Nika

Meet Nika...

Going natural....
I’ve been natural now for six months. This is actually my second big chop. I did the big chop for the first time in October 2007 and was natural until February 2009 when I texturized then relaxed. I lasted six months with relaxed hair before doing the big chop again on October 1, 2009. It’s funny, but most people I know who go natural and then relax end up going natural again. There’s something about seeing your hair in its healthiest state that keeps you coming back.

Hair care regimen...
I co-wash my hair about every other day, I only use shampoo 1-2x per month. I deep condition about twice per month. I am slowly working towards every week since I recently colored my hair. I haven’t gotten a trim since my big chop six months ago. I haven’t straightened, but I will for my one year anniversary. I don’t see myself straightening very often, because I’m a huge fan of big curly/kinky hair. Right now, my favorite styles are the wash and go and mini faux hawk.

On hair color...
I love color! I’ll probably color 1-2x per year.

Favorite hair products...
I love raw shea butter and KBB hair milk as moisturizers. Tigi Bedhead Moisture Maniac is my all around conditioner as I use it for cowashes and deep conditioning. It’s awesome. Sebastian Wet gel is excellent for wash and gos and castor oil always makes my hair soft and shiny.

On stylists...
I found an excellent stylist at Bubbles salon in DC who knows a lot about caring for natural hair.

Nika wants you to know...
Going natural really taught me a lot about the subjectivity of beauty. I remember a time when I didn’t see natural hair as beautiful. It’s not because it wasn’t beautiful, it’s because I was viewing natural hair out of a completely different lens back then. Going natural and seeing beautiful heads of natural hair around me, on Fotki, on blogs and on YouTube really changed my outlook on natural hair. That has been the most enriching part of my journey, my mental transition. I mean natural is fabulous, and there are so many women who are showcasing that flyness in many different forms. Feel free to check out my style blog at www.iriechic.blogspot.com.