There’s nothing like a good hair crush to inspire you along your natural hair journey and we have a major one on Kinky/4c natural Tae’Lor. Every now and then a breathtaking photo of her fabulous curly mane will pop-up in our Instagram timeline (@Queen_Taelor) and we just had to find out more on this amazing fro. So in the name of investigative journalism we reached out to Tae’Lor and asked her to break down her hair care routine to us!
1. Why did you go natural (assuming you haven’t always been natural)? How long have you been natural?
My best friend actually motivated me to go natural. She had recently gone natural as well and she kept telling me “just think about your hair’s potential.” It wasn’t easy, having to get used to doing my own hair but after 4 years without a relaxer, I think I have been doing a pretty decent job.
2. Can you summarize your current hair regimen?
My co-wash/wash-day for me occurs every 4-7 days. I shampoo my hair twice with Tresemme and then use the Organix to condition and easily detangle it. I often let the conditioner sit for about 10 minutes just to make sure it is properly moisturized. After rinsing, I rub coconut oil throughout my hair before styling my go-to twist out. Most of the time I let my hair air dry over night and may use olive oil to add shine and moisture when I take out the twists.
3. What are your staple hair products?
My absolute favorite shampoo is Tresemme Naturals. It is super inexpensive and softens my hair as I wash. I also use any conditioner by Organix, preferably, B5. When doing something as basic as a twist out, I regularly use organic coconut oil, Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Anti-Breakage Super Softening Hair Butter or Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioner for a soft fluffy finish.
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4 What are your favorite hairstyles?
My go-to hairstyles are both a chunky twist out and a high puff; that’s my usual when I am feeling lazy. I also will often do a dry perm-rod set on an old twist out. The curls always come out fluffy and will last at least four days before my next washday. For special occasions, I definitely rely on my perm rods.
5. What was the last compliment you received about your hair?!
I recently got asked “how many times do people tell you they like your hair in a day?” I get it very often. The most recent compliment that stood out was when a girl walked up to me and said “girl, take that hair off your head and give it to me!”
6. For many naturals it’s a journey to fully understand their hair. It’s a process of trial and error. What was your “Curls Understood™” moment (the moment you felt like, “I’ve got this!” or any essential advice you wish you had known at the beginning of your hair journey)?
When I first dyed my hair red, I struggled so much that I just started cutting inches off at a time. I wanted the hair gone because it was so dry and I didn’t want to deal with it anymore. After a while, I figured I should at least try to enjoy the color and let it grow out gradually. I eventually learned to take care of my hair and found a reliable deep conditioner that helped me manage the dryness.
Now that the dry colored hair is officially all grown out, I still use the products I was using while it was colored to ensure that my curls shiny and moist at all times.
See more of Tae’Lor…
Instagram: @Queen_Taelor
