by
Meosha
Introduce yourself!
P: My Name is Priscilla and I am from the city that never sleeps! New York City
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
P: Growing up in the Dominican culture, we as women are not taught to embrace our natural hair. If your hair is not straight and silky it is most likely considered to be “bad hair” and that wetting your hair too much would cause damage, which was why I always had my hair blow-dried. Also being that my mother was a beautician she always had my hair blow-dried even as a kid. It is now that I am just meeting my real natural texture. The fact that I grew up in a Hair Salon environment I was fascinated even as a child at how chemical relaxers instantly made your hair straight and I wanted one so bad. I convinced my mom to relax my hair and I was hooked on the creamy crack for about 10 years.
With a combination of breakage, heat damage and excessively dying my hair throughout the years, my hair eventually started to fall off. It was beyond over processed. I wore weaves/extensions and it made my hair even worse. I honestly thought I would never get my hair back until I started doing research and became obsessed with natural hair, (this site being one of the most influential to my journey as well). All in all it was extremely liberating for me to go natural and just be me. Now it’s the healthiest it has ever been and it’s a big part of me. I just made my year mark in February, so I’ve been natural about 1 year and 3 months now.
How would you describe your texture?
P: My hair is a mix of 3c, and at the crown it is more of a 4a texture. The middle of my hair is coarser and the back of my hair (the kitchen) as they say is finer. In the front it is more of a loose curl pattern.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
P: I really like doing twist outs and experimenting with different styling techniques. On a day to day basis I usually wear my hair up. I also do a lot of braid outs, or a roller set (air dried) for versatility. When I do wash and gos I do not add much product, I just finger rake a butter, or a leave-in (LUV Naturals/Camille Rose Naturals) and squeeze the excess with a tee shirt. But my favorite of them all is the fro of course.
What does wash day look like for you?
P: I finger detangle using Spectrum Unrefined Coconut Oil, co-wash weekly using As I Am Coconut CoWash, Aubrey Organics Conditioner, or Shea Moisture Conditioner (I like to switch it up over time), then I use either LUV Naturals Leave-in, Camille Rose Naturals Butter, or Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Coil Moisturizing Soufflé. To seal I use a bit of castor oil or coconut oil. Sometimes I like to create a concoction like (kimmaytube) and just mix a butter with oils as a leave-in. when I have 2nd or 3rd day hair I really like Belle Butters Shea and Matcha Green Tea Butter. It is incredibly moisturizing for my hair. I also deep condition once a week using the Huetiful Hair Steamer.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
P: The infamous fro, or I’ll just sport a bun.
How do you combat shrinkage?
P: I have learned to just embrace it, but when I do want extra length I will do a braid out or just stretch my hair out with other methods like hair banding or pulling your hair into a ponytail, which will stretch it out as well.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
P: Since I have two hair textures, the crown of my hair requires more moisture than the rest of my hair. It also tangles faster. Also those fairy knots are a pain!
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
P: Moisturizing daily and sleeping on a satin pillow.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
P: Not moisturizing or using heat. I am currently undergoing a no heat regime since I went natural.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
P: Instagram: Shinestruck
49 Responses
I finally found someone I can relate too! The hair closer to my scalp is 4a (besides my kitchen) while the rest is closer to 3C but the front has more of a loose curl. Having all these different textures can be a headache so I’m still in the process of learning what products works for me and what does not.
omg yes guurl! le struggle lol . Thats exactly how my texture is too. What products are you using now?
As of right now, I pre-poo with Coconut Oil then wash with Moroccan Oil Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. For my wash-n-go I cowash with As I Am Co-wash and make my own DC of Extra Virgin Oil Oil and Honey. I just tried the Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque and Curl Boosting Jelly for a twist out. It was a FAIL. What do you recommend for a good condition and leave-in condition?
*conditioner
I really like organic/natural leave in’s. For leave in’s I recommend kinky curly’s knot today, LuvNaturals Love me and leave me in, or Koils by Nature Leave in. Those have been my staples consistently. For a regular conditioner, I just started using Aussie Moist 3 min miracle, has lots of slip! If you want something organic, I recommend Aubrey Organics – White Camellia Conditioner. Hope that helps! 🙂
Do you have any tips for taking care of dyed hair? I plan on dying my hair reddish soon. I know color can take its toll on hair.
Seriously…you are my hair twin!!! thank God in heaven. Usually the tutorials I find online are girls with mostly all 3b/3c (loser curly hair) or all 4a(tighter curly). I’m not mixed, but for some reason it has been hard to find other African Americans (I know you’re Dominican) with my mixed hair texture type online. I do have a mixed heritage, but I don’t think anyone would confuse me with any other ethnicity. Anyway- I’m just super excited to find hair like mine! My hair gets super puffy after work outs (really fuzzy around the edges) I don’t want the sweat to damage my hair and I’ve noticed after my cleansing method my hair is dryer.Do you have any suggestions for protective styles/methods while working out?
Thanks! -sorry this was so long, but your post made me happy 🙂
[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/download.jpg[/img]
I posted a pic above of what my hair looks like after a workout. No curl pattern . The photo below is my hair out of the shower…[img]https://bglh-marketplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2012-12-0516.jpg[/img]
Hi Dana! omg so sorry just seeing this! I sooo know what you mean, when I first started my journey it was so frustrating bc I couldn’t find anyone with my hair texture either 🙁 but as for working out, I would suggest wearing a tight bandana or like a head band for your edges. Updo’s and braided styles are perfect as well. Also what are you using to cleanse your hair with? The ingredients may play a factor with that. Also make sure you lock in moisture after you cleanse, the LCO method is awesome for locking in moisture 🙂
There is no way a 3C or 4A, it’s probably more a 3A and 3B – these curls are lose as heck!
I’ve finally found my hair twin!!!! I’m so excited! My hair is shorter than yours but I’m a 3C/4A natural too. I want my hair long & gorgeous like yours. Do you have a YouTube channel??
OMG!!! You took the words right out of my mouth Charis!! I am a 3c/4a natural as well and need all the pointers I can get. Priscilla your hair ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!
Thanks for commenting, Ray. Unless there are other saicifgnint changes, I would still buy Elvis On Tour for the reasons you mentioned even if this rumor turns out to be true. Let’s hope it’s not.Still, if the rumor proves to be true, I would have to seriously question the wisdom of whoever made that decision. It would be one thing to replace Johnny B. Goode, that would be bad enough but to replace it with a mediocre version of Don’t Be Cruel that suffers from a hatchet edit job? It would show a They just didn’t care approach, and I hope we are beyond that kind of thing on saicifgnint Elvis releases by now.If someone would think that fans wouldn’t notice or care about such a change, they have no idea who the real Elvis fan base is these days. They have no idea the storm that is brewing about this.Just a rumor of this potentially happening has upset you, me, and Thomas and we’re what I would call moderately tempered fans in that we don’t tend to look for faults and whine.If the rumor turns out to be true, it would seem on the verge of unforgivable especially since Warner Home Video has not announced that there have been changes to the film. Would they change the opening theme song of another classic movie that did not involve Elvis and not even bother to tell anyone?Yeah, I would still buy Elvis On Tour if they replace Johnny B. but I think it would just be one copy, instead of the multiples I plan to pick up.
ahh just seeing this!, yes I do it’s youtube.com/ImShinestruck 🙂
Wow, you’re gorgeous! Love the hair, make-up and the length retention! Also love how with every girl that stands up for themselves and goes natural, we heap on a loud shout of encouragement for others to step outside of their comfort-zone and try it. Go ahead, girl! Work that right!
vertmoot.blogspot.com
I love her hair! I follow her on Instagram 🙂
Simply GORGEOUS lady with GORGEOUS hair!
so pretty love you hair
I’ve want to go natural so bad I get relaxers I’m Dominican but everyone says if I stop perming my hair it will break
I’m dominican. I went natural in 2008. It has been an amazing experience. My family, friends and stylist were telling me not to do it now my mom, who is super conservative, tells me how much she loves my curly fro. Every time I’ve thought of going back she would convince me not to. Your hair likely will not break. Mine didn’t. During the grow out months and maybe years I would suggest cutting a nice chunk of hair every 2-3 months. I never did a big chop. My hair stayed shoulder length. You’re going to love it as long as you own it.
I’ve got the same hair texture as yours since I went natural, only shorter, I use to dislike my hair, well not any more. Thanks.
Omg, i follow her on instagram! She is so beautiful and her hair is just wow!! Love her!
Love the hairstyles! If I could style my hair like this, I would possibly go natural! Can you still do regular rollersets with natural hair? That’s one of the things I do like about relaxers that you can rollerset. Can you still do regular sets, I’m not talking about spiral sets, but just regular rollersetting on natural hair? If you have, please share, because that might help me to make the decision to possibly go natural in the future!
Hi Marsha,
of course you can 🙂 one of the things about natural hair is its versatility, I am currently undergoing a no heat regime and that is one of the methods I use to stretch out my curls or when I want my hair straight. I use a roller set but I let it air dry and then slick the edges by doing a (doobie) which is wrapping my hair all around. you can also use heat but very sparringly and make sure to use a heat protectant. Hope that helps 🙂
Love the bun look with the eye makeup!! Love the colored fro also.
Thanks Doll 🙂
So beautiful! Love the fro.
thanks! 🙂
You’re gorgeous! I love how big and loopy you curls fall
Gorgeous girl with hair to match—muy bonita!!
I love the versatility your hair seems to have.
thank you 🙂 🙂
Absolutely stunning. Love & Fros xx
Gorgeous!!!
As a fellow Dominican with a beautician mom I completely understand where you are coming from. As I was reading your story, I was like waoo we had the same experiences. I am glad to see other Dominicans embrace natural hair. You should open a youtube channel in Spanish. It would be very helpful since there is so much info out there in English and so little in Spanish. I would do it but my hair is not long enough (just 6 months transition). BTW Love your hair and your pics!
Great idea; you can actually start now! There are not enough Spanish or short natural hair YT channels.
Ditto on the whole Dominican with a beautician mom thing! Here I was, thinking that I was the only one and how ironic that I was doing this with my mother’s background LOL! I never thought I’d go natural since my straight hair was long, healthy, and thriving but I really wanted to do this to discover my texture. So far, I’m really learning to love my curls. It does get tough at times with my texture when I have fairy knots as well but it’s a learning process and as I improve each day, I feel more liberated from the constant upkeep. BTW, there is a Dominican natural hair channel by LaMissRizos that you should check out! I’m really glad that other Dominicans are starting to embrace the whole natural hair movement. I feel that making this decision is the toughest in our culture. Love your fro, Priscilla!
There is a very lovely dominican youtuber by the name of sunkissalba who has on occasion done videos in spanish. In fact, I think she is in the process of having a separate spanish channel. She is very inspiring and lovely just like the lady featured above.
It’s ironic that certain cultures look down on natural hair when its been proven daily on youtube and sites like bglh that it is the most beautiful and versatile hair on the planet. I’m so glad more women are enbracing their natural hair and spreading the word.
Hi Maressa!
I am soo happy that you are embracing your natural hair and discovering your texture as well, and I completely agree with you on the learning process, we definetly have to listen to our hair and pay attention to what it likes and needs lol. I do also hope more people in our culture and just women overall celebrate and embrace their natural hair, it is just too beautiful 🙂 thank you for your comment and for the YT suggestion I will soo check her out =)
Hi Hansy,
haha it is very refreshing to hear that there are others who were familiar with the same experience I had growing up, Isn’t it crazy how we were not taught to embrace this beautiful mess 🙂 I am actually going to start a Youtube channel soon and have never thought about a spanish channel as well, great idea! I will keep that in mind =D Thanks for your beautiful comments and I am sooo happy you are embracing your hair as well good luck on your journey 🙂 PS. length should never be a factor, start that youtube natural hair journey 🙂 cant wait to see it!
Wow! I really loved your hair, this bun is perfect. Wonderful!!
Hi Priscilla!! Just wondering what your mom, family, friends think about your hair now. Have any of them decided to embrace their natural texture also?
Hi Antrelise,
It is funny that you mention that because I did have a few friends and family members who were not to fond of my “big chop” and prefered my long straight haired weave look. I would constantly get the: “oh its cute, but I prefer you with long hair”. Whatever that meant lol, we have to always keep in mind and remember that we are not defined by our hair, and that hair does not define beauty. But within time as those same friends and certain family members adjusted, my natural hair look started to grow on them and they now love it! Some have even decided to go natural themselves 🙂 In this journey it requires a lot of strength and patience. My boyfriend was also really supportive with was a huge bonus 🙂
The fro really suits you! I also love the gigantic bun and heavy eye make-up. Beautiful!
That smoky eye look is gorgeous. I always call heavy eye-mekaup the “Cleopatra makeu”p lol
thanks!!:)
thank you!! 🙂
Love! Just everything is lovely here, fro or bun.
Thank you!! 🙂