Beach, please.
Heyyy. So, I just got back from Jamaica, and I IG-bombed several photos of me and my girlfriends frolicking on the beach. My email was instantly flooded with questions about my blondissima hair…and my curl cocktail! Yep, as you might have noticed, I went almost totally blonde during my SYB hiatus over the past year. I wrote all about it on xoJane (“I Went Black Girl Blonde and I’m Never, Ever Going Back.” Catchy headline, smh). But in a nutshell, I did it because I always felt blonde on the inside. Like, my chestnutty, meh, dark brown locks belonged on another broad altogether. My golden undertones always seemed to demand sunny streaks…and also, I am given to blonde-ish moments (like the time in seventh grade I stood in front of my class and gave a report on a South African visionary named Howie Mandella. Too soon?). But I knew I couldn’t do it until I was root-to-tip natural, so on the same day I got my last transition trim at Hair Rules Salon, I booked full-on blonde highlights. Aimee, my Color Whisperer, gave me multi-dimensional, seemingly randomly streaks of amber, honey, and ombre’d ends…and ladies? It felt so, so right. Like, the color was SPIRITUALLY FULFILLING.
Two days after I first dipped my toes in the blonde waters. My bangs were so short!
So, I just wanted to quickly give you some blonde advice. Do not do it if you have a relaxer. Just don’t. If you do it and your shit falls out, know that I warned you. Two chemical processes layered on top of each other is a recipe for Michael Bay-type disaster. There’s bleach involved in the creation of this color — which is incredibly, incredibly damaging. As it is, I’m natural and my dry struggle is real. I condition constantly and almost never shampoo (too harsh, and pointless. Co-washing works. I shampoo, like, three times a month just to make sure I’m avoiding product buildup. I haven’t shampooed Lina Bobina’s hair since 2010). And now, as requested, here is my curl/color product cocktail:
Every third day, I wash with Hair Rules Curly Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner. It’s really one of the only deep conditioners I’ve found that doesn’t leave curl-crushing buildup. It’s lighweight, but majorly moisturizing, and my hair feels squeaky-clean after I rinse. Basically, this is my shampoo and conditioner. It does everything but apply my concealer.
Golden hair can get brassy and/or fade between appointments — especially when you’re laying out in 95 degree temps. John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss enhances your shade like crazy (I use the Warm Blondes shade). All you have to do is saturate it from roots to ends after conditioning, leave on for three minutes, and then rinse. I do this treatment once a week, and it keeps my color super-vibrant, glossy, and sexy.
And here it is, the only styling product I use when I rock my curls. THE ONLY. Anything more and I look like a member of Full Force. As I Am CocoShea Spray is a moisturizing blend of Coconut Oil and Shea Butter that makes my curls look lush and shiny — plus, it protects hair against damaging UV rays (still a factor, in the winter) and other environmental weirdness. And it literally smells like cake. I’ve actually had people sniff me, wondering where the scent was coming from. I wish I could say that this bothered me.
There you have it! My entire hair product cocktail. And if you also feel like you’re supposed to be a different color, I urge you to experiment…healthfully. Or, fuck it, just get a weave.
xoxo,
Tia