Introduce yourself!
J: Helloooo, my name is Jessica and I’m from the buckeye state of Ohio.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
J: I have been natural for 3 years now. I did my big chop out of the blue on May 31, 2010. I went natural after meeting a good friend in college who had natural hair. I admired her hair because it looked so thick, healthy, and just fun. My own hair looked limp, unhealthy, and boring. At the time I decided to start my healthy hair journey with relaxed hair, but I would always research how to care for natural hair and apply what I learned from natural haired ladies to my own regimen. The two different textures in between relaxers were killing me. I had to choose between the two. So one good day in May I just decided not to be scared anymore and big chopped. I felt naked. I did not feel free or any of those good feelings some naturals feel when Bcing. But it was done, and there was no turning back, and eventually my natural curls grew on me and I fell in love with my own natural hair be it kinky or curly.
How would you describe your texture?
J: My hair texture is 4a/4b, mostly 4b. My strands are very coarse and dense. I have very thick hair, with a very tight curl pattern in the crown part of my head. My edges all around are finer and the curl pattern is a little looser.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
J: My styling regimen is full of co-washing. I co-wash weekly with either Mane ‘n Tail Conditioner or Pantene Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner. As my hair grew and changed over time my styling regimen as well as products has changed, but as of now I co-wash and dry my hair with an old shirt, then apply my Wave Nouveau, or Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream. I’m a recovering product junkie so whatever moisturizer is in view, I’ll use. Next I apply EVCO (extra virgin coconut oil) and style. If my choice of style is a bun I will co-wash 1x every 2 weeks to allow my hair to rest in a bun. I shampoo 1x a month and deep condition before co-washing weekly with Queen Helene Cholesterol Hair Conditioning Cream, or As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive Conditioner mixed with an oil of choice EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), or EVCO. When styling my hair in a wash-n-go I sometimes leave some of the conditioner used for conditioning in, and then define and seal curls with Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel, or Ampro Pro Styl Olive Oil Gel.
What does wash day look like for you?
J: Washday is like a holiday in my world. Wash day consists of making sure my hair is sectioned off in four sections. Sometimes I will apply the As I Am Intensive Conditioner with EVOO and sit under a dryer. Then co-wash with Mane ‘n Tail Conditioner. Or if it’s that time of the month for a good shampoo, I’ll shampoo with a cheap shampoo, co-wash with either Pantene Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner, or Mane ‘n Tail, then deep condition with Queen Helene Cholesterol and rinse. I detangle my hair while co-washing with my fingers, a wide tooth comb, or Denman brush.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
J: My favorite go-to style is the bun. I can wear my bun up, down, to the side, with braids; it’s just soooo convenient.
How do you combat shrinkage?
J: My hair hates shrinkage so I combat it by banding my hair. I have to stretch it out to keep it from matting. I put my hair in four sections after washing and band each section over night. If I’m being lazy I’ll just blow-dry my detangled hair, but not too often because as mentioned wash day for me is like a holiday. It takes all day.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
J: Maintaining a good moisture level is a problem area for me. Sometimes I forget to put on my silk scarf at night and I wake up with very, very, dry hair. If I make sure to moisturize and seal every other night, or when my hair is thirsty, I am able to combat this problem. The baggy-method also works really well for me when combating this lack of moisture.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
J: Do: Search and destroy shed hair. If I don’t remove shred hair it gets tangled into other strands causing me to have to rip out hair unnecessarily. Do: Moisturize and seal ends regularly. My texture is one of those textures prone to dryness, so this is very important.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
J: Don’t: Neglect detangling. Neglecting to detangle coarse hair is a big no-no! Don’t: Comb or brush dry hair. Ouch!!!
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
J: You can find me on Instagram @skyy_unlmtd until I am able to post videos again on YouTube, which is hopefully soon. Until then Instagram is my home!
