Hi, everyone, it's Aisha Beau here, and in today's video, I've partnered
with Dove to share my hair journey.
It has definitely been a long road
I have been natural now for almost four years, fully natural.
I did the big chop on August 31st, 2017.
I was actually the last of my friend group to still be using relaxers.
I had gotten my first relaxer when I was seven years old,
and I stopped relaxing my hair when I was twenty eight.
I noticed that my hair was literally, after all those years, only
growing to a specific length.
And I also noticed a little bit of breakage at the crown of my head.
Everyone was going natural and I was like, oh,
I don't know if I'm going to look good with natural hair.
I don't know, like how I'm going to look with a fro or that texture.
Like I don't even know how to do it.
I was really, really intimidated by having to work with this new texture.
But I was like, you know what,
I need something new.
I'm just going to do it.
I decided to start transitioning to natural first.
So instead of doing the big chop, I was doing flexi rod sets for several months.
And then a day before my birthday and
I had made an appointment, I was like, I'm just going to do the big chop.
I'm just going to cut off all of my relaxed ends
and I'm going to start fresh and I'm going to learn this new texture.
I got a tapered cut and it was really, really exciting.
And I didn't feel any emotions. I wasn't sad.
I wasn't like super excited.
I was just like, OK, I did it.
I did this thing. The next day.
I think I got to work a little bit late
because I was like, I don't know what to do with my hair.
Not only was it a different texture, but it was the shortest
I've ever had my hair before.
I remember feeling really insecure about my hair being so much shorter
and a whole different texture and not knowing how to do it,
because I had always prided myself on being able to style my own hair. And child
this was the first time I could not, and I was just so upset.
So I actually did not even post on Instagram for like a month.
Like I just didn't feel confident.
And as my hair started to grow and as I started to learn
what products worked for it, learned how to style it
and what actually works for my specific hair.
That's when I became more confident,
confident in styling and just confident in general.
I started to realize that, you know,
I have to embrace myself for who I am and how my hair looks.
No matter what. It doesn't need to be bone straight for me to be beautiful.
And that was something that took time for me to learn.
I think the best part of doing
the big chop was really getting rid of all of that damaged hair.
And I know it's really scary, but I think one of the best ways to get rid
of damaged hair is to start trimming it and also treating it along the way.
And so when I did the big chop, I cut it off and I started fresh.
And that was when I was able to really help my hair to flourish
because I was utilizing products that were moisture rich.
And that would really help me to develop a fully healthy head of hair.
So let me walk you through my current routine
and how exactly I take care of my hair and make sure that it's not damaged.
One thing for me that's really important is maintaining moisture.
Washing your hair regularly with a nourishing hydrate-first
shampoo such as the Dove hydration spa shampoo and conditioner
has been such a game changer for me.
I love that it cleanses my hair and also maintains that hydration.
And from there, I always go in with a conditioner.
I feel like a strong shampoo and conditioner duo
can really set you up for success within the rest of the styling process.
I wash my hair once a week
and I generally try to wash it around the same day each week.
So I'll do my shampoo, my conditioner routine
and then in the shower while I'm conditioning my hair.
I always like to detangle. I think detangling
your hair is so necessary in making sure
that the style actually looks the way that you want it to.
Never detangle your hair when it's dry.
After that, I'll wash my hair out and make sure that I leave it in the sections.
This, again, just makes the styling process so much easier.
Then I don't know about you, but my hair is super thick.
So the sections have been a saving grace for me.
And once I'm out of the shower, I'm always using a leave in conditioner,
making sure that we can really maintain and lock in that moisture.
Got to make sure that you're detangling your hair as you add the leave in conditioner.
Detangled hair is so much easier to style.
After I add in my leave in conditioner and that's when I'm gone with my styler.
My signature is definitely a wash and go.
I love how voluminous my hair looks after I do one
So what I like to do after the leave in conditioner is add a gel.
Making sure that I rake it in with my fingers
and also detangle it along the way with my brush.
So the gel for me is really helpful in giving that nice hold on my curls
so that the style can last for days, because like I said,
I try to wash my hair once a week.
I don't want to have to restyle it in the middle of the week
For me when it comes to using a gel,
I always like to make sure that I'm using one that is moisture forward
so that it not only locks in the curl, but also makes sure that my hair
is hydrated in the process and that there's no flaking
or any dryness in the middle of the week.
Now it's time for me to let my hair air dry.
Allowing your hair to air dry really locks in that curl and that definition.
Then I'll go back in and I will diffuse my hair.
The diffusion process usually takes anywhere from like
20 to 40 minutes, depending on how dry my hair is already.
As I'm diffusing it, I'm gently tugging so that it can get more expanded.
And I get that big voluminous look that I'd like.
Once my hair is completely dried, then I want to go in and
re-lock in that moisture.
So for me, one of my biggest things I can share with you
that has helped me to lock in moisture is making sure that I'm
putting a moisture forward, oil on my scalp.
And for me, that's usually castor oil.
I love a Jamaican black castor oil on my scalp because I feel like this
helps really nourish my hair
and make sure that it gets it from the inside out.
I'll put it directly onto my scalp once a week after washing.
I like to massage it in
and that really helps to get your hair follicles
and it warms up the blood vessels in your head.
And this helps to not only promote moisture,
but also promote growth in your hair, which I found really, really helpful.
So for me, adding that castor oil to my scalp
is my numero uno game changing tip.
And I also like to make sure that I'm adding another type of nourishing
oil directly to the strands of my hair. Also to get my signature shape
I like to give myself a little faux bang, which has been really helpful.
And it gives me a little bit more volume when I add some bobby pins to the front.
So that's like a little hack
for anyone who doesn't want to give themself a curly cut or cut any bangs.
And from there, voilà, that's what you get my signature wash and go look
it's just the routine that I've been doing now for the past few years.
Overall, I am in love with my hair
and I'm really happy with the journey and the entire process,
because as I was patient with my hair, I learned to be more patient with myself.
So this natural hair journey for me has been a complete
self care journey and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Thank you so much for watching.
Be sure to subscribe to the Dove
YouTube channel so you can see more hair content like this.
Until next time.