Introduce yourself!
J: My name is Jillaine. I’m American, of Irish, and Jamaican descent. I grew up in both the Bronx, New York and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where I currently reside.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
J: I’ve been natural since birth! My mom didn’t want to get my hair relaxed. She liked my curls and learned how to work with them. There was a point in time where I didn’t like my hair and wanted it relaxed, but then realized it could damage my curls, and I didn’t end up going through with it. I really started embracing my curls my sophomore year of high school, back in 2010.
How would you describe your texture?
J: I would say my hair is predominantly 3c and my curls are very fine. My hair has a mind of its own, which I’m okay with most of the time.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
J: My styling regimen is really simple actually. I’m a wash and go type of gal. I wash my hair every 2-4 days. After washing it, I separate my hair into two sections and apply Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner/Detangler and One ‘n Only Argan Oil Treatment. I have yet to really experiment with different hairstyles because for one I’m lazy, and I’m also really happy with the way my hair falls most of the time after washing, so I find no need to play around with it. So my hair is either down in its natural state, or up in a bun/ponytail. I try to deep condition every two weeks as well, and when I do I use Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque.
What does wash day look like for you?
J: My wash days are also pretty simple. As mentioned earlier, I wash my hair every 2-4 days. I hop in the shower, soak my hair in the water, then lather my head with shampoo. I use the DevaCurl No-Poo, which I love. I let that sit for a few minutes, then wash it out. I then separate my hair into two sections and take two pumps of my DevaCurl One Condition and start working on one side of my head. I use the Revlon Signature Series Paddle Hair brush to brush out each section of my hair, starting from the bottom working my way up. Once I finish conditioning and brushing my hair out, I let the conditioner sit for a few minutes then wash it out.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
J: I just let my hair do its thing! If I’ve just washed it I’ll let it air dry or diffuse it really quick. If it’s one of the in-between days, I just wake up, fluff my hair a bit, then run out.
How do you combat shrinkage?
J: Honestly, it doesn’t bother me, so I don’t really do anything if I’m being honest. I recently just cut off a lot of hair (impulse decision that I should’ve thought through more) so I’m noticing the shrinkage a lot more now. I live in a climate where the humidity is always extremely high, so I know my hair is going to shrink and frizz – it’s inevitable. I don’t mind it. The combination of shrinkage and frizz makes my hair look really voluminous, which I love.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
J: The hair that’s on the very top of my head. That hair is always directly in the sun, and it is noticeably drier and harder to deal with than the hair underneath.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
J: I would say to make sure you detangle when your hair is sopping wet and lathered in conditioner, and make sure it’s nice and moisturized on the regular!
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
J: I try to not use heat that often, as that can really damage/dry your hair out, and I make sure to avoid to the best of my ability any products that contain sulfate.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
J: There is! You can find me on Tumblr: http://itsjillaine.tumblr.com/ef
Instagram: http://instagram.com/itsjillaine
Twitter: https://twitter.com/itsjillaine
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/itsjillaine
My username on all four is itsjillaine.
