My Natural Hair Journey + Current Hair Routine

When I was in middle school, my mom worked at the front desk of a prominent hair salon in the Peninsula which is when my obsession with changing hairstyles reached new heights. I began experimenting with new haircuts and dying my hair regularly between 7th and 8th grade. I must have been the most annoying pre-teen client because I got into a terrible habit of highlighting my hair, dyeing it black a few months later, and then highlighting it again. It was a vicious cycle that led to a lot of breakage, but it was my routine because I loved experimenting with my locks. I also utilized the periodic at-home box dye and even went burgundy a few times. Not to mention, I straightened my hair nearly every day because I didn’t know how to maintain my natural waves.

I don’t remember the exact year I began my natural hair journey, but it was somewhere between 22 -24 years old (I’ll be 30 in March). I do remember announcing to my roommate that I was going to begin wearing my hair wavy and that I was also going to stop using all products in my hair to see how my waves reacted. She questioned my cold turkey tactics and asked why I wouldn’t just use curly hair products to enhance my natural texture. My thought process was to allow my hair to detox from all the years of “abuse” by ceasing all use of hair dye, heating tools, and hair products at once.

When I first started wearing my hair naturally, it was so FRIZZY. My hair was used to being dyed frequently and straightened every day for about a decade and it didn’t know how to act, especially because I wasn’t using any product whatsoever. My hair needed moisture and eventually I began using a product called Mixed Chicks that one of my good friends recommended. This product is super moisturizing with a soft hold and I used it for a long time. I only needed very little at a time because it was highly concentrated and actually a bit too heavy for my hair texture. Regardless, adding moisture to my hair helped tame the frizziness and combat dry ends as I let the hair dye grow out. After a few years of using Mixed Chicks, I began to experiment with different products. One that I used for a while was Deva Curl shampoo, conditioner, and some sort of leave-in product (I can’t remember exactly which). Sadly, I tried it out again a few months ago and it gave me a terrible allergic reaction which resulted in a rash all over my face that lasted over a month. I cannot use this brand anymore, but I did use it in the beginning of my natural hair journey. I later transitioned into Oribe Styling Cream and Texturizing Spray which is a great luxurious combination. Throughout all the years trying various hair products, another trusty brand I relied on was TreSemme for shampoo, conditioner, and various styling products. When I first started wearing my hair naturally, I used a blow dryer and a diffuser to dry my hair about half way. My hair was very long and would take forever to dry. At this time, I was still using heating tools but kept it to a minimum. However, for several years now I have allowed my hair to exclusively air dry unless I am straightening it or curling it with an iron/wand.

January 2019 is when I was introduced to Not Your Mother’s Haircare products and I have since exclusively used their products to keep my waves defined and bouncy. I began with their Naturals shampoo and conditioner line, but a few months ago I switched over to the Curl Talk shampoo and conditioner. To style my hair, I have been using the Curl Talk Mousse and Cream for a year. I switched to the Curl Talk shampoo and conditioner in October of 2019 and this is also when I began incorporating the Curl Talk Gel into my routine. I already loved the Curl Talk line before this, but adding the gel really solidified the whole look.

Wearing my hair naturally is sentimental and practical for me. Around the time I began my natural hair journey, I was also going through a time of deep self reflection and was pursuing my journey with self love which I recently wrote about in a blog post. (Read My Journey with Self Love here.) During this time, I also wanted to simplify my life and my morning routine. I had a (not so far fetched) fantasy about waking up in the morning and taking as little time getting ready as needed. I wanted to embrace my natural state in its entirety and wake up feeling beautiful without a lot of extra fuss. Learning to embrace my natural texture is one of the pillars of my self love journey that will always serve as my home base.

My natural hair texture will likely always be my most worn hairstyle moving forward, but this year I want to experiment with heating tools more. As someone who used to change their hair often, I have been craving change. I have had the same haircut for nearly 2 years and wear it naturally all the time. To switch it up a bit, I have decided to grow my hair into a long bob (lob) and begin using heating tools more often this year. It will be a nice change and keep things interesting. Wearing my hair naturally for so many years as taught me to be grounded in my natural state and I will be solid in these roots regardless of how I style my hair.

Current Hair Routine:

I wash my hair about every other day with Curl Talk Shampoo and 3-in-1 Conditioner. What I love about the Curl Talk conditioner is that it has 3 options in 1 bottle. You are able to leave-in, rinse-out, or co-wash with this formula. Most days I rinse out the conditioner, but on days where I feel my strands need extra moisture I utilize the leave-in option.
After I wash my hair and get out of the shower, I leave the towel in my hair for 5-10 minutes to soak up extra moisture. I have a lot of hair so if I do not let the towel sit for a bit my hair will take longer to dry. I have to also be careful to not leave the towel in too long, because it makes my part look flat. At it’s current short length, it takes about 1-2 hours to air dry depending on the weather and temperature.
After I remove the towel, I mix the Curl Talk Cream and Gel into my fingers and spread the product throughout my hair, beginning at the ends- not the roots. I then take the remaining gel and cream to lightly touch up the the strands that are going to frame my face. As I do this, I brush the product through my hair with my fingers and begin forming the shape I want my hair to dry in and spread any remaining product lightly onto my roots for an extra umph. Once I am done creating the shape I like, I solidify the look with a little mousse beginning at the ends and then towards the strands that frame my face. Adding gel into my hair routine a few months ago was transformative. I really noticed a difference in the overall hold and volume which completes my signature look.