Girl Behind the Curl : : Meet Dana!

Meet Dana! She’s a long-time natural, check out her interview below :o)

Introduction : : Do share a little about yourself!

My name is Dana. I currently live in Maryland and work for the government. I am getting married this fall, and am looking forward to becoming a “Mrs.” :-) I have been natural for almost 10 years now. In that time I have learned a lot – a lot about how to choose the right products for my hair type, and how to care for and grow healthy natural hair without the help of a stylist. I enjoy makeup and have even done makeup for girls going on prom and other special events.

In the beginning : : What inspired you to go embrace your natural-ness? OR If you’ve been natural since forever, what inspired you to never get a perm?

I was inspired by the women I saw that embraced their natural hair. I loved the versatility they demonstrated in their different hair styles, and it made me wonder, what does my natural hair look like?! So, at the beginning of my senior year in high school, I cut all my permed hair off and started completely over. Some people thought I was crazy, but I didn’t care – I loved my TWA (teeny weeny afro)! Now, I enjoy being natural because I can do so much with my hair – twists, twist outs, afro puffs, and if I want to wear it straight I do that, too!

Your uniqueness : : How would describe your hair and how do you like to wear/style your hair daily? i.e. wash-n-go’s, twists, straight, protective styles, etc.

I would describe my hair as type 4A/4B – lots of tiny, tight coils ranging in width from the size of a pencil and smaller. Typically, I wear two strand twists because they are very easy to manage, and when I get tired of them I can take them down and wear a twist out style. I also add colorful headbands and barrettes to add a little flair!

Choosing favorites : : What are some fav products you can’t live without or would recommend to someone else? How do you use them?

My favorite product is currently the Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-in Conditioner. It makes detangling so much easier. When I wash my hair, I separate it into four sections. I apply a moderate amount of Knot Today to each section right before I detangle. It makes my hair easy to comb through, provides great slip and leaves my hair feeling moisturized. If I could only use one product for the rest of my life, it would be this one!

I also use the Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and Deep Treatment Masque. They are reasonably priced ($10 each at Target) and last for a while.

Drop some knowledge : : Do you have an awesome hair practice/technique you’ve learned and wouldn’t mind sharing? OR is there something you’d like to learn more about?

If you have thick hair or long hair (or both), separate your hair into at least 4 sections when washing. I take the four sections and put them into four small ponytails, then wash, detangle and condition them one at a time. I wash my hair once a week, and this method has made detangling much easier. I also keep my hair moisturized by spritzing it with a little water every morning before styling.