Those
interested in growing long, healthy hair may have heard of the blogs Hair De La
Crème and Diva Locks. The bloggers, Tommie and Tiffany respectively, are both
African American women who challenge the belief that African American women
cannot grow long, healthy hair. They have joined a healthy hair journey many
other African Americans have partaken. In their interviews they explain how
starting their journeys changed themselves, how they view African American
women, and how they view their own hair.
Tiffany
started the blog Diva Locks, in which she showcases her various hairstyles for
her daughter, who she refers to as “the diva”, as well as their regimes and
their hair journeys.
Why did you decide to start your hair journey?
I
decided to start my journey because I wanted to see how long I could grow my
natural hair. I have always gotten bored easily with my hair, so I would often
cut or dye it every few months.
What are the advantages and disadvantages
of your journey?
The
advantage is I have healthier, shiner hair that is retaining length. The disadvantage
of my journey is probably cost, and I find myself buying more expensive
products than I did in the past.
How did you first go about gathering
information about how to take care of your hair?
I
first started searching for children's hairstyles for my daughter and that
opened a whole new world with tons of websites and blogs dedicated to natural
hair.
Have starting your hair journey change previous
views you had on African American woman and long hair?
I
would say that is has. I now know and realize that African American woman can
have long healthy waist and hip length hair without the use of weaves, extensions,
or wigs.
If you have any, what are
your inspirations and motivations to continue your hair journey?
My
inspirations for continuing my hair journey are all the wonderful natural women
out there as well as my daughter. I want to show her that our hair in its
natural state is beautiful no matter what others think or say.
What is your regime?
My
regime:
Daily:
·
I moisturize my hair with my homemade
Leave-In Conditioner Mix (distilled water, VO5 conditioner, EVOO) and I seal
with Darcy's Botanical Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Natural Hair Conditioning
Oil or African Royale Hot Six Oil during the summer months and during the
winter months I seal with a heavy butter
·
I sleep with a satin bonnet
Weekly:
·
I wash my hair once a week with Proclaim
Olive Glossing Shampoo & Conditioner
·
I finger detangle, then detangle with a wide
tooth comb while the conditioner is still in then smooth with my Conair Brush
·
Apply Giovanni Direct Leave In Conditioner
after wash & conditioning
·
I co-wash twice a week using VO5 Moisture Milks
and EVOO mixed in or Suave Almond Shea Butter
Monthly:
·
Hot Oil Treatment using African Royale Hot Six
Oil
·
Clarify my hair once a month using
Elucence Volume Clarifying Shampoo
·
Deep Condition using Komaza Care Olive Moisture
Mask with a plastic cap for one hour
My daughter’s regime:
Daily:
·
I moisturize the diva's hair with my homemade
Leave-In Conditioner Mix (distilled water, VO5 conditioner, EVOO) or with
Komaza Care Califia Moisturizing Spray and I seal with Darcy's Botanical
Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Natural Hair Conditioning Oil or African Royale
Hot Six Oil
·
She sleeps with a satin bonnet
Weekly:
·
I wash the diva's hair once a week using
Proclaim Olive Glossing Shampoo & Conditioner
·
I finger detangle, then detangle her hair while
the conditioner is in using a wide tooth comb, then smooth with my Conair Brush
·
Apply Giovanni Direct Leave In Conditioner after
washing & conditioning
·
I band her hair after every wash in 4-6
sections
Monthly:
·
I clarify her hair once a month using Elucence
Volume Clarifying Shampoo
·
Deep Condition using Komaza Care Olive Moisture
Mask with a plastic cap for an hour
·
Hot Oil Treatment using African Royale Hot Six
Oil
·
I dust her ends very 8 weeks
Styling
Aids:
Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter
Le Tolanoil Hair Care Creme
Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel
ORS Lock & Twist Gel
Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter
Le Tolanoil Hair Care Creme
Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel
ORS Lock & Twist Gel
Have your regime changed over the course of
your journey and if so how come?
The
only thing that changes is what products I use; I sometimes switch things up
and try new products.
How can someone who is interested in having
healthy, long hair go about gathering information on taking care of their hair?
What are the best resources?
I
would say do your research, there are various books and websites that can help
you on your journey, also if having long hair is not your goal you can still
strive to have healthy hair :)
I
would say the best resources for me are YouTube and Long Hair Care Forum.
Why did you start your blog?
I
started my blog as a way to document our hair journey and styles, and it sort
of evolved to include my other interests such as fashion, beauty, and DIY
crafts.
How did starting your hair journey affect how
you viewed your daughter and her hair? How does she feel about the hair
journey?
Our
hair journey has allowed us to bond more, we enjoy hair time, from picking out
and discussing what styles she wants next in her hair to just catching up on
our daily lives while I am styling her hair. She loves it! She gets so excited
when she thinks of a new style or I surprise her with one I thought of. Don't
forget to check out my blog for more information and tips & tricks www.divalocks10.com
Pictured Above: "The Diva"
Pictured Below: Tiffany
The blogger behind the blog and YouTube channel
called Hair De La Crème, Tommie, also gave insight into her hair journey and
the reason behind it.
Why did
you decide to start your hair journey?
In
December 2008. Growing up, I've always had short neck length hair. Everything I
tried to do to make it grow didn't seem to work. My hair kept breaking. After I
ended a 4 year relationship in 2007 I decided to try something different and go
short. After I saw her cut I made my mind up and decided that since I couldn't
grow my hair that I was going to keep it short. One day a co-worker of mine
asked me about my cut and asked if I co-washed. I was so confused. I asked what
co-washing was and she then put me on to Lonhaircareforum.com. Let me tell
you...as soon as I go to my desk I looked up the site and that's where my journey
began. I decided that I would follow the tips these girls are sharing, see how
long my hair can grow and never looked back
What are
the advantages and disadvantages of your journey?
Advantage
is seeing the fruits of your labor. I remember having a weave in my hair for a
few months. I haven't seen my hair in a while. A few weeks later I relaxed my
hair and when I looked in the mirror cried because (at that time) my hair got
so long. It grew past neck length. I was so excited to see that my hair can and
is growing. The disadvantage is that I spent sooo much money testing out
products to see what works and what doesn't.
How did
you first go about gathering information about how to take care of your hair?
http://www.longhaircareforum.com.
This site is beneficial (in my opinion) to anyone who has tried their best to
grow their hair and needs support, help and tips from ladies that has once been
in your seat. I've learned things from protein overload, stretching your
relaxers, moisturizing and sealing, etc.
Have
starting your hair journey change previous views you had on African American
woman and long hair?
Heck yea! People believe that the only way an African
American woman can have long hair is 1.) It's a weave or 2.) She's mixed. NOT
TRUE! It's all about how you take care of the hair on your head. Because I now
understand the science of growing healthy hair, I get upset at AA (African
American) women that say "My hair isn’t growing or can't grow" This
is a crazy myth that has been embedded into our heads.
If you
have any, what are your inspirations and motivations to continue your hair
journey?
My inspiration is Ediese. She's a fellow member on
Longhaircareforum.com. She started off like me, consistently wearing weaves to
hide the damage underneath. The beginning of her journey looks like the
beginning of mine. Ediese is now natural and her hair is full waist length.
What has helped her throughout her journey was weaves. Just like me. Check out
Ediese's hair journey here: http://public.fotki.com/Ediese/comparison-shots-1/comparison-shots/20071128181140comparison.html
What is
your regime (if you are comfortable with sharing it)? Have your regime changed
over the course of your journey and if so how come?
My new
regimen is
·
Apply
Amla Oil to hair for 1 hr with 2 wool hats
·
Rinse
and Shampoo with a moisturizing shampoo
·
Rinse
and Deep Condition (under heat) with ORS Replenishing Conditioner for 45
minutes
·
Rinse
and apply a moisturizing conditioner like Aussie Moist Conditioner or VO5's
Moisture Milks
·
Moisturize
with Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Moisturizer, seal with Extra Virgin
Coconut Oil and oil my scalp with Jamaican Black Castor Oil
·
Take my
Nioxin Intensive Therapy Recharging Complex Vitamins daily
·
Drink
at least 4 glasses of water daily.
·
I
rarely apply heat to my hair
·
Weave
my hair for 2 months, take one for two weeks, keep my hair in a bun until i
weave again
·
Apply a
hardcore protein treatment to my hair every 8 weeks
·
Relax
twice a year.
·
Trim
after every relaxer process
My
regimen used to be so intense. I put too much products in my hair and just went
crazy following everyone's regimen. This method did not work for my hair. So i
kept it simple. Continued to use the products that works with my hair and
listened to my hair when it told me when some products I used was garbage.
How can someone who is interested in having healthy, long hair go about gathering information on taking care of their hair? What are the best resources?
I would suggest checking out Longhaircareforum for
health and growth, Blackhairmedia.com for weave tips and hair growth and
YouTube for ideas.
I
have a YouTube page you guys can check out!
You can
also check out Tommie’s blog at
Check out Tommie's Progress!
thanks for using me for your site. Much success in your hair journey and blog :-*
ReplyDeleteawwe thanks! and thank you for allowing the interview(:
ReplyDelete