When we first spotted AnnMarie’s curls they made us smile! Known as Cool Calm Curly on her social media sites, AnnMarie’s bouncy curls with golden tips are the epitome of natural hair health. She graciously agreed to spill the tea on how she keeps her in great condition.
1. Why did you go natural? How long have you been natural?
I’ve been natural for the past two years. At first I went natural because I had a severe eczema breakout on my scalp so of course continuing to perm it was not an option.
After I grew out my perm I still decided to straighten it every week until one day I just wanted to be in control of my own hair. I didn’t want to continue to go to someone else who hardly knew anything about my hair or even cared about my hair.
When you’re sitting in a salon with 10 other women sitting behind you their main concern is getting everything done, your hair is not priority. Them getting you out of their chair is priority and I just decided to take control.
2. Can you summarize your current hair regimen?
My current hair routine consists of me shampooing, deep conditioning and styling once a week. Now that the summer months are approaching I incorporate mid week co-washing. So in between my weekly shampoos & deep conditions I’ll co-wash once or twice during the week.
3. What are your staple hair products? Which could you not live without and why?!
My staple hair products would definitely be my Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner, Kinky Curly Knot-Today Leave in, As I Am co-wash along with my Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Deep Treatment Masque.
If I had to choose I could not..absolutely not live without my Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner! It’s the only product I’ve ever tried that can be used completely on its own! I literally do not have to pair it with anything else, no matter what style I’m doing I can use the restorative conditioner by itself and get moisture for days and tons of definition!
SHOP THE PRODUCTS
4. What hairstyle are you loving right now?
Lately I’ve been loving my wash & go! I recently grew out all of my heat damage and since then my wash & go’s just look so much better and so much healthier and I’m slowly becoming a little addicted!
5. What are your hair goals for 2016?
My 2016 hair goal is to reach waist length! I’m literally like right right there I just need maybe an inch and a half to go!
6. Who is your celeb curl crush?
My celeb hair crush hands-down is SZA! She is beyond gorgeous and like myself she also dealt with a medical condition that effected her hair growth. When I saw her my first thought was “if she can overcome her condition and grow such a massive beautiful mane then so can I.”
7. 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)?
Throughout my 2 year hair journey I feel like I had this hair epiphany twice. My first curls understood moment was a few months into my journey when I realized my hair was growing quicker than it has ever before so I thought to myself “OK it’s growing so you’re doing something right!”
I still had heat damage so my second Curls Understood moment just hit me recently when I was able to achieve a bomb wash & go. It took me about the past year and a half to gradually grow out my heat damage and be able to have a beautiful wash & go so when that third day came and I took my bonnet off and my curls were still intact I was like ah-ha I’ve mastered the art of my hair! I finally got it!
To all my fellow naturalistas who are thinking about going natural or who just started their journey, my advice to you is patience is key! You’re not going to see a change instantly and sometimes that can be very discouraging because you feel like you’re not making any progress but your hair takes time.
Like I mentioned before, it took me a whole year and a half just to be able to have a decent looking wash & go so you need to be patient, you need to give your hair time. Be patient. Be good to your hair & your hair will be good to you!
See more of AnnMarie//Cool Calm Curly…
Instagram: @coolcalmcurly
YouTube: Cool Calm Curly
Facebook: Cool Calm Curly
