EMBRACE-02
When I meet new people, one of the first questions I get is, “Is that your real hair?” “What do you put in your hair to make it that curly?” “How did you find the patience to grow it out?”
Since young, I used to sit on the floor for hours, while letting mom pull these thick, strands of hair in the effort to manage it. One day, as a gift for my birthday, I was taken to the hair salon to get my hair permanently straightened. I stepped out of the hair salon feeling beautiful and confident. I felt ready to join the group of pretty girls from school.
It took me ten years to realize, I was no longer willing to lose the health of my hair in the effort to change it into something that is not meant to be. That made me wonder, “Do I really want to sacrifice the health of my hair, for others to find me appealing?”.
Nine months later, I was not wearing those expensive hair extensions. I was having my natural hair out.
Wearing my natural hair out is more than just rocking a new beauty trend, for me. The decision of making my natural hair a part of my everyday life, is to simply stand up for my beliefs. By embracing the natural hair, I’m sending a message that says, “Is okay not to fit into the standards of beauty that society dictates.” By accepting my hair natural I’m standing for diversity.
Diversity is not just your hair type or skin color. Diversity is where you come from, the language you speak, the culture you carry, your personal interests, your morals and beliefs, your talents and much more. Diversity is much more than a physical appearance, diversity is your unique identity. So, come as you are.
Tips on how to achieve moisturized and defined curls.
First things first:
Say “Goodbye” to the hot tools. Believe it or not, curls are delicate. When you abuse the use of hot tools on your hair, the curl losses its pattern. Resulting on dry, loose and broken curls. This varies depending on your hair type.
If you decide to go for a nice blow out, make sure you use heat protection and give yours strands a deep, nourishing treatment after, to restore your hair from the stress of hot tools.
To keep your curls and waves moisturized, opt for products that moist your strands. Always apply the product focusing on the ends and moving it towards the roots. By moisturizing you are avoiding breakage, resulting on long and shiny textured tresses.
Do your own research:
Grab a mirror and carefully study your hair on its natural state. By studying your own hair, you will understand how your works and what kind of treatment your hair needs. Textured hair can be oily and thin, as well as, dry and thick. In my case, my hair tends to get dry. Due to the thickness of the curls, preventing the natural oils from moisturizing the rest of my hair.
My current Favorites products:
· Cantu Natural Hair - Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream.
· SheaMoisture - Community Commerce Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque.
· MIXED CHICKS- Sulfate Free Shampoo.
· Shea Moisture Omega 3, 6, 9 Rescue Repair Hair Masque.
· ECO Styler Black Castor & Flaxseed Oil Gel.
· CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray.
· Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Penetrating Oil, by OGX.
