NC: What are your favorite hairstyles to wear with your curls?
RA: I wear braids occasionally, usually when I have exams! But typically, I just rock updos. They are quick and easy, low-manipulation protective styles.
NC: What are your must-have products and tools?
RA: My favorite products are rhassoul clay, coconut oil, and shea butter. I need to have then somewhere in my routine! My favorite tools are my applicator bottle and wide tooth comb.
NC: What about your hairstylist?
RA: I don’t have a hair stylist. I do my hair myself, except I want to braid it. I believe that no one can take care of your hair better than you can. That being said, the woman who braids my hair is an excellent Yoruba lady that does exactly what I tell her…she she parts my hair with her fingers and remembers to spritz my hair with water before fixing my braids! She is awesome and really attentive to my hair.
NC: What do you do at nighttime for your hair?
RA: Before I go to bed (if my hair isn’t in a set style”>, I spray water and aloe vera juice on my hair, then seal in the moisture with an oil or butter, twist it in sections and finally, wrap it in a satin cap. If my hair is already in 100% protective style braids, I just wrap it in a satin cap and hop into bed.
NC: What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural?
RA: A few of my friends had already gone natural, so it wasn’t a big deal. But I always got lots of weird looks at salons. Every time I walked through the door, I would hear, “Do you want to relax it?” before I even opened my mouth! My favorite comment was from a male friend of mine, who said, “You think this is hair?! Relax it!”
NC: Did you big chop or transition?
RA: I big chopped. In the beginning, I kept my hair in braids a lot because I had no idea how to style it! I thought the only way my hair could look nice was in a braid or weave; I didn’t realize that my own hair could be beautiful without extensions. I initially thought it was childish to have your natural out because in my country, only a high school girl or a child would have natural hair.
