Mallary is Naturally Glam!

My name is Mallary and I reside in the DFW area. My hair was permed in the second or third grade, I can’t be for sure. I attended the University of North Texas and graduated in 2004 with my Bachelors in Speech and Hearing Sciences. I am an Assistant Speech Therapist and I have been working with children for 9 and half years.

How long have you been natural?
I have been natural since Sept 2009.

What motivated you to go natural? Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper & why?
My motivation was my dermatologist. I was going to a popular Doctor here in the DFW area (Dr. Raymon Blackburn) because my hair was always growing in lopsided (shorter on one side). I would cut both sides even, and one side would take off growing and the other would sloooowly creep along. It was driving me crazy! I went to him to get some advice, and he suggested it could be the perm and to space out my relaxers, if I was going to perm my hair (at the time I was perming it once a month at the salon). I told him I would do even better than that, I was NOT gonna perm it for a whole year! The seed was planted that day! LOL. I transitioned because I did not know about the “going natural” movement at the time. I just wanted my hair to grow in evenly!

Read On!>>>

What are some of your favorite transitioning hairstyles?
I kept my hair in cornrows with added hair. I wore my hair in that style for weeks at a time, I would take it down, wash it, and within 24 hours, I would have it braided again. I was also going to the salon every blue moon during that time and getting the ends trimmed off little by little until one day there were no more straight ends.

What has been the most memorable part of your journey? Has it been easy or difficult or both?!
The most memorable part happened when I washed my hair after having it flat ironed. I was in the shower and the water was running down my head. I suddenly felt a strange creeping sensation on my head and I kinda panicked and reached up to grab whatever was in my hair… I then realized that the creeping sensation was my hair reverting. I had never experienced it happening before so I thought I had a bug in my hair! After that experience, it has been easy as pie!

Any memorable reactions from family or others?
No. I think they were just as curious as I was initially. In the process, I convinced my mom and my sister to ditch the perms too. We were all having scalp and hair growth issues.

What is your hair regimen (including fav products)?
I wash my hair about 1-2 times a week with conditioner only. I then place it in a bun. Sometimes I do a twist out but not very often. I will straighten it maybe once a year.

My products arsenal:
Conditioner – VO-5, Giovanni Triple Tea Tree Conditioner
Leave In- Giovanni Triple Tea Tree Conditioner, Aussie Moist conditioner
Styler- Shea moisture curl enhancing Souflee
Sealer- shea butter whips from Naturalsis72.com The whips smell awesome (My fav is the cherry). I also sleep on a satin pillow case and have a satin hair bonnet to match made by Naturalsis72.com

What are some of your favorite natural hair websites, YouTuber’s, or blogs?
CurlyNikki, Blackgirllonghair, & MahoganyCurls

Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?
Do not over think going natural. JUST DO IT!! You were natural as a kid and had healthy hair and you can return to having healthy hair. Do not let negative people hold you down or hold you back. You will not know how fabulous and freeing natural hair is until you do it for yourself!

Where can people find you for more information?
I am not a Blogger/Vlogger but I have done a few youtube vids to help me document and remember my routine, lol.
YouTube: mfrierson7
Twitter: mallfries711
Facebook: Mallary Michelle Frierson