Original Diva is a “natural”. That means that I do not have a relaxer. I have been natural for 6 years and I am really beginning to love the hair I have and playing with it. My saving graces have been Alyson and Youtube. LOL I don’t know about 6 years ago, but now you can go to Youtube and find all sorts of videos on natural hair….product reviews, styles, how-to’s, anything and everything you’re looking for and most of what you don’t even know you’re looking for. It was thanks to youtube that I’ve made the progress I have.

Original Diva (circa 2004)

I never did a big chop. I just cut off the relaxed ends as my hair grew. The longer it got, the less relaxer it had.

2008 Diva (in Seattle)

I wish I had known how to do something with it in it’s natural state before now. My “wash n go’s” were the most horrible thing in the world. You’re lucky those photos are on my old hard drive. Yuck. I have a soror named Kay Kay who is also natural. Kay Kay’s hair is much “kinkier” than mine (cause heaven forbid somebody’s hair is nappy anymore). She always wears these two strand twists that I am in love with. My problem is my ends though. They are straight and my twist don’t hold. The result is straight hair. As a matter of fact, the majority of my styles (even today) result in straight hair. After some research I found Curly Nikki’s website and her tutorial on a Twist n Curl.

Original Diva in rollers

The solution to straight ends.

Original Diva's TNC

Albeit successful…..I still woke up the next morning with bone straight hair. The curse of having soft hair that won’t hold a curl. But hell….it’s curly when I wash it. I can’t get an afro. There has to be a solution. Enter Alyson’t KCCC suggestion. After COUNTLESS Youtube tutorials on using Kinky Curly Curling Custard, I came up with a look that I like.

Curly Original Diva

HELL YEAH! I got it! And I can wake up in the morning, spritz with water and shake, and keep it moving! Along the way I befriended a youtuber and she gave me some serious tips on my “puff”. Like I said, I won’t show you my original puff cause it’s pathetic. But if you are my FB friend then you’ve already seen it. The KEY is to have some 4 day old curls matted to your head. You moisturize thoroughly and grab your detangling brush. When detangling, PLEASE start at your ends and work your way up to the roots. The result, after a lot of fluffing and tucking….

Back view of puff

To hell with what my husband says….THAT is an afro puff!

SUCCESS IS MINE! LOL