Let's explore coily and curly hair from a fresh perspective, through the hair journeys of women just like you and me. I scoured the web to find individuals willing to share their experiences in an interview.
Let me introduce you to my first guest: Mademoiselle Verow, a young woman with long kinky hair who has been living in London for a few months as an au pair. With her Martinican origins and mixed heritage from her "béké" grandfather, she inherited multi-textured hair, a bit of 3C, 4A, and 4B.
She has been interested in natural kinky hair care since 2010. In 2011, she took the plunge and performed her big chop after coming home from school, leaving only 1 to 2 cm of hair...her hair journey began...
The first year was intensive, and the budget for hair products exploded! Verow alternated protective hairstyles and homemade product manufacturing...
In 2013, the desire to inform and share her experience became strong, and for that, she chose the YouTube platform, creating her channel to post her homemade recipes....
Interview
Why did you choose to go back to natural?
My mother used to take care of my hair when I was younger; she was gentle with it. But the need to take care of it myself arose when I started middle school. I got my first relaxer around 13/14 years old, believing it would be easier to maintain, but the consequence was length loss. In high school, I had a major rethink; I realized by looking at old photos of myself as a child that my hair was long when natural...hence my decision.
Did you encounter any difficulties in your hair journey?
A bit of teasing from those around me, but it was short-lived; they quickly got used to it. I even convinced some of my cousins to go back to natural. I'm currently experiencing the most difficult period; my hair habits have changed since I've been living abroad, and I spend less time on my hair. One might think that London is a paradise for kinky hair, but no, the Afro hair market is no more advanced than in Paris. There are even fewer stores, so it's harder to get products.
What is your hair routine?
Since I've been in London, my routine has been simplified. I wash my hair once a week. A deep mask once a month. My go-to products are Shea Moisture and Jamaican Black Castor.
How do you style your hair daily?
I do styles without extensions that I keep for a week and a half, such as braids, twists, buns, braid-outs, or updos.
Do you ever entrust your hair to a hairdresser?
Once, here in England, I came across a hair salon that offers services for kinky hair in its natural state. So I made an appointment for December 31st. I'm happy with the result; the hairdresser treated my hair well, blow dry + straightening, perfect! I should mention that the hairdresser was white, which is quite rare in France. It delights me to find hair professionals who can style all hair types. The next time I go there, it will be for a treatment!
Do you have any hair icons?
The one I've been following since the beginning is Naptural85; I love her.
I watch more videos from American vloggers than French ones. In France, I really like Beautiful Naturelle's videos; she has a soft voice, and her videos are very well made.
What advice would you give to those starting their hair journey?
You have to persist! The most difficult part is staying natural, especially when you struggle to vary hairstyles and manage length.
It's not easier to relax your hair; maintenance requires even more attention. Enjoy experimenting with hairstyles, with or without extensions, weaves, or other embellishments; you can be natural and wear a weave. The most important thing is to know your hair well.
What do you think of the current Afro hair market?
It has evolved well, but there's still a lot to do. I wish there were more natural products in supermarkets at reasonable prices.
Thank you to Ms. Verow!
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