NaturallyCurly: Please introduce yourself!
Bobi: My name is Emily, but my mom calls me Bobi and it has kind of stuck! I’m fifteen years old and I love to sing, play guitar and piano and read. I’ve been a naturally curly girl all my life.
NaturallyCurly: Why did you start Bobi Curls?
Bobi: I wanted to start Bobi Curls because I thought that it would help me and many other curly girls to become more confident with our curly hair and to love the hair that God has given us.
NC: How and when did you start embracing your curls, or have you always enjoyed and embraced your curls?
Bobi: I have not always enjoyed my hair. When I was little, I would always wish that I had straight hair, or at least wavy hair like the Disney princess, Sleeping Beauty! I only started loving my hair when my mom did the big chop. She fell in love with her hair immediately and was obsessed with it! We began hunting for good natural products and reading curly girl books. When I saw my mom loving her hair, I began to appreciate mine.
MORE: Real Texture Talk: Ms. Chu
NC: What is your current routine?
Bobi: Every couple of days, I do a wash and go, and once a week, I use a cleansing conditioner to clean my hair.
NC: So from start to finish, on a curly day, what’s your process?
Bobi: I use a cleansing conditioner first (As I Am Cleansing Conditioner“>, and then a regular conditioner (Tresemme Conditioner“>. I finger comb my hair, rinse with cold water, put some leave-in conditioner on my hair (Tresemme Conditioner or Kinky-Curly Knot Today“>, then a styling cream (SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie“> Finally I scrunch my ends with some Kinky-Curly Curling Custard. I do all of this when my hair is soaking wet.
NC: What do you do for your hair at night?Bobi: I pineapple my hair at night.
NC: What are your must-have products and tools?
Bobi: I love SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie…it is definitely one of my favorite products! It keeps my hair nice and frizz-free. I also love Kinky-Curly Curling Custard. It is the only “gel” I will use. I don’t really use any tools on my hair aside from ponytail holders and hair pins.
NC: What are your favorite hairstyles to wear with your curls?
Bobi: Unfortunately, I do messy-buns almost everyday! I like them because, in the mornings, I don’t want my hair in my face while I’m doing schoolwork (I’m homeschooled”> and/or my chores. When I style my hair for church, or if I’m going out I do pretty much anything! I love styling my hair! I guess my favorite hairstyles would be braiding my hair, either in one single braid or a side braid. I do fishtails, figure-eight braids, rope braids, etc.
MORE: Real Texture Talk: Penny Gabrielsen
NC: Did you ever have any curly girl insecurities?
Bobi: Of course, I’ve been insecure about my hair. Before my mom started homeschooling me, I would always watch the girls in my class with straight hair. They would play with their hair without having to worry about it getting huge and poofy! I was so jealous!
NC: What is the best thing about being curly?
Bobi: Being a curly girl is fun! You can do so much more with your hair, and if you know how to take care of it, it is the easiest thing to do!
NC: Does having curly hair affect your everyday life?
Bobi: I think it has made me more confident. You can’t have huge, curly hair and not be confident!
NC: What would you tell others to encourage them to embrace their curls?
Bobi: I would tell them that their hair is a gift from God and that it’s their crowning glory! It’s a part of them and they shouldn’t be ashamed of it or insecure about it.
NC: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects. Tell us about your life and what you are up to!
Bobi: Well, in my personal life I’m doing a lot of school! I’m also going to Haiti for the seventh time in March for a friend’s wedding and a mission trip. I’m also still getting the hang of having a blog, Facebook, Twitter, AND Instagram for Bobi Curls! It’s very time consuming and I’m very thankful that my mom helps me!
MORE: Real Texture Talk: Alessandra Christiani
