Ask CurlyNikki

While home in St. Louis, Missouri for a stop on the international book tour for ‘Better Than Good Hair,‘ I dropped in for a much anticipated visit to a place very near and dear to me – Girls Inc. of St. Louis, a non-profit organization. Girls Inc. is a place that is close to my heart for three reasons. First, I was employed there during my college years. Secondly my mom is the program director (who said nepotism had to be a bad thing?), and most importantly, they’re teaching young ladies to be strong, smart and bold…enough said, right?!

Being that CurlyNikki.com is all about creating a community where women and young ladies feel empowered, I was honored to speak to the girls that day about staying focused, achieving positive body image, being passionate in all they do and following their dreams. You know, nothing too heavy. I also signed books for the girls, answered their burning questions and discussed what they want to be when they grow up!

It’s events like these that really matter to me. Even with the fame I’ve gathered from the book release and the continuing success of the blog, I never forget where this all started and what really matters. Women of all ages, especially younger women, need a resource or a place to go to where they can grow, learn, and be accepted no matter what their background is. That’s the work my mother has been doing at Girls Inc., that’s the work I look to do at CurlyNikki, and that’s the work that we, as women, should all be doing, in whatever way we can. So when the cameras stop flashing and the bright lights aren’t shining, places like Girls Inc. still exist and are really what matter, and that’s why I couldn’t wait to stop in and say, ‘hey!’

About Girls Inc.

Girls Inc. provides educational and cultural programs in safe environments for girls that enable them to raise their aspirations and realize their potential. Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold! Each child has a unique intellectual, emotional, spiritual and physical potential. The cultivation of this potential is the top priority. Programs give girls the information, skills, strategies and resources they need to make good decisions, solve problems, meet their own needs and lead others. These activities provide the opportunity to experience success as they grow to understand their options, accept new responsibilities and face new challenges.

To find out how you can get involved with life-changing programs in your area, click here to Find a Girls Inc.

Beverly’s natural, heat styled hair.

Beverly Johnson is On the Couch with CurlyNikki! Ms. Johnson was the first Black woman to grace the cover of Vogue in 1974. Since then, she’s been on the cover of more than 500 magazines, ripped all the runways, authored books and appeared on television.

Currently, you can find her on the Oprah Winfrey Network, starring in her own reality show, “Beverly’s Full House.” You can also find her new hair care products on the shelves at your local Target.

During the interview, Beverly talked staying young, weaving as a protective style and revealed pics of her real hair! Enjoy!

On her new hair care line, “Hair by Beverly”

I’ve been chasing the formula for 10 years, so I can’t really take all of the credit. I was the spokesperson for this line, that’s how much I loved it. When I was doing my hair care line for Target, I decided to check back in and see if it was available. It’s the most incredible product in the sense that we take science and also natural ingredients and put them together.

I feel that there is a huge void in the market for an affordable, quality product, and this should fill that space. With all the perms and improperly installed weaves, our hair has gotten really, really beat up, so my line promotes healthy hair and growth.

I’m proud to say that there is no compromise in the quality of the products. And I don’t get to say that a lot. I’ve represented a lot of products, I’m a model, that’s what I do. But with this, I’m really happy to be an owner in the sense that I manufacture and distribute. Every single ingredient, every single step of the way has been this amazing team effort that I’ve been very involved with. I’m blown away and I hope you will be as well.

On her hair

I don’t perm my hair. When I take my hair down, people don’t even believe it’s all mine! It’s so thick and long. It’s crazy. Also, I’m proud to say, I have all of my edges — all of them.

What happened was, 14 years ago, a wig and weave care company approached me and I wasn’t even wearing extensions at the time. My manager was like, “You can’t do that, don’t even go there.” But I’m glad I did. It really paid off because we went from a $3 million company to an $80 million company.

That was a fantastic and interesting journey in that I really got to know the hair business. We people of color have had a love affair with our hair since the beginning of time and that’s not going anywhere. But what I found is that, through all of this experimentation with relaxers, wigs and hair extensions, our own natural hair took a serious beating. And the relaxers are just deadly. You look under a microscope at a hair strand from a perm — forget about it! It’s amazing that it can exist on our heads.

So what I started to do was not to relax my hair at all, use good products, braid my hair up and use a regular sew-on weave, netting the hair. This is what jump started my hair growth. Whenever my hair is out, I’m careful not to wet it too much, and I only use wide tooth combs. Once a year, I let my hair down for a while, and people just can’t believe the growth. For me, it’s easier with my schedule to have extensions. I like my hair to look a certain way all the time. I don’t care what you do to your hair or how you wear it, as long as you feel beautiful.

On weaves as a protective style

I know a lot of women, my daughter included, who wear clip-in pony tails. That’s a great protective style that’s easy and not very invasive. My daughter doesn’t wear weaves at all, but for shoots, she’ll use a clip-in. It’s fun. We like to change it up. Every woman has a bad hair day every now and then which is why I have the line of ponytails as well.

Also, if you choose to wear extensions, you really have to go to someone who knows what they’re doing. And please, stay away from the glue at all cost. Try the clip ons. You can clip it in, take them out and there’s no damage to your hair. The sew-ins with the net on top are what I use, and they really do protect the hair and edges. My stylist braids in hair with the edges to reduce the tension, puts the netting around just the edges and proceeds. I get my hair done a lot. I don’t leave my hair in for long periods of time, and my real hair is conditioned and maintained in between.

On keeping it tight and smooth as we age

This scientist went around and interviewed regions of the world where people live the longest, where people are over 100, and he asked them their secrets to longevity. He discovered four things about them. Most of them had daily exercise and routines. A lot of them live in the mountains, so just walking around is exercise, but they work in the fields, etc. That was one of the main components. Everyday, doing something, moving your body. And we have a generation with the TVs and computers. We sit on our a**es a lot and it’s not good.

Another thing they do, of course, is eat their fruits, veggies and fish, and just about everyone ate meat only in moderation if at all. I’ve tried to incorporate this into my life. The other thing is that they have frequent and meaningful communication with family and friends, a very tight network. And finally, a place of worship. Finding faith in something other than themselves. Those are the four things that are keeping me vibrant and young.

On her new reality show on OWN

I’m a businesswoman. I manufacture and distribute beauty products. I’ve known and loved Oprah for many years, so I pitched her some shows. I didn’t think she would pick my reality show! I trust and love Oprah and absolutely loved the idea we developed. It’s about the mother, daughter relationship. It’s so interesting, that relationship. It’s a show about building bonds and the whole thing of better communication. Hopefully people will laugh and cry a lot and have a lot of fun.

Even though I’m the executive producer, I’ve only seen a couple of the episodes, so I’m a little scared [laughter]. It should be a lot of fun. Check it out on March 31st! Everyone can always go to my website BeverlyJohnson.com and I’ll keep you abreast of what’s going on!

Denise Richards

Lately, my Google searches go something like this:

“at home hair thickening treatment,”

“naturally volumize fine ass hair,”

“mousse for bigger hair”

…and things of that nature. Hundreds of henna, beer rinse, oat flour and sexually inappropriate results later, I happened upon something that caught me off guard. Apparently, Denise Richards has a volumizing hair care line. Denise Richards. You know — actress, model, white she-devil from “Undercover Brother” and Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife?

I couldn’t help but reach out and I’m glad I did! She’s super down to earth, friendly and a fellow curly. She’ll also be in the new Tyler Perry movie! #WINNING

CN: Your hair is stunning! It’s obviously naturally textured, but how would you describe it? 

Thank you! My hair is thick with a bit of natural wave. Although it’s very full, I feel like it’s gotten less curly over the years.

CN: What was it like growing up with wavy hair? Did you always like it?

As a kid, we always want to be part of the “status quo,” which usually means having perfectly straight, shiny hair. I battled with my hair at the time (hey, it was the 80s!), but through the years, I stopped fighting my hair and found a style that works for me.

CN: What are your go-to products?

Speaking of the 80s, it’s all about the hairspray! But a much more grown up version, like the Volumizing Hair Spray from my Volume Extend line. I’m currently obsessed with my new line of products. They’re so luxurious and make my beauty routine a breeze.

CN: Tell me of this new volumizing haircare line?

My new hair care line, Volume Extend, is a volumizing line I created with celebrity hairstylist Cristophe that uses cutting-edge formulas to achieve the perfect balance of volume and thickness without any frizz. It should go without saying, but these products are never tested on animals and are sulfate and paraben free.

CN: What is your current routine? How does it differ when you’re working?

When I’m working, I have the best in the biz making sure I look perfect from every angle; I just let them work their magic! But when I’m at home, it’s all about my kids, which means my beauty routine is pared down to the bare minimum. I think the best way to keep it simple is to adopt a beauty routine that keeps your hair healthy and your skin glowing.

CN: As a new mother, I always ask celeb moms this question: How the hell do you do it? How do you save your last nerve while juggling career and kids?

I think it’s important to take time out for yourself. As a working mother, it’s easy to lose yourself in the demands of others, but what’s most important is maintaining a healthy, happy “self.” I recommend taking an hour to go for a walk, meditate, spend quality time with your friends – these are the things that maintain sanity.

CN: Any new and upcoming movie projects?

I recently guest starred on “30 Rock” and I am currently working on a new Tyler Perry film, “Madea’s Witness Protection!”

CN: Dope. Can’t wait! Where can we connect with you on the web?

You can follow me on Twitter (@DENISE_RICHARDS) or on my website at www.DeniseRichards.com. You can buy my products at www.cristophe.com!

Original hair idol and music legend Amel Larrieux is On the Couch with CurlyNikki. And just for the record, this one’s for me, not for y’all! I’ve been fawning over her hair for years, and it was amazing to finally chat about her iconic curls and waves. Enjoy!

Amel & CurlyNikki Curl Up

CurlyNikki: How long have you been natural?

Amel Larrieux: I’ve been natural since I was 17. When I was a teenager, I used to get my hair relaxed, and when I turned 16, I stopped and had my hair twisted, and it locked up. I had locks for two years. I cut them off when I was 19, and my hair has been completely natural ever since.

CN: Why did you stop getting relaxers?

AL: I got really involved in African history and my roots, and I was very Afrocentric at the time. I wore big head wraps and I was studying a little bit about Rastafari and hanging out in Harlem on 125th street — back when it was very much a time when people were talking about our culture — lots of Black owned book stores. It influenced me a lot and I realized that relaxers were not for me.

Also, my mother has always been natural, so I think that I kind of went through the prerequisite “straightening my hair to fit in with other people.” But by the time I was 17, I was finding my individuality, and a part of that was being natural.

CN: How would you describe your hair?

AL: I have two very distinct grains. The top part of my hair is a thicker, coarser grain with corkscrew curls and the bottom part is almost completely straight. You can’t treat both parts the same. I’ve only encountered one or two stylists that know what to do with it, which is why I usually do it myself.

CN: I came across an old interview where you discussed your hair routine and products. It’s several years old and I wonder how your regimen differs from that time? I remember some old school products and lots of braid-outs.

AL: It’s basically the same, except that I’ve been using organic products for the last six years. I don’t use any of the old school stuff anymore because unfortunately, they don’t have the best ingredients. Plus, there are so many more organic things available now than there were before. Everything from your hair, your skin, leads back into your blood and your body. Everything that I put on me  now is basically organic.

I still wash my hair every week unless I’m really busy. I have very curly corkscrew hair, and sometimes I’ll let it air dry naturally. I usually braid it. Every night I braid my hair, because if I don’t, it’ll lock up! The curls are so curly that they lock together very quickly. My secret is moisturizing it before I braid it. It’s also about the products that I use.

I deep condition every time I wash my hair for around 10 to 15 minutes. After applying the conditioner, I’ll put on plastic wrap or a plastic cap and sit in the sun or just keep it on as long as possible. My favorite deep conditioners right now are Kerastase Oleo Relax, Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco Tropical Rich Mask and the PhytoSpecific Intense Nutrition Mask. I also like the PhytoSpecific Kukui Oil Shampoo.

I try to get my hair trimmed twice a month. I don’t wear my hair long anymore. I just prefer to have it shorter. I pretty much keep it at shoulder length now. I may wear it long again one day, but for now, I really like it at my shoulders because it’s really modern, easy and fun!

I have a person who knows how to trim curly hair. She actually can trim my hair without giving me split ends. She makes my hair look better every time she trims it. I appreciate this because many stylists can make matters worse.

CN: You mentioned Phyto, Kerastase and Bumble and Bumble, what other products are you digging?

AL: Using the best combination of products is an ever-changing thing. I won’t stick with the same thing for more than four months because my hair kind of becomes immune to it, so I switch around.

I love the PhytoSpecific brand. It’s one of my favorites and I always come back to it. I also like Shea Moisture, which I know is Black owned and that makes me very happy. I love the Organic Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Style Milk. I love it so much that I don’t even know what to do. It works so well. It repairs any and all problems. I use it at night before I braid my hair.

I am a person that likes my hair frizzy and wavy, not a person that’s concerned about it looking silky and curly. I grew up on Chaka Khan and Diana Ross — I like big hair. I like frizzy hair. I think it’s beautiful and it looks like a cloud! It took me many years to embrace that part of my hair. I’m not into gelled looking hair, and these products don’t make my hair look gelled or defined. They make them soft and wavy, like a beautiful cloud [laughter].

CN: Can you tell me more about your night time braiding routine? Do you wet your hair before applying the Organic Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Style Milk?

AL: I apply it to my dry hair. I’ve learned that water is my hair’s enemy. That is one of the reasons why I stopped wearing my hair naturally curly all the time. You know, like when you get out of the shower and let it air dry? I had to wet it every day and it really dried my hair out. The braiding works better for me.

CN: What would you tell a woman who is contemplating going natural?

AL: Well, it’s such a personal thing. As Black people, we have so much weight, so much luggage, baggage that comes with it all — all the stuff we’ve been through for decades, how we’re not right, in terms of our beauty and our attributes. Every commercial is like, “get rid of frizz, relax your hair,” and I know it’s for white people as well, but still.

I know how extremely intense it can be for someone to make the change and then feel the reactions from people. When I cut my locks off and had hair that was one inch long, the kind of reactions I got from people I knew and didn’t know — it was astonishing. It was astonishing that my hair mattered that much. That it made such a difference that they had to give me their opinion — that they were so offended or whatever.

I just really believe that people have to do what’s right for them in their own time. It’s definitely more time consuming. We all have different hair, and some might find that braiding their hair is not the thing, that they have to do knots at night, or pin curls at night. Someone else might let it be completely free and natural. I just really want women of color to feel good about themselves without having to compromise or without having to fit into someone else’s standard of beauty. And sometimes it’s a really long road. Everything in our society has been anti-black anything for many years, so it’s totally understandable.

CN: What projects are your working on?

AL: I’m mixing my new album that will be out early next year. It’s going to be called “Ice Cream Everyday,” and I do spot dates all the time. I’m not doing a full-length tour right now, but I love to do live shows, they’re so much fun!

Final Thoughts from CurlyNikki

Later, we discussed her curl’s objection to being watered too often and how I can totally relate. My hair seems to do better with these dry sets — applying product to my dry hair prior to twisting. It stays moisturized for much, much longer and gives me that soft, perfect ‘cloud’ like frizz she was talking ’bout!

Actress, comedian, producer and writer Kim Wayans is On the Couch with CurlyNikki! A talented member of the famous Wayans clan, Kim shined on “A Different World,” and delivered uncanny impressions on Fox Network’s ”In Living Color.” She’s also appeared on the big screen with roles  in “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Juice in the Hood” and “Juwanna Man,” to name a few.

But today we’re here to take a closer look at them celebrity curls! Ladies, I present to you, Kim Wayans! Enjoy!

CN: It was so amazing to connect with you on Twitter! I’ve been a fan since Miss Benita!

Kim: Thanks Nikki! I love your website. I read your celebrity interviews and have learned so much about working my natural hair from CurlyNikki.com. It’s really a tremendous resource, and whenever I run into a sister with her natural hair, I’m always sure to tell her, “Be sure to go to CurlyNikki.com!”

I was just talking to a woman in New York that wants to transition, she’s scared, but she wants to, and I told her, “You need to get on CurlyNikki.com and read the stories of women who made the transition because it’s going to inspire you and give you the courage to go on and lop that off and start from scratch!”

CN:Wow! Thanks Kim! That’s such an amazing compliment. I’m happy that you find the info helpful and I’m very grateful for the free pub! 

Kim: It’s an amazing website. My girlfriend Robin Robinson, a die hard CurlyNikki fan, turned me onto it. I had to mention her ’cause she’d be on me if I didn’t!

CN: Your natural hair is some of the most luscious I’ve ever seen atop a celebrity head. Give me your story!

Kim: I’ve never had a perm. My mom didn’t have that — we all wanted one of course, because everybody wanted the hair that swung, and this didn’t swing [Laughs]. She was very much about loving your natural hair and said to all of us girls that when you turn 18, you can do whatever you want with your hair, but right now, in this household, there’s gonna be no perming. So we just had to tie sweaters on our head and swing those from side to side [Laughs].

So I never got a perm and when I left home, I never really wanted one. I would hot comb my hair or wear braids because I really didn’t know what to do with my natural hair. I just knew that I didn’t want to put chemicals in it.

Like back in the day on “In Living Color” and “A Different World,” I wore it pressed and then I graduated to braided styles and wore that for many years. And when I got tired of the braids falling out in the swimming pool [Laughter] — you know, you’re thinking you’re all cute and everything, and then an extension falls out — I looked up and my hair was floating in the pool! A guy was like, “Excuse me miss, I think this is your hair!”

So that, plus I was just ready for a change. I didn’t want to be a slave to the braids anymore. I just got the urge. I wanted to rock my natural hair without the braids, without anything.

CN: What’s your current routine? How do you achieve that luxurious curly fro?

Kim: I do my hair once a week. I don’t use shampoo anymore, that’s something I learned from your website. I use DevaCurl No Poo and I find that to be really amazing because it doesn’t strip your natural moisture and oils. It works well because it keeps my hair feeling very moist. I also learned that I shouldn’t be yanking a comb through this bush and that I should be using my fingers as much as possible.

I’m so happy to be talking to you because I’ve benefited so greatly from your website. It’s just a gem. I can’t sing your praises enough. As a culture, we don’t learn how to do our hair and that’s why there’s such an aversion to wearing it. That’s why so many women are like, “I don’t know what to do with it and therefore I perm, or therefore I braid, because I don’t know what to do with my own hair.”

We don’t grow up learning how to do our hair, we grow up learning how to do somebody else’s hair — Caucasian hair. Those little combs and brushes don’t work on this. So you find yourself yanking out your hair and having such a difficult time, and when you learn, you learn that your hair is different and requires different treatment. And when you grasp that and get the proper tools to do YOUR hair, it become a breeze. It becomes fun and not a huge hassle.

CN: It’s a re-education.

Kim: It is! It’s a total re-education. So back to my routine, now I have a Ouidad Comb. I first use my fingers and go through my hair and separate it into about 5 large braids. And then I saturate my hair with a conditioner, put my little plastic cap on and let that sit in my hair for a couple of hours.

If I have errands to run, I’ll slap on baseball cap so I can run around. I let that percolate up there for a few hours and if I have the time, I’ll even leave it in over night and then the next day wash out each braid, cleanse with Deva NoPoo using luke warm water, and do a final cold water rinse — something else I learned from your site.

I pat dry each section with a towel and gently remove excess water. Then I take virgin coconut oil with some jojoba oil and a little raw Shea butter and mix that together and put that on each section, re-braid back into the big 5 braids, put on my satin cap and then I go to sleep to let it dry overnight.

I also sleep on a satin pillow case, which is something I didn’t know about growing up. It’s something else I learned from you, and it just makes such a difference. You wonder, “Why is my hair dry all the time? All the oils and moisture I put in it…” and then you realize the pillowcase is more moisturized than your hair and that’s crazy! So that satin pillow case really helps a lot.

The next day I let the braids out, lightly take my fingers and work it a little bit and let it do its thing for the rest of the week.

I LOVE VH1′s “Basketball Wives!” I sit and watch in amusement and sometimes horror as these ladies go about their day to day lives dodging gossip and accusation like bullets. Anyway, one afternoon while tuning in to the first episode of “Basketball Wives LA,” I caught a glimpse of a stunning bronzed woman with blond locs, piercing eyes and the most luminescent complexion I’d ever seen. It looked like she literally glowed! I was taken by her style and her “I am too grown and too fabulous for the cattiness and the fighting” attitude. She became my favorite, but then she wasn’t in any more episodes!

Last week, I got the opportunity to interview Tanya Young Williams and found her to be just as delightful as I imagined. We talked about her projects, her charity works and projects, her hair, and her time on the show. Read on!

Tanya Young Williams On the Couch

About being the celebrity spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline:

I had the opportunity to go on the CBS Early Show and actually offered commentary on Mel Gibson and his alleged domestic violence. Having a history of dealing with domestic violence, the producer said, “You really should align yourself with the National Domestic Violence Hotline so that your voice and message can empower others.”

After a year and a half of communication, they asked me if I would be a celebrity spokesperson. I felt that would be the greatest opportunity because the more people you can help with your story, the more lives you can possibly save and the more family dynamics can be improved.

Her advice for women who may be in abusive relationship:

Tanya with daughters Tryumph and Whizdom.

If you’re in a situation where a person makes you feel less than yourself, that’s not good. Love doesn’t hurt. If you are in an abusive relationship, it’s important that you have a friend that you can trust completely to talk to. It’s important to have that support system and someone that you can talk to and be 100 percent comfortable with. Also, you have got to have an exit strategy. Where can you go if things get very bad? Is there a safe place for the children? Do you have any money put away? Everything is about strategy when you are ready to get out of an abusive relationship. Also, call the National Domestic Violence Abuse Hotline for help. The number is 1-800-799-SAFE.

About her book, “I’m Tired! Carry Your Own S#!t (Oops, I Mean Bags) A 7 Day Journey to Peace, Passion and Purpose”:

It’s a self help book for people who have been carrying other peoples baggage for so long, that they have forgotten about their own passions and their own purpose. It’s a workbook and an easy read. You actually go through seven days of asking yourself questions that you’ve probably forgotten the answers to: Who were you when you were happy? Who were you when you weren’t stressing and carrying other peoples baggage? Essentially, what baggage are you carrying that doesn’t belong to yourself? This workbook is very dear to me, I am very passionate about it and anyone who has read it and has responded to me has said that it has helped change their life. I believe that each of us was created for a specific/unique purpose, and the goal of this book is to allow you to tap back into your God given purpose for your life. Love yourself enough to buy the book because it will change your life.

About her hair journey:

I’ve actually been natural for many, many years, but have worn my hair in the dreads style for eight years. My hair before that was just wavy. During the early 80s, I was an athlete and I was getting it wrapped. But you know what that’s like, I’d get my hair wrapped, and the second I’d run up and down the floor, I would perspire and my hair would revert to being wavy again!

At some point, I believe I was in college, I said, “You know what, I can’t do this anymore.” At the end of the day, I couldn’t keep my hair the way I wanted it to look, so I had to change and say, “Enough with the wrapping.” The thing is, I didn’t want to have a perm, and there was a period of time where people were doing a thing called texturizing. I would texturize it to make it straight, and then I would wrap it and I thought it looked fabulous! But, if it rained, or I perspired, I was done, so two and a half hours in the salon was wasted!

About her locs:

It wasn’t easy! My hair is naturally wavy and curly, so me wanting to have locs was not easy, but it’s still something I like! Because my hair was thinner, when I started twisting it, it became heavier and took on a fuller look. It’s just something I like! I use Aubrey Organics products as well as Kiehl’s Care products. Another thing that I do is apply vitamin E to my scalp.

About her daughters (Tryumph 8 and Whizdom 7) and how she cares for their natural curls:

Tryumph and Whizdom.

Both of my daughters have wavy/curly hair like mine. I am very fortunate to have two very good girls, but the only time we don’t get along is in the morning when I’m combing their hair [laughs]. “Mommy, are you hurting us on purpose? No, I’m just combing through your curls!”

When I was younger, my mother would put Johnson and Johnson No More Tangles in a jar with this very heavy cream called Baby Cream, and she’d shake it up! So of course, years later, we’re laughing like, “She was making Carefree Curl Moisturizer before it even came out!” But as moms, you continue to test and see what works in your childrens’ hair. I laugh because my mother did it when we were little, and that was just what mothers do. Even with my two girl’s hair, I’ve gone through so many different products to find out what works best for them. It’s really tough to find products for children’s hair that is curly, not coarse.

My favorite product to use is Aubrey Organics B5 Design Gel. I am trying to find other products though. I have been having a difficult time finding things that will not weigh down their hair — others are too fragrant. Maybe your readers will have some suggestions!

On that gorgeous glow and fit physique:

[laughs] As for that “glow” that everyone says I have, I feel that it’s just the spirit of God that’s inside me. I don’t eat red meat and stay away from sweets, though I love Champagne [laughs]. For exercise, believe it or not, I don’t have time to visit the gym! When I play with my girls, that’s when I exercise. I put them on my legs and do leg lifts and lift them up. They think it’s fun, and I stay toned!

On what she expected when she joined the cast of the “Basketball Wives of LA”:

When I met the producers, we talked about focusing on the lives of basketball wives as moms and business women. Though it’s glamorous, there’s more to being a basketball wife.

On whether or not she was accurately portrayed on the show:

I actually only watched the first show and haven’t watched since, so I honestly don’t know how I was portrayed.

On her absence from the reunion show and whose idea was it for her to not be included:

Both myself and VH1 decided that it would be best if I was not a part of the reunion. It was a mutual and amicable decision.

Do you communicate with anyone from the show?

I talk to Jackie about business and I also talk to Imani on Twitter.

On whether she’ll be returning for another season:

No, I have other projects going on right now. I am a Legal analyst for KTLA, write for the Huffington Post, and am a Celebrity Spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. It was in the best interest of all involved that I did not return.

Final Thoughts

Don’t be bummed, though dolls! Even though she won’t be returning to the BBWLA cast, she promises that she’ll be back on the small screen in due time! At the end of our interview, I promised Ms. Tanya that I would send out an APB on product recommendations for her two beautiful daughters. They need products that will moisturize, but not weight down the hair. Also, what products would you all recommend for effective detangling?

Atlanta based celebrity stylist and TV personality, Derek J put a well-clad foot in his mouth on the recently aired ‘good hair’ episode of Dr. Drew’s Life Changers. Shortly thereafter, distressed, confused and seeking clarity, he shined the proverbial CurlyNikki Signal into the night sky asking for deliverance from the incessant stream of hate mail. #TeamNatural roll deep as a mug.

Appreciative of his willingness to keep it real and genuine desire to be educated on the matter, I gave Derek some dedicated time On the Couch to gain some insight. Will he get his redemption? Read on!

Derek J Gets Started on His Homework

CurlyNikki: Okay, so what happened?

Derek J: First of all, I didn’t think that that statement would’ve caused what it caused. The conversation with Dr. Drew was about natural hair versus relaxed hair and weaves. In the beginning of the interview, I encouraged my client to go natural because I know that many women don’t know what their natural hair looks like. But later during the conversation, I did make the statement that some women need relaxers.

CN: What the hell Derek J?!

DJ: I didn’t mean relaxed bone straight. I meant to calm down frizz.

CN: Right. You know this is not helping your case…

DJ: Some people may want a looser curl or things of that nature. You would need some kind of chemical assistance to work that look.

CN: Uh — no, boo boo. We have tons, TONS of options outside of chemicals. But, put a pin in that. Do you think that most women desire looser curls?

DJ: Yes, not most women, but some do. I’ve seen women that want to go natural, but turn to weaves first to get the look they’re going for. They say, “Oh my hair’s too short to wear natural,” or “It’s too this or that to wear natural.” So they get a weave to get that natural look that they want to have. If that’s the look you’re going for and your hair doesn’t do that, then chemicals or a weave is needed to make it happen.

CN: So you’re saying there ain’t enough curly pudding in the world?

DJ: [Laughter]

CN: And what is “that look?” “The Joan Clayton” from Girlfriend’s?

DJ: Yep. Exactly. Some women need a relaxer or chemical assistance to achieve that look.

CN: That look… are we talking, “easily managed hair,” or the taboo, “good hair?”

DJ: No [Laughter]. Good hair is basically what you think it is and what you’re trying to go for.

CN: That’s so PC!

DJ: [Laughter] Before I answer that question, I want to say that I also didn’t know that the word “manageable” is a bad word in the natural hair community. I don’t know all this stuff! [Laughter] I’m learning though. Anyway, good hair is what works for you. What’s good for me might not be what’s good for you. It’s frustrating because this shouldn’t even be the topic of conversation. We have a whole lot of other issues for Black folks to worry about instead of whether someone wants to relax their hair or not. Or if somebody wants to achieve a looser texture curl than what they have naturally.

God gave you natural hair, but if you want to go that hard on it, then it shouldn’t just stop at your hair. Don’t get your eye brows arched, stop shaving your legs, stop shaving under your arms, don’t wear a bra. If you want to accept what God gave you, do it then, but you can’t just stop at your head.

CN: Would you have seen anything wrong with what you said had it not been brought to your attention — repeatedly?

DJ: I didn’t think twice. When I spoke to other stylists and a few natural haired friends, they agreed, so I didn’t think that there was anything wrong with the statement. I didn’t say all women, I said some. They took it as if I’d said it’s all women and that I look down on natural hair and that’s not what I was saying.

Derek J’s Uh-oh Moment

The rest of CurlyNikki’s exclusive interview continues on the next page.

Real Housewives of Atlanta diva, Shereè, is On the Couch, and guess what?! She’s #teamnatural! *raises roof* We played 20 questions! Enjoy!

20 Questions with Shereè Whitfield

CN: “Who gon check me boo?” Best housewife line ever. Where are the t-shirts?

Sheree: I had t-shirts! I need to put them back out! They’ll be on the website soon, absolutely. They’re coming back out.

Relaxed or natural?

I am natural. Been natural for seven years. I use Miss Jessies Curly Buttercream, Moroccan Oil, Pureology and Phyto.

Where do you get those fly weaves?

Thank you so much! I’m actually creating a hair line. I shouldn’t even be talking about this right now, but I’m partnering with the girl who has been providing me with my hair. It’s really good hair, no chemicals or anything on it which makes it easy for any stylist to work with.

If “Real Housewives of Atlanta” was “Survivor,” who do you think would get voted off the island first?

I would say NeNe.

On last night’s show you said, “Donald Trump recruited NeNe for Celebrity Apprentice because they needed an irate, crazy bitch, and that’s what they got.” How do you really feel about Nene?

Do I even need to tell you? [Laughter] I just feel that, I’m happy for anybody that’s doing their thing and taking their success to a whole ‘nother level — that’s wonderful. But, in that process, you can not look down on people. My motto is this, the same people you look down on going up, are the same people you’ll be looking up to when you’re coming back down. You can’t do that. You still have to remember where you came from and be humble. And I just feel like she’s not that way.

Of all the new business ventures this season, which one do you think is the most viable?

They say sex sells and I think Kandi will do good in that business. The sex toy market is not going anywhere. I think Phaedra’s venture into the funeral home business will do well too – people will always need that service, unfortunately.

Which girls from the cast do you kick it with off camera?

I’d have to say Kim.

Have you ever done anything on the show that you regretted after seeing it?

Absolutely. This season, going into the courtroom with my ex for child support, I was told that the cameras wouldn’t have access. So the day of, I ‘m thinking they were just going to watch me go up the court room stairs, but they actually came inside. I really didn’t want my kids seeing that on TV — me and their father in court.

What’s your favorite drink? 

It’s a new vodka called Vuqo. It’s fabulous! It’s made from coconut. I mix that with pineapple juice and a splash of cranberry.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, with whom would it be?

Oprah.

Mac or PC?

Mac.

If you were a Disney princess which one would you be?

Cinderella.

What’s the last book you read?

“The Help.”

If you weren’t on RHOA, what would you be doing?

I think I’d be doing something in health and fitness.

Biggest pet peeve?

I like action. I don’t like when people talk a lot, like when people say they can do XYZ, that’s pretty much all they’re doing is just talking. Show me.

On a typical day, what do you eat?

At breakfast, I’ll have egg whites, veggies in it, either chicken or turkey sausage and some fruit. At lunch, I’ll have some fish, veggies or a salad. I’ll have a frozen shake in between and I do like snacks, so I snack a bit between meals. And finally, at dinner, I’ll have chicken and veggies.

I try to stay away from a lot of carbs like white breads and potatoes and things like that. I love sweets, like maybe a cookie or a small piece of cake, that’s how I get my carbs in, my bad carbs.

Exercise routine?

Oh my gosh. You gotta come exercise with me! At least three days a week I do a kettlebell class. I may spin three times a week. I may add in a kick boxing class and then I try to walk the park at least two or three times a week.

That’s my me time. A lot of people don’t take that time, but we all need it. That’s my time for me, every morning, at the gym. It’s not just about being healthy, it makes me feel good and jump starts my day.

How goes the acting?

It’s going. I’ve received quite a few scripts for plays, people wanting me to read. But, with the taping, I had a lot going on, so I couldn’t really do it. So now I’m actually about to get back out there, and I have an acting coach that I’ll be starting with. I’ll see where it goes.

Did you ever hear anything else from Dr. Tiy-E Muhammad?

He called me one more time to apologize because it ended kind of nasty. So, we got that out of the way and I have not talked to him again.

Since him, have you found prospects that are worthy of your time?

I’m out in the dating world, but I haven’t found that Mister Right that makes me want to settle down. No one has swept me off my feet. It’s hard to find that guy in Atlanta.

Final Thoughts

Are you watching? What did you think of episode one of the new season??

Yesterday, my harassment persistent correspondence with Macy Gray’s “people” finally paid off. Nearly two years after my first request, she’s finally On the Couch. Score one!

This Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter and actress represents the natural hair vanguard. Rocking her natural coif from day one, she’s appeared in a number of movies including “Training Day,” “Spider-Man,” “Scary Movie 3,” “Lackawanna Blues,” “Idlewild” and “For Colored Girls.” Read on to learn about her hair care routine, favorite products and thoughts on the natural hair movement.

What’s your hair story?

I’ve had it relaxed. I’ve had a weave and all that, but I always come back to my natural hair because it’s my hair and I like it. I like the way it feels, especially when I don’t have a bunch of stuff in it. I’m not a “get up two hours early to do my hair” kind of girl. So it just works for my lifestyle. I have really, really thick hair, and it can be a lot of work, but I wear it.

You seem very comfortable with your hair. What about the industry?

Ever since I got popular, a lot of people have told me to change my hair up, straighten it out, or suggested that I change my look. I’ve tried it, but I always go back to my afro. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not keeping up with myself [laughter], like, maybe I should do something different now, but I always feel funny in something like a press and curl.

I got a weave for the first time back in 2007 for my big album release. It was for the red carpet. I had it done on a weekend, and it took eight hours. It was out before the end of the week. No lie. I just hated it. Every time I touched my head I felt like crying. I guess I just didn’t like touching my head and feeling hair that wasn’t mine. During that time I tried press and curls and wigs as well, but I always went back to my afro. I don’t mind wigs, I think wigs are fun, but I don’t wear them that often.

That’s probably the last time I’ll do something to my hair.

What’s your current styling routine and favorite products?

Redken is great. They have heavy cream called Smooth Down Butter Treat. It’s really good for Black hair. I’ll condition it in that for about 10 minutes. Then I might use American Crew Citrus Mint Gel. I love it because it’s not flaky and doesn’t contain alcohol. So I’ll use that and I’ll do medium sized voodoo knots, about 15, and let it dry, and it’ll be very curly. If you let it air dry it can take all day, so sometimes I sit under the dryer for an hour and a half. It comes out great and it stays for a few days. Braiding it is a lot quicker though — cornrows. The curls are a lot different, and I like that look too.

For wash and wear, I use Paul Mitchell Instant Moisturizer. It puts a really nice sheen on my hair. I also love Doogro because it doesn’t smell and it doesn’t make my hair greasy. I only use it on my scalp and a little on my ends.

I don’t do anything at night, I just sleep on it.

Do you color?

I color my hair a lot. It’s colored right now. I get it done professionally and I don’t even know what they use.

Notice any differences in your color treated hair?

It’s a lot dryer. You have to really keep it moisturized when you put color in it, but I think that’s anybody’s hair. It comes with the territory.

The best thing about being natural?

It’s beautiful. It’s you. You’re cool with what you got. When I see people that have natural hair, that’s what I think of them.

As women, we’re so socialized. We have to look a certain way and do all these things to ourselves. So I think you have to have very big balls to just be yourself. Black hair is very beautiful — it’s incredible. No one else has it but us. What’s more amazing than that?

What do you think about this natural hair revolution? Lots of people are going natural and staying that way!

I think it’s awesome and speaks to the fact that we’re all evolving, which is a big deal for a woman. We have so many rules from birth; keep your legs closed, don’t fart in public — guys do all of that. So I think when you get to the point where you’re okay with what you have and you follow your own rules, I think that’s an enormous step just for yourself, personally.

What are you working on?

My album is coming out in March and I just did a movie called “PaperBoy,” but I don’t know when it’s coming out. Check me out on my website, Facebook and Twitter!

One year into her healthy hair journey, Kimberly Elise, the acclaimed actress best known for her roles in “Set It Off,” “John Q,” “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” and “For Colored Girls,” talked with CurlyNikki about how natural hair has changed her life. Kim pre-poos and utilizes protective styles, and is now a member of the natural hair community, even calling sites like CurlyNikki, the Natural Hair University!

Embracing Your Curls at Any Age!

CurlyNikki: Your hair is stunning, so thick and healthy. Have you always been natural?

Kimberly Elise: I had my last relaxer in the early 2000s. I grew up with the pressing comb, had a Jheri curl and then I started relaxers. I have a very sensitive scalp and no matter what I did, they always burned. My hair wasn’t happy and didn’t do well. I just stopped at a certain point, and my last one was probably in 2000 or 2001. I reverted to using the pressing comb, then I tried braids, sort of leaving it alone, and I found that that made it really grow.

Then, just last summer, I thought I’d try something a little different. I had heard about the keratin thing and I understood it to be a temporary process — something you could put in and wash out in like two months. I thought it would be a nice change. Well, it didn’t wash out and my curls were gone. It was really upsetting. I pulled back again, put it in and braids to let it grow, and recently cut off about 6 inches — all the keratin. Now I finally have my curls back.

It’s been almost a year of letting it regrow itself. That’s where I am now. My curls are back, and honestly, I didn’t know a whole lot about how to take care of my natural hair until this last year. I learned so much on your site. I don’t even know how I stumbled across it. It’s, like, so educational — a university for natural hair.

I’ve also learned so much from Youtube, everyone from CurlyChronicles, Naptural85 to NaturalChica and Kimmaytube. I so love and appreciate the community and I’ve learned what my hair does, what it is, and how it thrives in a way that I really never understood before. I felt like I’d been given a key to a secret room and all the answers are in that room. It’s very empowering because you really are in your own little world trying to figure it out. To find this whole community of support and education and sharing information — it was refreshing.

CN: I see that you’ve been wearing your natural hair on the red carpet quite a bit. How has it been received?

KE: I’m extremely protective of my hair, so I don’t let them use it. In my last movie, they wanted to style my hair, and I said no. I’ll do wigs, but I don’t want the stress on my strands. There are too many people who don’t know how to take care of it, and I’d be bald by the end of the production. It’s too sensitive for the rigors of production.

As for your question, people love my natural hair. Certainly on the red carpet. They’re also excited to see natural hair out and wearing it and feeling free about it. I’ve received nothing but compliments and good feedback from just being myself.

CN: What’s your current routine and staple products?

KE: I went through the whole junkie phase and tried all types of things. Now I have a very simple routine. I spritz day and night with rosemary water I make myself. I get rosemary herbs from Whole Foods and boil them and let them sit overnight in purified water. Then, I’ll either use shea butter or coconut oil to seal in the moisture. And that’s it! Very simple.

I’m still trying to find the right shampoo because I’m very particular about products. I’m a vegan, I was a vegetarian for 13 years and just became a vegan. And I’m very particular about natural products, organic products, and that’s been like my biggest challenge. And, that’s why my routine is so simple because I am so selective.

Mostly I pre-poo with Aubrey Honey Suckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner or coconut oil. Then I was using the Giovanni to shampoo, but it wasn’t quite right for me. So I’m still searching there. And I find that that’s a part of it too — the journey to find what works.

My mom is on the journey with me. She’s been natural forever, but didn’t really know how to care for her hair. She grew up saying, “black girls don’t like water.”

We need water. We need to drink it and put it on our hair. So she’s really on this journey with me too. Things that don’t work for her might work for me, and vice versa. I’m still figuring out what’s best for me, which is why I don’t want to put a brand name out there.

On Sunday, I’ll shampoo and condition. It’s an all day thing. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I’m in a protective style. I have learned that with my hair, less is more, with as little manipulation as possible. I will wear a cute braid/twist/bantu knot style, a pretty scarf, a cute hat and always some sort of hair accessory that brings it all together. My hair grows very fast, over a 1/2 inch a month. Protective styles allow my hair to grow at it’s full potential, so when I do want to wear it out, it’s healthy and vibrant.

If I have something that I’m going to go to and I want to wear my hair out, that’s a special thing. I don’t just wear twist-outs and curl outs everyday.

So Sunday, I’ll do that and braid it, spritz it and put my silk scarf over it, or find a cute braid style that I can wear out. Come Wednesday, I’ll co-wash with Aubrey, and then do it again on Sunday. And in between, every morning and every night, I spritz with the rosemary water and seal with coconut oil.

For events, I’ll stretch my hair. I learned from GirlsLoveYourCurls about threading. So I stretch my hair and then very lightly spritz, and either twist it or roll it, and then finger it out and apply a little more coconut oil. And that’s how I got that look.

CN: I’ve seen pics of you with your daughter. She’s adorable! Does she love her natural hair too?

KE: My daughter is feeling more and more comfortable about her natural hair as she watches me embrace mine. What’s really amazing to me is that growing up, the pressure was, “When are you going to get your relaxer?” or, “When are you going to change what your natural hair is?” And you didn’t feel good unless it was pressed or somehow chemically processed.

My daughter is 12. She goes to school and the girls are all natural. And they’re teaching each other how to take care of their natural hair — really supporting each other in their natural hair. And these are 12-year-old black girls — all kinds of textures of hair — and they’re all natural!

No one uses any chemicals, and it’s a whole different world. My daughter comes home from school with a new technique that she learned from another girl about how to flat twist, or another moisturizer, and it’s beautiful. They’re learning from us as mothers, but they’re being very strongly influenced by their peers.

CN: Any words of encouragement for a newbie or a woman thinking of making the transition?

KE: It’s so incredibly personal. I definitely wouldn’t try to persuade someone because there is a lot of commitment that goes with it. But if a person is at a point where they’re sure that this is what they want to do, I’d say get as much education as you can even before you big chop! I recommend reading “The Science of Black Hair.”

Be patient with it, listen to it. What works for your sister may not work for you. It’s an exciting, magical process to watch your hair come to life and thrive. My mom is 73, and she said her hair is saying, “Finally!” It’s true, because your hair really will talk to you.

Surround yourself with a community of support. Not everyone will be supportive. There is still a lot of stigma against us with our natural hair — pressures to have it straight. It’s important to have a support group, even if it’s just strangers on the Internet. Have fun with it. Create some new styles and share them. It’s a magical journey, and it’s liberating. You can walk out in the rain and not worry about it… it’ll create a new fantastic hairdo!

CN: What’s the best thing about being curly?

KE: I love how my curly hair is such a personal expression of the woman I am — the woman God created. I get excited as I see it grow and grow and I see it as a direct reflection of my own growth into myself and accepting me as me. I find that though not everyone embraces my hair, most people do and they love to ask me about it and learn how I care for it, especially if they are struggling to understand their own hair.

I am always open to answer their questions and advise them as much as I can. They will start asking me about my movies and we always end up talking about hair care! I also find that people of other ethnicity’s really, really love our kinky, curly hair. They are always full of compliments and praise and simply can’t stop the flow of positive words about my big kinky curly hair. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate self and be celebrated by others who may be different from me. I love it!

Final Thoughts: What Projects Are You Working On?

KE: I just finished a really fun film… “Hannah’s Law,” a western with me, Danny Glover and Billy Zane. I had a blast creatively; it was a really fun experience. I played a cowgirl.

For that project, all my projects, I cornrow my hair and wear character appropriate wigs and that’s what I did for “Hannah’s Law.”