Introduce yourself!
K: Hello there! My name is Kristen Douglas. I was born and raised in New York City and I still call it home. I am an artist of life. Living to spread love and creativity.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
K: I was natural up until twelve years old when I was convinced by my dance teacher to get a perm. My hair did not look neat in a bun and I would use tons of gel to keep it down. I wanted to fit in so I ended up relaxing my hair, which I regret now but it was definitely a lesson learned. By the time I was done with high school I had grown out my relaxer and did a big chop in 2009.
How would you describe your texture?
K: I guess I would say my hair is 3b/3c. My curls are really tight in the back and more wavy in the front. I have a lot of hair, but the strands are pretty thin. I love that I have different textures all over because that’s what makes my hair unique.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
K: Wash and goes, braid outs and high buns pretty much sum up my hairstyles through out the whole month. I also straighten my hair once a month and that lasts for one week. While my hair is straight I wrap it for the first few days and apply oil to my ends when I unwrap my hair. For my wash and goes I wash my hair with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo and Conditioner. I make sure I deep condition with Shea Moisture Anti-Breakage Masque.
To style I use Kinky-Curly Knot Today, Giovanni Direct Leave-In Conditioner, and Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. If I need extra moisture I put a tiny bit of coconut oil at the end. You can check out that process at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBSxohvGcho! When my hair starts to lose definition, which is around the fourth day, I leave my hair in a high bun until my next wash day. Sometimes I wash my hair and repeat the same process as if I was doing a wash and go, but instead I do two French braids and wrap the braids in a low bun. This is my favorite protective style. After a few days I take out the braids and have great definition.
What does wash day look like for you?
K: Wash day always starts with me applying coconut oil all over my hair. Sometimes I do it the night before to give my hair extra moisture. If I feel like my hair is extra dirty, I use apple cider vinegar. I place it in a spray bottle with some water and make sure that my scalp is saturated for twenty minutes then rinse it out. I then wash my hair with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo and Conditioner. I don’t use shampoo every wash, only when I feel like I have too much product build up. Then I deep condition my hair. I have so many deep conditioners, but right now my two favorites are Shea Moisture Anti-Breakage Masque and Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask. After deep conditioning for about thirty minutes, I try my best to finger detangle in the shower while I still have conditioner in my hair. I then go through my hair with a wide tooth comb. The last step I always make sure to do is rinse my hair with cold water to lock all the moisture in. It can be a little uncomfortable, but it is worth it and I’ve seen a big difference in how my hair feels and looks afterwards.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
K: I find myself doing a high bun when I don’t have a lot of time to do my hair. I moisturize my hair with coconut oil and sometimes have to wet my hair a little then put it up in a high ponytail. I then put extra moisturizer on my ends and wrap the rest of my hair in a bun. If I need extra hold I use Shea Moisture Curling Soufflé. It takes me five minutes to complete.
How do you combat shrinkage?
K: I don’t mind shrinkage at all, but if I want to stretch out my hair a little I place my hair in a bun for a few hours then take it down.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
K: The top middle of my hair gets very dry and brakes off easily. I apply extra leave in conditioner to that area and apply oils daily to keep it moisturized.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
K: A must do for my texture would be deep conditioning every time I wash and co wash my hair. Another one is to keep my ends moisturized with coconut oil to retain length. I use coconut oil for everything.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
K: Heat is no good for my hair, but when I do apply heat I make sure that I am very careful and use the right products. I had heat damage before and believe if I didn’t use heat my curls would be more defined. I’m actually thinking about going on a “no heat challenge” very soon. Another don’t for my texture is sleeping without a satin pillowcase or bonnet. My hair has to be protected at all times. It loses moisture easily.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
K: Feel free to hit me up with any questions. I also love giving advice on Hair and Fashion. Thanks for getting to know me and my hair a little more!
YouTube: Kristen Douglas https://www.youtube.com/user/krissynoelia/videos
Instagram: KrissyNoelia http://instagram.com/krissynoelia
Twitter: KrissyNoelia https://twitter.com/krissynoelia
Tumblr: LovelyKd http://lovelykd.tumblr.com/
