*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally
Introduce yourself!
T: My name is Tatiana and I am from Boston, Massachusetts aka THE BEAN! More specifically the Roxbury and Dorchester Area! I just graduated from a Boston area college as well.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
T: Well, when I got to college I was informed by my family that I would have to begin paying for my own relaxers/touch upsโฆand I decided because of my lack of funds, to stop relaxing my hair and straighten it instead. Then with humidity and my lack of desire to do my hair I realized that wasnโt workingโฆand I decided to transition and stop straightening it. Then one summer, I was sooo fed up with my hair I got a five dollar perm and had a friend put it in. I immediately regretted it, and from then on Iโve been chemical free. Since then Iโve become more political about my hair and it not only reflects me, but my ideals on beauty politics, and maybe politics in general!
How would you describe your texture?
T: My hair is definitely thick, like THICK. It absorbs water almost immediately and it takes forever to braidโฆIt also needs a lot of moisture. I would say itโs somewhere along the 4 spectrum. The edges of my hair are very kinky and I have many โSโ curls in my hair as well. I also get A LOT of shrinkageโฆyou actually can never tell the length of my hair at all. I once got it trimmed and the stylist was shocked at how my hair was much longer than it looks; which I call my hairโs secret weapon. Itโs ambiguous and big when it wants to be.
I definitely have to detangle my hair when itโs wet because I hate pulling my hair and feeling any sort of intense pulling on my hair, but once detangled itโs flexible with hair buns, bantu knots and braids outs. I am still unsure if my hair is fine or coarse, I would say a mixture of both depending on the section of hair.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
T: I usually wash my hair once a week, and co-wash one to two times a week. I wash with Giovanniโs Tea Tree Shampoo when I want something clarifying, and then I usually use Yes to Carrots shampoo and conditioner. I also use Organix Macadamia Nut Conditioner for co-washing.
I then detangle with Jane Carterโs Leave In Conditioner and sometimes a Johnson and Johnsonโs Detangler. Then I use Lushโs R&B to do twist outs or bantu knots, or Shea Moistureโs Curl Enhancing Smoothie. Sometimes I do a blow out using Giovanniโs heat protectant. Itโs PERFECT. It leaves my hair soft and not damaged! I also do a deep conditioner once a week with Carolโs Daughter Monoi Treatment and Lushโs Hair Doctor (for my dry scalp and flaky flakes). I usually do this over a month with a number of lazy days. I love wearing my hair in a fro, so Iโm working on making myself wear protective styles and trying to stick to this regimen.
I also like Carolโs Daughter Hair Balm, Jane Carterโs Setting Foam and just regular coconut oil and jojoba oil.
What does wash day look like for you?
T: A wash day includes what I mentioned before, but I also wash my hair in four sections because it is so thick, and when Iโm not lazy it really makes a difference because my hair is already separated and isnโt so hard to detangle. I also do a wash and go in warm weather using Jane Carterโs Leave In Conditioner. I tie a scarf around the front and have a nice curly fro.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you donโt have a lot of time to style?
T: When Iโm pressed for time, I throw on a headband or a scarf and pull my hair back after spritzing it with some water/jojoba/coconut oil mixture, or I wet my hair and try to bring it into a bun (I try not to do this because I hate my hair being pulled all the time)โฆotherwise I just wear it out and free and usually I can take it out of a protective style and wear it wild and free. ๐
How do you combat shrinkage?
T: I detangle and do about eight braids in my hair and that gives my hair some length. I also blow it dry once in a while, but usually I just accept my shrinkage and put a bow or flower or some other accessory in my hair. Shrinkage can be annoying, but I embrace it and condition myself not to worry about it.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require extra care and attention?
T: I can get really dry hair and my scalp has recently been dry and itchy, so I use tea tree oil with water and I also try to wash my hair twice a week instead of once. This usually occurs in the front of my hair, so I try to massage it with oil. Not only does it help my scalp, but it feels pretty awesome too.
What are 2 doโs for your texture?
T: Protective styling, deep conditioning and moisturizingโฆthree MUST DOโS!!!!
What are 2 donโts for your texture?
T: No chemical dying. Iโve done it before and my hair became so dry and brittle. My hair began to hate me. I also donโt straighten my hair (because of my hair politics), but sometimes I want to. I just donโt want any straight ends, which usually happens when I straighten my hair. I may do it soonโฆor not lol.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
T: Twitter: @tatianamrj, Tumblr: summercoolin@tumblr.com
Simply Gorgeous!!!
The shape and โflouffโ of your cloudy fro with the little bang is just sensational! Very nice interview.
Meant to comment on that ADORABLE robinโs egg number and the sequined dress, marvelous!
Your hair looks soooo soft! Nice pics.
Love, love, love the hair
Gorgeous natural hairstyles!
Great story and lovely hair!
I love that you embrace your shrinkage in all its glory.
that fro is the BOMB!! I loved that interview also, I could relate to many of the things mentionned.
+1
Yay Tatianna! Nice interview!
Yes!!!!!!!! Finally a Boston girl! I live right in Dorchester too behind Fields Corner (Only my Boston heads know what Iโm talking about!) Anyway, we should def do a meet up ๐
I was a Boston transplant for nearly a decade until I moved away a little over a year ago. I know all about Roxbury/Dorchester/Mattapan (including the Fields Corner area too, Ashley!). One thing that suprised me is how many people have natural hair in that area (esp. among young black immigrants I noticedโฆ) and yet how few salons there are to cater to us. Besides Murielโs (whooo! donโt get me started on that one), Fresh Start (which wasnโt much better), Erinnโs (which I only went to once and wasnโt that impressed)โฆI was hard pressed to find a salon while I… Read more »
Thanks everyone, Itโs great to get all this support on here! i know, the salon situation in boston isnโt very good for natural hair, I did live in New York for a while and ended up getting my hair done there, and now every once and again I do that, only because i end up in nyc, but also I rely a lot on friends and my aunt, and now I lean how to do everything myself, so I can be my own salon, but it is hard! ๐ Hopefully things will change and more Boston salons will cater to… Read more »