*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally
Introduce yourself!
R: My name is Rubi Lee and I am from Haiti. I was born there and lived there for the first 5 years of my life, then my family and I moved to Dominican Republic. I lived in the DR for 6 years, then moved to the US.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
R: I have been natural my whole life! It’s funny because I never paid attention to natural or relaxed hair. I never considered getting a relaxer because I always had my hair in a bun and didn’t care to put it down. Due to its texture, I couldn’t do much with it, and I didn’t really know anyone with my hair type. So my style was always buns or twists. I didn’t know I was doing protective styles my whole life until I started watching YouTube videos lol.
I never did anything to it in high school. I only went to the hair salon twice for my birthday to get it straight. I wore buns for 4 years in high school and 1-2 years after that I started to experiment with the flat iron and that is when I realized my hair was tailbone length. I did not realize how much attention a woman of color had for just having long hair. But I later learned that it is something that is cherished and loved. I never had a haircut in my whole life! The first time I did it was in 2011 because I had a lot of damaged ends. And that is when I started a Hip Length hair journey to continue to grow and care for my hair.
How would you describe your texture?
R: I would describe it as a combination of 3b/c/4a. I don’t think I have one type of hair texture. In the middle it’s coarser, at the bottom and front it has looser curls. When my hair is wet it is very curly, but if I do not put any product to maintain or make the curls last longer, 4-5 hours later it’s a big puff lol then it gets tangled and that causes breakage.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
R: My hair regimen is pretty simple. I try to keep doing what I used to do before I started my YouTube channel to show and help transitioners and natural woman. In a month I would do buns everyday lol. It’s easier for me to just put my hair up and go. When I do wear buns I use my shea butter with coconut oil mixture to keep my hair moisturized and castor oil on my scalp.
Another style I have started to implement is putting rollers in at night and taking it down the next morning. It turns out great! I apply coconut oil with castor oil on my scalp and argan oil on my hair before I put the rollers in, to control frizz and keep my hair moisturized. Another hairstyle I like, but do not do often is a wash and go with gel. It takes me time to put the right amount in the right sections, but I do it sometimes once a month. So basically, I switch it up. I might do buns this month, heat train with a roller set the next month, or wash and go with gel.
What does wash day look like for you?
R: A wash day for me starts with shampooing my hair with Silicon Mix Shampoo, then Silicon Mix Deep Protein Conditioning Treatment with Pearl Extract. It works great for my hair! It makes it soft like butter. I am able to just pass the comb through the hair when I leave it on for 30-45 minutes. I do the treatment at least 2 times a month. If I am not doing the treatment, I use Tresemme Moisture Rich Shampoo and I also use Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner as a co-wash.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
R: I love buns!! They are just an easy way to protect your hair and get out the door.
How do you combat shrinkage?
R: I get about 35% shrinkage. To combat it I just stretch my hair. After I wash it, I section my hair into 4 sections and put 3-4 small rubber band on the hair to stretch it.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
R: My ends. I have to take care of them more because they are the oldest part of my hair.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
R: 1 – Keep it tangle free and 2 – Keep it moisturized.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
R: 1 – Do not leave my hair dry or without moisture and 2 – Do not apply too much heat in one month.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
R: YouTube Channel rubilee: http://www.youtube.com/user/lolaeraseunavez22?feature=mhee
Blogspot: “Natural Hair & Self Love”: http://rubilee.blogspot.com/
BGLH page: http://blackgirllonghairforum.com/profiles/profile/show?id=rubilee
Hairlista: http://www.hairlista.com/profile/RubiezCurlz
Good gracious, Ruby and her hair is beautiful!
Thank u! 🙂
You’re welcome!
*are
Vous etes tres jolie, et vos cheveux sont magnifiques!
I adore the variety of her styles. And two Haitian style icons within days of each other has been a wonderful treat. Merci! 🙂
Yaay lol
I love her updos! SO elegant!
THIS VIDEO HAS THE STYLES, I JUST RE-UPLOADED IT AND I THINK THE STYLES ARE GREAT FOR PROM 😉
nice hair
*mouth open* your hair is gorge
Thank u :)!!
Finally, a natural with a hair texture like mine! Thanks so much!!! This was good!
….I want a tutorial for half the styles you have here!! They’re so pretty and elegant!!
This one has most of them lol
Ruby, would you describe your hair as thick or fine? The way you described your curl type sounds so similar to my own, but I worry about using anything that can weigh down my strands. My hair grows quickly, but breaks off mostly due to tangling. However, I find that straight Shea butter is just too heavy for my hair. Any suggestions?
Mine is very hard to describe lol I find it easier to manage when I deep condition with protein or leave conditioner for 30 minutes or so. That way I experience less breakage and less tangles. I like Shea butter, have you tried mixing it with oils? Before Shea butter and Coconut oil I used to use pomade, its heavier than Shea butter that is why I barely use it now.
wonderful! thanks for REPPING AYITI Rubi.
how was it living in DR, were they friendly to you ?
Welcome! and I loved living in DR! I think all countries some people don’t like others but you can never let that get to you. Just love yourself and everyone that comes your way.
gorgeous woman and hair! beautiful styles!
Thank u!
http://youtu.be/dZQlTbfQhN4
PROM 2013 NATURAL HAIRSTYLE IDEAS
So good to see Rubi Lee featured here on BGLH. Love her on youtube. Such a sweet girl. I love your hair Rubi.
Thank u Ms. Stace 🙂
Rubi Merci pour votre Chanel. Love watching your videos. Your such a genuine & sweet young lady.
Proving that you don’t have to be mixed to grow gorgeous long hair!
Hmmm didn’t you make a YouTube crediting you being “mixed” for your hair and it’s length? Well I just wanted to say you being “mixed” has nothing to do with that. All women can grow long hair once they find a regimen and protective styling that works for them. Your hair is beautiful, but you really should not spread such ignorance with the comments you made in that video. There are people who are biracial who have tight 4C hair as well, so being “mixed” person does not always guarantee you an “easier” advantage in attaining length. Any woman can… Read more »
I wasn’t crediting being “mixed” is d only way to have long hair. Many people watched the video and only took one sentence or part and started commenting without watching all of it. OBVIOUSLY u don’t have to b mixed to grow long hair, I was talking about where I come from, and how race and dominant genes play a role in how we look (because if genes or race didn’t play a role in how we look then why doesn’t everyone in the world look the same?)
fast hair grws not THE LENGTH.
well you have really a beautiful hair
Hi Rubi Lee – I watch you on Youtube. Your hair is simply healthy gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful girl and hair. Glad to see a fellow Haitian.
Haitienne!!!! Belle cheveux!!!! Belle bagay!
Sorry y’all….just love seeing my Haitian people on here representing.
Belle femme…tres belle cheveux…kote nan Ayiti ou te soti?
Mercie beaucoup…
Dieu vous beni
Cayes
hey hey hey…..share…shes also Dominican by association ^_^
From 5th grade until I was in the 9th grade i wore my hair in a high pony tail nearly everyday. During this time I was relaxed and I rarely combed my hair. I only washed it once or twice a week, and only greased it as infrequently as possibly (since I’ve always hated the way hair grease felt in my hair). I never noticed how long my hair was either. Then one day a hair dresser got all scissor happy and cut my hair up to my shoulder. It wasnt until years later after looking back at old photos… Read more »
He Hair is really nice.
Haitian Represent!