Tracee Is Naturally Glam!

Tell me about yourself! 
Hello naturals!  My name is Tracee and I am from northern California.

What was your journey like?  
I started off as a straight natural, and I let my perm grow out for 18 months before I cut the rest of the perm off.  From then I was a straight natural for 8 years. Three big chops and three years later I am now a full blown kinky curly natural.

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Before going natural I had very thick and strong hair.  There was nothing I could do to my hair that caused any serious damage or breakage.  However, since becoming a natural I have experienced a lot of hair loss and was even diagnosed with alopecia.  After I stopped using a certain cleansing shampoo and started taking hair vitamins my hair stopped falling out.

Had you always embraced your texture? 
I didn’t know what my hair was like until I went natural.  It was definitely a challenge trying to find the right products to use on kinky hair but overall I have embraced my hair texture.

How did family and friends react to your decision to go natural? 
For the most part I have had a positive response. There have been only a few comments as to why would I want to wear my hair nappy.

Describe your hair.
I have many different textures. I have thick, coarse, and fine hair that is low porous.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair? 
I cannot say that I have done anything crazy to my hair…not yet anyway!

What’s your biggest hair related regret? 
I have no hair related regrets or regrets in life.  Every trial and error that I faced in my natural hair journey is a lesson learned and I am grateful.

What’s your current hair routine?
My hair routine is fairly simply but time consuming.   I try to pre-poo my hair first with Aubrey Organics GPB mixed with an oil blend that I make (grapeseed oil, avocado oil, and jojoba oil).  Next I co-wash my hair 1-2 times a week using Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Co-wash.  I then follow up with a conditioner.  I like to rotate different conditioners.  My favorites are Quidad Color Sense Conditioner, Deva Curl Conditioner One, and Aubrey Organics GPB Conditioner. On deep condition days I use Carol’s Daughter Marula Hair Mask (I love it) or Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner.  After applying the deep conditioner I sit under the steamer (Huetiful Hair Steamer) for 30-45 minutes.  Once I’m done steaming my hair I let my hair cool for 10 minutes and then I rinse it out with cool water.  Next, I proceed with the LOC method (apply to hair a leave-in conditioner followed by an oil and then a styling cream).  I like to use Elucence Moisturizing Conditioner for my leave-in, then I use an oil blend that I make, followed by Deva Curl Heaven in Hair. Following this method will assure that my hair will attain moisture for several days. My final steps are applying either a curl cream or gel and then sealing my ends with an oil.  For a curl cream I use Quidad Hydrafusion Curl Cream and for the gel I use Uncle Funky Daughters Curly Magic.  Lastly (for real this time lol), I sit under the hair dryer for 30-45 minutes, shake my, and then apply Oyin Whipping Pudding.  Ok, my holy grail products are basically everything in my above hair regimen.

What’s your favorite hairstyle? Where do you get hairstyle inspiration?  
My favorite hairstyle is wearing my hair in a high bun or just a ponytail.  Now a days I seldom wear my hair pulled back because I do not want to put tension on my edges.  So I mostly wear my hair in a wash and go.  For hairstyle inspiration I usually go to You Tube.

Who is your curl crush? 
I have no specific hair crush. I am simply fascinated with every natural I come across.    

How do you maintain your hair at night?  
I moisturize my hair at night with a few different products.  I mainly use my coconut cream to oil moisturizer that I make (Kree Essentials Skin and Hair Products), Carol’s Daughter Marula Oil, or Oyin Whipping Pudding.  I then use a satin hair bonnet or LOC SOC scarf.  I do not spritz my hair with water before applying a moisturizer at night.  However, in the morning I use Oyin Juices and Berries spritz to replenish the moisture in my hair.

How do you maintain healthy length?   
I try to maintain healthy hair by getting my hair trimmed every six months (Deva Cuts for the past year and a half) and I deep condition my hair at least twice a month (my goal is every week). I deep condition by using a hair steamer.  My hair steamer is a must have.

What’s the best thing about being natural?  
I honestly feel liberated.  Whether I wear my hair as a straight natural or kinky curly it’s one of the best decisions I have made to leave the creamy hair crack alone. I’m just saying!  I also enjoy sharing my story and sharing what latest product I have tried out.

Where can folks find you on the web?  
You can find me on Facebooks under Tracee Johnson or MsTeeJay71 on Instagram.  I would like to give a shout out to Revitalize Skin Care and Laser Spa where you can purchase my products, and Aten Media Group.