Featured Natural: Inesa

 PC: What is your name, age, and how long have you been natural?

I: Name - Inesa Conley, 33, been natural for about 10 yrs now, but never wore my hair in it's natural splendor.

PC: Why did you decide to go natural?

I: I decided to wear my hair in it's natural state because I was tired of trying to keep it straight, and look like everyone on TV, and it just burned my hair out and damaged it when I tried to straighten it every day with a pressing comb and flat iron, then the curling iron off of the stove. Yikes!

PC: How do you feel about your hair?

I: I love my hair and it's texture, it is teaching me patience and how to appreciate the way that God made me. 


PC: What products do you use?

I: The only products that I use in my hair are the Shea Moisture line (Moisture Retention Shampoo, Restorative Conditioner which is also my leave in conditioner, and the Curl Enhancing Smoothie). For sealing my ends I use Jamaican Black castor oil and African Shea butter. My hair sucks light oils up, such as the coconut oil, so I need heavy oils and butters. For styling, I use my own twist and define butter that I make which has a great hold to it and keeps the hair moisturized. Made from 100% all natural oils, butters and ingredients.

I really do not like to use any type of gel, because it dries my hair out, except for the Shea Moisture Curling Souffle. I don't use it that often, but it is a good alternative to gel and helps with shrinkage.

PC: What is your hair care routine?

I: 95% of the time I pre-poo with Jamaican Black Castor oil, Coconut oil, Jojoba oil, Grape seed oil and raw African Shea butter over night. If I am in a rush then I will only pre-poo for 1 hour, but my hair prefers over night. When I do that, I don't really need to wash in sections and it minimizes my detangling session. So I just wash with Shampoo, then conditioner and detangle. After detangling a section, I will two strand twist it, cover my hair with a plastic bag, and condition for 30 minutes in the twists. I then rinse my hair. You can leave in some of the conditioner.

Then I clip up the twists in sections and begin my pampering session. I start with the ends of my hair and apply my leave-in conditioner working my way up to the root while finger detangling. Then I will seal the moisture in with the JBCO and re-twist, moving all around head until complete. Now it is set for styling.

W hen styling I will apply the Smoothie first, then my twist & define butter unless I am wearing my Afro, then I will just apply the smoothie and then the Shea butter. 



PC: What are your favorite hairstyles?

I: My favorite hairstyle is my Afro, I love to let my hair out to be free. Especially in the rain. It loves the rain, so all I do is throw some JBCO in my hair when it is raining and my hair loves it. It stays soft all day long. I also love to wear protective styles, such as kinky twists and flat twists so that my ends are hidden and it is less manipulation for me and my ends.

 

PC: What has been the hardest part of your natural hair journey?

I: The hardest part of my journey has been accepting other black women and men looking at me like I am crazy for wearing my hair in it's natural state, and not responding to it. I have had to learn that not everyone accepts kinky Afro textured hair in it's natural state and not to feed into the ignorance.

PC: What was your proudest natural moment?

I: My proudest natural moment is when I started my own blog to help other women with our hair texture learn how to care for it and to grow it healthily and naturally.

PC: What tips/suggestions do you have for other naturals?

I: My natural hair tip is to moisturize the hair starting with your ends. Always focus on the ends of the hair, it is the oldest part. We can never over moisturize our hair texture with a water-based moisturizer.




Wow, Inesa's tresses are so lush! Great tips as well! Thanks so much for sending your feature in! Be sure to check out Inesa's blog, 4C Natural Hair!