How did you get to where you are today?

Before transitioning, I relaxed my hair all four years doing high school. During the summer of my senior year, I just decided to chop it all off. However, after three months of trying to figure out what to do with my hair, I relaxed it again. From that point, I relaxed my hair for the next eight years and began transitioning in January 2007. I transitioned for 16 months by using a flat iron to smooth out my new growth every 2 months or so. Also, I trimmed/snipped as well. I did not flat iron to make my hair relaxer straight but only to blend my natural hair and relaxed hair better so the hair would not break at the line of demarcation. Around month 10 in my natural hair journey, my new growth was greater than my relaxed hair; I was flat ironing less and less and began trimming more of the relaxed ends. In May 2008 I trimmed for the last time and became 100% natural. Five years later, here I am natural and helping other women discover their natural hair as well.

What is your current regimen?

My hair routine is simple:

•I wear protective styles 98% of the time.
•I shampoo and deep condition with heat every 7 – 14 days.
•I use Aphogee 2-Step Protein Treatments approximately every 12 weeks. I trim my ends when needed.
•I clarify when my hair stops responding to my products.

What is your signature natural hairstyle?

I pursue the road of simplicity, so I love protective styles which for me are twist and some type of tucked style. I wear protective styles the majority of the time. Wearing protective styles allows me to accomplish three things: moisturize my hair daily, no to low manipulation and protection, especially for the ends of my hair. On special occasions or when I am getting burned out on protective styles, I will wear my hair out and free. Wearing my hair out is more of the exception and not the normal. What is the best tip you have learned throughout your hair journey?: The best tip that I have learned throughout my journey is that natural hair needs protein. Don’t be afraid to use it. As the hair strands experience something as simple as normal weathering and combing, it loses protein (the cuticle layers) and the protein treatments helps to replace the protein that’s lose. What are your favorite product(s)? and Why?: I keep my product list simple – shampoo (Aubrey Organics: Blue Algae (moisturizing) or Glycerin Protein Balancer (moisture/protein) or Kinky Curly Come Clean (clarifier)), conditioner (Giovanni Smooth as Silk and Kinky Curly Knot Today), hair rinse (Aubrey Organics Green Tea or ACV rinse), moisturizer (almond or avocado oil/water mixture), sealer (shea butter).

Any links you would like to share with others?

http://www.naturalhaircommunity.com