In the latest installment of our Natural Hair Diary series, Afrobella.com’s Patrice Greil Yursik profiles Lovette “Luvvie” Ajayi, blogger and co-founder of The Red Pump Project. We’re so loving her sultry, copper-tipped locks!
Natural Woman: Lovette “Luvvie” Ajayi
Age: 26
City: Chicago
Occupation: Co-Founder of The Red Pump Project, Blogger at AwesomelyLuvvie.com
Hair Journey: Luvvie got her first perm at 4 years old. “I guess it was just easier for my mom to manage,” she says. “When Lil Wayne said ‘tougher than Nigerian hair’ he might’ve been describing my hair!” But in college, she began noticing the damaging effects of lifelong chemical treatments. “I’d had bad perms that burned my scalp or made my hair fall out,” she explains. “So, a couple months before graduation, I cut off my permed hair and started rocking a TWA. That was in 2006 and I haven’t looked back!”
Going natural freed Luvvie to try new styles. “I have hair ADD — I can’t wear one style for too long,” she says. “I rocked a fro, twist-outs, cornrows and fro-hawks. And in December ’09, I got locs installed with comb coils.” Luvvie loves the ease of locs. “I wake up, whip them back and forth and go,” she says. “The only time locs require work is every three weeks, when it’s time to wash and re-twist. If I wait any longer than that, I end up with a ‘crouching afro, floating locs’ situation!”
Favorite Products: Suave Daily Clarifying Conditioner ($2, walmart.com), Carol’s Daughter Tui Hair Oil ($8.50, carolsdaughter.com), Organic Root Stimulator Lock & Twist Butter ($3.49, metrobeauty.com), aloe vera gel, extra virgin olive oil
Hair Icons: Lauryn Hill (circa 2000), Brittany Thomas of ClumpsOfMascara.com
Advice to Aspiring Naturals: “Give it a try! You could be pleasantly surprised by your hair journey. Either way, rock your hair confidently and learn to love it.”