Naturally Fierce Feature: Tiffany

1. Tell is about yourself.

I’m Tiffany. I am 26 years old. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA. I am a mother of one, soon to be mother of two under two, wife, blogger, and a hair stylist. My YouTube channel [Tiffani Renae] document my journey as a “naturalista” as well as my love for hair.

2. How long have you been natural?

I have been completely natural since 2009.

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

I have always loved to try different things with my hair. Coming across YouTube videos of other ladies going natural with their hair I decided to experiment with my own. I don’t remember exactly when or how long I transitioned. Unfortunately, all of my documentation was lost. I just remember chopping my hair off one day. I wasn’t comfortable with wearing my hair out with my short cut so I wore weaves and wigs until it grew out to shoulder length. I also experimented with a texturizer during that time and realized that it was similar to a relaxer. I eventually cut my hair again to get rid of the texturizer and have been natural since (with the exception of hair color). I have cut my hair a few more times due to heat damage. My last cut was August 2013. No, I do not plan to cut my hair again. At least not until I reach my goal which is waist length:)

4. How would you describe your hair?

I would describe my hair as “kinky curly.” My hair is curly but it is also very textured. Some would describe my hair type as 3c/4a.

5. What do you love most about your hair?

I love that I can wake up, spritz water on my hair, and go about my day. Being a mother of a one year old, I don’t hair a lot of time to style my hair  (or barely apply makeup for that matter) so only having to put effort into styling my hair once every 1-2 weeks (yes sometimes I will go two weeks on a wash and go depending on how busy my schedule gets) works great for me.

6. What has been the most memorable part of your journey?Has it been easy or difficult or both?!

I would have to say the most memorable part of my journey has been experimenting with color. I colored my hair for the first time since being natural August of last year. Since then, I have notice my ends slitting a lot in the area that has been colored (bleached). I really don’t want to have to cut that part of my hair (front mid-section), but I may just have to let some length go.

7. What were some of your favorite transitioning hairstyles?

As I transitioned, I wore wigs a lot which was very convenient. I was able to braid my hair down and apply my wig for an easy go to style. This allowed my hair to rest from excessive manipulation due to daily styling which can cause a lot of damage. My hair grew tremendously. One thing I do regret is not actually “caring” for my hair as I wore the wigs. I would just throw the wig on and pretty much forget about my hair for weeks at a time which left me with thin brittle hair.

8. What have your experiences been as a ‘natural?’ Any memorable reactions from family or others?

My experiences are different now from when I first decided to go natural years ago. When I first went natural and actually started to wear my hair out in its natural state my experiences weren’t so good. During that time I really didn’t know what I was doing and it showed. Even my mother couldn’t understand why I decided to go natural. Now, my hair gets a lot of love:) I’m always asked what do I use on my hair and how do I get it to look the way it does. I even convince my mom. Now she’s completely natural 😀

9. What is your hair regimen (including fav products)?

Currently, I am co-washing my hair once a week. Doing a deep condition every other week on wash day. My wash day consists of using a clarifying conditioner to cleanse my hair. I am currently using Suave Clarifying Conditioner. Then, I follow up with my Tressemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner to condition my hair. Once I rinse the conditioner out I apply Kinky Curly Leave In Conditioner then apply the Kinky Curly Curling Custard to my hair in sections. I am in LOVE with these products. My wash and go’s are lasting me for at least a week. Sometimes longer. Be sure to check out my video on how I apply these products. I use the same method I used here in the video.

http://youtu.be/WOwJZeaCUsk

10. Who is your hair crush?

I would have to say, hands down, Mahoganycurls.

11. What are some of your favorite natural hair websites,YouTuber’s, or blogs?

I really don’t browse websites or blogs a whole lot, but I am a YouTube junkie. Some of my favorite natural hair YouTubers are Naptural85, Glamtwinz334, Naturallyneiicey, and of course Mahoganycurls.

12. Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?

If you are thinking about going natural and/or currently transitioning try not to focus on others and their hair texture. Learn to embrace your own and what works for your hair. Experiment, learn, & love.

13. Where can people find you for more information?

INSTAGRAM: Tiffani_Renae

YOUTUBE: Tiffani Renae