Beauty of the Week: Lindsey Gene

Originally from the South West of England, Lindsey Gene created her blog, of the same name, to share her fashion, travel and natural hair tips. You’ll see from her blog that fashion and style comes naturally to her. Lindsey has appeared in the pages of Essence, Ebony, and Instyle Magazine as a plus size model and now works as a men’s apparel buyer, all whilst finishing grad school in the DMV area. Read on as Lindsey shares how she keeps those gorgeous curls poppin’.

1. Why did you go natural? How long have you been natural?

My deciding to go natural happened in phases in my senior year of high school, I was going through a phase of finding myself and wondering if I was doing certain things to “fit in” or were they my own decisions. The first nudge came when a group of classmates and I were taking a photo and my mind pondered of what that image looked like.

If you turned us all around, you could not tell us apart. All African American girls with chemically straighten hair, wearing white T-Shirts / Skinny pants, and the latest Jordans. In that moment, I did not want to just fit in the crowd.

The next nudge was after a typically Sunday night of washing, blow drying, and using a flat iron to achieve perfect straight hair. I touched my scalp and felt a bristling effect. At the time, I thought that it was weird, but proceeded to wrap my hair in a scarf. That bristle effect, was actually my hair being broken off down to the scalp!

I literally spent a whole day paying someone to spiral curl my hair when it already naturally curled by itself. I decided then to stop chemically straightening my hair…

The final nudge came when I went to my hair dresser and asked for a roller set. I wanted something different than just bone straight hair. So there I sat for hours in the salon for her to put all these tiny rollers in my hair to create perfect spiral curls. On top of that I was charged extra because I had “a lot of hair.”

I was on a Marshall’s cashier’s salary; “extra” was not in my budget. When I got home, I randomly saw a picture of myself when I was younger. Care free and guess what, I had curls!!!! That is when I wanted to slap myself. I literally spent a whole day paying someone to spiral curl my hair when it already naturally curled by itself. I decided then to stop chemically straightening my hair, and also stop bleaching it.

2. Can you summarize your current hair regimen?

Currently my hair regimen is pretty simple. On Sunday’s, I shampoo and condition my hair, followed by a deep conditioning session that I leave in for about an hour. I then wash the deep conditioner out and then add a little back for extra moisture.

Then I style my hair with a styling cream and a light defining gel for hold. I sit in front of my floor fan to dry my hair while catching up on my favorite shows that I missed during the week. Then I use a pick to create volume.

Since I workout 3-4 times a week, by Wednesday or Thursday my curls are in need of a quick cowash. I only use conditioner and let that sit in for about 5 minutes then wash it out. Then I add a bit of deep conditioner back to my hair for added moisture, and follow the same process as Sunday ( style, dry, and pick).

3. What are your staple hair products? Which could you not live without and why?!

I am a Deva Curl lover, their products just work for me! Their Decadence Shampoo and Conditioner, Deep Sea Repair Mask, Coconut Style Cream, and Light Gel are my staples.

I could not live without their Deep Sea Hair Mask because it truly infuses my curls with all the moisture it desires. Also their Coconut Style Cream is just perfect, somehow Deva Curl has created a product that is thick but doesn’t weigh down my hair!

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4. As a blogger do you feel pressure to always have your hair perfect?!

As a blogger I had moments where I thought, “Oooo, goodness my curls look horrid and now I have to go to this event or take pictures and everyone will notice!” Then I realized the following: There is no “perfect” way my curls should look and no one really notices the difference. Also it is literally just hair, and my energy that I give off is more important than anything.

5. What are your hair goals for the rest of 2018?

My hair goals for 2018 are really to keep it healthy and increase the length. I spent 2016 and 2017 trying out new looks, from cutting my hair into a bob, adding a bangs, adding in layers, and then finally highlighting my hair this past July. Now, it’s time to just let it be a grow wild and free!

6. Who is your celeb curl crush?

My celeb curl crush is Tracee Ellis Ross, there is literally no hairstyle this woman cannot pull off! I have loved her since she played Joan on “Girlfriends!”

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)?

My “Curls Understood” moment occurred a couple years ago when I read an article about how parabans and sulfates dry out curls. I looked at my products and realized they ALL had parabans and sulfates in them. No matter how well I washed, conditioned, or styled my hair I was always wondering why after a day or so my curls felt dry. That article was a game changer for me, and helped me realize products do matter.