Introduce yourself!
S: Hey guys! My name is Sarah, but my friends call me Sass or Sassou. I live in Montreal, Canada and am proud of my Haitian origins. By the way my first language is French, bonjour bonjour!
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
S: I went through an important life-changing phase back in 2012 where I re-thought my whole life! I remember looking at pictures of me as a kid and wondering “Why did they put perm in my beautiful hair?”. I always loved big and curly hair, plus I was extremely curious to see what my real texture was like. I tried to transition for a few months but in the end, I did a big chop and ended up with hair that was less than 1 cm in length! What a change! I’ve been natural approximately one year and one month now. Time flies!
How would you describe your texture?
S: Oh wow….texture? It’s funny because I think my hair is all over the place! I would say I am a mix of 3C-4A and 4B. My hair in the front and in the back of my head very loosely curls so I would say it is 3C, the middle has very, very tight curls so a mix of 4A-4B.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
S: I absolutely LOVE twist-outs and braid outs! Usually, wash day is on Saturday and that day I will twist or braid my hair using a mix of Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, aloe vera gel and a bit of my own Shea butter mixture Elzashea, allow the twists/braids to dry during the day and overnight, then undo the twists/braids the next day. I will usually keep my twist/braid-out for 2-3 days and then turn my hair into a puff or I will roll & tuck it towards the end of the week before wash day. If I’m wearing twist/braid outs, I will re-twist/braid my hair at night with coconut oil and maybe a bit of Curls Curl Soufflé.
If I am feeling REALLY lazy, I will just do a wash’n’go and then proceed with rolling & tucking my hair or doing a puff and keeping one of these hairstyles for the whole week…I’m serious…The WHOLE week. Thank God for silk scarfs, they help define the cute little waves in my hair when it’s pulled back! The products I use to achieve these two last styles are Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel and extra virgin coconut oil after applying my Kinky Curly Knot Today. And if I am feeling EXTRA lazy or during winter times (and our winters are HARSH!!! Like SUPER HARSH), I will do braids or a sew-in weave, which I will keep for about a month. Half wigs and ponytail extensions are also awesome when I don’t have time.
What does wash day look like for you?
S: I need almost a full day for wash day, which is once a week! I will most likely “baggy” the night before by spraying my hair with water, covering it with a plastic bag, and letting it sit over night. I find that the water really helps with finger detangling the next day! So to start off, I will finger detangle my hair with a bit of extra virgin coconut oil. Afterwards, I apply my favorite deep conditioner (Either Aubrey Organics GPB or Curl Junkie Curl Rehab mixed with a bit of olive and baobab oil), cover my hair with a plastic bag, then with my Hair Therapy Wrap, and let it sit for an hour or so. Then I rinse my hair off. The next step will depend: I will either wash my hair with a mild shampoo and then co-wash with my fave conditioner or simply co-wash.
I wash my hair about once every two-three weeks and the other weeks, I co-wash. The only shampoo I use is Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo (it smells sooooo yummy and just a little bit goes a long way!) and my favorite conditioners are Herbal Essences Honey I’m Strong, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration and Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner. Once a month I will also do an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. After co-washing my hair, I like to dry it using an old t-shirt to avoid frizz! Then I apply my fave leave in conditioner, which is Kinky Curly Knot Today and will seal my hair with Jamaican Black Castor oil before styling. If I have the time, I will put henna hair color in my hair once a month. I use Lush’s “Caca Noir”.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
S: The puff is without a doubt my favorite. It’s so easy to do and can be both casual and classy! All you need is a big elastic band, water, gel and VOILA! Or I might do my puff and add a ponytail extension. Super easy!
How do you combat shrinkage?
S: I don’t really mind shrinkage! But if I want to elongate my hair for my twist/braid outs, I will pin the end of each twist or braid as far as possible on my head and let it set overnight. The next day it creates a longer, fuller effect.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
S: The middle of my head has a life of its own! I need to handle it with care.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
S: Do moisturize every single day with a bit of water! Sealing my ends is also an absolute must.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
S: Don’t dry comb my hair or it will all fall out and don’t wait over two weeks before washing or co-washing.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
S: YES! I am on every social media platform! Plus, I really love food and fashion so my website focuses a lot on that! Check it out if you ever come to Montreal and are looking for a restaurant, I do lots of reviews!
-Website/Blog: www.versass.com
-Twitter: @ilovesassou
-Instagram: @ilovesassou
-Tumblr: ilovesassou.tumblr.com
