by
Christina Patrice
What is your Name / Where are you from?
M: My name is Mildred also known as Natural Silver Sista, and I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I currently live in Northern NJ.
Did you transition or big chop? Share your natural hair journey with us! Be sure to include how long you’ve been natural, and why you chose to go natural.
M: When I decided to go natural I did a Big Chop, but it wasn’t much of a big deal because I was wearing a short tapered style. I actually did my very first big chop during Summer 2002, when I decided to stop dyeing my hair and embraced my natural hair color. I sported a caesar that summer and then a texturizer until I decided to go back to a regular relaxer, later that year.
I was inspired to do this Big Chop after attending The Brooklyn Natural Hair Mixer in NY with my daughter in February 2012. Although she wasn’t natural (she’s currently transitioning – Aug 2014), she was attending as a vendor, and I came along to assist her. While attending this event I was really impressed by the versatility of natural hair. I saw so many young ladies with such beautiful natural hair in a variety of styles, textures, and lengths. It was then that I decided to go natural, and did my chop in two stages. I cut half of my relaxed hair off in March then the other half off in April 2012.
How would you describe your texture (is it predominantly 3a, 3b or 3c / 4a, 4b, or 4c, and how does it behave, are your strands fine or coarse, is your hair thin or dense, etc.)?
M: I think my hair texture is a mix of 3C to 4B/C. The nape area is curly like 3C and moving towards the front it’s a mixture of curls and coils 3C to 4B. The very front edges, just above my ears, where my hair is predominately white, is more like 4B/C.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month, and the rationale behind your various styling decisions. (Include the products you use)
M: I’m all about the wash & go! I prefer the wash & go because it’s quick and easy for me, requires the least amount of drying time and very low to no bedtime maintenance required. I co-wash once a week; always on the weekend because I like my hair to look fresh for church on Sunday. If I have an event, special occasion or if my scalp is sweaty from working out, I’ll co-wash twice in the week. I shampoo and deep condition about once a month. My staple wash & go products are Suave Naturals Conditioner Tropical Coconut, for my co-wash, 100% pure unrefined coconut oil to seal, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie for moisture and shine, and Eco Styler Krystal Clear Gel for hold. I switch between LOC method (Liquid, Oil, Cream) and LCO (Liquid, Cream, Oil) method. When I use a leave-in it’s usually Kinky-Curly Knot Today.
What does wash day look like for you? (Include the products you use)
M: Wash day… If I’m going to shampoo these are the steps I follow:
Divide hair into 4 or 7 sections (3 in front and 4 in back)
Apply Coconut Oil to dry hair
Cover with plastic cap and sit under dryer for about 15-20 min.
Apply Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner to finger detangle
Rinse well with warm water
Cleanse with Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo or CURLS Creamy Curl Cleanser
Condition with Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Conditioner or CURLS Coconut Curlada
Next is the LOC or LCO method
M: L (Leave-in) Apply Kinky-Curly Knot Today to soaking wet hair
O (Oil) Apply 100% Pure Coconut Oil to seal in moisture
C (Cream) Apply Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie to small sections while smoothing and stretching hair with fingers.
Apply Eco Styler Krystal Clear Gel same as above, to set curls
Spritz with cold water and LIGHTLY shake to separate curls
Sit under hood dryer until semi dry, complete by air drying or use blow dryer w/diffuser.
Fluff from roots with a pick or use blow dryer w/o attachments.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
M: My go-to hairstyle when there’s not enough time or no need for a fresh wash & go before the end of the week is a high puff.
How do you combat shrinkage?
M: I don’t mind the shrinkage; I’ve embraced it. I actually prefer a little frizz and shrinkage. When I want my hair to look a little bigger, I stretch it using a warm blow dryer at the roots. But I don’t do that too often.
Tell us about your hair color!
M: I have #NaturalSilverHair; #NoDyeNoLye… I don’t color my hair nor do I use any products to enhance the color.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require extra care and attention?
M: My problem areas are in the very front (edges just above my ears) where my hair is predominately white. That area is very porous, and sometimes can look a little cottony. It’s sometimes uncooperative, unruly and disrespectful! This section usually requires a little extra attention, extra moisture, and extra cream or gel. And since it’s porous, it can easily pick up the color of hair products, which is why I avoid products with deep, dark or added color.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
M: Keep moisturized. Seal with a light oil. My hair loves coconut oil.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
M: No heavy oils. No products with artificial color or deep/dark natural color like EVOO. These discolor my hair as it is very porous in areas.
Is there a blog/webpage or social media account where we can find you?
https://instagram.com/naturalsilversista
https://twitter.com/Silver_Sista
www.facebook.com/NaturalSilverSista
Launching Fall 2014:
https://instagram.com/MilsMeals
46 Responses
She’s flawless!!!
I LOVE your hair.
LOVE.
The grey is stunning.
absolutely beautiful! i hope my gray will be as beautiful as yours one day! I LOVE your earrings!! where did you get them?
I want to be a fly as her when i grow up. Im loving the gray.
Echo chamber here but gotta say it: So fly and so gorgeous!
your hair is beautiful and that color is so amazing. i can’t WAIT for my gray hairs to come in *_* this one time i saw this one woman, who looked like she was still in her thirties, with a head FULL of nothing but silver strands, i just KNEW that i was in love with the color. my aunt looked at me like i was crazy when i told her i wanted to dye my hair to match that woman’s. she told me they didn’t even make silver/gray hair dye. i was so disappointed lol granted, i was like…all of thirteen or fourteen at the time, so maybe that’s why she was disapproving. but such a regal color. and your hair is so thick and full and perfect. it’s great seeing naturals that aren’t in their 20s or 30s, because a lot of the older generation have the biggest hangups about their hair. i’m glad the message and the movement is spreading to that generation as much as to the millenials.
Now that’s what I call “grown and sexy.”
This was the cutest interview ever.
Gorgeous!
OMG I love her! I see her pics on IG and I just think she rocks!
This has made my day. My hair’s still more pepper than salt, but the salt’s been steadily gaining since I was 15. (I’m 40something now.) I love my natural gray. I always call my color “moonlit.” Mildred has hair like starlight, and it’s beautiful.
Funny: earlier today, I was telling a coworker about how porous the hair at my temples is compared to almost all the rest of my hair. I have a couple of other high porosity patches, in addition to my temple hair. Everything else is low porosity. I’m still experimenting with ways to seal the porous stuff without hurting the not-so-porous stuff. Anyway, it’s interesting to hear how other women with different porosity areas handle their hair.
STunning…………….Very beautiful and pretty hair
Your Beautiful Mildred and dos is your hair !
YES!!! She is beyond gorgeous. I’m getting silver hair too and she is definitely encouraging me to welcome them.
Your hair is beautiful, Mildred. It’s great to see an older sistah profiled here. I like to see more of that.
BEAUTIFUL…ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Man when I tell you Black don’t crack..!! Simply gorgeous!
WOW! Her hair…..AH-MAZING! I just want to be her right now lol. Absolutely wonderful! Question for my fellow (soon-to-be/newly/long-time) natural, did you notice random grey sprouting during your transition or after you became natural?
2 words: ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!
Love it. I have the same curl pattern and was always curious to see what it would look like as I am starting to gray and it look absolutely fabulous. Like a crown of light. Great feature.
This woman is gorgeous….that face that hair!
She is so fly and youthful it’s ridiculous! Love her gray hair!
At last – a style icon over 30!!! You’re beautiful Mildred!!!!
ok I’m 41 and occasionally get a bit bummed when I see a few gray strands….well this beautiful lady has me thinking “bring it on!” Simply gorgeous!
Wow, That was stunning. I finally get to see a older woman featured here. Atleast gray hair is being appreciated. Your juxtaposes at photo 4 gave me a heart throb. I like how your graybhair compliments your features and how rich your skin looks in your pictures. You definitkey send off a shine. You sounded consistent and detail oriented in your regimen’s and it helps others to follow through with their regimen’s too.
You are beautiful with beautiful. I am trying to decide to go natural. In the seventies I wore a fro.
I must say you’re just as beautiful in person as in pics!! I just met you a couple of weekends ago at that natural hair event in Brooklyn now you’re featured as an icon on my favorite hair site…super cool :~)
Her hair is dope and she looks fantastic! I pray my grays grow in so nicely . . .
Great hair icon choice. I loved this article. Mildred is stunning. Her hair texture is similar to mine, which I find exciting. Her hair regimen sounds similar to mine as well, with a bit more steps in it which I plan to try out on my own hair. I liked all of the pictures, and the comment she made about liking her hair to look fresh for church on sunday!
GORGEOUS.
Oh the fabulousness. Beautiful hair
You’re so awesome Mildred. Beautiful hair!
Simply beautiful! She embraced her hair going gray and some would say getting older but I swear her style makes her look elegant and youthful at the same time! Good job! I’m going gray and while I haven’t embraced mine as much because it’s just around my hairline, this def gives me hope.
I’ve always admired silver, grey and white hair especially in dark skin. It just looks so stunning! I actually wish mine would turn sooner, I only have a few that have been with me since about 2 years old. Beautiful woman!
She is beyond gorgeous! 🙂 *sigh* I secretly wish that my grandmother would go natural.
Mildred you better work!!
I would need your help!
My last relaxer was in may of 2013. I still have a lot to learn about my hair. I would need your help regarding what protective style you prefer to make your hair grow/retain lenght.
Do vitamins work for you?
I have never colored my hair but it still seems a bit dry, what is your favorit autumn routine? 🙂 thank you! @enjoy11 on instagram
So much loveliness! Every style she rocked as her hair grew is gorgeous!
o goodness! I want my hair to be like hers when I’m all grown up. She’s a beauty.
Such a lovely lady with beautiful hair! I’m starting to grey, and I don’t think I’ll dye either! Thank you for sharing your story!
Absolutly beautiful Mildred! You look amazing
You.Are.Stunning! For Real! Love the hair.
GOALS.
I love her hair. At 45 I am at the point where I have to really decide to color or go grey. MIss Mildred is an inspiration to welcome those increasing greys
Currently I’d say I’m maybe 5 percent silver…I see it more than others do. It’s starting to show up in flash photography though. Yours is the hair mine aspires to be. People think I’m kidding! 🙂
Also, my routine is very similar to yours. I’m all about simple these days so I feel you on that. I’ve been using HE Hello Hydration for years but something I’ve learned lately is that, unnatural as it is, the blue color may help to brighten the silver.
oh wow. so beautiful 🙂