WHAT’S YOUR HAIR STORY?

I was blessed with curly hair.  Growing up my mother always took very good care of my hair.  She would wash it, treat it and twist it.  I remember having a head full of curls until I started using chemicals that damaged my hair.  I’ve always wanted to perm my hair and my mother was very strict about that.  When I turned sixteen I started using perm.  Then that’s when I got addicted to perm.  From the ages of 16-23 I would constantly perm my hair every six weeks.  Finally the perm damaged my hair completely and my hair broke off.  You know what they say “always listen to your mother”.  After my hair broke off I became depended on weave.  I loved the long luscious hair.  I wanted to be like everyone else.  Eventually I was sick and tired of spending money on weave.  I decided to research and find out ways to get my natural hair back.  I found an amazing website www.curlista.com.  I had a talk with Lori and told her that I want to cut my hair off.  Ladies you know how it is to cut all your hair off.  There are so many questions that run through a women’s mind when she’s about to do the big chop.  Will I look like a boy?  Do I have a great face for it?  She told me that it would be a great thing for me to do and once again reminded me that hair always grows back.  So that’s what I did.  On June 8^th 2009 I chopped my hair off.  I am determined to get my natural curls back!

WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED TO TRANSITION?

Transitioning is not an easy decision.  I have thought about it for months.  There’s a couple of reason why I’ve decided to transition.

1. became to depended on weave and its quite pricey
2. want to be able to get out of the shower and have luscious locks again
3. it’s easier to maintain
4. want natural hair

DESCRIBE YOUR “BIG CHOP” EXPERIENCE?

The “Big Chop” was a day to remember.  When I woke up that morning I looked in the mirror and said to myself let’s do this.  I’ve had enough of the long dead hair on my head.  I mean ladies let’s face it.  What’s the point of having long hair when it’s fried and or dead?  Just to say you have long hair?  I was tired of that.  I was standing outside the salon for about twenty minutes talking to my friend Chantea and telling her that I was scared.  She told me something that will stick with me forever.  Hair doesn’t make you, you make your hair.  I went into the salon and told the hair dresser to cut it off.  I brought a Keri Hilson photo to show Jen (the hair dresser) the look I was going for.  She asked me once more was I sure?  I gave her the look and she started cutting it off.  I didn’t cry at all I was more in shock.  I couldn’t believe I was really doing it.  When it was all finished I looked in the mirror and absolutely loved my short hair.  I couldn’t get my fingers out of it.

WHAT’S THE RESPONSE BEEN TO YOU NEW LOOK?

First off I sent a picture to my boyfriend he absolutely loved it.  My family also loved it.  People are more in shock that I actually cut it off.  Men are actually taking a double look at me even though my hair is the same length is their hair.  I’m just overwhelmed because I’ve been receiving great response.

WHAT STYLE DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO ROCKING THIS SUMMER?

I’m going crazy this summer.  I’m putting down the curling iron and heating appliances and going back to the good old chiney bumps.  I’ve been following this blog and I must say I’m in love with Lori’s hair.  Imagine the look I’ll get when I take the chiney bumps out?  I can just see it now.

WHAT KIND OF HAIR DO YOU ASPIRE TO HAVE?

Honestly I just want to get the curls back that I once had.  I adore Teyanna Taylor’s hair.  I would love to have hair like hers.  Now I’m just playing the waiting game.

WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE ABOUT GOING NATURAL?

• What products should I use for my hair?
• How can I style short hair without using heat?
• Is it costly?

Ashley’s Curly Story

I am half black, half white, so my hair has been a constant struggle for a good part of my life. I had a little curly afro until my poor white mother couldn’t take it anymore. she was constantly trying to style it and it was a mess!!! I have the pics to prove it, lol. A friend of hers told her to take me to get a relaxer, and I got my first one when I was 10 years old. I just remember it burning… A LOT! But the end product was nice, it was smooth and I loved it.

I kept up with them for the most part and throughout the years my hair was off and on. Some good days, some bad. When I got to college my friend had a ceramic flat iron, which was like $300.00 at the time… she straightened my hair with it, and I couldn’t believe it! That was back in 2001 and they were really getting popular then, but I was a broke college kid and couldn’t afford one so I would still relax it as needed.

A few years later I got my hands on one and would use it after blow drying my hair with a round brush. Therefore I didn’t need to relax it and I actually transitioned by accident. After a few months when I would wear my hair curly I realized that I had some really nice hair under all the damage. I never did the “big chop” I just got a lot of trims here and there, and eventually my curls got better and better. I learned to take really good care of my hair and only use heat sparingly. I still straighten it from time to time for special occasions, but I wear it natural pretty much every day. I haven’t had a relaxer since 2005, and I will NEVER go back. My hair is in the best condition it’s ever been in. I am still constantly learning new ways to treat my hair, new styles, and new products to use. When I was little I would pull on my hair and cry for it to “turn” straight, but I have learned that natural hair is beautiful and a gift, so now I treat it that way

Her Signature Hairstyle

BIG HAIR!!! I love volumous curls! My curls are actually quite small, so I am always trying to pump them up and I flip my head over and shake a lot, hahaha.

What she loves about her locks…

I can have the best of both worlds, I can change my whole look by the way I wear my hair. If I wanna look more edgy I can where a curly faux hawk. Or for a wedding I can straighten it for a more polished look. It feels good to have that option.

What she hates…
I hate how easily it tangles. Some days I dread washing it because I know it’s gonna be a pain to comb. I comb it the shower after I put the conditioner in my hair, which makes it a little easier but it still a tangled mess.

Ashley’s must haves

I adore Mixed Chicks leave in conditioner. It really grasps my curls and moisturizes them. I can totally tell a difference when I don’t use it, which is never these days! I know some natural girls don’t like there products because they are not all natural, but it works for me! To each their own. And Carol’s Daughter Tui Leave in Conditioner, smells great and works good for refreshing curls.

What prods she won’t mess with again…

Cantu shea butter leave in conditioner.   It’s really runny and smells kinda gross. Also it made my hair heavy and weighed down, which I hate!

The secret behind Ashley’s curls

I’m a big believer in no-poo! I only shampoo my hair when it really needs it, usually once a week or whenever it feels like it has a lot of build up. I will just co-wash it in the mean time, and try to get the most styles out of my hair before it needs to be co-washed again. Also, I finger style a lot! Twisting and shaping my curls really helps, and I don’t style it until it’s dry, messing with it too much when it’s still drying seperates my curls and causes frizz.

Ashley’s curly advice

Treat your hair like gold! Be patient and moisturize moisturize moisturize!!! Your hair probably has the potential to be gorgeous, you just don’t know it yet! There is so much info on the internet these days, there’s no reason not too go au natural!!!

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