Meet Cherry!!!

What is your name and how long have you been natural?

My name is Cherry. Been natural for close to 9 months. Had my big chop on August 29, 2013.


Why natural?

I went natural for a few reasons but the most important one is that if there's anything I love about hair; it's volume and not length. .oops..yh that's me,and my relaxed hair would grow long but not thick to my liking even though people always said otherwise...NB:I wasn't doing anything to ensure my hair was in good state plus I wasn't soo crazy about hair so hardly took pics.

Did you transition? If yes how long?

Hehehe it wasn't until I joined a group of hair lovers that I heard of that word. .when I first saw it on YouTube...somehow it sounded like some kinda surgery to me lol..so I didn't even bother watching it ...so yh I did it for 3months *the hair surgery*. It was sad seeing my long hair go down but guess what!! the feeling changed after seeing my lovely cute self in the TWA (short natural hair) again. I felt like I had discovered the true me once again..."wink"wink"

What do you think are the benefits of being natural?

There are soo many benefits I can't talk about but it's been worth my while..in that I've come to learn more about my hair than I ever imagined possible and met lovely ladies along the way plus unleashed some hidden talents I had bcos me and salons are No No anymore. My hair speaks louder than anything I say so I'd rock my hair without saying a word but if you insist, I'd say cut your hair and catch the feeling.
The benefits farrr outnumber the natural ladies in the world.(sounds crazy huh!!) ..From holistic living,natural products...unlimited style options and soo many others..don't even know how to list them. 

What is your current regimen and favorite products?
 
Shhh..Regimen...I shampoo my hair once a month.I don't do co-washing (condition washing) cos I felt like my hair plus my scalp was not soo clean after I tried it.smh Ghana is too dusty for co-washing lol. I do hot oil treatments when I feel like it..I deep condition with my homemade "famous" avocado smoothie... 
My all time fav products are.herbal essence hello hydration 2in1,.Alata samina, Tresemme climate control condition. (Slip b what??), cantu shea butter leave in.

What is your favorite protective style? 

I love bantu knots and love it more when I unravel the knots....makes me feel.....mmmmm!!! can't explain.

What has been your greatest challenge so far on this journey?

Uuum...hmm my only challenge now is how to keep my fingers outta my hair and staying away from combs..sounds crazy right...I know but still fighting tho...

What will you say to other beautiful naturalistas out there?

I'd say keep rocking your lovely locs and inspire people along the way. Someone is looking up to you just as much as you have confidence in yourself...love your hair no matter the texture cos no one could rock it better than you which is why it's on your head..be creative n always positive.Don't let stress pull out your strands they are too lovely on your head not when it's stuck in your comb and all over the floor ...love you and keep it simple on your hair..

MY REGIMEN

Current Regimen ( Products added)

Pre-poo: I always do a pre-poo before I shampoo my hair. I use mostly extra virgin olive oil (evoo) mixed with a small amount of sheabutter, or my never to forget coconut oil mixed with sheabutter. I warm it up a little and apply on my hair and scalp. I cover for a minimum of 45 mins or preferably keep it overnight then I wash in the morning.

Shampoo: I shampoo my hair whenever I feel it's dirty. I was formerly using CON Argan oil shampoo and was lovely but since I found the african black soap, locally known as "alata samina”,  hmmm….. I can’t think of going back. They say “old friends are the best” and it’s definitely true with my alata samina. When I have braids on, I shampoo twice in a month ie every two weeks because I keep my braids for minimum one month. Alternatively, I just do an ACV rinse when I feel there is product build up on my scalp. When I have two strand twists, I shampoo weekly  and I am not scared of shampoo effect because my alata samina never leaves my hair dry. I has this soothing and softening feeling anytime I wash my hair with it.

Deep Condition: I do a DC every week because my hair loves it so much. I use the CON Argan oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment. This product makes my hair feel really good and I will get it again and again until I get a product that beats it.

Alternatively, I use the Organic Root Stimulator Olive oil replenishing conditioner or ORS  hair mayonnaise.

I also do monthly/bi-monthly Protein conditioning. For this, I usually prefer the DIY kind of treatment because of the elastic and rich feeling it gives my hair. I do the avocado-honey with olive oil mask or avocado-egg with olive/coconut oil and trust me these DIY treatments are really great and you would love especially if you have 4b/4c kind of hair. But if it doesn't work for you, tou will always get a particular one that would work for your hair. The is one I have not tried yet ie the banana mask. I will try that soon and give a review on it.

Moisturizer: I moisturize my hair twice a day when I have my hair on or two strand twists. When in my box braids I moisturize 3-4 times in a week depending on how dried up my scalp gets. For a wash day, I moisturize my hair following the LOC method. For L(liquid), I just make sure my hair is very damp (on a wash day I do not clean my hair after washing) then I apply my evoo (easily penetrates and hold on to water molecules) then I top up with my whipped sheabutter (jbco added). This is to seal in the moisture ie the water and oil used earlier on. JBCO is my favorite sealant and I also base my scalp with it and I love how thick my hair feels anytime I use it.

Oki doki....now my hair is all moisturized but  it doesn't end right there. I don't leave my hair just like that. How do I retain all the moisture and how do I relieve my hair from the shrinkage? Well, for retaining moisture, before I go to bed I make sure I have covered my hair with my satin scarf and added my bonnet to it and voila!! off to bed.

For stretching, I go the old time way using thread to plait my hair and it's the best way t stretch your hair.

To conclude I would like to say that, I am really enjoying my journey so far and I love my hair each day and night. I have no regrets whatsoever. Finally, I would say that I have never used heat on my hair since I started this journey but I don't know if I would some time to come. For now, its a NO!!NO!! for me.  

Love you all beautiful naturalistas out there.....keep being natural and.........

 BE BOLD & BEAUTIFUL!!!!