Name: Hey, my name’s Asha
*Find her on Youtube as : Ashababe56!
Where are you from:
A bit complicated, grew up in England until I was 12, and then moved to Trinidad and Tobago where I lived until I was 19. Now I’m in Spain.
How long have you been natural?:
My last relaxer was on the 30th of July 2009 and my big chop was in April 2010.
|
1. Let’s talk about one of your most recent trips and your haircare regimen during! ( feel free to name some of your favorite products)
Well my hair’s grown quite a bit so I’m trying to figure out the perfect approach to it. I was really good with protective styles before but since I’ve been in Spain I’ve really enjoyed the attention I get when I wear my hair out. It’s definitely out a lot more.
I tried, at first to do medium-sized twists followed by twist out, followed by cleansing, conditioning etc… I ended up doing blow-dried twists, wavy hair, big hair, extremely tangled hair and mini-twists to give it a break.
My favourite products? Hmmm well I always have used these:
-Shea butter
-Glycerine
-Olive oil
-Kinky Curly Knot Today
-L’oreal sulphate free shampoo
-Aubrey Organics deep conditioner
-Jane Carter Solution deep conditioner
The others I use aren’t worth mentioning. Oh, but I’ve really missed my VO5 conditioner!!!!!
Everyone thinks I’m crazy because I spend hours doing my hair. I refuse to change just because I’m in Spain. I know I’ll feel terrible if my hair’s a mess when we go out. It’s always worth it.
2. What about your nighttime regimen?
Not really changed, just put on my satin cap. I baggy with olive oil sometimes if I’m washing the next day.
3. Have you been out swimming at all? If so how did you prepare your hair?
I went to the beach and in the sea. Luckily my hair was in medium sized twists in a bun so it was fine. I just put some shea butter on it beforehand and washed it afterwards.
4. How do you wear your hair while you are on a plane ride?
In medium-sized twists and in a bun, it may be of worth to add that I usually remove the twists on arriving at my destination.
6. What are some complements you get on your hair while traveling ( and around town)?
‘Que chulo tu pelo’ – Your hair is so cool
‘Quiero este pelo’ – I want your hair
‘¿te lo peinas tú sola?’ – Do you comb it yourself?
‘Morena, que guapa con el afro’ – Dark girl, you look beautiful with your hair like that.
 |
| Asha |
7. What do you love about being natural? What annoys you?
I love being unique and knowing that I’m not modifying my natural state, or trying to conform to a foreign standard of beauty. I don’t like being told that my hair needs to be combed, or when people feel sorry for me because I’ve been combing it for a long time.
I always let people know that I LOVE doing my hair and I love my natural state.
As my hair’s grown quite a bit in the past few months, detangling has become seriously hard. I’m still working on it. Last week I detangled my hair (with conditioner in it) gently, and suffered breakage for the first time since I’ve been natural! Enough is enough! Until I figure something out (a new product or method) I’ll be finger detangling.
8. What is one product you can’t live without?
Erm… I’d say something I tried last week that’s made my hair feel incredible. Kimmaytube’s leave in conditioner mix:
-oil of choice (olive oil)
-Aloe Vera juice
-conditioner of choice (kinky curly knot today)
9. I found it extremely hard to find conditioner in El Cortes Ingles! I always found shampoo. But then found Herbal Essences product line in a perfumeria near my host mothers house. How has it been for you finding products that work in your hair while in Spain?
I was clever (or stupid) enough to load my suitcase with my own products. I decided not to bring my cheap conditioner VO5 because I assumed I’d be able to buy some here… WRONG. So I bought a cheap conditioner here that made my hair feel horrible. My search for products is pretty tough here. Beauty stores and pharmacies just aren’t as stocked as the ones I’m used to (in England and Trinidad).
I went to Granada two weeks ago though and was able to find a plethora of organic products! I even bought Henna! Granada is a very ‘natural’ place so I wasn’t surprised, it was this, and the inexpensiveness of the lifestyle, that led to my decision to move there.
10. I found that my hair did not really like the water in Spain even though it tastes great and is safe to drink. How have your hair taken to the water in Spain?
I don’t think it’s done too badly. I always pre-poo with olive oil so even though the water is evidently hard, I haven’t experienced any adverse effects.
 |
| Asha |