*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally
Introduce yourself!
T: My name is Ty or TraNaturally and I’m from Philly.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
T: I didn’t so much make as make a decision to ‘go natural’ as much as I made a decision to salvage what was left of my hair. I didn’t know anything about going natural at the time. I just wanted my hair healthy again. I’d had relatively healthy relaxed hair for years. But I did notice a lot of thinning. And then it happened…after years of successfully self-relaxing, I somehow severely over-processed my hair. My hair was horrible. But still I continued to relax it, even after that experience. It got to the point where the relaxer wasn’t doing anything for my hair. My hair looked terrible no matter what I did to it. Eventually I said “enough is enough.” So I decided to try growing out the relaxer and the damaged hair to see if it would help. I had no clue what to expect. At that point I felt like my hair couldn’t possibly get any worse. Little did I know it would be the best decision I would ever make for my hair. I got my last relaxer in June of 2007. I transitioned for 21 months and cut the last of the relaxed ends off in March of 2009. So I’ve been growing out my natural hair for 5 years.
How would you describe your texture?
T: I would describe my hair as a combination of 3c/4a. I have medium strands – not really fine and not really coarse. And my hair is medium density. My hair is curly when wet and shrinks to tight coils when it dries. The back is very dry, extremely coily, and loves to tangle and knot. The front left side does its own thing and curls when it wants to.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
T: I am typically wearing a twist out on any given day – sometimes on wet hair and sometimes on stretched hair. Or I may braid instead of twist, depending on how stretched my hair is. A twist out is the first curly style that I was able to master so I’ve pretty much stuck with it. Recently I’ve also started wearing my hair in a wash and go. The products I use are Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie or Blended Beauty Curl Styling Butter on my wet twist outs and Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque on my stretched twist/braid outs. I also apply either coconut oil or my shea butter/coconut oil mix to my hair prior to applying the leave-in. I retwist or rebraid each night doing anywhere from 2–5 twists or braids, and sleep with a silk scarf. Or if I’m wearing a wash n go, I do a low ponytail or a high pineapple for bed. Doing these things usually allows me to go at least all week with the same style. If not, I just cowash and restyle.
What does wash day look like for you?
T: My wash day starts with me cowashing and detangling in the shower using Trader Joe’s Moisture Balance Conditioner. I detangle in 4–8 sections and twist each section after detangling. Then I shampoo while still in twists. My shampoo of choice is Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo, which I’ve been using for about 2 or 3 years (the same bottle!). But right now, since I’m running low, I’m also alternating with Blended Beauty Soy Cream Shampoo. I deep condition after every shampoo with either Silk Elements Moisturizing Treatment or my own concoction. I just undo each of the 4–8 twists one at a time, apply the conditioner, and twist the section back up. I usually sit under the dryer with a plastic cap for at least 15 minutes, and then leave the conditioner in without heat until I feel like rinsing it out. The conditioner is rinsed out while my hair is still in twists. Then I style based on how I’m feeling that day.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
T: One style that I go to often when I don’t have much time to style is a ponytail/bun. It doesn’t get any easier than that. I also love to do an updo with my EZ Comb which is really cute and simple. Then there’s my wash and go ponytail which gives me a cute bob shaped wash and go in the days that follow.
How do you combat shrinkage?
T: One of the things I’ve learned to love about my hair is how extremely versatile it is. I can go from short to long and anywhere in between on a whim. When I want a really stretched look, I usually get it by smoothing my hair back into a ponytail and rolling the tail on rollers until it’s dry. I get a nice stretched blow out look without having to subject my hair to the blow fryer. Then I can style however I want.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
T: My front left side is looser than the rest of my hair so I have to pay special attention to make sure it looks uniform with the rest of my hair. Otherwise I pin it back. Also the back of my hair is extremely coily. Since it has a tendency to dry out faster than the rest of my hair, I tend to be heavy handed with products on this section of my hair.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
T: I always sleep with something covering my hair. And I always try to listen to what my hair is telling me it needs (i.e. moisture, protein, a trim, etc.) which I’m getting better at.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
T: Dry detangling and over-manipulating
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
T: You can find me on:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TraNaturally
Instagram: @TraNaturally
LOVE YOU! I saw the name and before I scrolled down I was thinking it was you and to my suprise here you are! I love your hair and subscribe to you on youtube (keisha9504). Congrats on the feature!
Hey Keisha!! Aww thank you so much. You are always so sweet 🙂
So are u! 🙂
I LOVE hair. It’s gorgeous!!! I have the SAME problem. My left side is wavy and hangs lower and my right side is curly/coily. Because my hair is thin, I do wash and gos for fullness. I had to become a product junkie to find a product that would give me some type of uniformity.
Thank you! That looser textured section used to be the bane of my natural existence because it throws everything off but I’m learning to work with it.
Pretty! And the shape of your hair is to die for! Is that a curl former set? It’s beautiful. I want to achieve the same look, but I can’t get curl formers and I’m too style challenged (and tender headed) to do flexi rods :/
Also, that tip about rolling your ends onto rollers when you wear a ponytail to stretch your hair–I would love to try that
Thank you! It’s a flexi rod set. I’m a little on the style challenged side myself and getting the flexi rods in wasn’t bad at all. I used the jumbo rods so I only had to use about 15. Trying to sleep with them in is a different story though…painful.
Wow, gorgeous hair
Thanks!!
Wow, my new hair crush! You’re twist outs are beautiful:)
“versatile” that’s an understatement! these hairstyles, all your handcraft? all pics,all beautiful. thanks 4 sharing
Simply beautiful.
Seriously GORGEOUS hair that looks very healthy! I love all the style as well!
*styles*
Ty, u and your hair are fabulous! curly/coily/kinky hair is sooooo versatile! i mean, look at all the different looks u showed us hair…that’s y i love shrinkage and frizz! I think they’re our friends 🙂 thanks for sharing, i enjoyed this!
Hi Ty! Where did you get that ‘100% Natural Facts’ shirt?!
Hey Crist! I bought the shirt from StylegasmDesigns.bigcartel.com
thanks 🙂
on of my fav youtubers. love you because your videos are simple, short and to the point.
i really liked one of your videos where you showed how you organized your products (hair and make up). so cute and gave me some ideas.
Thanks!! I appreciate the comment!
Gorgeous hair!
LOVE TY’s hair! Seriously been a long standing hair inspiration! Glad to see her featured here…finally!!
Thanks Marcia! You know you are one of my inspiratons too 🙂
Thanks all for the sweet comments!! Much appreciated 🙂
That’s amazing post, I love this,looking gorgeous,thanks for sharing.
I had my last relaxer April 2011. Big chop April 2012 love my hair still challenged with style puffs, buns, ponytail wash and go. But now I see I have options.I need help with products though still can’t figure out the ones to use
This Is the Most healthy looking Head of natural hair i have ever Seen!
My new hair crush and I have coily curly hair too . My hair is 4a with some 3c strands and when it’s wet it’s really curly when it’s dry it’s tight coils . I also have one part of my hair that is poofy and won’t curl and my looser strands mess up my hair style sometimes it’s hard to work with . Finally someone who understands . Your my new hair crush <3. I also twist my hair and love doing twistouts .