Tell
me a little about yourself and your hair journey.
My name is Clarissa. I’m from Aldan, Pennsylvania which
is right outside of Philadelphia. I’m currently a graduate student at Moore
College of Art and Design. “Class of 2016!!”
How
long have you been natural? Have you always embraced your curls?
I transitioned in 2008 and it hard for me. There were
not a lot of natural hair resources back in ‘08, but I transitioned with
protective styles like sew-ins and braids. The summer of 2009 I cut off the rest
of my perm hair. In the beginning of my journey it was all about getting to
know my hair. I had to go through a lot of products to understand what worked
best with my hair.
This may sound sad, but I did not always embrace my
texture. At first, I compared my hair to other naturalistas. I think this is
something Naturals need to learn to avoid. Once you embrace what you have, you
can love what you have and enjoy your journey. Over the years I’ve learned to
embrace my curls it was a process, a journey.
What
motivated you to transition? Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper &
why?
Laila from YouTube channel Fusions of Culture motivated
me to transition to being natural. Her curls were so breathtaking! I fell in
love with her hair journey and wanted to embark on my own.
How
would you describe your hair?
My hair is very thick and sometimes has a mind of its
own. It’s big in volume which I love.
What
do you love most about your hair?
I love that my hair is naturally thick. The bigger the
better!! I also love that being natural means you have so many choices in
hairstyle. Versatility is everything!
What
has been the most memorable part of your journey? Has it been easy or difficult
or both?!
The most memorable part my journey was my first attempt
at making a hair smoothie treatment with bananas, eggs and avocado was a fail!
I did not have a blender at the time so I tried to mash the bananas as best as
I could. It was horrible! LOL It took me two days to get all of the bits of the
bananas out of my hair! The next time I did the treatment I used baby food bananas. I definitely learned my lesson.
What
are (or were) some of your favorite transitioning hairstyles or current dos’?
I love twist outs but I try my best not to do them so
often anymore. I do not have a specific hairstyle because my style changes up
so often! This past year I’ve done faux locs, crochet braids and even hair
shadowing! I love the versatility of natural hair. A month ago, I decided to
get my front of my hair dyed purple and I love it! I think bright hair colors
are in right now.
What
have your experiences been as a ‘natural’? Any memorable reactions from family
or others?
When my father first saw my afro he said “When are you
going to do something with your hair?” I replied, “It’s done. Why can’t I wear
my hair like this?” That is when I knew I would have to face not only my
friends but society that labels having an afro was having a “bad hair day”.
That was about five years ago. Today, we can rock an afro more freely and get
so much love and attention!
What
is your hair regimen?
My current winter routine: Shampoo once a month –
Condition every other week – Protein treatment and hot oil treatment every
other week
My favorite products to use in the winter are: Shea butter and castor oil! They are thick but perfect to seal your ends with in the
harsh winter weather. My favorite conditioner is Herbal Essence Hello
Hydration Condition. It leaves my hair feeling so silky and soft. I always use
this product in the summer for my wash and go.
Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treatment– is my all-time
favorite shampoo
What
are some of your favorite natural hair websites, YouTuber’s, or blogs?
My favorite Youtubers are Itsmyrayeraye, Fusions of
Culture, Cassandre Beccai, and Naptural85.
Anything
you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?
Never compare your hair type to someone else. Love your
natural curl pattern and -embrace what God has given you!!
-“If you love it, it will GROW” A lot of TLC and
researching of products is the best thing to do throughout your journey.
-Don’t overdo it with PRODUCTS!-Build a regimen for
your hair and stick to it. Have some stable products.
-What works best for someone’s hair may not work best
for yours- It’s all about finding out what works best FOR YOU
-WEAR YOUR CROWN-!!!!
Where
can people find you for more information?
I have a Youtube Channel
:Dear Claire and
I’m on Instagram :@clatodd
[Via Global Couture]
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