NaturallyCurly: How long have you been natural?
Whitney: I’ve been natural for a little over five years now!
When did you start embracing your curls?
Whitney: I started embracing my curls towards the end of my junior year of college. I was swamped with work and started really embracing that “college bed head” look. It was my senior year of college that I knew it was time to give up my relaxer completely.
What’s your daily hair routine?
Whitney: Heehee! Daily hair routine? You’re so funny NaturallyCurly. I don’t have one! I really just fly by the seat of my pants. I guess the one thing that I always do is wrap my hair in a satin scarf at night, but during the day, anything goes! If it’s cold, I’ll usually stick with buns, hats, or a side braid!
What’s your nighttime hair routine?
Whitney: No matter how I style it, I always wrap my hair in a satin scarf at night. I do both the satin scarf and the satin pillowcase! Ha! Double protection baby! Just in case, you know…
You are renown for taking a holistic approach to hair care and you use very few store bought products. What are some of your favorite retail products?
Whitney: I am obsessed with the Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner! I buy it in bulk! Clear the shelves! I love this stuff; it’s pretty close to being all natural, it’s inexpensive, and has slip for days!
What ingredients do your hair love?
Whitney: My hair loves jojoba oil!
What ingredients do your hair hate?
Whitney: My hair doesn’t really hate a lot! I haven’t come across a singular ingredient that my hair has rejected, just overall formulas.
How do the seasons affect your regimen?
Whitney: The seasons only slightly affect my hair. I’m the type of girl who loves beanie caps so I wear them year-round regardless of the weather. I guess the one thing I tend to do more in the summer is wear my hair in a wash and go. I’m more willing then because it’s super hot outside and I don’t feel like styling just to sweat it out. And in the wintertime, you’ll probably see my hair hidden inside the beanie cap more often to hide it, whereas in the summer, it’ll probably be loose in twists!
We’ve had the pleasure of watching your coily ringlets grow since 2009. What part of your regimen would you identify as the key to length retention?
Whitney: The key to length retention is moisturizing. If your hair isn’t moisturized, it’s going to create friction against itself, causing breakage and knots.
Being a wife, mother, graphic designer, and vlogger can call for a hectic schedule. What are your go-to styles?
Whitney: Haha so true! My go-to is a twist out. It’s classic, gives me the stretch I need to style my hair if necessary, and lasts throughout the week with minimal touch-ups.
How has your healthy diet affected the health of your hair?
Whitney: As far as diet and hair, I’m sure it has a lot to do with it. I’ve been an athlete since grade school, so I’ve always been a healthy eater in order to perform well. I don’t have anything to compare with, so I can’t say from personal experience if my hair grew more or less because I’ve always eaten healthy, but I’m sure it’s definitely a huge factor.
How has your disciplined exercise routine affected the health of your hair?
Whitney: I used to be a lot more disciplined with my exercise, and it’s something that I’m getting back into now. But there was a span of about a year and a half where I didn’t exercise at all; I was so busy with other things. My hair still grew but I’m not sure if the growth was slower or faster. Then again, I think it’s the same as eating healthy; the more you can do, the better for your hair, body, and overall health.
Olivia is absolutely adorable and we love the little styles that you do with her hair. What hair care advice would you give to other parents who want to nurture their child’s hair?
Whitney: Thank you! I think baby hair care is very similar to adult hair care, the less styling you do, the better! I try to keep it simple, just like in my own routine. She’s a baby, her hair does not need to be “laid” right lol! My hair isn’t even laid! I just keep it so simple. I’ve been pulling her hair back lately just because it’s been growing so long and I don’t want her cute little face hidden!
What inspired you to start vlogging?
Whitney: Before I went natural, I needed to know what I was getting into. I searched online for pictures of women with natural hair, afros, etc. and that brought me to YouTube. In 2009 it was not like today. There were maybe seven women with natural hair sharing their journeys and secrets, but it was enough to inspire me to go natural. While my hair grew out, I found myself facing obstacles in my styling and maintenance. I didn’t see anyone online with my hair texture and so I thought that I should share my experiences with how I overcame my hair obstacles in order to help anyone else out there who may be experiencing the same thing!
As a veteran blogger, how do you keep fresh content?
Whitney: I am, how do you say, obsessed? Lol! No really… I am always thinking of my next video. I draw inspiration from my daily life, what trends I’m into lately, what’s a current issue in my hair care routine, and I go from there!
What do you like most about vlogging?
Whitney: My favorite thing about vlogging is being creative! I love what I do. It’s so much fun! It’s a daily challenge, but one that I enjoy! Yes, it’s stressful and sometimes frustrating, but when the final product is something that you’re so proud to share, there’s nothing better than that.
Do you have any advice for new natural hair bloggers?
Whitney: For the new natural hair bloggers, I say make sure you’re doing it because you love it! If it’s just for the monetary rewards, you’re going to find yourself getting frustrated very quickly. This is a labor of love. It’s not easy, and sometimes, it’s downright frustrating. The monetary rewards are certainly not going to be immediate. When I first started in 2009, our rewards as bloggers, was reading a comment that said our video made a difference. That was all we needed to keep going. If you’re not doing it for the sheer joy and love of helping others, there will be nothing to motivate you to continue when times get hard.
Any upcoming projects/events you’d like to tell us about?
Whitney: Right now I can’t share, but there’s a few projects in the works that I can hopefully share this upcoming year!
What is your number one piece of advice for women with curly hair?
Whitney: My number one piece of advice for women with curly hair is, wear it however you like! Defined, frizzy, messy, shrunken, stretched, or straight. This year I am so over the rules! Wear it however you feel like wearing it that day! Yes, of course we want to promote healthy, thriving naturally beautiful curls but make sure you’re also having fun with it! Bending the rules can be very liberating! XoXo!
You can find Whitney online here:
