British Curlies

Curl Drama

Curly Nikki Interviews Kay Kay

by Curly Nikki

CN: How long have you been natural?

K: I have been natural for 16 months

CN: What is your current regimen?

K:

-wash once a week to remove product build up

-hot oil treatment using coconut oil and honey once a month

-deep condition once a week (Sunday)

-spritz daily light moisturizers onto hair, like Juices and Berries from Oyin Handmade or the Silk Shake Conditioner from Blended Beauty

-co-wash every 3 days. If I'm trying to make a style or product stretch I co-wash once a week (every 6 days)

-detangle once a week with wide tooth comb and fingers. Use the denman only after detangling with wide tooth comb and fingers first.

-to prevent tangles after a good detangling, I may put big twists in my hair before sleeping. If I have put products in my hair to define my curls I will simply wear a bonnet at night and rinse my coils to revive them the next day. Putting the twists in the night before this would alter the coil pattern

-Trimming: I plan to trim my ends every 6 months. This is an experiment into what works for my hair. I may trim more often or less at the end of this experiment next summer.

CN: How do you maintain length? Moisture?

K: The biggest threat to losing my length is through breakage. To prevent this I sleep with a satin bonnet or silk scarf every night and am always careful to style or detangle my hair in sections. Protective styles like twists help to prevent over manipulation and breakage as well. My coils are prone to dryness so I apply a light leave in conditioner everyday and seal my ends with a light oil light jojoba or coconut oil. Deep conditioning once a week helps too.

CN: What would you tell a new natural, or transitioning diva?

K: "Knowledge is power!" Many women, including myself, just weren't taught the basics of natural hair care. I was all about just giving up and going to the salon before I went natural. I rarely even washed my own hair in the past. Now that I'm natural, I cant imagine paying someone else to wash my hair. Do your research ladies. Learn what your coils, curls, or waves need and the rest is easy going! 

CN: What's the best thing about being naturally glamorous?

K: I love looking in the mirror and feeling completely and authentically me; just as God intended. Natural hair for me isn't about hair, it's about self love and self esteem. Going natural challenged me to look at how I really feel about myself without societal and cultural looking glasses. My self confidence is no longer tied to how straight or long my hair is, because I am more than my hair.

CN: Anything else you want to add?

K: Natural hair is unique and gorgeous. Its unpredictable and free just like me! I love my curls and coils. I only wish that I'd gone natural sooner

The link to KayKay's fotki: http://members.fotki.com/kaykay10001/about/