Maya Penn // 4B Natural Hair Style Icon

Introduce yourself!
M: My name is Maya Penn. I’m from Atlanta, GA and I’m a 14 year old eco-designer, artist, animator, and CEO of my company Maya’s Ideas.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
M: I’ve been natural all my life. My mother has always instilled in me that my hair is beautiful naturally and she made me comfortable with the hair that I have. Because of her, I have always loved my hair.

How would you describe your texture?
M: My hair is multi textured, but mainly 4b. My strands are medium/coarse and my hair is very dense. Keeping it hydrated is essential. It is also very sensitive to humidity.

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
M: I use 100% Pure Yuzu and Pomelo Shampoo and Conditioner. I alternate between that and SixThirteen Cleansing Treatment by Chaz Dean. Twice a week I make my own mixture of Jamaican black castor oil, coconut oil, and avocado and rosemary oil, to use as a hot oil treatment on my hair. I also use argan oil and amla oil. All of the oils I use are organic and I don’t use anything synthetic. I stay way from sodium lauryl sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and mineral oils as they can damage your hair. A really good product is KENZA International Beauty’s Pure Argan Oil with Prickly Pear. Great for anti-frizz and conditioning.

What does wash day look like for you?
M: It takes lots of care and time! I prepare for wash day by hot oiling my hair the day before. Some times I apply Shea Moisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Soufflé. Then on wash day I wash my hair with SixThirteen Daily Cleansing Treatment by Chaz Dean along with the Styling Creme. Afterwards most times I moisturize it with John Masters Organics Shine On and then I braid it. The next day when I unbraid it, I must say my hair looks very majestic! 😉

Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
M: A full on fro or braided. Occasionally I’ll put my hair up with a hair band while in “fro-mode”.

How do you combat shrinkage?
M: I don’t have that much shrinkage because I try my best to keep my hair conditioned often. I also use heavy hair creams and conditioners.

What are 2 do’s for your texture?
M: I make sure that I keep the scalp and ends conditioned, otherwise my hair breaks and gets brittle. Nooo! 🙁 I always have to have some moisture in my hair. I try to keep a healthy food diet as well. I eat organic and I juice. I also take Andrew Lessman’s Healthy Hair, Skin & Nails supplement. Healthy hair comes from the inside out and a healthy diet is essential to keeping it long and strong!

What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
M: I don’t over wash my hair. It’s too much wear and tear on my hair and it causes the natural oils to be stripped away. On the other side of that, I can’t let my hair get “packed down” for too long or else it will get very tangled.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
M: My website mayasideas.com and my blog mayasideasshop.blogspot.com.