Introduce yourself!
P: Hi! My name is Precious. I’m 20 and I enjoy art, fashion, traveling, and photography.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
P: My relaxed hair was breaking off so badly that I decided to do some research and figure out why. It turns out that the harsh chemicals I was using were damaging my hair and I needed to stop using them and embrace my natural coils!
How would you describe your texture?
P: I have very small curls, coils, and kinks (what you might consider 4a). I have coarse strands, normal porosity, and medium-thick density.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
P: I love to try updo styles because they are just so elegant and fierce, and you can really rock them anywhere, whether it’s to a formal event or a casual night out. When I’m feeling lazy, I’ll pull my hair back or rock a puff or a high bun. My fave style? Letting my hair be free!
What does wash day look like for you?
P: I wash my hair once a week using a sulfate-free shampoo. Currently my favorite is Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo. Before I wash I detangle my hair in sections using a Denman brush and some Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner for slip. After washing, I apply the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Conditioner and braid my hair (I make about 15 braids), and let my hair dry in the braids.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
P: When I’m not planning to wear my hair out I’ll wear a puff or an updo of some kind. Simple, cute, and won’t get too messed up throughout the day.
How do you combat shrinkage?
P: I have no problem with shrinkage except for how badly tangled my hair can become when it shrinks. To combat this, when I wash my hair (the time that I need to worry the most about my hair shrinking, since it is so wet) I braid my hair so that it is stretched as it dries. I continue keeping my hair stretched throughout the week by braiding it every night. It has really reduced the amount of tangles I get.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
P: I used to have an itchy scalp problem during the winter that required me to wash my hair every few days instead of every week as I like to do. In the past year, I haven’t had the problem again. I think it was the amount of products I used to use on my hair daily, thinking that if I didn’t use enough my hair would dry out. It turns out that it was causing a lot of buildup on my hair and scalp. Now, I don’t use products on my hair every day – I find that with the right moisturizing product (my favorite being Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie) I don’t need to use it every day because it will keep my hair soft and moisturized for multiple days. I use it every two to three days now and the buildup has been significantly reduced.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
P: Keeping my hair stretched out using styles like twists/twist outs and braids/braid outs. My hair gets tangled pretty easily, and keeping it stretched has really reduced the amount of breakage I got from just tangles and mats. Another one is using thicker products to seal in moisture. My hair LOVES shea butter, and using a bit on top of my moisturized hair has really helped my hair retain moisture and softness for days.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
P: I don’t do wash and go’s. Since my hair has several different curl patterns and textures, and also tangles easily, wash and go’s have never looked quite right, and I always end up spending hours afterward detangling to undo the damage. Also, I keep my hair detangled, but I don’t use combs and brushes very often. In fact, I don’t use them at all until wash day. I find that using them daily damages the ends of my hair over time. Instead of combing my hair every day, I use my fingers to gently detangle. Finger detangling is so much gentler on my hair, and I can see that I am starting to retain more length from using the combs/brushes infrequently.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
P: My Natural Hair Blog: www.PreciousHenshaw.com
Instagram: @precioushenshaw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreciousHenshawBlog
