Since the Ebony Natural Hair Makeover I’ve gotten a lot of questions about what was done to my hair. On the day of the makeover I was so excited that I missed a few pointers. So I revisited the Devachan Salon to get a refresher on how to keep that makeover magic going. Once again Rosie DaSilva was my stylist. She’s been a hairstylist for 22 years, working in Brazil and England before joining Devachan, which specializes in curly hair. Here’s a peek at my notes, step-by-step.
First, is the No-Poo cleanser.
- Cleanse your scalp. Once you rinse, the product will clean your hair follicles.
- You only need to wash once. Washing your hair more than once a week can strip hair of natural oils.
Follow with One Condition:
- Do not put the conditioner on your scalp-it’s your hair that needs conditioning. Start from the tip and work toward the root.
- Rinse completely, then repeat. The second time you’ll leave in quite a bit.
- Use cool water. Hot water can dehydrate the hair. The more moisture in your hair the less frizz you will have.
Tip! Conditioning takes time. Your focus should be the “feel” of your hair, not the time. Ask yourself: Does it feel silky?
Next, Use the DevaCare ArcAngel product (half-dollar sized amount) and combine with the MirrorCurls (dime-sized amount), working it through slowly and deliberately.
- Dab at the roots and separate the curls that frame the face.
- Then she had me flip my head down and did the same dabbing motion with the roots in the back and center.
Once upright she sprayed water to free the strands that were sticking to my scalp. Then we flipped again and she began hugging my durls with her hands and squeezing with a micro-fiber towel.
Tip: Using a hand towel can pull at the hair strands and remove moisture. Use a micro-fiber towel or t-shirt for best results.
When I sat upright more of my hair had moved toward the front. DaSilva pinched 2-3 sections of hair at the crown as if she were picking flowers and put in some hair clips to add some height at the crown.
Tip! DaSilva suggest lining the clips up with the natural arch of your brow for best placement.
If your hair begins to frizz, add conditioner and cool water to those spots. I sat under a hooded dryer until I was almost dry. DaSilva finished using a blow dryer with the Devachan diffuser. First warm air, then cool.
Rosie says, “once your hair is dry don’t be afraid to grab, squeeze or pull it.” She recommends placing your hands on your scalp, open your fingers, and shake your hair without running your fingers through to loosen it up.
If there’s frizz the next day, follow with a dab of Set It Free, for corkscrew curls like mine. If your hair is wavy hair or you have boticelli curls, mix One Condition and water in a bottle until it is a milky mixture and spray.
All in all it took bout an hour. But before my curl lesson was over DaSilva and I had a chance to talk about natural hair and what can be done to care for it. Is it all about products and technique? DaSilva says no.
“A lot of it has to do with metabolism. How much water you drink, how you’re hydrating. After 35 we need to replace vitamins. Eating things from the earth affects your skin and hair. So many people want to just buy a product but what you put in your body is a big part of it. Healthy oils in and out.”
I was hoping not to overlook anything, so I had to ask: What else do we need to know about embracing and caring for natural curls?
DaSilva’s warm expression turns to one of concern. “I see so many little kids wear styles where their hair is pulled so tight that it causes damage. It can cause alopecia. Their parents spend a lot of money on this. That’s why it’s so important that adults learn to work with their natural hair texture. So that they can teach their kids when they are young. Then the children will grow up feeling good about themselves. They won’t want to look like someone else because they will feel good about their hair. They can have a beautiful look without harming themselves or their hair.”
DaSilva’s passion and sincerity on this subject can’t be hidden. “First Lady Michelle Obama has a polished image and it is OK that she wears her hair straight. But I would love to see her wear her hair naturally. She can be a beautiful professional wearing her hair curly as well. Think how empowering it would be if her daughters wore their hair curly. I would love to teach and share the experience of how to work with the curls they have naturally.”
