What's your name and where are you from?My name is Nola. Hairlista user name ladyvp05. I am from a small town called Blytheville, AR.
Have you always been natural? If not, what inspired you to go natural? Did you transition? If so, for how long?
I have not always been natural. I was inspired by my two sister-in-laws. One had been natural for years. When I met her I saw how curly her hair was and I asked her how she got her hair like that. She told me she was natural. My other sister in law decided to go natural for spiritual reasons. I saw how fast her hair was growing after she cut it and it got me interested. I only transitioned for 3 months. Another reason I decided to go natural was because I put a relaxer in my hair and it had my hair falling out in clumps. So I put in kinky twist. When I took them out my hair started back falling out. So I decided enough was enough and just cut it. That relaxer was the last straw that made me decide to go natural.
What is your hair type?
My hair type is considered 3c with a mixture of 4a.
(click to enlarge)What do you love most about being natural?
I love the ease of it. I can literally wake up, put water and moisturizer in my hair, shake it and it looks amazing. If I’m not having such a great hair day. I can put my hair in a puff and it works every time. I love how people look at my hair and ask how did you get your hair to do that. Is that a straw set? I tell them this is my natural hair.
What are your hair goals for 2010?
My hair goals are to try more styles. I love doing puffs but I need to step out the box and try other things. I also want to learn how to cornrow.
Name a few challenges you are currently facing with your hair. Have you been doing anything different to overcome these challenges?
My hair does not like hair creams including shea butter. I have tried everything I could but my hair hates them. I don’t really worry about it anymore. I know what my hair likes. It likes gels and products full of glycerin. My natural hair loves jherri curl products. I think that butters are just too heavy for my hair type.
What styles do you love to wear the most and why? How do you go about achieving this style?
I love the puff. I usually do a braid out first and let the braids sit for two days to stretch the hair. Then I undo the braids and pick the roots only. I slick my hair back with eco styler gel. I wear all types of flowers, headbands and accessories with the puff.
(click to enlarge)List the products that you use and how you use them. What is your current hair regimen? share what works for you!
Pantene Pro-V Relaxed and Naturals Shampoo
Suave Professionals almond shea butter conditioner – rinse out detangling conditioner
Suave Professionals humectant conditioner – rinse out detangling conditioner
Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor – protein treatment
Sally’s GVP Moisturizing Conditioner (compare to Nexxus Humectress moisturizing conditioner) – deep conditioner
Glycerin – used to make spritz which is 2 parts water and one part glycerin – liquid leave in
Extra virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin coconut oil
Pro-Line Comb thru softener - leave in
Eco styler gel – wash n go gel
Long aid activator gel – braid out and twist out gel
Suave clarifying shampoo
I wash and condition my hair 1-2 times a week. I detangle with conditioner still in my hair and put in fat twist to keep the hair from being tangled again. I rinse my hair while twists are still in with cool water. If I am doing a braid out or a twist out I apply activator gel. Undo the braids or twists when they are fully dry and lift the roots with a pick. To maintain the style I will re-braid or re-twist my hair at night. I moisturize every few days and seal in moisture with olive oil and wear a satin bonnet. Undo hair and style in the morning. If I am wearing a wash in go I apply Pro-Line leave in and eco styler olive oil gel. I plop my hair with a t shirt to get it to dry faster. After I take the shirt off I shake my hair and that’s it. I will just sleep with a satin bonnet at night. In the morning spray my hair with my water/glycerin mix and style it. Every few days I will moisturize and seal.
I clarify my hair every two weeks. I follow up with my protein treatment under a hooded dryer for about 8 minutes. After that I deep condition with my deep conditioner mixed with 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and coconut oil for 20 minutes under the hooded dryer. I then follow up with my detangling, moisturizing, and styling routine.
In the winter I wear braid outs and twist outs. In the spring and summer months I usually wear wash n go’s.
I do not like to co wash. It does nothing for my hair but leave a white buildup on my hair and scalp. I need shampoo.
What products do you use to achieve soft beautiful curl definition?
I use Pro line comb-thru softener and I then apply my eco styler gel for my wash n go’s. I use long aid activator gel for braid out and twist outs.
How do you detangle your hair?
I put a lot of conditioner in my hair and detangle from tips to roots. I first detangle my hair with a wide tooth comb. Then I go back over my hair with the goody mosaic double detangling comb. I used to only use the wide tooth comb but I find that when I use it alone my hair does not get detangled well. I end up with a lot of knots on the end of my hair. So I have to go back over it again with the other comb to get the hair the wide tooth comb missed. Then I put my hair in fat twists and rinse out the conditioner while hair is still in twists.
(click to enlarge)What product or technique would you say really helped your hair flourish?
Wearing a satin bonnet to bed is so important. Back in my relaxed days I never protected my hair and my hair would always be matted and dry. Now my hair is never that way thanks to the satin bonnet. Detangling well is so important. Naturals always complain about those annoying knots. I promise if you detangle well they will be minimized. Keeping a proper moisture/protein balance is important. Before, I would only moisturize my hair and avoid protein. My hair was breaking when I touched it. When I started putting protein in my regimen the breakage stopped.
(click to enlarge)Do a lot of research and watch youtube. Don’t get caught up in all the hype. You do not have to buy expensive products for your hair. Do what works for your hair.
Where on the web can we find more about you and your styles?
Find me on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/NaturalNola86.
Thank you Nola for sharing all that information with us!