As naturalistas, we can all agree that the natural hair journey is not the easiest road to travel. Being a naturalista is more than just being relaxer-free, it’s a newfound identity for some of us. We learn to love ourselves without any enhancements and allow the world to see us for who we are naturally, which is not an easy task.
Ashley Singleton, a Virginia native and natural hair vlogger, can attest to the challenges of the natural hair journey. Ashley began her natural hair journey in 2005 during her senior year of high school, just as she was transitioning into adulthood and preparing for college. In addition to the many discoveries that most teenage girls make about themselves during this period, Ashley found that becoming a naturalista was not as easy as she had hoped. “I remember when my classmate whispered to my friend and told her that my hair was in desperate need of a touch up. After months of transitioning, I decided to convert back to my relaxed hair, so I wouldn’t be teased and I could blend in with the other girls,” she said. After overcoming that discouraging incident, Ashley was more determined than ever to embrace the full experience of transitioning to her natural hair texture, regardless of what people thought or said. She allowed her hair to transition and after graduating from high school, she allowed her stylist to perform the big chop. “This stage of my journey was very hard for me since I never wore short hair before, nor was I ever given the responsibility of maintaining my own hair,” said Ashley.
After five years of growing out her natural hair, Ashley found it difficult to maintain her natural tresses. Since she wasn’t accustomed to taking care of her hair, Ashley didn’t have a clue how to maintain the curls and tangles her natural hair was experiencing. “I had nightmares every night about my tangled natural hair,” said Ashley. She decided that she had enough of her long natural tresses and decided to put a texturizer in her hair to soften her tangled hair. Only months after using the texturizer, Ashley decided that she missed her natural curls and began her transitioning path yet again.
Though Ashley has experienced a few difficulties since becoming natural, she has continued her journey and has loved it ever since. Like many other naturalistas, Ashley became a bit of a self proclaimed “product junky.” She finds herself constantly searching for products that properly treat her dry, Type 3c hair. After extensive research, Ashley discovered Uncle Funky’s Daughter in 2012 through a YouTube vlogger who gave a product review about UFD’S Curly Magic Curl Stimulator. “After trying Curly Magic, I absolutely fell in love with it. This product was definitely a game changer for me,” said Ashley. “I was never able to achieve the perfect Wash-n-Go, but with Curly Magic, I achieved it with no problem.” Not only did Uncle Funky’s Daughter assist Ashley with achieving a Wash-n-Go, but she was also able to bring moisture back to her dry hair with Supercurl Miracle Moisture Crème and Good Hair Conditioning Style Crème. “I love Uncle Funky’s Daughter products because they produce results. These three products have definitely made a difference with my hair,” she said.
Ten years have now passed since Ashley began her natural hair journey. Through all of her bumps and bruises in becoming natural, she is in love with her natural hair more than ever. “I love the ability to just be myself through my natural hair. I no longer care how others feel about my hair, as long as I am satisfied,” she said. “I think about the comment my classmate made about my hair when I was in high school and laugh at how easily persuaded I was. I wish I was more confident about my natural hair then as I am now. If I was, the outcome of that incident would have been very different.”
Ashley enjoys her natural hair so much that she has her own a YouTube vlogger channel called Ashkin Curls where she discusses her hair journey and gives tips and insights about natural hair. “I advise my viewers and other women who are transitioning to never give up on becoming natural because the rewards are far greater than the obstacles they may encounter during their journey. But most of all, they should just have fun with their hair. Explore everything and anything that natural hair brings them,” said Ashley.
1 comment
Ahhh! That’s my hommie Ashley, aka AshkinCurls!!! So happy to see you on the UFD Newsletter and blog! Curly Magic is my favorite and holy grail too!