Spotlight Monday: Marissa

Tell us about yourself.
> My name is Marissa, and I am a sophomore at Syracuse University; I am pursuing Music Journalism and Sound Engineering.  You can describe me as a music enthusiast.  I am the Co-Founder of Underground Founders Productions; check us out at youtube.com/aravetomars!

How long have you been natural?  What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!
> My mom never let us get relaxers; we always got texturizers-- the “less harsh” version.  We would get texlaxed every 4-6 months so going natural was very easy for me.  I literally just stopped getting texlaxed my Junior year of high school, so it has been about 3+ years.  I have THICK hair-- a mixture of curls and waves.

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I transitioned because I am not allowed to cut my hair, nor would I want to.  My transition was very easy because my hair would still curl up with texturizers.  I have a lot of hair, so chopping all of it off would be an extreme step for me.  I have never cut my hair more than 3 inches!  I think transitioning, instead of big chopping, might be the reason why I do not have the same curl pattern throughout all of my hair. **Kanye Shrugs**

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> The more my hair would grow out, the bigger my hair would get!  I now have GIANT hair that distracts everyone, but I love it!


What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)
> I am honestly the most basic naturalista ever.  I use whatever products my sisters have which is usually coconut oil, argan oil, and Suave Moroccan conditioner.

What are your go-to hairstyles?
> I am all about the wash and go.  I go out with my hair wet and close to my head, and it gradually turns into a big fro.  I like bantu knots because it gives the illusion that I curled my hair.

How do you feel about your hair today?
> My hair is straightened-- as I'm typing this-- for the second time in 9 months.  It feels healthy and easy to handle, but I can’t wait to go back to my 'fro!

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

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

Simple Braided Updo Pictorial

Lori

Hey lovelies!  It's Holiday season and I wanted to share a simple updo for the ladies that are protective styling.  I took my PS out a couple of weeks ago, but I thought about you all ;)

I can only imagine how difficult it is to find easy styles are that fun, creative, and easy on the hair.  This simple updo is simple enough to do, but especially fun for the Holidays!  I asked my friend, Lori, to demonstrate one of her favorite updos and here it is!

You will need:

- hair pins (these are different from bobby pins)

- a soft bristle brush (for your edges and nape area, optional)

Let's get started!

First, lean forward to bring all braids to the front:

Next, take 2 braids from the left side of your head, and 2 from the right (preferably around the middle for added security and less tension on the braids around your edges):

Then, wrap the sectioned off braids around the majority and tie as you would tie a shoelace.  (This acts as a hair tie):

Next, divide braids into 2 sections and braid them:

Then, wrap each braid around, in opposite directions, and secure with bobby pins:

*Slaying your edges is optional once the braids have been secured!

All done:

*Side note: Feel free to add a head wrap if you want to spice up the look.  Just wrap accordingly after your braids have been secured!

I would love to see some of these updos recreated especially during the Holidays.  If you have time and take on Lori's updo, tag us at #curlsfothegirls on Instagram!

Happy Holidays,

Ashley, xo.

Do you have a favorite braided updo or questions for Lori about her updo?  Comment below!

Spotlight Monday: Fatima

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Fatima Johnson; I love to dance and eat!  I am passionate about advocating for, and educating, the youth on the options they have regarding higher education and giving them the tools needed to get there.  I like to try and live positively and just love life!

How long have you been natural?  What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!
> I have been natural for 3 years.  See, my hair type is a lot; it's just SUPER thick!  For the most part, my hair is more wavy than curly.  I have a majority of 3b/3c curls with 3c/4a curls in the front, 3a/3b curls on the sides behind my ears, and 3c/4a curls at the back of my head.

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I decided to go natural when I saw that my hair was falling out in college.  I transitioned for two years then I cut off the last parts of the relaxed hair.  I cut off about 3 inches, maybe a little more.  I chose to transition because my natural texture was sooo similar to the already relaxed hair.  I also thought that it would be healthier for me to do this so I can smoothly transition and learn how to work with my natural texture instead of chopping everything off and working with a length that I had never experienced.  

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> When I first experienced my natural hair, I was not happy.  Honestly, I did not know how to take care of my hair, and I was just straightening and ponytail-ing it lol.  Then, I heard about the naturalistas on YouTube and saw all of the beautiful hairstyles they did; the love they had for their hair was inspirational!  I was like "Wow-- I must be crazy not to love this hair!"  And then as I transitioned, I played around with Bantu knots and twist outs.  Then, I just cut the relaxed ends off and it was all magic from there!

What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)
> My top three favorite products are pretty simple: shea butter, a cool water with an oil and conditioner mix, and TRESemme Naturals Conditioner.  I mix my Shea butter with sweet almond, jojoba, olive, coconut, vitamin E, and castor oils.  *That's also the oil mixture I use on my scalp. 

What are your go-to hairstyles?
> My go-to hairstyles?  Buns!  When I want to wear my hair out, I just do a simple twist out.  I also like wearing my hair in twists.  I'm still exploring different styles.  My texture is so different than those on YouTube; I expect the same results as them and never get it!  I just have to explore on my own.

How do you feel about your hair today?
> I absolutely LOVE my hair.  I won't lie-- I still feel self-conscious when I think about wearing it in a Wash and Go, but I know I'm gonna be like "Eff this!" one day, and do it.  I am so happy with the health, length, and diversity of my hair.  I can straighten, curl, twist, braid it, etc. and it feels good to have those options than to just be boring and straight like it was in my permed life.  I love my hair!

Until next time,

Ashley, xo.

Do you have any questions for Fatima 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!