NC: What are your must-have products and tools?
KG: I’m currently working my way through a gallon of Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner. I literally use handfuls each time I shower, so buying in bulk makes the most sense. I love this conditioner because it’s thick, smells amazing, and moisturizes my hair like crazy!
I also swear by Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel. It leaves my curls defined, frizz-free, and soft. And as far as cleansers go, I’m okay with anything that doesn’t have sulfates. Since I only cleanse my scalp with it, I just look for a moisturizing cleanser like Devacurl Low-Poo. Sometimes I skip the shampoo altogether and cleanse my scalp with a combination of grapeseed oil and tea tree oil.
The only “tools” I need are a wide tooth comb and an old cotton t-shirt to dry my hair.
NC: What are your favorite hairstyles to wear with your curls?
KG: Nothing beats wearing my hair loose, wild and crazy! The bigger, the better! But I do have to braid my hair when I workout or run and on days when my hair is especially uncooperative, I’ll throw it up in a messy bun on top of my head.
NC: What do you do at nighttime for your hair?
KG: I just loosely throw my hair up in a bun on top of my head (or pineappling, as some of you may know it”> using a soft scrunchie and I sleep on a satin pillowcase. Super simple, yet effective.
NC: What about your hair stylist?
KG: I absolutely adore my stylist. She is trained to cut curls using the Devacut method—she cuts my hair while it is dry, paying careful attention to how my curls fall.
NC: What reaction did you get when you first decided to go natural?
KG: Shock. Most of my friends had no idea that my hair was curly. But everybody was supportive and the change was definitely welcomed. My hair looked awful for the first couple of months, so their encouragement really helped me embrace the change, especially when I desperately wanted to straighten out my frizzy and unruly hair. I know some people who would have my head on a platter if I ever went back to flat ironing my hair. My curls are a part of who I am now, and I’m so glad to have such a supportive group of friends and family to remind me of that!
NC: What was the transition like? Did you have any curly girl insecurities?
KG: I’d say my hair looked like a soggy rat nest for the first two months or so. I constantly wanted to give up and felt hopeless. I felt really insecure and had my hair up in a bun every day. I hated it and yearned to straighten it again. But I’m so glad I stuck with it. This has been one of the best changes of my life!
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