Natural Hair FAQs

1. How long have you been natural?

My last perm was in April 2008 and I BC’d in September 2008.

2. What products do you use on your hair?

Any and pretty much everything from the Shea Moisture Line, Aussie Moist, Tressume Naturals Conditioner, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter.

3. How do you retain moisture?

Once a week, I moisten my ends with water and seal with oil. I also once a week spray my entire head with water and seal with oil. And about every other day, I sit in the bathroom with the door closed and the shower running hot water and let the steam get to my hair for 5-10 minutes.

4. What is your regimine?

I cowash my hair once every 3 weeks, then blow it out and either do chunky twists or chunky braids. Every night, I retwist/rebraid/bantu knot my hair, depending on how I feel. And I apply either Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie or Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk as well as an oil to each section of hair. Then I take the braids/twists/bantu knots out in the morning. I detangle my hair once a week (finger combing gently to remove daily shed hairs at night) normally when I do my weekly moisturizing and sealing of my ends. If my scalp itches in between washes, I take 100% pure tea tree oil and apply it to a q-tip, then apply the q-tip to my scalp, following up with a scalp massage. Tea tree oil is a natural anitfungal so it helps with the itch.

5. What color is your hair?

My hair is currently dark brown. It was red and the dye I used to get it red was Soft Sheen Carson HiRez Ruby Quake.

6. What shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizer do you use?

I do not use shampoo. I use Aussie Moist and Tressume Naturals, and sometimes Coconut Milk Conditioner to cowash and deep condition my hair. I also use Shea Moisture’s Deep Treatment Masque to deep condition. And I use Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk, olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter along with water to moisturize my hair.

7. Can you give me tips on how to style my hair now that I am transitioning?

Unfortunately, I did not really transition. There was only a period of 4 months between my last perm and BC and during those months, I wore weaves. So if you want styles that require styling your own hair, I can’t help you because I didn’t do any styles with my hair. But there are many women on YouTube who have transitioned and will be able to assist you.

8. I saw a lady with curls that don’t look like mine but I want mine to look like hers. How can I get different curls?

The 1st mistake many naturals do is compare their hair/curls to someone else’s. Just like we all come in different shades, shapes and sizes, so do our curls! Even on our own heads. I have a mixture of what I believe (and I could be wrong because I don’t like this hair typing thing) to be 3c, 4a, and 4b curls. The 2nd mistake many naturals make is trying to achieve someone else’s hair. Especially if you go as far as putting a texturizer in your hair. That is a chemical and you might as well just perm it. We need to become comfortable with the hair we were given. Not only comfortable but proud of it. Styles that I see women with a head full of 3c curls or 4c curls do will absolutely not work with my hair. BUT I can alter the styles to fit my hair. And that is what you should try to do.

9. Do you have a texturizer?

Absolutely not.

10. What is your hair type?

I don’t like the hair typing system so I’m not too sure what my hair type is. I do know that I have a mixture of curls. If I had to guess, I’d say I have a small amount of 3c, majority 4a, and a small amount of 4b curls.

11. Aren’t you afraid of heat damage when you blow your hair out?

No. My blow dryer is not a Dominican Salon blow dryer. Plus, I ALWAYS use a heat protectant (Chi Silk Infusion, Biosilk, or Organic Root Stimmulator Olive Oil Heat Protectant) on my hair 1st.

12. Do you do wet twist outs?

Every once in a blue moon but I don’t like the shrinkage because with shrinkage comes tangles. I like to keep my hair stretched so I blow my hair out.

13. What inspired you to want to go natural?

I had been attempting to go natural since I was a senior in high school. Seein pictures of my hair as a child pre-chemicals, I realized how beautiful, healthy, thick, long, and perfect it was. It took me 3 times to go natural but I’m here and I’m loving it.