PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANNON BOODRAM
The wonderful thing about curls is they are just as diverse and multi-faceted as their owner. Our hair can tell you pretty much everything from what kind of morning we had to what kind of night we are planning… It’s a gift and a curse, really because just like we need to reinvent ourselves with time that same consideration must be given to our hair. This year I definitely reached that place of consideration where a lot had to change in my life as a woman from where I lived to what I dreamed of.
Moving to Los Angeles with a renewed sense of focus I decided to embark on a journey not just to be my best self but my best womanly self. How do I utilize all of the tools God has given me, both inside and out to get the most out of life? Many women celebrate their coming of age by stripping off their clothes and cutting their hair off but I decided to go a different route and chase sensuality rather than sexuality.
So step one?
Because I am a curly girl you know it was changing up my hair girl! Often with coils/ curls/ kink we have to focus so heavily on health, hydration and manageability looking hot can take a backseat. So to help me on this quest I wanted to find the best and as the saying goes, when in Rome do as! If I was going to be in LA I had to take advantage and approach the internationally-adored “curl doctor” Shai Amiel.
Shai is no stranger to NaturallyCurly.com or any hair-enthusiast forum for that matter with decades of experience specializing in cutting curly hair he has earned a massive reputation for revitalizing women’s pattern potential. So with all of the expectations in the world I called and asked for not just an appointment, but also the ability to film it to share on my channel and this site.
“Yes,” said an out-of-breath sounding Shai. “But once I take my scissors out the cameras go off. I don’t like to feel like I have to perform for a camera, I just want to focus on my art.”
After we negotiated the terms a little better I was sent back to the receptionist to schedule a date.
“His first opening isn’t for three weeks, should I put you in for then.”
Well that just took the wind right out of my sails. You know when you’re ready to do something you just wanna…well do it! So reluctantly I agreed to put my makeover on hold but luckily days later someone cancelled and my number was up.
I arrived at my appointment for Shai eight minutes late, which is about 80 minutes too early at the usual salons I go to but was surprised to see him waiting for me – ready. I wish I actually had a little more time to sitdown and process the space I was in, which was more spectacular than I had imagined. No disrespect to my roots but I’ve gotten my hair done in everything from an unfinished basement to the back-section of a restaurant . Not that I’ve minded, I don’t really care what the place looks like, I am more focused on how my hair is gonna look when all is said and done. But in hindsight, it was great to start my sensual new year in a gorgeous, professional and modern environment that oozed success.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted done, I just knew I wanted to look and feel a lot hotter. Shai assessed my hair like a doctor and although he wasn’t in agreement with my past decision to texturize or my heavy reliance on extensions, he said I was in pretty good shape. We did a major shape restructure and I agreed to add some color but only to my extensions since I am deathly afraid of double-processing (maybe someone out there can give assurance?”>.
MORE FROM SHANNON: Why I Revolt Against the Natural Hair Movement
