Some Hair Stories

New Yorkers on going natural for the first time—and how they take care of their curls, Afros, and locs.

1. Destiny Owusu

Model and influencer, Crown Heights

I was tired of getting my hair done every two weeks in the salon. I also just wanted a fresh new look that would showcase my face and cheekbones more. Since I went natural, I’ve tried two-strand twists, bleaching and dyeing it different colors, and even a buzz cut. When I’m just wearing my natural curls, I wet my hair in the shower every morning so the curls are fresh. I put in some leave-in conditioner, then I run my fingers through it with Eco Style Olive Oil Gel—it makes my set last an entire day.”

2. Tiffany FitzGerald Nonprofit associate director, Clinton Hill

I first went natural in my mid-20s, and I started with an Afro before I had locs. I just got tired of fighting with my hair. I love the way my babies pull my locs, sometimes try to chew on them, and hide behind them when they meet new people. They’re almost like a security blanket. My hair is super-thirsty, but my locs are sensitive to buildup from overusing oils and products, so I mist my locs with rose water every morning.”

3. Starr Graves Makeup artist, Bushwick

I started wearing weaves around 2007. I did that until 2016, when I got a big chop. My hair had thinned out a lot over time, and I just wanted to start over and embrace my hair in its natural state. At first, I really wasn’t doing much to it—I’d wash and condition it and be on my way. Now, I use heated bonnet caps, oils, leave-ins, aloe-vera juice—I use too many products to name.”

4. Chinomso Ononiwu Shift supervisor at a men’s shelter, Downtown Brooklyn

I went natural in 2017. My family would relax it, but it damaged my hair over the years. Now my hair is my crown. My hair’s been in locs for two years. I only retwist my hair every six weeks to two months. Retwisting too much thins out your hair at the roots, and that’s why sometimes people’s locs detach.”

5. Alexis Armstrong College student, Jamaica, Queens

I had several failed attempts at going natural throughout high school. Right when I was making progress, I would go to the Dominican salon to get a blowout. When I was a junior, I decided to officially cut my hair and grow it out. I’ve found that As I Am Leave-In Conditioner does wonders. I’ve tried so many, and I always come back to that one. It’s so moisturizing.”

6. Nneoma Nzeduru

Graduate student, Newark, New Jersey — “When I was 12, I had to cut my hair as a school requirement, and it was not a cute haircut. I remember crying and picking up pieces of my hair from the floor after my barber session. Over the course of six years, I cut my hair about 40 times. The last time I cut it off was in May 2016—after that, I decided I was ready to take control of my hair.

I realized I needed to understand my own porosity and curl pattern and stick to a consistent routine. Once I did that, I was able to navigate my way through the beauty-supply store without feeling overwhelmed.”

7. Michelle Mensah Accounting manager, Bedford-Stuyvesant

I did my first big chop in 2012. In a decade, I’ve had Afros, poofs, twistouts, wash-and-gos, many braided styles, shaved sides, low cute buns, and blowouts. And I embrace the evolution of a single style over time. My twist-outs start very defined. When I wake up and take my bonnet off, my hair’s a little fuller and less defined, so I always say my bed is my comb. Usually by day five, it’s an Afro that I put in a puff and gel the edges down.”

8. Shai Hayes Recording artist, East Orange, New Jersey

I’ve been trying

Cardi B’s DIY hair mask [made from argan oil, mayonnaise, and banana], and it gives great slip when I’m detangling. If I could do it over again, I’d do the big chop—but I went natural by accident. I had been getting relaxers since I was 9, and this one time, I missed my touch-up. After that, I began to notice my curls starting to form at the roots, so I decided not to relax my hair anymore.”

9. Cameron Carr Account manager, Harlem

I started wearing my hair like this during my sophomore year of college. My buddy Adrian gave me a haircut, and I never cut the top again. My hair does well when I embrace it, when I commit to it, love it, hydrate it, and let it flow!”

10. Cynthia St. Juste Voice-over artist and actress, Flatbush

I got my first relaxer when I was 14. I didn’t want to, but my mom said it would be easier. My scalp suffered as a result of the chemicals in the perm, and I had seborrheic dermatitis. I went natural sophomore year in college, and I never went back. I use shea butter made with chébé powder [a mix of herbs from Chad]. It’s been helping with breakage and makes my hair look luxurious.”

11. Jonathan Emanus

Multidisciplinary artist, East New York

— “I shaved my hair off two years ago. I thought it was time to have a full head of natural hair like I always wanted. You know what I’ve learned from it? Patience. From detangling to styling, everything with my hair takes patience. Aunt Jackie’s Don’t Shrink Elongating Curling Gel is my go-to product. I use it for most of my protective styles and to style my eyebrows and sideburns. It’s great overall, and it doesn’t flake. I love my hair more now than I did before. The ’fro’s like my crown, and I like to stunt with it.”