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Khyla // Natural Hair Style Icon

Avatar • Aug 15, 2011

Where do you live?
K:
I live in Knoxville, TN soon to be Arlington, TX. Iโ€™m reppinโ€™ Mississippi (yep the whole state) and East Tennessee! Currently I work in a contact center for Whirlpool but my last day is Friday because Iโ€™m relocating.โ€ฆdeuces!!

Why did you go natural?
K:
It was all on a whim. I didnโ€™t have any bad relaxer experiences or anything. I had tried styles while I was relaxed and they always ended up in natural type styles like curly afros or 2 strand twists. I had a curly afro while visiting NYC and a lot of people thought I was natural. When I got back to Mississippi one of my friends asked โ€œI wonder what you would look like completely natural?โ€ and the transition began.

How did you transition into natural hair?
K:
I transitioned using rod sets and micro braids. I had a REALLY bad experience after the micro braids. I took them down and washed my hair. My hair was SO FREAKIN knotted in the front. I tried for 3 days to get the knots out and finally I ended up cutting the knots out so I walked around for like a month rocking scarves because my hair was WAY shorter in that one section. Finally, my Mama was like โ€œWhy donโ€™t you just cut off the relaxer?โ€ So I went to a hairstylist at the local Wal-Mart and told her that I was going natural and she cut off my relaxed hair. My original plan was to transition for a year but 2 different extreme textures was a little much. So I ultimately transitioned for a total of 6 months. I wish I would have big chopped sooner.

In what ways (if any) has going natural affected you?
K:
When I first BCโ€™d, the guy who I was kickinโ€™ it with stopped talking to me completely. But it didโ€™t bother me much because if he didnโ€™t like me with a TWA, then why would I want to keep him around.

I eventually think itโ€™ll affect me in future jobs. Thatโ€™s why whenever I interview, I keep it in buns and I just bust out my fro, twist out or whatever funky style after I get the job. My Mom prefers the twists though. She doesnโ€™t like my massive fro. I think it reminds her of the struggle of the 60s & 70s.

How would you describe your hair?
K:
I would say my hair is 4c because once it wet, it curls up into a small fro.โ€ฆMAJOR SHRINKAGE. It is also HELLA thick (I know why my Mama relaxed it to begin with). They say 4c is the roughest type of natural hair but Iโ€™ve learned to embrace it. It can do so much!

What is a brief description of your regimen?
K:
I wash it weekly. Iโ€™m all for protective styles including a wig or two. Iโ€™ve only tried this in the past year and it has proven to be very beneficial. My hair is very thick so I detangle it before I wash it in the shower and also afterwards. As it grows longer, I try to keep it in low maintenance styles. Whenever I wear โ€˜outโ€™ styles, I re-twist or re-braid nightly to avoid tangles.

I use whatever shampoo I can get my hands on, most recently itโ€™s the Jane Carter Solution Moisture Nourishing shampoo. Before that it was Pantene Relaxed & Natural shampoo. For Detangling, I like V05 & Suave conditioners because they have a lot of slip. To detangle, I use my Tangle Teezer in the shower. I follow up with a moisturizing conditioner like Natureโ€™s Gate, rinse and then Giovanniโ€™s Leave-Conditioner (this is a must have for me). Then I detangle again using my modified Denman brush.

What mistakes have you made with your hair that youโ€™ve learned from?
K:
Washing my hair โ€œguerrillaโ€ style was a major mistake I made for like 2 years. It should have dawned on me years ago how much hair I was shedding by not detangling first. I have to wash my hair in sections otherwise it will get tangled like you wouldnโ€™t believe! I have to wash it in about 8 sections for. It takes about 6โ€“8 hours from the pre-poo detangling to the end style but it saves me a lot of shed hairs.

Whatโ€™s the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
K:
Keeping it moisturized. I live in the South and will be moving to a hotter location in a couple of weeks so I use a vegetable glycerin mix to moisturize it during the summer. In the winter I use the stuff you can find in the stores like Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
K:
I have a blog but itโ€™s nothing worth writing home about. Hopefully Iโ€™ll have time to keep it up: mcjsmodernlife.blogspot.com I also have abandoned fotki account: http://public.fotki.com/LuminouzFlame/my-journey-to-nappt/

Anything else you want to add?
K:
Your hair may not be as curly or have the texture that you want (or thought) but learn to love it and take care of it regardless. Youโ€™ll avoid a lot of wasted money and time.

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Ericka
Ericka
9 years ago

My hair is also super thick and I thought I was the only one who detangled before and after washing!

ashleigh
ashleigh
9 years ago

Lots of no nonsense advice in this post. Thanks, Khyla!

Linda
Linda
9 years ago

How long did it take from your BC to grow your hair out to the length it is now?
Thanks

Khy
Khy
9 years ago
Reply to  Linda

4 years

Monica
Monica
9 years ago

I know a celebrity!!!!!!! My fellow Natural Bulldog! Great post, Khyla!

Khy
Khy
9 years ago
Reply to  Monica

You need to stop it!!

Vangle
Vangle
9 years ago

Ditto!! I know a celebrity too!! This is inspiration.

Khy
Khy
9 years ago
Reply to  Vangle

You too Vangle!

Newness
9 years ago

love it Khyla!! You are so dang on cute!

Khy
Khy
9 years ago
Reply to  Newness

Awwwโ€ฆthanks!

Amma Mama
Amma Mama
9 years ago

Nice read and pics! Beautiful hair!

GodsChick
GodsChick
9 years ago

I really love that puffy hawk style. That is fabulous and so are you! Keep on keepinโ€™ on!

Khy
Khy
9 years ago
Reply to  GodsChick

Thanks you!

GodsChick
GodsChick
9 years ago

[img]http://bglhonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/bronzebeauty.jpg[/img]

GodsChick
GodsChick
9 years ago

Is there a tutorial for this hairstyle? I would really like to try it!

Khy
Khy
9 years ago
Reply to  GodsChick

Khyla Johnson Thanks for the love everyone! Yโ€™all really know how to make a girl feel special. This style was inspired by the roll and tuck hawk by YouTuber Cjanaew. Hereโ€™s the link: http://www.youtube.com/wat?ch?v=izwn_mBXFOg I had prepped by hair the night before by sectioning it off but in the morning, I just couldnโ€™t get my hair to hold with just the bobby pins (I told yโ€™all I have some seriously thick hair), so I used 6 ouchless pony tail holders and just rolled the ends under and secured with a bobby pin. It wasnโ€™t too tight nor uncomfortable. And I… Read more »

T.
T.
9 years ago

Love your styles, and your hair is gorgeous!

yoli
9 years ago

BEAAAUUUUTIFUL hair

JJ
JJ
9 years ago

Love love love it!! Gorgeous.

Efuru
Efuru
9 years ago

Gorgeous hair! Iโ€™m always excited when I see โ€˜looseโ€™ low manipulation styles as opposed to braid and twists.

mina
mina
9 years ago

OMG โ€” your hair is GORGEOUS!!!! You are my hairโ€™spiration.

Quinn
Quinn
9 years ago

I was looking at the pic and was like this woman looks familiar, olโ€™ MSU Bulldogs! Anywho glad you were featured and love your thick pretty hair!

Kimberly
Kimberly
9 years ago

So pretty and adorable and I agree with this so much: โ€ if he didnโ€™t like me with a TWA, then why would I want to keep him around.โ€

Kg.sunshine
Kg.sunshine
9 years ago

Love it! Your hair is so thick & beautiful.

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