Spotlight Monday: Mercedes

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Mercedes, and I’m an ambitious 21 year old from Hot-lanta!  I'm currently a senior at Syracuse University in the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, studying Political Science.  I aspire to fulfill my dreams of one day becoming a legend in both the entertainment and political spheres.

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

> I've been natural since the 8th grade.  That was the last time I had a relaxer.  My hair is very curly & springy.  The curls resemble little ringlets like the Shirley Temple curls.  My hair is very thick, but soft.  For the most part, my hair is very manageable.  I would say my hair type is mixture of 3A, 3C & 4A.

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I was actually forced to transition when a relaxer caused my hair to fall out in the crown area of my head.  The relaxer caused horrible scabbing, and once the scabs fell off, it took my hair with it.  I had a huge bald spot that got infected.  Going natural was the only option; I didn't have much of a choice.  I eventually found out that I’m allergic to some of the chemicals within relaxers (because I have a very sensitive scalp), which is one of the reasons I stopped getting them.  I was on antibiotics and had to use medicated shampoo for a year.  It took a total of 2 years to completely revitalize my hair to its natural state.  I've cut my hair several times, but my "Big Chop" happened during my freshmen year of college in 2010.  I cut my hair because of heat damage.  No dramatic revelations over here-- I just wanted my healthy hair back.

On big chopping-- how did you feel?
> I felt so beautiful!  I loved the feeling of simply rubbing moisturizer & oil in my hair without having to really 'do' anything to it.  I was very comfortable with short hair.  Cutting my hair isn't a big deal to me (I would do it again in a heartbeat).

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?

> When I first experienced my natural hair after I stopped relaxing it, I hated it.  I was very athletic & played several sports, so the relaxer maintained my roots and edges from "drawing up" or "napping up".  It took a couple of years to get used to it.  After doing research on the actual maintenance, I fell in love with it.  I'm in love with my natural hair now to the extent where I'll go months without putting the slightest bit of heat on it (including a blow dryer). 

What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)
> Raw Coconut Oil, Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Shampoo, and Miss Jesse’s Curly Pudding.  These are products that I liked, and I found that they worked best for my hair.  However, I’m somewhat of a product junkie, and I’m constantly trying new things in my hair routine, especially when the seasons change.

What are your go-to hairstyles?

> My go-to hairstyles are curly 'fros using twist outs, two-strand twists, Bantu Knots on semi blow-dried hair (hair is still fairly damp, just blow-dried to stretch the curls) and natural updo hairstyles.  I’m known to switch up my hair A LOT.  I always have different hairstyles and I'm willing to switch things up.

How do you feel about your hair today?

> I've been through a long journey with my hair, but it was worth it to obtain healthy hair.  I love my natural roots and curls!

Bonus: Check out Mercedes' growth as of December 2013!  She's definitely serving up fierceness in this pic, :)

Until next time,

Ashley, xo.

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

Shea Moisture Organic Yucca & Baobab Anti-Break Masque Product Review

This stuff right here.. This. stuff. RIGHT. here!  OMG.  This stuff right here..

So I ordered the Shea Moisture Yucca & Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque from Walgreens during the BOGO sale.  I had heard so many things about it, and the sale was a perfect time to try it out.  For $5.24, how could I go wrong?!

I have fine strands so to hear about a product that is supposed to thicken the hair, and it isn't JBCO, sounded great to me.  I couldn't wait to try it!

The masque is formulated "with biotin & bamboo extract for fine, thin hair."  It claims to "strengthen, thicken & volumize."

Claim:

"Our all-natural treatment masque penetrates deeply to moisturize, strengthen, and fortify fine, thin hair.  Helps prevent breakage while increasing volume for thicker, full-bodied hair."

"Baobab oil contains Vitamins A, C, D, E, and F to fortify and strengthen hair.  Yucca thickens hair while adding volume.  Biotin is a powerful B Vitamin that strengthens the hair follicle."

Ingredients:

Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)* , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut)* , Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter* , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado) , Olea Europaea Oil (Olive)* , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract , Ammonium Salt (Conditioner) , Yucca Filamentosa Extract , Vegetable Protein , Adansonia Digitata Extract (Baobab) , Biotin , Panthenol (Vitamin B-5) , Rosemary Extract , Bamboo Extract , Sorbitol Esters , Caprylyl Glycol , Essential Oil Blend , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower (Honeysuckle) , Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle) 

*Certified organic ingredient

Review:

First off, this stuff smells amazing!  It's not like the Deep Treatment Masque, which smells great, but is a bit overpowering after a while.  The DTM honestly reminded me of men's cologne.  However, the Yucca & Baobab masque is very light in scent, and it reminds me of the Curl Enhancing Smoothie in texture.

I washed and detangled my hair, and I applied the anti-breakage masque.  Because it has a thick consistency, like the curl enhancing smoothie (CES), less is definitely more in this case.  I threw on a shower cap, and headwrap, to run some errands.  Once I got back in the house, I set up my steamer and prepared to steam.  My hair had been feeling extra dry, especially with the extreme temperatures, so I definitely needed an extra boost of moisture.  The directions state that a plastic cap or any other hair covering is not needed when using a steamer because the "moist heat will add to masque's hydration".  I removed my cap and set up a seat.

I had two steaming sessions-- one to get the front of my hair and one for the back.  I needed all of the moisture I could get!  After steaming with the anti-breakage masque, I sat for a bit until the conditioner cooled.  When I used to steam during my textlax days, my stylist used to make me sit for about 10 minutes until the conditioner cooled.  After it cooled enough, I began to rinse my hair with cold water.  *Cold water helps to close the cuticle to lock in the goodies! :)  

I immediately noticed a difference!  My hair was a lot softer and it felt extremely moisturized, which was great after suffering from the cold weather.  The slip was also great, which allowed me to run my fingers through my hair while rinsing.  I also noticed that I had very little hair to remove from my hands after rinsing.

I will say that although my hair was soft and moisturized, I noticed that I had a frizz patch in my crown area.  I'm not sure why the frizz occurred, but I was not happy to see it! LOL Luckily, the frizz was in one area, and not all over, and it was soft! :)

I would definitely use the Anti-Breakage Masque again.  I loved how my hair felt-- it was soft and moisturized for DAYS (I couldn't keep my hands out of it, *bad Ashley*)-- and I loved how the masque smelled.  I think it's a great moisturizing deep treatment with a boost of protein.  If your hair is protein sensitive, I wouldn't recommend using this masque every week as a protein overload is never a good thing, especially in cold conditions.  However, if you need a boost of protein, using this masque one to two times a month would be sufficient enough.

Until next time,

Ashley, xo.

Have you used the Yucca & Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque?  Share your experience below!

Spotlight Monday: Melissa

Tell us about yourself.
> Hello Naturals!  My name is Melissa; I dance, I love cats and I am a "Natural Hair" And "Black Self Love" enthusiast!  I am pursuing my Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling.  I have strong aspirations of not only being an advocate in the Mental Health Community, but also of bringing more Mental Health services, and awareness, to our disregarded communities of color in any way that I can.

How long have you been natural? What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!
> Well (brace yourself! Lol), I am one of those naturals who "went natural" more than once.  As a freshman in college, I made the decision to change a lot of my habits including relaxing my hair, especially because I didn't get them often.  My first relaxer was forced; I was only 8yo!  After attempting my 1st transition, a fresh relaxer and weave called my name.  After almost 9 months, I went back!  When I saw how TERRIBLE the perm was, and how weak and stupid I felt, I said "that's it for this!" and ever since the summer of 2009, I never got another relaxer. :)  My hair type is mixed, but overall I think I am a 4A & 4B with BEAUTIFUL tight coils and tight S shaped curls.

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I transitioned with multiple trims, braids, and weaves.  Then I cut my hair to my ears when I saw how unhealthy my hair was.  I decided to transition because I wanted to see the difference in my hair as it grew, and I was honestly too afraid to cut it all off.  Now I feel that because I went through a lot of phases and heat damage, and even though my curls are coming back to life and I'm way more comfortable, I definitely want to cut it again in the future.

 What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> Like many transitioning naturals, I thought I would have Tracy Ellis Ross hair or something (lol), but I didn't.  I didn't know what I was doing with my hair and I felt kind of lonely in my journey.  It took me years to stop using heat and to embrace my TRUE natural texture after giving up crazy chemicals like relaxers (No lye, No lie lol).  However, when I decided to be 100% true to my naturalness, I was very happy when I saw how curly my hair was, and I was ecstatic for my freedom! - I felt so strong because this was one thing about me that NOBODY or NO social norm could continue to control. 

What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)
> I'm still in a trial and error phase because I feel like my hair is a complicated girl, but to name three products:

- Raw Shea butter (my whole body swears by it)

- Eco Styler Gel

- Cantu Shea Leave-in conditioner

I know it says to name three, but the Tresemme Naturals Conditioner is really good, too! LOL

What are your go-to hairstyles?
> As much as I love twist outs and Bantu knot outs, I have too many failed attempts with them.  So my go-to hairstyle would be my Beautiful, coily puff aka "Le Puff Zaddy".

How do you feel about your hair today?
> Today-- I love my hair!  Even though I am still not 100% confident with every hairstyle I do or try, I rock it with love and pride because I do love and value my return to natural.  I love to use water in my hair everyday now, and I will never turn back to relaxers, which just didn't work for me, or even heat.  I am fully in love with the versatility of my hair, and the hair textures of all people of color!  I feel like I can make a stance with my hair in so many ways and I love it.

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

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

My Updated Detangling Routine Using My Lovely Digits

I'm definitely going to keep this post short and I just wanted to briefly touch on my updated detangling routine.  Since cutting my hair, I've decided to give my wide tooth combs a break, and I have been using my lovely fingers instead to detangle!  Yes, I have tested out finger detangling and I honestly love it.  Here's why:

• Less broken hairs: Since finger detangling, I've noticed that I have a lot less broken hairs than before.  Granted I only have a small section of hair to detangle, but I have noticed that I remove less hair with finger detangling than I would by a wide tooth comb.  I am able to feel for tangles and knots a lot easier with my fingers which allows me time to work them out rather than ripping them out.
• Less tugging: I don't have to constantly pull at a section of hair to detangle.  I usually wash my hair with a sulfate-free shampoo or cleansing conditioner, then I apply my Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner to detangle.  Here, I separate my hair starting from the front of the tuft and I gently comb through the section with my fingers.  This way, I get rid of the tangles without yanking my hair out.  After the section is completed, I move to the next section using the same combing motion.  I remove any shed hairs from my hands before moving to the next section to prevent future knots, etc.
• Time efficient: Finger detangling is also time efficient.  I have a small tuft to detangle, but I noticed that I am able to finger detangle a lot more quickly than I would with a WTC.  With the comb, I'd have to be careful so that I don't snap the hairs, but I noticed that I am able to move quickly and my fingers comb through my hair a lot more smoothly than with the comb.
• Curl preservation: I have also noticed that finger detangling preserves my curl pattern.  I noticed that my curls would be a bit frizzier if I detangled with a WTC, but my fingers allow my curls to stay intact thus reducing frizz.  My curls remain springy and curly instead of wavy and a lot less frizzy!

Check out this video from my favorite curly girl/vlogger, MahoganyCurls about Finger Detangling.  She explains (and demonstrates) the pros of finger detangling and why she opts to use her fingers instead of a wide tooth comb.

I hope this helps,

Ashley, xo.

What is your detangling method?  Do you, or have you, finger detangled before?  Share your experience below!

Spotlight Monday: Milan

Tell us about yourself.

> My name is Milan; I am from the Bronx, and New York City is my home.  I am a Junior at Syracuse University and I am studying Communications and Rhetorical Studies.  I am also an active poet on Syracuse's Campus.

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

> I have been natural for 2 years now; it will be 3 years next summer!  For sometime, I didn’t know I was going natural (officially) until after a small chop of my hair.  I completely decided to stop getting perms.  Within those two years, I didn’t fully embrace my natural hair.  Instead, I would just flat iron it or get it blown out.  When I began to my rock my natural hair, I discovered that I had multiple curl patterns.  To my surprise, I am a 3c, 4a, and 4b, leaving me with three textures all around, providing me with different curls.  Some of my curls are super defined at times, and some of my curls can be loose, but not so much. My hair is thick so the different textures compliment each other.

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I began to embrace my natural hair after 2 years when I had some kind of length.  I didn’t big chop; I transitioned by letting my perm grow out through box braid installations.  I took this route because when I used to get perms in high school, the chemicals were too strong for my hair so it started to break after a while.  My mother would treat my hair like it was her prized possession because my hair was long and soft.  I miss it sometimes, but going  natural was a big step for me and I knew it was my time to treat my hair like my prized possession, and I definitely do.

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> It was crazy; it was like those who knew I was natural for that time always wanted me to embrace it.  When I finally wore my hair out in an actual style, it almost felt like “the wait” was over.  However, I was very insecure about it because I didn’t know how I would actually look.

What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)

> My favorite products are Cantu Coconut Oil leave-in conditioner, Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk, and Olive Oil.  I haven’t become a product junkie yet, but I can feel it coming soon.

What are your go-to hairstyles?
> My go-to styles are definitely box braids (when it’s a colder-- you can never go wrong), and my 'fro!  I do two strand twists and wash & gos with JUST conditioner and my curls come out defined!

How do you feel about your hair today?
> Honesty, I love my hair, and I never thought of turning back to the chemicals that once damaged my hair before.  I felt like it was going to be harder to maintain my natural hair, and at the beginning, it was.  I didn’t know what I was doing, and I didn’t have any sort of guidance.  Now this blog happened and, I can connect with some women on here, whether its their hairstyles or different texture types.  When I visit the blog, I see some similar products that I've used, and some that I can use in the future to produce some of the same results as these lovely women have.  I feel like I am apart of this glorious resurgence of natural beauty and embracing it.  It makes me feel like the movement is here to stay.  This is only the beginning of my journey.

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

Do you have any questions for Milan about her natural hair?  Leave a comment below!

Spotlight Monday: Maya

Tell us about yourself.
> I'm a 22-year-old Syracuse University alumna working in Chicago with at-risk freshman and sophomore males through University of Chicago/Match Education.  I'm addicted to fashion/beauty blogs and shoes.  I love to dance, sing, cook, and anything DIY/arts & crafts. Oh, and I like long walks on the beach... (LOL!)

How long have you been natural?  What is your hair type?  Describe your curls!
> I've been natural 4.5 years.  I'd say my hair type is a mix of 3b/3c/4a.  My curls are looser at the nape of my neck, and around the front, but tighter at the crown.  In some areas, my hair curls in a corkscrew pattern, but in other areas it's more of a s-shaped pattern.  I have fine textured hair, but there's a lot of it!

Did you transition or big chop?  Why did you take that route?
> I did a little bit of both.  After prom/graduation, I decided I wanted a change and got my hair cut somewhere between a pixie and a short bob.  Because my hair was longer in the front, I still had some relaxed hair, but not much.  After my first semester of college, I cut the remainder of the relaxed hair off.  It grew out into a medium length bob and I had it cut again into a short bob.

On big chopping-- how did you feel?
> I loved it and hated it.  I loved that I was brave enough to cut my hair so short.  I also loved not spending hours styling my hair.  I would literally wash my hair, comb a little conditioner through it, and go!  When I decided to straighten it, it only took about 45 min from start to finish.  On the flip side, when I wore my hair curly, I wasn't as confident about my short hair.  I felt like a little boy some days and other days like a wet poodle.  My hair being done and "in-place" is borderline an obsession, so I didn't know how to just let go and let my hair do what it wanted.  I felt like I was having a bad hair day everyday I wore my hair curly.  

What was it like when you experienced your natural hair for the first time?
> When I was getting relaxers, I never got my hair bone straight.  So my hair was always curly through high school.  I'd only get a touch-up once or twice a year. That's pretty much how I knew I could go without the creamy crack.  When I'd style my hair, I actually liked the outcome of the natural sections more than the relaxed ones.  And when I'd wear a wash-n-go, I'd have to spend a half an hour scrunching my ends so that they wouldn't be straighter than my roots.  So when I went completely natural, I fell in love with my hair.  It was healthy, versatile, and most importantly, it curled without coercion.  I was so committed to having the healthiest hair that I'd schedule a hair appointment every six weeks to get my ends trimmed and a deep conditioning treatment.  Now, I'm not as irrational.  I can do both at home and not as frequently without feeling like I'm abusing my hair.  

What are some of your favorite products? (Top 3)
> - Trader Joe's Tea Tree Shampoo and Nourish Spa Conditioner.  My scalp always feels great and my hair doesn't drink up the conditioner and dry out like most conditioners. 

- Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner always leaves my hair silky and moisturized.  I love that I don't have to use the whole bottle to feel the difference in my hair. 

- Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel - I use it for EVERYTHING.  Wash-n-go, bun, two strand twists, twist outs... EVERYTHING.

(I'm teetering on the product junkie line, so I mix in other products depending on the style.) 

What are your go-to hairstyles?
> The first few years, I only wore wash and gos or two braided pigtails.  I've experimented a lot more in the last 18 months.  I love flexi rod sets! (I just hate how uncomfortable they are, so I don't do them frequently). I do a lot of variations of buns.  I try to switch the position of my bun every couple of days and I only tie the elastic bands once or twice (depending on the style) so that I don't put too much stress on my hair.  Sometimes I do two flat twists in the front and pull the bun down to the nape of my neck. Other times I do two strand twists on the front half of my head and pull my hair into a high bun.  I also do a lot of wash and gos.  I like to put two flat twists in the front of my wash and gos to take some hair off my face.  If I'm going out, I usually diffuse my hair a little, slick down my edges with eco sytler, and throw on an elastic head band. 

When my hair started growing out, I had a routine down to the minute almost.  I'd wear my hair straight one week, the next my natural hair in two braids or a puff, straight hair, then natural hair.. and so on.  Over the last year, I've been trying to limit the heat styling, so I'll go a couple weeks without straightening my hair.  I went the entire summer with no heat, so I learned a lot of protective styles that I've been able to incorporate into my routine.  Now, I try to straighten my hair one week out the month, the next week I'll wear my straight hair in a bun, and the next two weeks I wear my hair natural or in a protective style. (keyword: try.)

How do you feel about your hair today?

> I still have a love/hate relationship with my hair.  I get so many compliments on my hair especially when I think it looks terrible.  I'm learning to embrace my curls a little more.  That's been the biggest struggle throughout my natural hair journey - finding the confidence in owning my hair.  Even though I've been natural for 4.5 years, I'm still learning what works best for me and my hair.

Until next time,
Ashley, xo.

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

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!