Demaria Is Naturally Glam!

Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper? What was your journey like?
I was a transitioned for about two years on heat damaged arm pit length hair. I wore protective styles throughout the two years back to back. My go-to protective style was a sew-in because I missed my long straight hair. Between sew-ins, I trimmed about two inches or so to get rid of the heat damaged hair. Eventually I was left with more curly hair than heat damaged. My transition was easier than most since I did wear my hair in protective styles during the bulk of the time. This not only grew my hair, but also protected my hair from myself by not pulling, yanking and trying to style it.

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Had you always embraced your texture?
I always loved my natural hair, but of course growing up I wanted straight hair. My best friend was the flat iron instead of the relaxer. I eventually missed my curls, but they were virtually gone after straightening my hair everyday. I continued straightening, even forgetting how my natural hair pattern looked. There was no going back to something I couldn’t even remember.

How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? What was your response to them? 
I was the ONLY person who was excited about going through the journey of reuniting with my curl pattern.  My friends asked often why I started to wear weave for the first time and why I was cutting all my long straight hair. My mom was not fond of the process and commented throughout my journey about how my hair was styled during my transition even when I was between my protective styles or even after my hair was fully natural and I found the right products to work with my curls. I personally loved my journey, even the days that I looked crazy and had to go back to the drawing board, I knew it was all in the processing of loving my natural curls again. Now my mom and friends cannot get enough of my hair especially how much length I have retained in these last three years since embracing my curls.

Describe your hair (fine or coarse, thin or thick, highly porous, low, etc.)
 Thick and highly porous.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair? 
Craziest thing I would say has to be the styles that I thought was cute during my transition with products that did not do anything for my hair. So basically I was a walking frizz ball from time to time. Can you say embarrassing?!

What’s your biggest hair related regret?
Well to be honest I wish I would’ve big chopped! I would’ve loved to see how I would have looked with a curly TWA! I sometimes wish I could do it all over again just to see myself with a short cut.

What’s your current hair routine? How often do you wash, condition, and style?
My curly hair routine: shampoo with sulfate-free shampoo usually SheaMoisture, follow up with conditioner usually Aussie Moist or Hello Hydration and finger detangle. I deep condition once a week for at least an hour with SheaMoisture JBCO deep conditioner or raw Shea butter deep treatment masque by SheaMoisture. Once a month I do a protein treatment with a two minute reconstructor or two step protein pack by Aphogee. My hair is usually styled in a wash and go, using the Anthony Dickey method, putting products on drenched hair. My go to products are SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie followed by Eco Styler gel olive oil. This wash and go will usually last me 7 days. On not so humid days,  I use the same method but using Eden BodyWorks line which only last for 4 days at best. Once a month, or so I do wear a braid out or twist out. I do it on damp hair using the Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Eco Styler gel.

What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?
My favorite hairstyle would be a wash and go; it last all week and only takes an extra 10 minutes to do after co-washing!

Who is your curl crush?
Natural Neiicey!

How do you maintain your hair at night?
I pineapple with head scarf.

How do you maintain healthy length?
I maintain healthy length by trimming ends when I spot them! No need to hang on to the ends that look bad until “trim-time”.  Listen to what your hair needs.

Where can folks find you on the web?
Facebook: Demaria Tinsley
Instagram: DarkSkinCurlyHair