Highly Textured

KATIE
Age 23
Grad Student
Miami, Florida

Describe the fabulousness of your hair.
Thick…I mean thick fro (the kind of thickness that deceives the novice braider and make the thought of pressing seems like suicide). It's tightly coiled and super kinky. And it gets tighter and tighter as it dries and as the week wears on.

What's your favorite thing about your hair?
It's wash 'n' go. Since I live in Miami I can fully enjoy the beach, swimming pools and nature without fear of what I will look like tomorrow. I can sweat my hair out at the club without the fear of the morning after look. Also, its thickness…no volumizing products for me.

What's your favorite style to rock?
Twist-outs and faux-hawks... honestly those are the only two styles I have (unless putting on a head band counts). Omg... I should do a faux hawk after a twist-out!

What's your favorite product? And why is it so great?
Kinky Curly Leave in Conditioner/Detangler. It really helps with the tangles. Anything that makes combing my extremely thick hair easier is a God-send. Oh and Miss Jessie's Curly Pudding and Buttercreme. Its makes my twist-outs sooo much better.

How long have you been natural? And how did you get there?
I did the big chop in March 2008 after three months of braids, though I had my last relaxer in August 2007. As a broke grad student in a new city and new bills, I figured going natural would save me time and money. I had punked out before because (black) guys love long straight hair and my hair was usually chin or shoulder length... even though I have forever been jealous of girls with natural hair. They always seemed more confident and fresh (that is probably a bit of projecting on my part, but whatever). At some point, I realized I had a relaxer and still no dates... so chopped it all off and said let's go.

How would you describe your hair's personality?
A little lazy and sneaky misleading. It's much softer and more manageable than people think. That's why people love to play in my hair and can't seem to stop themselves.

What have you learned about yourself or your hair?
Beauty is all about perspective. After the chop, I wished my entire head looked like my kitchen...go figure. After all those years of fighting the naps, I wanted full nappiness.

What has surprised you most?
How soft and nice my kinks are. And how fast my hair grew.

What are you still trying to learn?
Which products I should be using, and how to make it shine. Really ya'll, how do I make it shine?

And finally, tell us your favorite part about being natural.
Water is no longer my enemy. Freedom to be me, regardless of the weather report. And finally feeling as free and strong and confident as all those girl rocking those awesome and bold natural always seemed to me.


A favorite pic from the shorter days

On the beach, two days after the big chop

Friends playing in the hair

An attempt at the faux-hawk


Big drinks, big hair at Nellie's on U Street. :o)