Introduce yourself!
D: Hey Queens! My name is Day Steer and I’m originally from the island of Jamaica, but New York is where I currently call home.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
D: I am almost 4 years natural (March 27th is my curly-versary! Woot!). I decided to go natural because when I embarked on my relaxed hair journey, my new growth came in so nicely and I fell in love with it! I had little curls that I have never seen before. I was scared to cut all my relaxed hair though, so I continued to relax. But I was annoyed that my relaxed hair would get frizzy whenever I didn’t flat iron. Plus it frustrated me that 95% of the time the hair on my head was two different textures. I realized that going natural would solve these problems! So I decided to transition. I began following different natural ladies online and I was inspired to take on the boldness of natural hair.
How would you describe your texture?
D: My texture is tightly curled. I have medium strands and medium thickness. It shrinks up rather quickly as long as there is a little moisture in the air. For hair typing purposes I would say I’m a 4b.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
D: My styling regimen always depends on the hair goals that I have at the time. During the summer I wore bantu knot outs and high puffs constantly because my goal was to have fun with my hair (not necessarily protecting my ends or retaining length). Whereas now, during the winter I want to regain some length that I cut last year, so I am always wearing protective styles such as buns, plaited styles, and attempting flat twists (semi-successfully) to protect my ends from every day wear and tear. I often wear my hair in stretched styles simply because it’s easier, and it allows me to do more with my hair. The only thing that I would say is always constant is that I moisturize everyday with water and Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Conditioner, and I seal with jojoba oil in the summer and heavier oils in the winter.
What does wash day look like for you?
D: Oh lawd! I will try not to write a novella here. 🙂 For me, wash day is an all-day process, not because it’s difficult, because it only takes me about three hours to detangle shampoo and deep condition, but I always fall asleep or get sidetracked while I have the conditioner in. 🙂 I try to wash my hair every week, but most of the time it stretches out to every two weeks. I always pre-poo overnight with my oil mixture (jojoba, EVOO, sunflower, grapeseed and avocado oil). I warm up the oil and apply it to my scalp and hair. The next day the process begins as I section my hair and let the faucet wet my hair as I lightly detangle under the running water (in sections). I then shampoo each section separately with Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo (it’s sulfate free and so yummy!), mixed with a drop of jojoba oil (which just makes it even more moisturizing). Before I rinse the shampoo, I add a dab of Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Conditioner to the section of hair in order to prevent any stripping that may occur.
After I rinse the shampoo, I then co-wash with Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Conditioner, which helps to get rid of any extra tangles. It also helps to give my hair more pliability for twisting. Again, this is done in about 8 sections, going one section at a time. I then apply Aubrey Organics GPB or Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner (depending on if I need protein or moisture) to the sections as I define my curls and detangle any remaining tangles (there is always a tangle or two trying to get away). I then retwist. I apply a plastic cap or bag or two, then put on my heating cap. After a few hours I am ready to rinse. Section by section I untwist each section of hair and rinse with cold water to close my cuticles. I then re-twist under running water. I lastly t-shirt dry and apply my oil to damp hair.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
D: When I don’t have any time to style or I don’t feel like it, I wear a head wrap. It gives me instant dopeness in a matter of seconds. High puffs are another favorite of mine, and high buns. They require very little effort and the look is so beautiful to me.
How do you combat shrinkage?
D: Oh, shrinkage. Simply twisting or braiding my hair is me combating shrinkage, because if I didn’t I would channel all sorts of Django :). But if I want to wear my hair in the most stretched style that’s possible without heat, I lightly mist my hair with water and apply a good amount of oil as I separate the curls. The oil helps to weigh it down and provides slip as I separate. I then do a low bun and tie it with a scarf. The next day I release the bun and my hair resembles a blow-out without the use of any heat.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
D: I have to pay close attention to my ends in order to prevent splits. I installed Senegalese twists a couple years ago and it really did some damage to my ends. The cut I did in January of 2013 was as a result of that damage, but I think that I am fully recovered now. I just have to keep protecting these ends to ensure that.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
D: It’s vital to know the importance of moisturizing, and sealing that moisture with quality oil. My hair can get dry pretty quickly, that’s just how it is. So keeping its water content up is a must for me. Also, keeping my hair stretched in order to prevent tangles and knots is very important.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
D: Do not wash your whole head at once! That’s a big no-no. Unless you don’t mind spending six hours detangling your hair. Trust me, I have been there and it was not fun!
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
D: I don’t have a blog, but if you like you can locate me on Instagram where I am always posting hair related material. My username is @regalday. Thanks so much for the feature and I hope this helped some of you ladies!
