by
Meosha
Introduce yourself!
S: My name is Sharnell Lewison. I’m from South Jersey, currently living in Long Island, NY.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
S: I first went natural in 2006 when I was 16. After transitioning for 3 months I BC’ed and started locs. In 2008, I BC’ed my locs and started growing loose natural hair. Going natural for me was a part of a self acceptance journey. I treated my hair terribly because I thought ‘my kind of hair’ needed such abuse to be beautiful. My outlook on my hair changed with a positive self image.
How would you describe your texture?
S: My hair is a very thick, coarse, densely packed 4b-4c. After my hair is freshly washed, it looks like a cloud with clusters of z coils scattered throughout. It produces very little of its own natural oils. I wash my hair in sections because it will loc very easily.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
S: My hair is in twists or braids for most of the month. I wash my hair every week, stretching the wash to a week and a half if I can. If I wear a twist out or braid out, it occurs right before prepooing for wash day. My hair is fully moisturized and less likely to tangle at that time. I try to handle my hair as little as possible.
What does wash day look like for you?
S: Prepoo: I detangle my hair before my wash. My prepoo gives my hair enough slip to release shed hair. I grab a small manageable section of hair, spritz it with water and apply Tresemme Remoisturizing Conditioner and a generous amount of nyle oil on top of that. I finger detangle and then use a wide tooth comb. After combing I braid the section. My prepoo stays on for at least 6 hours or overnight. The braids stay in for the wash. Shampoo: I use Ayur Amla & Shikakai Reetha Herbal Shampoo undiluted in a squeeze bottle. I work it through my hair and take this time to massage my scalp for cleanliness and circulation. Conditioner: I use Aussie 3 Minute Miracle as my after shampoo conditioner. I rinse this out 80% of the way, dry my hair with a large t shirt, and style. If I’m blow drying my hair, I use Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray. Other than that I use a moisturizer (I’m in between moisturizers right now, but I’ll be starting Focus 21 Sea Plasma Hair and Skin Moisturizer this week), and I seal with nyle oil. My scalp and ends are treated with Ultra Shea Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy Intensive Scalp Nourishing Balm. Chunky twists are usually what I go for after a wash.
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
S: When my hair’s just not laying right, I throw on a turban or a scarf. I love cat-ear turbans and I have them in a few colors :). I can wear hats to work and school so I never feel much pressure to show my hair when it’s not styled.
How do you combat shrinkage?
S: I let my hair fully dry before attempting any kind of twist out or braid out. It really helps keep the shrinkage down.
What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
S: My nape gets very tangled. I gave into its tangly nature for a while with a nape/rat tail dread, but I recently unloc’ed it.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
S: Do dismantle knots in hair strand by strand. Do massage products into hair very well. My hair loves massages, especially the ends.
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
S: Don’t snap strands when detangling. Don’t underestimate the thirstiness of your hair!
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
S: I have a shop on Etsy where I showcase my art and hobbies www.etsy.com/shop/solarpwrdsynesthesia. I am also on Instagram @SolarPWRDLions.
16 Responses
Love the side pony tail. Also love the volume!
vertmoot.blogspot.com
I’m elated to find this feature story about someone with features (complexion, hair type & behavior) so much like mine! Sharnell’s hair is so beautiful and I am inspired to continue on this hair adventure! Her tips are great and I will try a few esp the scarves. But, I still need protective style to protect the ends. Today I wore my hair out and although it is well moisturized, by the end of the day it looked like it was dying of thirst. I’ve combed the web for hours today trying to find a protective style and can’t find anything…easy. My 4b/c hair is now in an “in-between” length(6-7in, thick, very fine strands). Its been in braids for the last year but I am worried about the fragility of my edges. Wigs are just too uncomfortable (itchy, hot) for me. I can’t braid to save my life and my twists are a hot mess. I must find another protective style soon or all the TLC poured into my hair will be lost. Any advice?
Hi M in Boston :)!
Here’s something that might be helpful for you, and something I forgot to mention. When I’m caring for my ends, I’m not actually treating just the very end. I apply moisturizing butters to the last 3 inches (give or take a half inch or so, i dont measure when i apply) of my hair. For my scalp, it’s the same philosophy. I factor in my new growth as well my scalp when moisturizing my roots.
I use the same product on my scalp as i do my ends. Massage the product into your ends, scalp and new growth well.
When moisturizing your hair before sealing, use a moisturizer that is predominantly water. I had a chance to use the Focus 21 Sea Plasma All Purpose Skin and Hair Moisturizer, and I highly recommend it. I spritz it on my hair (instead of spritzing water) to moisturize before reapplying any kind of oil or butter to my hair. It is an oil free moisturizer.
When I do my twists, they aren’t perfect. I don’t part my hair with a comb….for some reason it just doesn’t part with a comb haha. It just doesn’t go through. So I gather sections with smooth finger parting. Once I finger part a section off to twist, I run my finger on the part again to get move away any stray strands that don’t feel like they belong. But I usually clip or pin the twists up to form some kind of updo so people cant see my craftsmanship :).
You could try banding! I’m going to experiment with banding over twisting because I don’t have time to twist my hair. I recommend black or clear polybands because they wont draw moisture out of your hair like regular rubberbands. Goody and Scrunci make them. You can take a moisturized and sealed section of your hair and position the bands In even spacing. As far apart as you think will keep your strands composed. Make sure the first band isn’t too tight/close to your scalp. You could even palm roll or finger coil the section after its detangled and before banding it to keep the strands in the section together. It would help keep the sections in between the bands from being so puffy.
Bantu Knots are also something you can try. Personally I don’t do bantu knots because I wake up with head or neck pain. Plus who wants to sleep on knots :D!
I style my hair protectively because my hair looses a lot of moisture when its out. I’m even finding that buns on loose hair don’t do it for me either (unless my hair is blown out, which I don’t do often).
I hope this information helps :)! Let me know if anything is unclear.
You can also use a headband or scarf to hide parts of your hair you dont want people focusing on. I do that all the time because the sides of my hair are a lot shorter than the rest of my hair. Look into Wrap Pins. They’re very long curved bobby pins. I know Goody and Hype Hair make them. They’re very comfortable!
Hair I can finally relate to. Hair that look like mine! Thanks for sharing your tips. Cute hair.
You’re gorgeous! And what a glorious mane of hair. Sigh. 🙂
Thanks for your comments, guys :D! You’re so nice <3! @sheabutter I always imagine 4a hair to be small, defined, uniform spirals. I say my hair is somewhere around 4b and 4c because the curls are partially defined. Some strands curl with one another, and some strands curl next to each other. Hair typing is a spectrum with the numbers being reference points. I don't fall exactly on the numbers but I'm definitely a type 4. Thanks for commenting!
I love the frames and big hair! Beautiful!
Yes!
Very cool :-).
Loveee her glasses <3 Pretty girl & prett hair!
Really like her style and her hair!! The side pony is my fav:)!!
4a&4b???
More hair like mine in terms of density, nice!
You’re very cute! Amazing hair and style! Gorgeous skin. Perfect nose.
I like your hair.