*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally
Introduce yourself!
K: Hi! I’m Kenya and I’m originally from a small town outside Chicago, but now live in Atlanta, GA. I’m biracial, black and white.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
K: I went natural because my hair wasn’t growing fast enough and I wanted longer hair when I wore it straight! I used to have really long hair in college and I missed it. Post undergrad I was a professional dancer in the NBA for 6 years and it was really rough on my hair. I had a lot of breakage from perming, wearing weave, and coloring. Now that my hair is really long, I only wear it straight/blown out, maybe once a month! Oh the irony!
I started to go natural 4 years ago by growing out my perm and did the big chop in 2010. The time in between the growing out and the big chop was a nightmare! I was constantly braiding it and curling with a tiny iron to get any kind of curl pattern. The big chop was amazing! If you are growing out and waiting for length or thickness before you chop, just CHOP it! Save yourself time and stress. I bet your hair will grow faster anyways! Natural took some time to grow on me, but I am most me in my curls!
How would you describe your texture?
K: My hair is extremely big and thick! It’s 3c on the bottom and 3b on top. The longer it gets, the heavier, and the curls weigh it down on top. I also pull it back quite a bit and it stretches the curls on top! Don’t be like me! My texture isn’t coarse, but it’s sturdy! As long as I’m styling my hair, my snapback is great! Too many professional blow-outs do effect my curl pattern though and I end up with straight ends.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
K: My hair is literally wash & go! While it takes a while to wash and dry because there is so much of it, I don’t use a lot of product and it’s not a crazy process. I wash my hair once a week with Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo and Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner. While it’s wet, I brush through it with a big paddle brush (because it slicks the curls together), section it in big sections and apply Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I blast it with the diffuser for about 15 minutes then let the air dry the rest. I do a quick condition wash, about every other day because it gets dry quickly. That’s just water and the Tresemme conditioner.
I go through the same product ritual as well. I deep condition it about twice a month, which is not enough, but I’m lazy when it comes to upkeep with coconut oil. I section and saturate my hair with the coconut oil while it’s wet, and brush it through. I then shampoo and condition as usual. When I want really defined and special curls, or the humidity is high and I have to fight the frizz, I use Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding, which I swear and die by! It’s just too expensive to use every other day and waste on working out and dancing!
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
K: I live by the poof! It’s a 1/2 pulled through ponytail where the curls rest on the top of my head. It can be casual or more refined if I slick the sides up. Add red lips, and the look is unstoppable!
How do you combat shrinkage?
K: I don’t ever think about shrinkage. The more my hair air dries, the longer the curls hang. If I diffuse for a little too long, the curls are tighter. I have come to a place where there is a slim chance I will have 2 similar hair days! Some days the curls hang, other days they frizz or are tighter or bigger…I just let it be.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
K: I’m really aware of stretching my curls. The top curls no longer ringlet like they used to. They are almost waves with small ringlets on the ends. It’s from pulling them back and up. I also have tried to dye my hair red several times, and the color has released the curls. I wanted to bleach it and go completely red, but I’m afraid of how it will affect my curls. To fight the stretch, I do my best to wear my hair down and sleep with it down. I even work out with it down!
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
K: I really don’t think in terms of texture, but I do think in terms of size! The bigger the better! I love love love when my hair is crazy big and the curls are all over! So after I do a quick diffuse, which I believe sets the product, I whip my hair from side to side and back and forth just like Willow says to do;) I want to make sure the curls separate and get hit by the air so they grow:) Then I let it air dry without touching!
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
K: Don’t over product! Don’t touch or mess with the curls until they are dry!
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
K: I’m on Instagram and Twitter: HalfieTruths as well as halfietruths.wordpress.com.
Seeing this feature gives me something to look forward to! Our textures are quite similar but my hair is shorter, much like the photo of the curly fro taken in the car.
Great hair!
HGHG
thanks!! i miss my short curly fro so much! it was the easiest maintenance wise! best wishes on your hair journey!
I was gonna compliment your long, healthy hair; but I got distracted by your body…SICK!! I suddenly feel so fat! LOL! Werk it chica!
ha! thanks soooo much!! my trainer will thank you too! he’ll claim he deserves all the cred bc i dont help him out too much! ha!
Does anyone think that she favors a younger Maya Rudolph in the straight-haired pics?
i adore you for this compliment! SHE IS MY FAVVVVVV!!!!! i once got mistaken for her in a bookstore, and i swear it made my year! ha! thank you:)
Hey Kenya, when I opened the email I was like, i know here! I went to UT with her! You may not remember me, but we are soror’s! I absolutely love your hair! I have hair envy! I’ve been natural since I was 14 but have really gotten into the swing of things with my natural curls since everyone has enriched the process. I love Miss Jessie’s Curly Meringue, I’ve tried the pudding before and it’s too heavy for my hair. Good to see you on here. Go VOLS!!
Sorry, “I know her!”
Hey Kishia…N***n??! i dont want to put your govt name out there! ha! There has definitely been a huge positive movement towards being the most natural you, hair included, so i think that has helped folks embrace their curls ya know! i for sure feel it, especially in the past 2 years w/miss jessies and other popular products hitting places like target! its nice to be supported in our journey! Thanks for reaching out to me on here! i hope you’re well! GO VOLS!! xok
Yup that’s me! Thanks for the response Kenya!
She is just ridiculously gorgeous! Such beautiful hair too.
thank you so much MIka, very kind:)
Wow!!!!!! Sometimes I wanna quit on my hair bt you have just given me new resolve! I NEED that hair. Loll
OMG!!! i always wanna quit! especially on WED, thats hair wash day! lol! im glad you got a lil inspiration, i get it all the time from curly girls! we gotta stick together!! hang in there chic!!!
Your hair is so beautiful. I just want to know how get my 3b hair just like yours. I’m 19 and about to start college in the fall of 2013 and i need a quick “welcome to college” look. How long did your hair to grow out and how do you get it really big and curly?
My dad wants me to grow my hair to look like that haha ???? u have gorgeous hair!!!
Those question marks were :) but I guess it couldn’t read them or something… :(
You’re so pretty and your hair is gorgeous
Hi Kenya! I remember you from Ut as well! Do you only comb your hair while it is wet or do you comb it dry as well I can NOT get a comb through my hair while it is dry at all! My hair is like yours as well but much shorter and it is a mixture of 3b and 3c I also have straight pieces because of my constant straightening during transitioning. This pic is old and not a good one but in fact it’s nine months old so my hair is a lot longer now.
Oh my lord I think I’m in love.
In some of the pictures is your hair dyed a lighter colour because I’m really considering doing it?
Beautiful!!! Inside and out. These pictures have become my inspiration. Whenever I get discouraged or frustrated I visit this page to remind myself that it isn’t easy, but worth the journey. I can’t wait to be completely natural and have my length back. Thanks, Kenya for being a great inspiration…hair, body, and spirit. :)