Hi my name is Loren Gray! I currently live in Martinsville, VA but I work and play and pretty much live in Greensboro, NC. I also claim Greenville, SC as home as well. I don’t have an exciting job or life but any time spent with my family and friends I am extremely happy. I truly have an amazing group of people around me.
Oct. 30th will be 5 years. So my story of why I went natural is very simple. My roommate (at the time) and her sister came to me one day and said they were thinking about going natural and wanted to know if I would do it with them. I said sure! I was broke so I couldn’t afford the relaxers and I hated putting them in myself so why not? And the rest is history.
Well after I decided I was going natural I made up in my mind that I was going to transition for a year then do a big chop. Well… 6 months in I wound up moving back home and I needed a change. Plus I just didn’t want to deal with the 2 different textures anymore. So Oct 30, 2008 I washed my hair and told my mom to chop it off! She was more afraid of the outcome then I was. I was so excited! It was extremely liberating for me.
I was very excited about my new little fro. But others not so much. Nobody was really feeling my little fro except for me. My mom and my sister were not about it at 1st but they were always supportive of my decision. I actually had some really close friends that flat out told me that I didn’t have the kind of hair to go natural. They said you have to have hair like … such and such (insert any type 3 loose spiral curled girl). Well now they absolutely love my hair and my mom is now natural, and one of the friends that told me I didn’t have that kind of hair is now natural. (She probably doesn’t even remember saying that. LOL)
From the time I big chopped I was totally in love with my hair! So I never really went through the struggles that most go through I guess. The only real obstacle is just learning what my hair likes and what it doesn’t. Going natural is indeed a process. You have to literally re-learn how to do your hair.
EVERYTHING!!! I feel like my hair fits my personality so well. I just feel more myself with my natural hair. I love that it is wild and crazy. It does what it wants, when it wants. I am not my hair but my hair is indeed me!
I try to pre-poo once a week with Castor Oil and Tea Tree Oil then shampoo with Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat shampoo and conditioner. I detangle with either Aussie Moist Conditioner or Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, and then I use Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie as my leave in (I do this on a daily basis for my wash and go). Then I use a Shea butter mixture that I make myself to seal in my moisture.
No I don’t think so. I usually stick with my main products. My hair seems to like the products I use now. But I still have to stop at any and every hair product isle I happen to be near.
I just really needed a change. My ultimate goal was to have a big floppy fro but it wasn’t growing fast enough for me. But I also really loved short hair so I said while I am young I will cut my hair like I want to. I have plenty of time to grow my hair out. Right now I am just having fun with my hair.
I started getting really good at doing a twist out/ bantu knot combo. But on my lazier days I would wear a high puff sometimes I would add a scarf if I was feeling fancy.
How often do you straighten your hair?
Very rarely do I straighten my hair. I think I have straightened maybe 3 times since I have been natural. It’s just not something I’m interested in doing. Straight hair just seems like so much more work now. Plus I no longer feel special when my hair is straight. I don’t feel like Loren.
Yes, I love color. I have been coloring my hair since I was 15 and I didn’t plan on stopping when I went natural. I say go for it! The key is moisture, moisture, moisture! LOL! Keeping your hair moisturized is so important when you have color!
My style has adjusted. I have more confidence so in my head I feel like I can pull off any style now. Right now I try to add a little African and Caribbean inspired items as much as possible. Also I am working out more not worrying about sweating my relaxer out.
Absolutely NOT!! Not ever!
Do you have a “hair crush?” If so, who?
I have so many hair crushes. Taren Guy! Her hair is AMAZING! All 3 of the Natural Sistas. And in my personal life I have a huge hair crush on my friend Veronica’s hair and her 2 sisters Chevonne and Kelly. All 3 of them have different textures but they are all amazing! Plus I’m bias because they are my friends.
Well I have been stalking your site (of course), Curly Nikki, Taren Guy, all 3 of the Natural Sistas, Afrobella and Naturally Fashionable.
Going natural truly is a life style change so you MUST do you own research. You have to have patience to learn what your hair likes and dislikes. Also having a good dose of confidence is always needed. If you have enough confidence you can do whatever or wear whatever and no one can tell you any different!
I see girls with damaged, broken off, relaxed hair… I just want to tell them that relaxers are not the only option. I was 5 when I got my 1st relaxer and that’s because that is the only thing my mom knew how to do, same for her when she was little. So growing up we never knew what our hair looked like in its natural state. I just want to promote healthy hair weather you choose to be natural or not.
Loren, a big thanks to you for taking the time to share your hair story with my readers and I! One thing I loved that you mentioned is that having a good dose of confidence is needed if you decide to go natural! Just like with your hair, Confidence is needed in anything you want to be successful for very well put!
