Name: Ms Vaughn
Where are you from? Chicago, south side.
How long have you been natural?
I’m 3 years post relaxer and 18 years pre relaxer. My first relaxer was administered in preparation for high school prom.
1. Let’s talk about one of your most recent trips and your hair care regimen during! (Feel free to name some of your favorite products)
My nighttime regimen differs depending on the ever-changing needs of my hair. For example, if I’m rocking a twist out/braid out during the day, I’ll usually re-twist/re-braid the hair in slightly larger sections and cover with a silky, synthetic bonnet.
However, if my hair feels a little dry, I may add a mist of water and a teeny bit of product (moisturizer of choice) before re-twisting/re-braiding.
If my hair seems to be losing definition, I may add something with hold like Eco Styler gel or Shea butter before twisting/braiding. If my hair seems to be getting matted or tangled, I may finger comb it a bit and add a little water to loosen the tangles before re-braiding/re-twisting. It really just depends.
A daily assessment is necessary when deciding the best nighttime routine for each hairstyle. Either way, my hair is almost always tamed underneath a silky head wrap of some sort to hold in moisture, maintain definition and combat tangling.
3. We all know that when we had relaxers swimming was something you had to think twice about! Have you been out swimming at all? If so how did you prepare your hair?
I don’t swim very often but when I do, I find that it’s a whole lot easier to style the hair in a tangle-free state before jumping into water! There are lots of great tangle-free styles including braids, twists or pulling the hair back into a secure bun, etc. If there is not a lot of planning time to create an elaborate style for your swimming day, I would recommend reverting to your “nighttime” routine. For me, this would suggest braiding the hair into medium to large sections and stuffing it under a swimming cap.
If I’m not in the mood for a swimming cap, I can secure each braid with a bobby pin or a single Ouchless hair tie so that it’s not in my face while I’m swimming. If there is absolutely no time to do any of the above, you can always plan your “hair-washing day” around your swimming day and head directly to the shower to wash/condition/detangle the hair immediately afterwards. I’ve found that swimming with natural hair is a lot less worrisome than when I swam with relaxed hair. Water is not your friend when trying to maintain bone-straight hairstyles however it can be a great styling agent for curly hair.
4. How do you wear your hair while you are on the plane?
This is a great question! Flying is not one of my favorite things to do in part because of the long, boring aspect of it. I often find myself falling asleep at some point during the flight and it’s uncomfortable, mostly because I can’t find a position to place my head without flattening my hair do!
When I get to my destination airport, I can drop into a bathroom and take my braids down, fluff them out and head out!
5. What are some complements you get on your hair while traveling (or even just around town)?
Mostly, I get compliments on my hair texture from non-Blacks. People are always so impressed that I’m wearing my hair in its natural state. I get mostly style-related compliments from Blacks as they seem more impressed with the methods and techniques that I’ve used to achieve certain looks.
I enjoy having discussions about what I’ve done to my hair to make it look the way it looks. I’m pretty sure I’ve single-handedly converted a few people along the way lol. Overall, I have gotten more compliments on my natural hair at this phase in my life than I’ve ever received.
6. You just missed your flight but your entire luggage was checked. You must spend a night in a hotel. What essential products for skin and hair care are in your carry-on?
If all I have is my carry-on, usually I’ve packed my main essentials which include a facial cleanser, scrub and makeup remover pads. I use makeup remover wipes to thoroughly clean away ANY makeup on my face from lip gloss to foundation to mascara, it doesn’t matter. Afterwards, I like to use Neutrogena oil-free cleanser for my face and neck. This is a refreshing cleanser that makes my face feel completely stripped of any foreign particles.
After that I like to scrub my face with St Ives Microderm Abrasion. If I wore a lot of makeup that day, I’ll usually finish with a toner. I apply my toner with a soft cotton ball or cotton pad. This will remove any leftover makeup from the crevices of my face. It also rejuvenates my skin. And lastly, I apply a moisturizer to my face and neck. I usually use Aveeno lotion for my face or a Clinique face moisturizer since I use their foundation. For hair products, I’m likely traveling with my Eco Styler gel and my Original Moxie Lux Locks moisturizer. I can use either of these products to either prep my hair for the next day, or style it fresh that morning. These two products are great to have.
7. What do you love most about being natural? What annoys you?
I love being able to stand out amongst the crowd. I love knowing that when I walk into any room, I’m ten times more likely to have the most unique overall look. Even if the whole world were natural, I would still maintain this stance because no two people have the exact same hair texture.
I’ll always be uniquely me no matter what and that feels so amazing to me!
The only thing that annoys me about being natural are the myths and miseducation which hold a lot of women back from experiencing this incredible feeling that I have. I’m literally annoyed by the presence of this, but it is not impossible to overcome.
8. I admire the versatility of your hair care and the hair styles that you share with your YouTube viewers, what is one product you can’t live without?
Thank you! I cannot live without Eco Styler Gel! This is an agent which is incorporated into most of my staple hairstyles. It’s a great choice for those who want definition, tapered edges or curly
wet-looks.
9. I also love your style and fashion sense, what is one accessory that you can’t live without?
Thank you! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE earrings! I have literally never left the house without at least a pair of diamond studs! I have a collection of over 100 pairs of earrings. I just love the added touch of style that it provides to any outfit. For me, earrings completely tie a look together and I love having dozens of options available. The biggest challenge for me would be to put a look together without incorporating earrings lol.
She looks lovely. Beautiful, healthy hair.