Tell us about yourself.
My name is Maya Sutton, and I’m a 21-year-old student from Raleigh, North Carolina.What made you decide to go natural?
I decided to go natural because really, I knew that I’d be bald by the time I turned 25, if not sooner. Perms did a number on my sensitive scalp. The first time I got a perm, I had scabs the size of quarters all over my head. I also decided to go natural to regain some confidence, and I’d always thought natural styles were cute (although they weren’t in “style” when I loc’d up).I abandoned my tracks, weave glue, and needle for kinky twists. In the beginning of 2006, I started experimenting with two-strand twists that I did on my own…and by April 2006 I grew enough courage to loc my hair.

What made you decide to loc?
I decided to get locs because I wasn’t the average teenager at the time. Everyone I knew either was mixed and had “the hair” or wore weave. Very few girls at my High School had nice hair with perms. I wasn’t too worried about what was on the outside, partially because I never found myself that attractive, so I decided to loc my hair solely for embracing my natural kinks. I’ve had them for 5 years so far and loving every moment of my journey.

What’s your hair routine?
My hair routine consists of washing and conditioning my hair with Carol’s Daughter Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner, or with Taliah Waajid’s Shampoo’s and Conditioners. My hair was originally loc’s with a crochet hook, but in October of 2006 I started palm-rolling my hair which looked much better in my opinion and made my hair thicker and less frizzy. I use the Organic Root Stimulator Lock and Twist Gel. I also use Taliah Waajid’s Healing Oyl for my scalp, and before I add my conditioner i’ll rinse my hair with a diluted bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar to eliminate dandruff. I color my hair maybe once a month or once every two months, and i’ll retwist my hair every 3-4 weeks….and any Jamaican Mango and Lime product is great.. I love their hair sprays.

What are your least favorite products?
My VERY least favorite product is wax. I have a client who, before I started palm-rolling my hair, I would use was to retwist his hair…and every time I would wash it, there would be residue and build-up. Until I started twisting my hair with it is when I truly understood the major difference between using wax and gel. I really love the Organic Root Stimulator Lock and Twist Gel because it has a great hold and does not flake at all. In 2009, I palm-rolled my hair for 2 months but then got frustrated, probably because I was being impatient, and it was also summer time which made me believe that the retwist wouldn’t stay. During that time I was using the Jamaican Mango and Lime locking gel, but I didn’t care for it only because the gel was orange and it stained my fingers and fingernails over a long period of time. lol.

What do you like about being natural
I love the confidence and inner strength and beauty I’ve acquired since being natural. Never do I have to worry about messing up my hair if i’m caught in the rain. I can go swimming when I want, and I’m able to style my own hair in incredible styles. I spend hours upon hours researching locked hairstyles, techniques, and routines on Youtube so I can become a better stylist for myself and for the other heads I do. I think I was limited when I had perms and weaves, but with natural hair, I know that I can be free and not have to worry about a thing.