How CurlFest Helped Me Gain a New Appreciation for My Hair

I’ve pretty much always worn my hair natural, that is, I’ve never relaxed or permed it. However, I didn’t always know how to take care of my curls. They used to be undefined, frizzy, and extremely damaged. And I don’t just mean for a short time in my life either — I actually didn’t know how to properly care for my curls until after college.

Since moving to NYC in 2017, which is also the year I attended my first CurlFest, I have been exposed to SO many more naturalistas and curly girls. It has really helped me learn how important it is to care for my curls. Events like CurlFest are not only fun, they’re necessary. And here are a few reasons why:

CurlFest exposes people of color to new (and better) products that are specifically designed for our hair and skin needs.
The festival brings people of color together in a tremendously beautiful way. It allows us to feel pride and excitement for our hair instead of feeling like we need to change it for society.
And it gives us a safe space to be us. Loudly, proudly, and unapologetically.

Now, let’s take a look back to 2017 when I attended my very first CurlFest.

As you can see, my curls were frizzy and undefined. I’m not saying that I didn’t love my hair, I just didn’t treat it the way I should. I used to use cheap shampoos with toxic ingredients, I would brush my curls out, I wouldn’t separate my hair into sections to make sure that the product was applied throughout, and I would straighten it at least once a month. I knew that my curls didn’t look how I wanted them to, but I wasn’t sure how to fix it.

Now, fast forward to two years later. This year, I unintentionally did my hair in the same exact style. And although I’m still rocking some blonde highlights, you can see a drastic change in my curls.

The curl pattern is now more defined, my ends aren’t dry and dead, and it just overall looks and feels better. I finally started researching products and using brands like DevaCurl and Shea Moisture. I follow more natural hair influencers and get tips and tricks from them. I stopped dying and straightening my hair as frequently. And I started using the proper methods; such as combing my hair in the shower, using a microfiber hair towel, and scrunching it from the tips to the roots.

And I owe all of this growth and transformation to three things:

The hair stylists I worked with back at CafeMom: They really took the time to teach me new methods and show me what my curls could look like with the right products. That made a WOLRD of difference.

The beautiful women of color I call my friends: If it wasn’t for me meeting these lovely ladies since moving to New York, I may not have had as much courage to truly embrace myself and everything God has blessed me with. They continue to inspire me with their strength, style, and ambition.

And CurlFest, the place that gave me the kick I needed: When I first attended the festival, I thought I would just be walking around the park to get free samples and take some pictures. But, it was so much more than that. Being in an environment with so many black influencers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and visionaries made me want to embrace my own blackness in a way that I never even realized I needed to. By seeing how other people in my community thrived, it inspired me to do the same.

In the last 2+ years, both my curls and my confidence have come a very long way. And I’m so thankful to God for leading me through this journey. I still have more to learn and more hair products to try, but I’m really proud of how far I’ve come!