apply ever again chemical products on my hair, and after that I have been going through a path of self love, self acceptance and awareness of my true self. If you are reading me right now repeat to yourself: I love myself, I appreciate myself and I accept myself just the way I am.

Image: @massielvaldez_

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

I think the most empowering moments happen when we acknowledge ourselves as black women in the street. Like that gesture of “I salute you” or like “girl you got this!”. I transitioned for 5 months and after those 5 months I decided to do a big chop. It was a relief! It’s so much easier to just wear your hair natural, even though it is short. I felt more comfortable having a big chop than having to deal with two different textures, and all the things we go through during that time.

How do you protect your curls at night?

I believe that the night time routine is one of the most important part of curly girl habits. I have my silk pillow and my silk hat, sometimes I do use the hat and sometimes I don’t, but I always make sure that my hair is protected with silk. I’m sure you girls know silk is also very beneficial for our skin, im a #silklover!

Who is your curl crush?

To be honest this is a tricky question for me, because as a hairstylist I think there are many curl patterns I love. What I can tell you are the curls girls that my clients love the most, and they are Nia The Light and Kim Doll.

Image: @massielvaldez_

What’s your curly girl essential you can’t live without?

One of my curly girls essential is Argan oil, I love it! How it looks, how it smells, the vitamins it has, I confess I am addicted to Argan oil!

What is your current hair regimen? Any favorite products you’d like to share?

Nowadays I do a natural hair mask every 2 weeks and a regular hair mask every 3 weeks. I do love the Dominican brands. Dominican beauty industry is so good with hair. There is one called “AfroLove” and “Solo Coquette”.

What has been the most challenging moment of your natural hair journey so far?

The most challenging time was the first few years, I would say. I had to go through my transition, and seeing myself with short hair, that was like oh my gosh! How different I look, but at the same time it gave me confidence. You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only option you have.

Image: @massielvaldez_

Are there any techniques or methods that have made a huge impact on your hair health?

I do like to braid my hair at least twice a year. These protective styles help me a lot during the summer and winter, to protect my hair from the sun or the cold.

What’s your advice to women who are still struggling with loving their natural texture?

The best advice I can give is for them to get informed, to follow their instincts, to find other girls that are going on the same path as them, and to always look out for their security. I’m sure there is a scarf they love, or earrings, even lipstick or a wax turban; find the thing that makes you feel comfortable in your own skin. Also remind yourself that you love that person you see in the mirror, every day, every hour. You’ve got this sis!

Sincerely, Massiel Valdez

Image:@k_adore

When did you decide to embrace your natural hair?

It wasn’t until 2011 when I decided to go back to being a natural. I did the big chop in 2011 and I haven’t considered going back to chemicals since.

What made you decide to get sisterlocs and how long have you had them?

I decided on sisterlocks because of the versatility, low maintenance and the freedom they allow. My sisterlocks were installed in 2014.

What inspired you to embrace the grey and what advice would you share for women experiencing going grey?

I simply just decided to stop using dyes on my hair. I wanted to have a complete head of natural hair, and that meant the coloring had to stop. I stopped dying my grey hair in 2016. However, going gray is a process and I totally understand some of the issues with going gray. For others that are struggling it’s ok. Our hair is beautiful, but sometimes it takes time to build up the confidence and courage to embrace the grey.

Image:@k_adore

What has been the most challenging moment of your hair journey so far?

I haven’t had any challenges. I love my locs and I just allow my hair to grow and to be free. I have truly loved every stage of my SL journey and just welcomed any transitions.

What has been the most empowering moment of your natural hair journey so far?

Inspiring others. I have received an overwhelming response to my hair, and particularly my grey hair. I’m honored to inspire others to love their natural grey hair.

How do you protect your hair at night?

I sleep on a satin pillowcase.

What is your current hair regimen?

I shampoo my sister locks about every 2 weeks. Only shampoo and no conditioner. There’s not much maintenance, but I often spritz them with water and apply a light oil. I get my sister locks retightened every 7 weeks.

Image:@k_adore

Any favorite products you’d like to share?

I don’t really have any favorite products because I don’t use many products. I use Suave Clarifying Shampoo and a Moroccan Oil.

Any key techniques or methods that made an impact on your hair health?

I’m vegan and this may have impact on my hair. I strongly feel that what we eat shows on the outside. My advice is to be patient and trust the process. I have enjoyed every stage of my hair journey.