Isatu // Natural Hair Style Icon

Where are you from?
I: My name is Isatu Haddi Jalloh, I am originally Guinean-Sierra Leonean but live in London town! I’m a 19 year old 2nd year student of African Politics and History (with a particular interest in North-Eastern Africa) at School of Oriental and African Studies in London. I absolutely loveeeee my course!!

Why did you go natural?
I: I did not actually ‘ decide’ to go natural but was almost forced to do so from the damage caused by a relaxer and weave glue! I had been caught in a cycle of relaxing my hair every 2 years since I was 12 years old. I did it to ensure the ‘manageability’ of my hair whilst maintaining some length. But my hair never grew past my chin.

In mid-2007 it was time to perm my hair again (I was 16 at the time). My sister permed my hair, but this time I wanted a short bob and need extensions for volume. She glued these tracks in and I remember taking them out about 3 weeks later and having my hair come out in chunks with glue bits stuck to the end! I was devastated. My hair had never been so thin and lifeless. I decided to never perm or put weave tracks in my hair again.

I began putting my hair in single plaits with extensions, and twist braid with extensions, I did not know that I was undergoing what is referred to in the natural hair world as ‘transitioning’. In February 2008 I decided to cut off all the permed bits and was left with a little fro. It was not a big deal at all because I knew I would continue to wear twist braids. But it wasn’t until June 2009 that I decided to not use hair extensions again and it’s funny that my hair has grown like weeds. It turns out that the extensions were actually inhibiting my hair growth.

I love the versatility of my hair. I love the fact that natural hair is almost like clay that can be molded to what you want! I love knowing more about my hair which is what being natural has forced me to do! A couple years back I was clueless as to what my hair needed and still plastering my scalp with DAX grease. Sad times!

What’s your regimen?
I: In the past 2 months I’ve developed quite a militant hair routine. I protective style my hair 4 days a week, in 15 braids and have it wrapped in a silk satin scarf underneath and then wrap it with a scarf of my choosing on top!

I clarify my scalp once a week with apple cider vinegar, and deep condition it with Aubrey Organics conditioner mixed with olive oil (I used to use this for co-washes but found out it was an even better deep-conditioner, but too heavy for co-washes for me). After this I use Rusk Sensory Healthy Hair treatment as my leave-in. I then put my glycerin mix on my hair along with a mix of unrefined shea butter, olive oil and coconut oil. This leaves my hair wonderfully moisturized in the braids and makes a nice braid out.

I do henna deep conditioning once a month. I love the shine it gives and it really does thicken up my fine hair!

I’m a major fan of braid-outs. I used to do twist-outs about 3 months back but I hated the fact that it was so hard to detangle! Braid outs offer me the curl with less of the hard work at the end of the week! I’m also a big fan of fro-hawks. At the moment I’ve decided to invest some more in protective styles to prevent these pesky single strand knots and split ends. But I must say I absolutely hate puffs because they pull at my edges!

What mistakes have you made with your hair that you’ve learned from?
I: So many! My first year with my hair was the biggest joke ever, I used to put a water based moisturizer in my hair and NEVER seal and wonder why my hair was so dry, I also used to leave my hair out and unbraided and just cover it with a scarf, which resulted in tons of tangles.

My sister has very thick hair strands and when I began taking care of my natural hair I simply followed whatever she would recommend, but I realized that my fine strands couldn’t manage her protein-heavy conditioner. They left my hair feeling brittle. Since then I’ve switched to doing protein treatments once a month instead of once a week.

What’s the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
I: I’m sad to say it’s protective hairstyles. It’s such a shame because I REALLY REALLY love wearing my hair out, but I’ve realized the more I do the more my ends look scraggly and the finer my hair looks. I was in Kenya this summer interning for 2 months with a fabulous organization called Mathare Youth Development and I spent most of my time rocking twists, flat twists and head wraps, and my hair has grown so much in those 2 months! Also SHEA butter. My hair absolutely loves shea butter, and I swear by my henna deep treatment.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
I: http://wassoulou-wassoulou.blogspot.com/