Style: Rebecca Monique in the UK

What are the three favorite things in your closet?
R: 1. Pair of statement shoes from Zara;
2. My royal blue faux fur and snakeskin satchel from Lipsy;
3. Gentry-esque flare coat from Topshop made from tweed fabric (bought 4 years ago).

What are some of your favorite shops/websites for clothes, shoes and accessories?
R: ASOS, New Look, Zara, Fashion Union, Boohoo (not necessarily in that order) are my go-to stores for style and affordability.

How long have you been natural?
R: I’ve been natural for just over two years now.

How and why did you transition into natural hair?
R: The decision to go natural was quite an easy one for me. I wanted not only to embrace the hair I naturally have, but also healthier hair. I had been relaxing/texturising my hair since the age of 8 and even though it had grown relatively long, it was very damaged. I transitioned for a year, during which time I wore my hair in full weaves. Then I figured it was pointless being natural if I didn’t wear my natural hair out. I found managing the two hair textures frustrating and quite challenging at the best of times, so one September afternoon decided to cut the relaxed ends off. Though it took a short while to get used to, it felt so liberating.

What is your signature hairstyle?
R: When I wear my natural hair out, I’m all for low manipulation in order to reduce the chance of damage; I usually style it in a mini ‘fro.

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
R: As we’re in the autumn/winter seasons, I’m wearing my hair in protective styles. At the moment, I have pick-n-drop braids in, but when my natural hair is out:

I wash my hair twice weekly — once during the weekend and a midweek wash (say, on a Wednesday). I only really use shampoo if I have accumulated a lot of product build-up, otherwise I tend to wash with conditioner to help retain some of the natural oils.

I’m lucky that I don’t have to spend much time at all detangling, so washing my hair isn’t tedious. The procedure is simple: wash, deep condition, co-wash, semi-dry with towel, oil to lock in moisture, let air-dry. Sometimes I do a few plaits or twists to stretch the hair a little. In the evenings I moisturise with oil before bed and in the mornings, I tend to moisturise using water-based products. Once a month I’ll use a hot oil treatment on my hair.

There’s such a vast array of products on the market, but I like to stick to a select few. Some of my favourite daily/weekly products include (but are not limited to):

 
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
R: Of course! Please stop by at www.blaquepearl.com