Naturally Fierce Feature: Dee AKA LuvYourMane

My name is Dee, I live in Ottawa Canada. I run a blog called luvyourmane which is aimed at Black women. I created LYM when I just went natural and was on tumblr, pinterest, etc looking up hairspirations (as I like to call them) I would spend all night online, looking up hairstyles, tips, videos, etc. I started saving these pics on my computer to go over later and then decided to start a tumblr blog too so that I could share my faves. I brought LYM to Instagram in September of last year. I love natural hair and I’m learning a lot through my blog and other natural hair blogs and vlogs as well.

How long have you been natural?
I did my big chop in March of 2012. I tried transitioning for about 6 months but couldn’t take the different textures and didn’t know much about protective styling and products.

What motivated you to transition? Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper& why?

I have never been a fan of wigs, weaves, etc but did it because it was the only way to not have to deal with my own natural hair. About 2 years before I started transitioning, I cut my hair and just wore it out in different styles (lots of heat and relaxing every 3-5 weeks to keep it “laid”) I was a big chopper because I wanted to learn about my natural hair from the bottom up. I’m glad I did.

What has been the most memorable part of your journey?Has it been easy or difficult or both?!
It’s been both and right now I’m at that stagnant stage as my hair is almost out of twa stage but not long enough to style easily and quickly so I just wear it out in fros, frohawks, semi puffs and sometimes braidouts. When I just did my BC, my hair was really dry and I realized later on that I wasn’t using the right products. I watched a lot of Youtube videos and became a product junkie and instead of just paying attention to my hair, I paid attention to everyone else’s hair regimens. I use a few products now and do less to it. It’s growing nicely and I don’t find it difficult to deal with.

What were some of your favorite transitioning hairstyles and current dos’?
I did a lot of coilouts in my early twa stages, chunky twistouts and right now I do a lot of frohawks and puffs.

Any memorable reactions from family or others since going natural?

I remember my mom said “did you cut your hair because you’re a broke student who can’t afford to do her hair?” Lol. My dad called me his son for a couple of months until my hair started growing in. I did a lot of explaining to family and friends when I just went natural but then once I was comfortable in it, I decided I didn’t have to explain myself or convince people to accept my decision. I just told them I felt comfortable wearing my own hair now.

What is your hair regimen (including fav products)?

SheaMoisture products are my go to styling products, especially the curl enhancing smoothie. Tresemme Naturals silicone free conditioner with coconut and jojoba oil is my all time favourite conditioner. It smells good and leaves my hair feeling soft. I have a mixture of the conditioner, grapeseed oil and water in a little spray bottle that I use to moisturize my hair before bed and in the morning. I deep condition once a week or sometimes every other week with a mixture of sheamoisture’s deep treatment masque, tresemme conditioner, honey, castor oil and coconut oil. My hot oil treatments include castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and argon oil and I do that at least once a month. I always use coconut oil to seal in the moisture after styling.

What are some of your favorite natural hair websites,YouTuber’s, or blogs? luvyourmane.tumblr.com, curlynikki.com, blackgirllonghair.com, tarenguy htttp://www.youtube.com/tarenguy, Ahsiek1118 http://www.youtube.com/ahsiek1118

Naptural85 http://www.youtube.com/naptural85
MyNaturalSistas http://www.youtube.com/mynaturalsistas
HeyFranHey http://www.youtube.com/heyfranhey

MahoganyCurls http://www.youtube.com/mahoganycurls

Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?
Just embrace your natural hair and stop listening to the negative comments. Listen to your hair to see what it really likes and what works best for it. Try not to watch too many different vloggers; just find maybe one or two and stick to them. I remember when I just went natural, I spent hours on youtube watching different videos and spent lots of money on different products that the different vloggers recommended. It was confusing and slightly depressing especially when the products recommended by some didn’t work as well on me as it had done for them. I’ve found the few whose advice I value and follow and I’m sticking with them for now. Don’t do too much, the point of it all is to have natural, healthy hair. It’s not a competition or a race. Just enjoy the journey.

Where can people find you for more information?
follow my tumblr blog: luvyourmane.tumblr.com, luvyourmane on IG, twitter and pinterest, www.facebook.com/justluvyourmane