~*~*~*GPE's Featured Guest*~*~*~

MEET LAUREN!!

 Tell us about yourself?

My name is Lauren. I’m a Registered Nurse who loves the Lord, Jesus Christ.  I work at a hospital on the Oncology floor.

How long have you been natural?

I have been natural for about 4 years now

 How long did you transition before doing the big chop?

I transitioned for 1½- 2 years. While transitioning I big chopped my hair to my chin, which was a big change for me, and I continued to keep it around that length until it was all natural.

What were some of your struggles on your natural hair journey?

Some of my struggles were that I had never really done much with my relaxed hair so once I became natural I had to learn how to do my hair plus learn my hair.  I taught myself how to do my hair through YouTube and different websites and books.

Have you ever felt like you wanted to relax your hair again?  If so what changed your mind?

No I wouldn't torture my hair like that again.

What are some of your favorite products?  Or the products that you just can't live without?

I am kind of a PJ lol.  Giovanni's leave in conditioner, tea tree Conditioner and shampoo; Aubrey organics honeysuckle rose conditioner; and I make a Shea butter oil mixture that I use to seal my ends.

  What would you say your hair type is?  

My hair type is probably a 3c like "Mona" from the tv show Half and Half, lol! but I have some 4a in the back of my head.

 What do you do to retain length/ maintain the health of your hair?

In the past not much, but recently through research via YouTube, blogs, and books over the past maybe 4-5 months I have changed my hair routine. I stopped raking through my hair with brushes and combs and started more finger detangling and using wide tooth combs. I seal my ends with oil. I stopped using heat on my hair.

What is your regimen on wash days and nightly regimen?

I stopped using shampoo (sulfate free) as often and started co-washing with just conditioner more, I used to wash my hair almost every week, drying my already dry hair out. I actually haven't used shampoo in over a month.  I have just been using the curly girl method and using conditioner to wash my hair. I co-wash once a week or every 2 weeks depending on how long my style lasts.  At night I either sleep with a bonnet, or silk scarf on my head.  Usually I pineapple my hair at night to maintain my twist-outs, or wash and go's, or other curly styles that I don't want my curls to get smashed. I also cover my hair with my silk scarf and a bonnet on top to keep my hair and ends covered.

What advice would you give to fellow curly chicks that are on their natural hair journey?

Try to figure out your routine early in the game and stick with it.  Products can get expensive if you try to keep up with the latest natural products. Create goals for your hair, whether it is length, health, or whatever else. Take care of your hair and body; healthy hair should be the main goal!