April // 3C/4A Natural Hair Style Icon

*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Introduce yourself!
A: Hello! Let me first say I am beyond excited to be featured on BGLH! I’ve secretly always wanted to be one of the naturalistas to grace this blog! Now, enough of the sap! My name is April and I’m from Greenville, Alabama! I claim Greenville because that is the only place I’ve lived in for more than three years. I was an Army brat growing up. Now that I’m an Army wife, my husband and I live just an hour north of my hometown in Millbrook.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
A: Why did I go natural? Hmm, well I was 20 years old and had no clue that people could “go natural”. I thought relaxers were what black girls did, period! Oh how naive I was until my best friend said she wasn’t getting relaxers anymore. At first I was the girl who was saying stupid things like, “you don’t have that kind of hair to do that.” I do regret those words, but now I know better. Knowledge is power, right? My curiosity got the best of me I was tired of always getting to shoulder length hair and having to cut it again and again because my ends would break, split, scream, kick and holler (so to speak)! Not to mention, the chemical burns were atrocious. So after that last creamy crack session in 09’ I was done for good! My last relaxer was in September of 2009. I big chopped 7 months after that, so as a complete natural it has only been 2 years and 6 months.

How would you describe your texture?
A: After looking up this hair typing system I would have to say my hair is predominately 3C and 4 something, thick, with fine strands. It absorbs water and moisturizers well, but it also loses water very quickly. Dealing with fine hair has been a slight challenge because it seems it is more prone to split ends. My hair also tangles very, very easily. It’s ridiculous. Not going to lie, I do get frustrated with it at times due to the tangling.

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
A: Being how I do get frustrated with my hair at times, during the colder months I like to practice my cornrowing and put my hair under a lace front or a full lace wig. I’ve learned when I braid my hair; moisturize it every night with a mist of water and my shea butter mix, the better off it is. Not to mention it is much easier moisturizing, co-washing, and shampooing my hair when it is in braids or twists. When my hair is not in cornrows, under a wig, or 2 strand twists it is usually up in a protective style. I wish I was able to be one of those wash-n-go girls, but there is no way! I would be doing more damage than good. The staple products I always use are coconut oil, water, and shea butter mixed with different oils. Any other product will most likely change when I want to try something different. I forgot my other staple, YouTube! I get my shea butter and flaxseed gel recipes, among other things from there. Thank God for social media!

What does wash day look like for you?
A: If I am going to shampoo my hair instead of just co-wash I try to pre-poo the night before with coconut oil. While my hair is sectioned off in twists, I wash my scalp with homemade shampoo using Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Castile Soap, sage tea, and tea tree oil. My husband actually makes it because he wanted an all natural shampoo for his hair! I have rubbed off on him :). Another shampoo I’ll use is Creme of Nature’s Ultra Moisturizing Shampoo. After the shampoo I’ll use Aubrey Organics GPB Conditioner mixed with honey as a deep conditioner. Rinse, put Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Leave In, flaxseed gel, and shea butter mix on top. Twist it up and let it dry over night. In the morning I’ll put some more shea butter mix on it, style it however and go. When I don’t have time to do a deep condition, I’ll just rinse out the shampoo and go straight to the leave-in conditioner and sealing part. I try to stay as simple as possible because the detangling and shampooing can take up half of my day!

Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
A: My favorite go to style when I don’t have any time would be side swept bang with a side bun.

How do you combat shrinkage?
A: To combat shrinkage I will do a twist out or braid out and put it in a protective style. I’ve learned that I must stretch my hair in order to style it and it also helps to cut down on single strand knots and tangles.

What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
A: Lately my problem areas have been my edges and crown. Since the ends of the hair are the oldest I’ve been paying more attention to moisturizing those areas more so than the top part. Now certain sections at the crown and my edges are shorter than they should be. It’s slowly but surely growing back.

What are 2 do’s for your texture?
A: Two do’s would be moisturizing my hair with a mist of water and shea butter mix and using protective styles that last for a week or longer.

What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
A: Not rushing through a detangling session and don’t neglect the top portion of the hair.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
A: Instagram: smile_hard —thanks again!! ^_^