FEBRUARY FEATURED QUEEN

FEBRUARY CURLY QUEEN: IZZY ANDROMEDA

Generally, the month of February for everybody means the month of love, Valentine's Day. Flowers, chocolates, and date nights are the highlights of this month's celebration for couples. But it doesn't mean that this month is only for people who have partners or lovers. Love doesn't always mean giving a bouquet of flowers, chocolates, surprises, love letters, and a romantic date night. It is about self-love, self-care. Give time for yourself. Meditate. Do some things that you know that can boost your personality. Always believe that you should love yourself first before others.

That's why Curly Queen Kit gives you a special subscription box for this month. And don't forget to mention having a featured queen of the month that would probably share her curly hair journey. Let us all welcome, IZZY ANDROMEDA (@izzy_andromeda)💜! Let us be inspired by her self-love routine. Check her story at Curly Queen Kit Magazine Insert!

Name:

IZZY ANDROMEDA

What is your Social media handle?

@izzy_andromeda

Why do you want to be the Featured Queen and share your story?

You are helping to give a voice and offer quality hair care products to so many people around the globe and encouraging us to love our hair and care for it the best way we can. I think it’s such an amazing opportunity for me to share on this platform and be apart of this community. To be featured means that you see something in me that your audience will love and you really believe in the work that I’m doing. I want to be the featured Queen to share a bit of my story and show my support for persons at different stages of their natural hair journey.

When did you decide to go natural?

My hair texture has never been chemically altered, I’ve been natural my entire life

How would you describe your “Hair Type”?

I would say my hair type is a combination of 4B and 4C, with 4B being at the very front. My hair is of normal density and my individual strands are definitely on the finer side.

What was it like growing up with your hair type?

Growing up, I never ever wanted to straighten my hair and I was so grateful to have a mother that supported my decision and took care of my hair. However, because of my tight coils, I used to dread wash day and getting my hair combed because it was so painful. Regardless, my mom would always come up with some creative hairstyles, always decorated with bubbles, clips, and ribbons that would get everyone’s attention. I was never made to believe my hair was ugly or too hard to handle. As I grew older and started taking care of my hair on my own, I discovered ways and products that would make wash day enjoyable and came up with my own creative styles. Overall, growing up with my hair type was a bit challenging but also enjoyable and very much worth it.

What does a “wash day” look like for you?

A typical wash day is just that- a whole day of washing and using different products for different purposes. I typically start off with shampooing my hair then conditioning. I’ll leave the conditioner in for at least half an hour, but sometimes I end up watching movies or doing chores, and it’s left on my hair for hours. That’s usually followed by a deep conditioner or hair treatment which can take another half hour or more. After deep-conditioning I’ll detangle, rinse then go on to styling my hair. Usually, that means 8-10 chunky twists for the rest of that day or however long it takes me to come up with my next style. At the end of a wash day, I almost always feel accomplished because of all the work I did and knowing my hair is clean and moisturized

What is your perspective on having curly hair?

I think having curly/ kinky/ coily hair can be quite demanding at times. Our hair requires so much attention and care to flourish and many persons simply do not take the time to properly care for their hair. Also, it seems as if wearing our hair in its natural state is something of a rebellious act as we are expected to have our hair perfectly groomed and “laid” at all times. I think there needs to be more love and genuine appreciation for curlier and kinkier textures without having to explain why your hair looks a particular way or defending the fact that your hair is beautiful

What is the first thing you check when you try a new product?

Honestly, the first thing I check is the smell. I have this weird thought in the back of my head that if something smells good it’s gonna work well on my hair (yes, I know this isn’t exactly logical). After the smell, I’ll check for texture- is it thick and creamy or light and runny? I generally prefer when my products are quite thick and have a lot of slip so they can be applied easily to my hair and make detangling and styling easier. The next thing I look for (which usually takes the most time and research) is the ingredients. I like products that have simple, nourishing ingredients so it’s usually a turn off if I can’t even pronounce most of the ingredients on the label

How do you take care of yourself?

This is honestly still a struggle for me most days. I try to eat more regularly and do things that I genuinely enjoy

What are your ways to love yourself?

This is something I’m still working on. One way I show myself love is by allowing myself time to breathe and step away from situations that are draining and put me in a negative headspace. Sometimes this is as simple as having ice cream while rewatching old cartoons, treating myself to a product I’ve had my eyes on, or taking a trip to the beach. Other times it’s much more complex and prolonged

On Valentine's Day, how will you give/spread love to others?

That’s a very good question! For one reason or another, I was never interested or invested in Valentine’s Day, no one in my immediate family was either. I suppose I’ll continue to be kind and caring to those I love like I would any other day of the year

What is your hair length goal? And Why?

Honestly, I used to always imagine my hair being somewhere around my waist. It might be because of social conditioning and being exposed to women from other cultures having long hair from an early age and seeing that as a beauty standard. But I’ve become much more focused on the overall health of my hair than the length so I try to take care of it consistently. I believe that if your hair is healthy it will grow and retain more length.

If you can tell anyone starting their journey health or hair, what would it be? Anything Else To Share?

Try different techniques and products on your hair, don’t think that what seems to work for everyone else will work for you. We’re all so unique and the small differences have a huge impact on how our hair will react to products. Also, be patient- if your hair is damaged it may take a very long time to bring it to optimal health. As you continue along your hair journey, you may encounter roadblocks and feel stuck or discouraged. Experiment with different things, research ingredients, ask for help/ advice, listen to your hair. I’ve been natural my whole life and I’m still trying new things and learning about my hair while enjoying the process. There’s one thing I’d like to add. I really think it’s helpful and fulfilling to learn to do your own hair. I recently started braiding mine (using the rubber band method) and it feels great knowing I can do that myself! Also, it can save so much money, and doing it yourself means you have all the control- no hair-stylists pulling out your edges because the braids are too tight or slipping a relaxer into your conditioner because your hair is “too hard to manage”.I’m still working on other things like flat twists and hopefully one day I’ll be able to do cornrows and feed-in braids but I’m taking it one step at a time and patting myself on the back when I check a new technique or style off my list. I encourage you to do the same.

What is your message to the curly girl's community out there?

To curly girls (and guys) everywhere- love the hair you have! It’s so amazing that you have this wonderful, versatile thing growing from your own scalp. Our hair can be used to portray aspects of our culture and heritage, showcase our creativity, make us look and feel even more beautiful and so much more. Take care of it, experiment with it, appreciate it!