My Hair Story - Samantha Saunders

1. Introduce yourself . . .

My name is Samantha Saunders from the Northern Virginia area. I’m a wife and mother and I work as a counselor. I’ve been natural for over 8 years.

2. Are you relaxed, natural, texturized or texlaxed?

Natural

3. What’s your story, how did you get to where you are?

When I was younger, my mom would not allow me to get a relaxer which felt like the longest time. I was natural all the way up to the age of 15.

Back in the day, I saw all the girls at school having a relaxer so I begged my mom to let me have one. A had a relaxer for about 5 years then my hair started breaking and becoming thinner so I decided to Big Chop.

I didn’t have natural hair support when I big chopped so I used blogs and forums to help me in my journey. When my hair started growing a little longer I wore mostly twists. Since it was always twisted, I eventually turned them into locs.

I had a loctician help me for a year then started doing my hair myself. I rocked my locs for 3 years but started to miss my loose hair again. So, I one day asked my husband to help me and we picked each loc out without cutting any locs at all.

Since I had full time work and school at the time it took me nearly a month to get them all out. I wore a hat for over a month, it felt like forever. It’s been about a year and half later since that happened and now I’m rocking my hair in braid outs, twist outs and protective styles.

4. What is your typical weekly regimen?

A typical wash day consists of pre poo of coconut oil* to help me detangle my hair. I separate my hair into 4- 6 sections. After that I use Shea Moisture* JBCO* shampoo and mainly focus on my scalp.

I give myself a scalp massage and work through each section. When I wash that out I use the Shea Moisture* JBCO conditioner to but more moisture in my hair

5. Are you happy with your progress so far?

Yes I’m loving my progress. Even though I’ve been natural for over 8 years I’m still learning more about my hair as it gets longer.

6. What’s your signature style?

Signature styles are two strand twists updos or braid outs.

7. How do you ensure that your ends are protected from the elements and your hands?

I use a lot of protective styles throughout the work week like buns and two strand twists/ updo’s to make sure I’m protected from the elements and my hands.

8. Do you have a goal length or are you more concerned about the health of your hair?

I’m focused on hair health.

9. Is there anything that you hair hates?

My hair doesn’t care too much for wash n go’s. I don’t know if I haven’t found the right method yet or maybe it’s a permanent thing that my hair hates.

10. Do you have any favorite hair products?

I love Shea Moisture JBCO* and Curly product line. Also, I love Tropicle Isle Living JBCO (Jamaican Black Castor Oil*) Protein conditioner it doesn’t smell too nice but it gets the job done to give my hair the strength it needs.

11. Where can we find you online?

You can find me on my upcoming natural hair blog
naturalpowerofher.com or my facebook https://www.facebook.com/naturalpowerofher