Alexis Is Naturally Glam!
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- June 3, 2014
Tell me about yourself!
I am Alexis V. Nottingham. I am 26 years old and I am from Baltimore, MD.
Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
I was definitely a transitioner. I transitioned for about 8 months. After OD’ing on my Advanced Placement YouTube classes, I woke up one Saturday morning in August of 2011 and decided to cut my hair.
Had you always embraced your texture?
I have always embraced my texture(s). My hair, even when relaxed, has always been thick and coarse. I LOVE IT!
How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them?
I received support from my mother, who just wanted me to do something other than a wrap lol (I’ve worn my hair in a wrap since I was about 12 years old). However, others didn’t understand or care for my decision. I brushed off the negativity, but I definitely questioned my decision to stop relaxing and cutting my hair, initially. But, once I gained the confidence to rock it and learned to care for my hair, I received a lot of support.
Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
I have very coarse and thick Type 4 hair. My hair is low in porosity, so deep conditioning and using the LCO method is extremely helpful in maintaining moisture in my ‘fro.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair?
The craziest thing I’ve ever done is cracking an egg over my head in an effort to make a DIY protein treatment. It took forever to get those cooked eggs out of my hair LOL!
What’s your biggest hair related regret?
The only thing I regret doing in my natural hair journey is not deciding to do it sooner. To this day, I think if I would’ve just BC’d, I feel like I would have an even larger ‘fro.
What’s your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style? Favorite products! Deets!
I shampoo and deep condition my hair every 7-10 days. I pre-poo with a bit of water and finger detangle. Then I put my hair in about 8 braids that are loose at the roots so I can properly cleanse my scalp. Products tend to vary. But lately, I have been using Carol’s Daughter’s Monoi Shampoo and Conditioner. I clarify my scalp with ACV 2 times a month. After applying my Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner leave-in, I blow dry my hair on warm (my hair is thick and will never dry over night), making sure to give each section a cool shot to close the hair follicle. I massage my scalp and seal my ends with Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I usually do braid outs to achieve a voluminous and textured look. I’m not really a fan of super perfect, defined hair for me.
What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
I love braid outs. I get more texture and length from them as opposed to twist outs. I definitely get my hairstyle inspiration from Youtube, specifically Yolanda Renee of Etcblogmag.com. I adore her channel and her hair is perfection!
Who is your curl crush?
My curl crush is definitely Chime Edwards. I can only hope to have hair as long, healthy, and beautiful as hers one day.
How do you maintain your hair at night?
Most nights, I pineapple my hair with a satin scarf. To minimize manipulation, I re-braid/twist every 2-3 days.
How do you maintain healthy length?
To maintain healthy length, I moisturize my hair every couple of days, usually on the evenings I re-braid/twist (as needed). Also, I have made finger detangling a major part of my regimen to lessen the amount of breakage from styling tools. I also dust my ends to rid myself of the knots and split ends as needed.
What’s the best thing about being natural?
Hands down, the best thing about being natural is the versatility. Since going natural, I get bored easily with my hair and will cut, color, and I’ve even straightened it impulsively. So, I love and embrace the fact that my hair is different every single day.
Where can folks find you on the web?
Please subscribe to my YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/AlexisN1203.
I am @tressesofalexis on Twitter and Instagram.
I also discuss my ‘fro, fashion, and foolishness on my blog at www.tressesofalexis.com.
