Spotlight Monday: Toni

Tell us about yourself.
> My name is Toni; I’m a Syracuse University alum, NYLS law student, and Bronx native.  My love for music has influenced me to pursue a career in entertainment law-- hopefully working with musicians *fingers crossed*.  I’m completely obsessed with my hair and researching, and buying, products for my hair; I’m a little bit of a geek.  Oh, and I’m a recovering sneakerhead (very little emphasis on recovering). 

How long have you been natural?  What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!
> I’ve been natural for a little over a month.  I’m pretty sure I have about 2-3 different curl patterns in this curly 'fro of mine.  If i had to pick, I’d say i have a mix of 3b and 3C-- at least those are the ones I can identify.  My tightest curls are along my hairline, and the curls at the crown of my head are, by far, the most defiant.  Because of all my researching, I’ve realized that I have low porosity hair!  Being low porosity makes wash days and styling considerably interesting (lol)! 

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I transitioned for a year and 4 months.  My last relaxer was just 2 months after I graduated from Syracuse University.  After that year and 4 months, I was over it!  Long term transitioning is a challenge to say the least!  I was too terrified to have short hair.  I’ve never had hair shorter than shoulder length, so the thought of shorter hair literally gave me anxiety.  I didn’t know what I’d be able to do with it-- and God forbid-- a bad hair day and I couldn’t have a ponytail!  I spent the majority of my transitioning time doing flat twist outs.  Occasionally, I did some braid-outs and straightening.  I tried bantu-knots twice; that was a no-go for me!  I even got Senegalese twists over the summer thinking I’d do some protective styling-- they lasted a week! 

If you big chopped-- how did you feel?
> I’m not sure if I even did a big chop, but when I finally cut my hair on November 1st, I felt free!  As cliché as that sounds, it was literally one of the most liberating things I’ve done in a while.  I didn’t care about what anyone thought anymore; I just wanted those disgusting relaxed ends off!  I let my older sister, who has zero hair cutting experience, cut my hair for me.  We recorded the entire process!  I was sooo excited; I kept sticking my hands in my hair when it was over.  I did a wash and go right after and took my hair out for a drink! 

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> I can’t lie and say it was easy!  When I looked in the mirror the morning after I cut it, I laughed!  I got my first relaxer at the age of 6 for my mom’s wedding, so finally seeing my curls was weird.  I wasn’t sure what to do with it, so I let the wash and go-- styled by my sister-- rock out for another day or two.  I LOVED my hair though.  The laughter I experienced was definitely joyous!  I still constantly look at the pics of my BC and actually laugh.  I still can't believe I did it sometimes.

What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)
> I live by Aussie Moist as a rinse out conditioner!  The slip is insane and it smells tropical-- and I LOVE tropical scents!  I also love coconut oil.  It’s light enough that I don’t feel like my hair is weighed down by it or that it's building up on my hair.  Also, because my hair has low porosity, products tend to just sit on top of my hair.  Lastly, I loveee eco styler gel especially the clear one!  It defines my curls better than anything I’ve tried yet, but it’s only been a little over a month (lol)!  When I first did my wash and gos, they were too crunchy and I couldn’t stand it.  I tried scrunching my hair with coconut oil, but it just didn’t do it for me.  I tried layering my products-- a layer of coconut oil right under my gel-- and that did the trick!  Since trying that, my wash and gos are super soft! 

 What are your go-to hairstyles?
> Since BC’ing, I’ve retired my flat twists.  My go-to is definitely a wash and go!  I love seeing my natural curl pattern, so wash and gos work best for me.  I did a twist out since BC’ing and didn’t like it until I made it frizzy.  It was just a little too perfectly defined for my taste. 

How do you feel about your hair today? 
> I LOVE my hair!!!  I can say, without a doubt, I’ll never put another relaxer in my hair again!  I feel like my hair suits my personality better now than before.  I’ve become obsessed with myself since BC’ing.  Seriously-- the amount of selfies I have on my phone is slightly sickening.  A friend of mine actually reminded me that there’s a 'three selfie a week' rule for IG; I highly doubt I follow that.  I can’t wait to see how much it grows and how big it gets.  I’ve already noticed more growth since November 1st.  I think it’s safe to say that I’m obsessed with my curls!

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Do you have any questions for Toni about her natural hair?  Comment below!

Spotlight Monday: Christinia

Tell us about yourself.
> I am a Syracuse University Alumna pursuing a career as a Criminalist-- one laboratory position at a time.  I love to dance, watch movies (action & horror), paint my nails, do hair, shop and EAT!  I just enjoy having a good time with good people.

How long have you been natural?  What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!
> I have been fully natural for 2 years & 7months, but began the process April 2010 (my last relaxer was for my 20^th birthday).  My hair type is 4a/4c; my hair is very tightly coiled yet soft.  However, the middle of my hair is so thick and tightly coiled that it lacks definite shape while the sides of my head have more defined curls that are springy when pulled.

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> In May of 2011 I did my Big Chop!  Prior to, I would just wear braid outs, but running out of patience, I was ready to cut all of the remainder of my relaxed hair off.  I thought and found it to be easier to deal with one texture of hair.

On big chopping-- how did you feel?
> After my BC I felt like a new person.  I had given myself a new look; however, I was still shy to show it off because it was very different than what I was used to.  It was definitely a style I would have to get used to being that it was only my natural hair.  I also felt like I had accomplished a goal being that I had been talking about going natural for a long time.

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
>  As time went on, I was surprised at how much I began to fall in love with my hair.  Not only was it easy to maintain, as far as saving time on doing my hair, the compliments I was getting played a part on it growing on me.  But when it came time for me to style my hair differently, I did think "OMG! what did I do?!" because it was so thick, and short, and I thought there was no way I could straighten it as good as it could have been straightened with a relaxer-- glad to know I was wrong.

What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)
> I love using curling lotions and smoothies especially the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie.  Prior to washing my hair, I apply Taliah Waajid’s The Great Detangler while twisting my hair (I wash my hair while its twisted), and I wash and condition with Crème of Nature’s Shampoo and Conditioner with Argan Oil.

What are your go-to hairstyles?
> I love, love, love wearing Bantu knot outs, regular twist outs and my wash-and-go 'fro!  As a protective style, or a style when I know I’m not going to want to do my hair for a long time, I braid my hair in goddess box braids.

How do you feel about your hair today?
> I love my hair!  I find it simpler to maintain than if it was relaxed.  I am so glad I became natural because my hair is much healthier.  I know I can still do as many styles as I want, as well as styles I have done prior to becoming a Naturalista!

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Do you have any questions for Christinia about her natural hair?  Comment below!

5,000+ Views! (Contest/Giveaway CLOSED!)

Hey everyone!

I'm SO very super excited about this.  Can't you tell?! :o)

Curlsfothegirls.blogspot.com has reached 5,000+ views in less than 3 months-- woo!  With that being said, I want to thank everyone-- naturalistas, fashionistas, etc-- for your support of curlsfothegirls.blogspot.com; it means a lot to me!  I've been told numerous times to start a blog, and I'm honestly not sure what sparked the decision that day, but it's been great thus far :)

I wanted to invite you all to participate in the Curls Fo' The Girls' FIRST contest/giveaway-- yes, the FIRST contest/giveaway on this blog.  Isn't this exciting?!

The Details:

A bomb ass Twist Out is MY favorite curly girl style.  I absolutely love them!  They require a lot of patience while twisting, BUT the definition is always amazeballs!  So.. it only seems right that the first contest/giveaway is about Twist Outs!  I challenge you all to share your BEST Twist Outs with me on Instagram @curlsfothegirls with the hashtags #curlsfothegirls #ilovetwistouts.  *The photos must be hashtagged!  I will accept multiple submissions, but I cannot guarantee that it'll help your chances of winning.  I'm looking for the BEST Twist Out ;)

Things to keep in mind (Read thoroughly):
- I won't be able to see posts from private accounts so if you wish to participate, your account must be public (at least until the contest is over).
- All submissions must be hashtagged: #curlsfothegirls #ilovetwistouts.
- You MUST be following Curls Fo' The Girls on IG @curlsfothegirls!
- Invite EVERYONE you know!

The contest/giveaway will start tomorrow, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18th, and go until FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27th!

The Prize:
Since this contest is about Twist Outs, I wanted to put together a prize pack of items that I use for MY Twist Outs :)

A Winner Has Been Announced via Instagram!

- Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask: a GREAT deep conditioning treatment that adds moisture to dry hair.  It's one of my favorites!

- Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave-in/Detangler: a great leave-in/detangler that aids in detangling and keep tresses moisturized.  It's very light but perfect for twist outs :)

- Sweet Almond Oil: I use very little of this oil to seal my hair while twisting, but it's great for taking down twists and preventing frizz!

I'm super excited about this contest and I wish all participants luck.

Until next time,

Ashley, xo.

Please be sure to read the contest details thoroughly!  Comment below if you have any questions about the contest/giveaway!

Spotlight Monday: Dominique

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Dominique Smith; I'm a Bronx, New York native.  I am a senior studying Political Science (Pre-Law) and Communication at Wesleyan College in Georgia.  I am also President of my school's Black Student Alliance.

How long have you been natural?  What is your hair type?  Describe your curls.

> I have been natural for about two years now.  Within those couple of years, I have done a couple of big chops and lots of color.  My curls are small coils, probably the size of a straw.  Because of the thickness and the size of the curls, I have A LOT of shrinkage.  I also have a lot of natural blonde highlights throughout my hair, especially at the tips of my coils.

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?

> When I began my natural journey I did the big chop.  I did not do the big chop with the intent of going natural; I did it because I had a point to prove.  I go to a predominately white school in the south.  People often met me with preconceived notions because of the length of my hair, my hair type, and the fairness of my skin.  Once people got a chance to know me they were often taken aback by how pro-black I was, and by the fact that I wasn't mixed.

On big chopping-- how did you feel?
> Chopping my hair off was my way of proving to myself, and others, that I wasn't anyone's pageant princess.  It also helped me prove that my hair did not define my beauty.  It was one of the most fulfilling and liberating things I've ever done!

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> In the beginning, it was beautiful.  I enjoyed every minute of my hair being short.  Once I hit the middle stages it became frustrating.  I got bored a few times and have had it several different colors, which resulted in me cutting it off. 

What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)
> My favorite products are olive oil, coconut oil, and "Curls Unleashed" by Organic Root Simulator.  I've been using these products since I've done the big chop.

What are your go-to hairstyles?
> My daily go-to hairstyle is my 'fro.  I haven't had my kick in creativity yet in regards to things I can do with it.  Now that I am trying to grow my hair out, my official go to hairstyle is braids of some sort.  They're very low maintenance and it's a little easier to find things to do with them.

How do you feel about your hair today?
>  I love my hair!  I'm nervous about finally giving it a chance to really grow out.  Sometimes it is frustrating because of the thickness and the fact that my hair grows so fast. But I wouldn't change anything about it.

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Do you have any questions for Dominique and her natural hair?  Comment below!

5 Tips to Avoid Frizz

There's a time and place for everything-- frizz included.  Sometimes, it's inevitable due to environmental factors, but there are occasions where frizz is preventable.  Here are 5 tips on how you can avoid frizz:

1. Keep your hands out of your hair!

Yes, we have all had "Hand in Hair Syndrome (curlynikki)" where we get the urge to play in our curls-- pull them, twirl them, and whatever else-- but constantly touching your hair can lead to frizz and other damage!  Some naturals have noticed breakage after constant touching, so if you wish to have healthy, frizz-free hair, keep your hands at bay!

2. Skip the towel dry.
Using a towel isn't the best way to dry your hair; a t-shirt is!  (Yes, I said a t-shirt.)  Towels often absorb much of the moisture we need and although they seem soft to us, they're often rough on hair and can raise the cuticle layer which creates frizz!  Using an old old t-shirt to dry your hair is a better alternative as it dries the hair and avoids roughening the outer layer thus reducing frizz.

3. Stay away from humectants in humid weather.
Humectants-- glycerin, propylene glycol, and even honey-- draw moisture from the air.  When products that contain humectants are applied to the hair in humid conditions, it creates the opposite effect and causes frizz!  Using products that contain little to no humectants in humid weather will keep frizz away.  If you have had no issues and/or your hair benefits from humectants in any kind of weather, go for it!

4. Avoid using hot water.
You heard me-- skip the hot water during the wash process!  Although hot water can remove dirt and buildup and it feels great, it causes more harm to the hair than good.  Hot water is drying and raises the cuticle layer of the hair strand creating (you guessed it) frizz.  Hair should be rinsed in very lukewarm to cold water.  If you cannot bear cold water (big baby), I recommend using an ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) rinse.  Just be sure to dilute the ACV with water!  And no, you will not smell like vinegar; the smell will dissipate after a few minutes leaving you with frizz-free and shiny hair :)

5. Use products with the right amount of hold.
This is for your twist outs, WnGs, etc.  When you do one of these styles, it is imperative that you use a product with the right amount of hold if you wish for the style to last several days.  If you neglect to do so, you may (not necessarily will) experience frizz within a day or so of the style.  I often use gel or some other kind of holding product when I do these styles because I want to create a shiny, defined, and frizz-free style!  After about 3-4 days, I welcome frizz only because it makes the style expand and look that much more bad ass ;)

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Do you have any tips on avoiding frizz?  Share them below!

Ouidad Curl Quencher Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream Review

So I picked up the Ouidad Curl Cream sample (as seen in the photo) at an International Hair Expo back in May, and just got around to trying it out.  The inner PJ in me was seriously trying to steer clear from trying new products for my pockets' sake.  However, I recently found the sample and decided to try it over the weekend.

I washed my hair on Friday-- followed by a protein treatment (review coming soon) and did the greenhouse method overnight.  In the morning, I removed the plastic caps, and did a moisturizing treatment with Curl Junkie Curl Rehab while I showered.  I added my leave-in using only the KCKT.  Then, I applied the Ouidad Curl Cream...

Results from Ouidad's Curl Quencher Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream

Let me just say I. Am. In. Love!  The curl cream gave me incredible curl definition, my hair was soft and it smelled amazing!  Although the sample was small in size, I had more than enough for my shoulder length when wet hair.  I applied the cream in a clapping motion, as I do with all of my products, and was thoroughly impressed by the immediate results.

Now, here's the catch.  A 5 ounce bottle of this stuff sells for a whopping $26.  I loved this product because it gave me well defined and bouncy first day curls.  I misted my hair a bit on Sunday and added some more of the product.  I still had some curl definition, but not as defined as I did on Saturday.  However, it is Monday and my hair feels drier than ever!  I seriously don't understand why especially because I just did my hair on Saturday.  I still have some defined curls, but frizz is starting to develop.  Maybe I didn't moisturize enough before I added the product, but other than that I'm not exactly sure why my hair feels so dry.  But what I will do is find the other sample I had and try it again before I make the decision to buy it, or not (and just to think, I called myself a recovering PJ *shakes head in disgust).

If you are looking for a product that creates super defined and bouncy first day curls, and you have the extra money to spend, go for Ouidad's Curl Quencher Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream.  However, if you do not wish to spend the $26, I would recommend trying to find the sample sized product before you make the commitment to spend the money.

Fighting the PJ itch until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Have you tried the Ouidad Curl Quencher Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream, or any other Ouidad products?  If so, let me know what you think!

Spotlight Monday: Chantell

It's Monday again, and you know what that means-- Spotlight Monday!  Today, we will meet Chantell.  Not only is she my friend, BUT she is one of my favorite naturalistas.

Let's begin..

How long have you been natural?
> I have been natural for 3.5 years.  It has been a looooong journey.

Did you transition, or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I got my last perm in May 2009 (for prom) and then I big chopped in Feb 2010.  In between, I mostly straightened my hair, but I played with braid outs and twist outs to blend the textures.  I thought I wanted to wait to gain some length before I big chopped, but I got sick of sweating out my blowouts/flat irons, and working with thick roots and limp permed ends.

On big chopping-- How did you feel?
> I asked one of my friends to cut it on a huge whim and I tried to make it a really meaningful experience.. side note* we burned the hair and everything.  But when I got home and looked in the mirror I was miserable.  I even skipped a school party because I was so uncomfortable with my hair.  It took a lot of time for me to get used to my new hair. I kept saying I was baldheaded (lmao) and my family didn't help with their jokes either.  My great uncle told me it looked awful.  It's funny now, but it definitely wasn't then.


What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> To be honest, I didn't really embrace my hair until about a year and a half into being natural.  Once I discovered my hair was easily straightened, all I did was wear it straight.  The few times I did wear it natural, it attracted too much attention that I didn't care for. Once the natural hair movement exploded on blogs and YouTube, I began to educate myself on how to take care of my hair.  It became a huge, and expensive, hobby.  I bought damn near every product, but I've finally developed a couple of regimens that work for my hair type, which I consider to be a 3c/4a.

How do you feel about your hair today?
> I LOVE my hair, it's so versatile.  I'm so proud of it, and its one of my favorite things about myself.  When people ask questions about it, I'm happy to respond.  Although I haven't reached my length goal yet, it's as healthy as its ever been, which is the most important part.  Healthy hair is good hair.

For more hair photos, visit Chantell on Instagram @ceeemjay! :)

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Do you have any natural hair questions for Chantell?  If so, comment below!

My Current Regimen

1 pump of this.. 3 squeezes here.. shake 4 times to the left.. and voilà!

I wish it was as simple as a pump, a squeeze & a shake, but anywho..

As most of you know, it is extremely important to create a hair regimen.  For those of you that don't know, it is extremely important to create a hair regimen.  By creating a regimen, you are formulating a method to not only see what your hair likes, but to make wash days and hair management easier.  Once you do this, washing (shampooing or cowashing), conditioning, and styling your hair should become a breeze.  

I usually get a lot of questions about my regimen like, "what do I use to do this?!" "how do you get your hair like this?!" or "how did you do that??", so I'm going to break my regimen down so you can all see what I do to get her like this, or that :)

First:  I wash my hair (usually with shampoo).  Yes, I am a shampooer!  I find that I get better results if my hair is clean clean.  I find that cowashing doesn't really do it for me, especially after a couple of days of eco styler gel use.  I have not found a conditioner or cowash cleanser that can remove old, built up eco styler gel, so shampoo it is!  At the moment I am using Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threat Invigorating Shampoo.  It provides me with the clean feeling that I love. 

Next:  After my hair is thoroughly clean-- free from product and rinsed from the shampoo-- I condition and detangle my hair with a wide tooth comb.  This is one of the most important steps because this is when things get real!  If the right amount of slippery conditioner is not provided, you can end up ripping your hair out.. ouch.  I apply my conditioner all over, either TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner or Suave Naturals Conditioner, I stand under the shower stream for a few seconds to distribute the conditioner, then I grab my wide tooth comb & go to work.  I do not section my hair with twists, only because it doesn't take me a long time to detangle.  When wet, my hair is shoulder length, and extremely wavy; I rarely encounter knots and tangles so detangling is pretty easy.  If I do have a knot, or tangle, that the comb can't fix, I pull it apart with my fingers.  This way, I don't rip it out and cause harm to my hairs.  I usually start with the front left then I move to the back, applying more conditioner as needed.  Then I detangle the right side and finish the back.  I try to remove the shed hairs from the comb and my hands before moving to another section.  I would hate to detangle then mix the shed hairs back into my hair-- that would defeat the purpose of detangling.  After I'm done detangling, I add more conditioner, comb through my hair once more, and place my hair into a clip until I'm done showering.

Then:  After showering, I rinse the conditioner from my hair, squeeze the excess water out, and apply my deep conditioner.  I use Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask (sometimes mixed with coconut and/or olive oils), Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment, or ORS Hair Mayonnaise (usually once a month).  I gather my hair into a processing cap, exit the shower, and sit under my bonnet dryer for 30mins to an hour on medium heat.  After my session, I remove the processing cap and allow the conditioner to cool.  I want to make sure that my hair has absorbed the goodies from the treatment before I rinse my hair.  When I do rinse, I rinse with cold water-- cold water closes the cuticle to lock the goodies in!

Next:  I squeeze the excess water out-- while doing this, I am careful not to wring my hair because I don't want to disturb the curl pattern.  So I gently squeeze my hair to remove the excess water.  Now I'll apply my leave in conditioners-- TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner, Kinky-Curly Knot Today, Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave In Cream, Infusium 23 Repair & Renew, Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream, and/or Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner.  I do not use all of these at once!  I use 1-3 depending on how I'm feeling, or if I need added moisture or protection.  Once I have added my leave in, I seal my hair with olive, sweet almond, coconut, or JBCO oil.  I also apply JBCO to my edges and scalp (I swear by it for hair growth).

wash & go

Finally:  I decide on the style.  If I decide to do a WnG (Wash & Go), I apply my Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie.  I use this to not only enhance my curls, but to lock in all the moisture that I can!  Along with this, I'll apply a gel to add shine, bounce, and hold to my WnG.  I use either Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls or Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel.  If I'm pressed for time, I usually diffuse my hair to help it dry quickly.  Other than that, I air dry.

If I do a twist out, I will apply my leave in: TRESemme Natural NM Conditioner, Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream and an oil, etc. and/or my Curly Kinks Twist Whip to twist.  If I use the CKTW, then I use one leave in and twist on damp hair.  I always take down my twists with some kind of oil on my hands.  The oil will add shine and help reduce frizz :)   

side notes:
- My newest/most common leave in combo is the KCKT and Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner
- I've learned that the secret to avoid hard, crunchy curls with Eco Styler Gel is to put an oil underneath ;)
- Yes, that is a cookie monster toothbrush in my drawer (I have to lay my edges down sometimes lol)
- I do refrigerate my TRESemme Naturals Conditioner-- a cold leave in will also help to seal the hair cuticle ;)
- That's only one drawer worth of products LOL
- Most importantly-- Once you create a regimen, and it works for you, stick with it!

The longest part of my regimen is usually the time spent under my bonnet dryer and my styling time, especially if I decide to twist my hair.  Other than that, I find my wash days pretty easy.  I do alter things in my regimen once in a while, such as my deep conditioning treatments (I have used coconut oil & JBCO before), and I pre poo once in a while, but this is what I do more times than a few.  I found that this particular regimen works for me.  I wanted to share my regimen with you all so that you can see what I do to get my hair to look a certain way, but so you all also have an idea of how to create your own regimens.  I hope this helps, but I'm willing to answer questions if you have any!

Xo, Ashley  

Have you created your own hair regimen?  Have you found a system that works for you?  Share it with us; leave a comment below!

Spotlight Monday: My Natural Hair Story

So to start off Spotlight Monday (yes, that's what I'm going to call it) I'm going to start with my natural hair story/journey.  This way, you'll have an idea of what is to come from a Spotlight Monday feature.  You might find a new hair crush, or find a story that relates to your own journey!

So, to begin..

I have been fully natural for a year and almost 5 months.  I transitioned for 9 months and big chopped on May 11th, 2012.  

I honestly didn't plan on going natural.  My mom had decided to transition, and was trying to not run back to the creamy crack.  I thought I'd be able to do this with her for some added motivation.  At first, I thought I'd be a long term transitioner, like my mom.  I wanted something new and spicy, since I wasn't texlaxing, so I ended up getting my hair cut into a bob (after seeing Chrissy's hair on LHHNY).

I figured because the bob was short, it wouldn't take long for my hair to grow out.. and it didn't.  My hair legit grew like weeds!  It grew out from the bob quickly, and was back down to my shoulders before I knew it.  During a school visit in April 2012, my friend showed me the MyNaturalSistas YouTube channel.  It was on then.  We must have stayed up for hours watching their videos.  Soon after, we found other natural hair channels, and we. were. in. love!  I couldn't wait to experience my natural hair.  So when I got home the 10th, I decided to hit the hair salon on the 11th to big chop.  My hair stylist must have called on God a thousand times while asking me if I was sure that that was what I wanted to do.

And so the cutting began..
When I first cut my hair I was happy.  I was free.  I had done something I didn't think was possible (for me, at least).  Soon after, I felt a bit overwhelmed.  I even cried a few times.  I didn't feel pretty.  I hated my hair.  I had to relearn how to style my hair so that I'd feel somewhat pretty.  I was used to having long, flowing hair, and now, I had this puff on my head-- wahhh!  I wasn't the experimental type.  I did a twist out here & there.  Everything else was just a wash & go.  I had to learn to take care of something that was, unfortunately, foreign to me, but I did.  I had help from my friends and family.  My boyfriend's kind words also got me through it.  Who doesn't like being told that they're beautiful regardless of a little hair cut?  *Swoon*  


I'm not even going to lie-- I've thought about texlaxing (texturizing) it, but then I think about how curly it is-- it is seriously curls galore!  It has grown greatly since I first cut it.  In fact, she's huge.  I have learned to appreciate my hair-- every curl, wave, and coil.  I love the fact that my hair is versatile; I can wash & go, twist it, and straighten it if I wanted.  I appreciate the love and compliments I receive for what grows naturally from my scalp.  

I hope to inspire through my story.  It has been a long, and sometimes, rough journey, but I'm going to keep pushing.  She doesn't always do what I want her to do, but she is mine.  I would love to answer any questions you might have about my journey.  Do NOT hesitate to leave a comment and ask!  I would love to know what you think, and if you need help, I'd be glad to offer any assistance :)

Xo, Ashley.

Do you want to share your natural hair story/journey on Spotlight Monday?

& Here is the Moment We've ALL Been Waiting For!

It's about damn time, I must say! 

First things first-- I want to thank you for stopping by to my blog, Curls Fo' the Girls.  It's been a long time coming, and I've finally decided to go through with this!  

Thanks to everyone that pushed me, all the questions I've received, all the compliments and things I've learned, here's to you all!

I  created Curls Fo' the Girls as a platform to share my natural hair knowledge, makeup tips, etc. with you all.  I've received a lot of compliments on things I have done with my hair and makeup, and I wanted to create a space that would be my own.  I will try to incorporate as many topics as possible with help from friends and supporters, routines, tips and tricks, and the like!

I'm excited to begin this project with you all, and hope that you all will grow and learn from me.  I also hope to learn and grow from this experience, too!

Now, let the fun begin!

Xo, Ashley.