Im 5 years late to the party, and this is speaking to my heart. As a Dominican, I grew up being told straight hair was the "good" hair. NO ONE around me knew how to properly care for curly hair because everything was done to hide it (braids, relaxers, blow outs, doobies, slicked back, you name it!)! I hated my hair for years and now I'm ready to finally start loving it.
Yasss, siempre me han dicho que tengo "pelo malo" alla en Santo Domingo. I always thought curls were ugly and stuff but I finally learned to love it. Todos en mi familia siempre me preguntan la misma vaina, disque "ay pero pasate el blower" or "te veías mas linda con el relaxer" but i did the big chop anyways.
Nice to see a dominican sister going natural! Those things are changing on the DR, women are starting to wear their hair natural. :) You have gorgeous hair and im going to start the no heat policy too :)
I'm Dominican and I used to have hair like her's but ever since i relaxed it, it's been a turn for the worse. I'm now following my Dominican sisters in going natural and as soon as my hair starts to grow a little more i'm totally using these tips! I'm spreading the message as well to never relax your hair! It's the worse thing ever and i totally regret it!
Seriously dominicans think the only way to have healthy hair is to do rollos and blowdrying it 😂😂 my family would yell at me for having my hair wet and curly and say that its gonna all rot and fall off lol so sad. And theyre so stubborn too D: but eh gotta love our crazy dominican families 😁
Yes! Every day that I wear my hair curly, my dominican family would make comments like "ese afro" lol. They are always trying to get me to blowdry it to make it stay "healthy" when that isn't the case lol.
I know how yall feel. The lady at the salon and my mom would always tell me my hair was dry because I leave it curly and don't blow dry enough. It's about straight hair for them. I'm NOW realizing that crazy ass dominican ladies at the salon don't know JACK when it comes to cutting and styling my curly hair naturally.
K.A Garcia That's Dominicans' view on healthy hair lol that it has to be blowdried sometimes to stay healthy or it will break off. She is proof that you don't have to put any heat to your hair.
Thank you SO MUCH! Watching your videos on curly hair have literally changed my life. I also have heat damage on my curls and watching your videos have encouraged me to care for my hair and to love my curls. I have already gotten all of the dead hair cut off and purchased products from your videos. My hair feels and looks amazing and I have only just begun my journey. I look forward to using your tips and replenishing my hair back to health!
You have really inspired me to go curly again! I'm 17 years old and have been straightening my hair constantly for a year now. It's to the point where I haven't seen my hair curly in ages (besides at the pool, of course!). I can feel the damage I've caused. Your amazing journey has truly given me the courage to try out my natural hair again. Thank you so much! By the way, you are so incredibly beautiful!
This really helped me a lot. I've been on my no heat and going natural journey since the beginning of this year and I'm not giving up. Sometimes I've thought about straightening my hair but I always realize it will just get worse. Coming from a Dominican family, I always had my hair straightened even if I didn't really want to. Know I'm really starting to love my curls! Thanks for this video
I'm 13 and I've been getting relaxers since I was 7 and about a month ago I decided to go natural because I was looking for hair tips because I just hated my hair and I had to cut it twice and it was rlly damaged so I came across all these natural channels and all of you girls have really nice healthy hair and I wanted that so got rid of all my bad products and purchased a lot of recomended things from you and other ppl and I really enjoy doing my haif now and it feels so much betterive been doing braidouts mostly but wish me luck I'm rlly dedicated!
oh my gosh, i agree with every Dominican comment on here! And I know that story is the same for people from many backgrounds, but I know how it is being Dominican myself in a society with white beauty standards.
Thank you so much for sharing this video! I went through heat damaged hair around 4 to 5 years ago, and ever since, I have been using only Shea butter and Shea nut oil, and the damage has gone, thank goodness. And I find it easier with my curls to leave them be. So now, years later, my hair is finally manageable, relatively easy to do, and I don't need to shed any more tears over a bruised scalp, or over the fact that my hair bands keep on snapping. And I didn't even get to cut it until I had been doing the recovery for about 6 months (mum, your fault) but I could see the healthy hair at the roots, and it made me so happy.
You come from a Dominican family? Me too! It is a struggle to get my mom to support me. She blames my curls for my damaged hair but it is from the heat from so many years. Love you and I hope I can learn a lot! Edit: She is a great mom, don't get me wrong, and I would never want to make it seem as not.
Love your video! I am taking on the no heat challenge at the moment and you just gave me confidence to keep moving on It was sad knowing my hair was slowly falling out due to excess heat but I believe now I have the tools and I will succeed in my journey to having healthy hair Thank You
Admire you for going on this journey I have just started mine and am determined to stick it out. I'm thinking of doing braids or twists or up dos while I get new growth and need to experiment with good products and moisturizers. You know your stuff and could have amazingly straight looking hair but all power to you for embracing your natural curls and encouraging others to do the same.
After watching your curly hair routines and seeing your journey, I was inspired to get rid of my damaging sulfate ridden products. I threw out all of my combs and brushes and cut about 8 inches off so that I can begin my journey back to the curls I used to have in high school. I am excited about my journey and your videos are such a big help. Thank you!!!
Ive always had long hair all my life so when i saw my hair half straight theres no way i can consider leaving my hair that long and not be able to style it curly with half straight hair so as much as i didnt want to cut it, the damage was already done, no turning back. if i want to ever hair my long curly hair again the only way to do that is get it healthy. healthy hair grows, leaving my hair damaged and long was not doing me any justice it only made me wanna hide it so once i cut it i was free
Thank you so much! I just recently started my journey with no heat and I must say it is hard! However, you are such and inspiration and have really motivated me to keep going. I am also dominican and I completely understand how it is with our families and how we are made to believe we have to constantly straighten our hair. Before I always believed that we were supposed to straighten our hair, but now I know that my natural curly state is the best way!
your video helped me recover. thank you soooooo much. I used to have dry damaged hair, but I followed your advice and a few steps of my own, and boom, my hair returned. Its not all back to how it used to be, but gosh, its sooo much better. It actually looks like curly hair now lol. Thanks again, you're awesome. :)
hey if you don't like up-do's but your hair is too damaged to just wear naturally, braids saved my life when i was trying to get my curls back. Also, I stopped shampooing and I just used a cleansing conditioner or cleansing cream every 4 days. That, plus the weekly oil treatment or hair mask. Who am i kidding it felt like forever before my hair got back to being healthy lol
you are so awesome! You have convinced me to start my curly hair recovery journey! And i just want to add that you are beautiful inside and out. i can just tell by how cool you are about everything, sharing all this good info with us. thank you!!
Thank you for the video. What I find most stressful and I feel that I struggle the most is to accept my hair as it is. I have no encouragement from family, I feel that colleagues, people from school or work only say things but they don't mean. There is so much racial preconceptions even from myself. I realize how I acted wrong and I try to take a different turn this time, but it's hard. I know now that if we have enough self love then nobody's opinion would or should matter.
I almost cried watching this video. I was really thinking about shaving my hair completely and just start fresh. I too dyed my hair numerous times. You just gave me the strength to just RELAX! And "enjoy the journey". I live in the Bronx and I am also Dominican, I will definitely try that hair salon you mentioned. You're the BOMB! Thanx xoxo
Your vids have helped me out soo much during my journey, ive come to love my natural hair, as a dominican hair is our priority lol, but ive also learned that staying healthy helps alot!! Eating food that are good for you helps tremendously:) thank you alba for the inspiration:)
What if my hair is heat damaged from scalp and half hair is relaxed? (Due to certain circumstances) What should I do then? I don't have the courage to go bald as some suggested. Nor comfortable doing a pixie cut or of that sort. I am Puerto Rican and... My mom has always treated/relaxed my hair and my dad doesn't really appreciate of curly hair. It's like... A huge thing for me and on my own. Ps. Thank you so much for sharing and inspiring. :)
I absolutely loveeee your channel because my hair is very similar to yours. I went through the heat recovery process before I saw this video and we did the exact same steps, I still have more to go in my hair journey, but I absolutely understand what you meant when you mentioned your mother. I am Dominican too and my family nags me all the time for leaving my hair curly and actually liking it. They feel like the "proper"hair, "beautiful" hair is straight just because of their phobia to being similar to African Americans (which we are because it is in Dominican history) but yeah I just wanted to share, you are my insparation!!!
Youre very welcome!! the same way u feel right now is how I felt 2 years ago when I made the decision to stop all heat. I was like "Nope I love my curls too much to continue damaging just because others thinks it looks more presentable than curly hair" I proved so many people wrong and you can too just stick to it and it always gets better never worse. I promise.
I'm going through heat damage right now & I'm 16 yrs old and I don't know what to do & what you said about your Dominican mom is the same thing I say she doesn't understand that having curly hair can be a blessing at times
I recently began recovering from heat damage too. I just wanted to say THANK YOU! You are great inspiration for me. I want to congratulate you, with what you have achieved with your hair. You are gorgeous and those curls really fit you. Now you even look happier compared to your old videos where you straightened your hair. ;) Thank you curly girl! :)
I'm not more so suffering from heat damage but more from a case if IDK why my curls left... I had tight spiral curls from the roots of my hair to the end of my hair, and about a year and half ago they just seem to have disappear, I have been using my diffuser about everyday to define my curls a bit, and box rinses but not alot of them. I'm in need of some serious advice on what I should use to get my curl pattern back to what it use to be. I'm very upset and disappointed that I no longer have them like I use to. I have tried everything Shea Moisture that stuff seems to oily or greasy for my hair.oh yes by the way I have very thin fine curly hair (well I DID have curly hair) I used mane N tail nope... plz help any advice
Yes I know I said I been using my diffuser (duh that's heat) but what I meant by no heat damage I meant no flat ironing, but I don't believe I was using my blow dryer with the diffuser that much to damage it... but IDK if it was that or the box rinses and from the chemicals in them idk any advice would be appreciated
I have been researching tips on how to get my curly hair back and I love your channel. Thanks for the help!! Love seeing a fellow Dominican pursuing her dreams. Keep up the good work!
+Michelle Mejia she has two videos that I can recall on hair updos ideas. search for them in her channel. You will like them, they're very easy and quick to do
(Cont) hair advice and my hair is amazing!! I never want to straighten my hair again. And really, you are the reason for it. Some people don't Luke to share their secrets and you told it all and so yea, sorry this is so long but I really wanted to express to you how much I appreciate these curly hair videos. Thank you thank you!
This video helped me so much, thank you! I have really curly hair, but now my front pieces are straight because of heat damage. Now I don't use heat at all and my hair is starting to grow an my curls are comming back slowly, I love your channel! Love from the Netherlands
It was so nice meeting you on sat at IMATS! You are gorg and I love your simplicity.I hope to get my hair to the state it needs to be, I used to dye my hair blonde and browns but now I did a ombrered so I grow out my hair (thanx for complimenting on my hair). I've been watching your videos since the beginning and I love to see you succeed and I hope nothing but the best in whatever you wish to accomplish! I hope to soon start doing some videos and I wish you can kindof mentor me in whatever way
Ive been watching you since like forever. Love you and your videos even more proud to be dominican. Ive also started a channel similar with some tips hair tutorial diys and all that jazz. Itde be nice if you guys checked it out and let me know
Yes! Watching your videos has made me realize that my hair is truly suffering from heat damage. The front of my hair is almost bone straight and the back is curly. I'm slowly trying to get my hair back to its natural state. Thanks for all your advice and help see you at IMATS!
This is amazing you have just lifted my hopes!!! Coming from a dominican family curls is all i know, and my hair is literally straight like chinese hair i did a bold cut (hair was almost past my boob area now above shoulders) and i still have heat damage. Im going to follow along your videos to finally bring my hair back to its ethnic and natural way!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!
I caved about a week ago and straightened my hair for my friend's party and mother's day. It's still straight now but I'm washing my hair tomorrow and I'm going to try to get on the No heat band wagon. I want my curls to be as healthy and curly as it was when I was 2. Love ya Alba!
Deja Clay your ends will keep splitting higher and higher if you do. Just get a small trim and do a small trim every month and it will help a lot and slowly get rid of all the damaged hair without really getting rid of that much length
You're amazing and you've inspired me to go natural. I have really bad heat damage from all this flat ironing. So, I love this! Keep doing what you're doing you're much appreciated! WITH LOVE from Switzerland
ladama I came from California to "frizzy humid land in Texas. My niece said just the heat and humidity of Texas can give you dry damaged hair. Do you find that true? My hair at the ends are straight. I haven't relaxed my hair since 2008. I do however, blow dry and flat iron my hair to trim it. Can just once every two months damage hair that quickly? That in addition to the Texas climate? If so, I will throw out my blow dryer, flat iron and curling irons immediately. I have 3c hair in the crown forward and 4a from the crown back. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Love your hair!
DanDan Hayles wow sorry I don't get emails from RUclips. I am going through a hard time with my hair. But your comment made me realize something. Your niece is right. My hair is so dry. In part because I don't condition it well (never really had to in NYC)..
DanDan Hayles have you noticed how you can drink water and as soon as you go out you feel super dry? As if Texas just sucked all the h2o from you??? That's because Texas does do that, imagine to your hair. Candyluna@Gmail.com
My friend showed me your channel today and thank for helping all us curly girls out there. I have always hated my hair and was always picked in for it. It was big, frizzy and definitely different from everyone else's. I cut it to a pixie cut in high school and religiously relaxed it, because I didn't know how to manage it, and I have kept it short since. Just a few months ago I have started growing my hair back out to its natural state. Now I have about a 5" long Mohawk (I'm lucky my hair grows really fast). I still have some damage but now I know to take care my hair and love it for what it is. Thank you for everything. :)
Alba is a great resource for type 3 hair! I'm caucasian and have looked everywhere for help with my own type 3 curls. Her advice, techniques and guidelines are clear, direct and helpful. Better than nearly anything I have found. Thank you Alba! You look so gorgeous with those healthy, natural curls. Just stunning!
Awesome video! Your hair really changed. I've been having heat damage for about 7 months. It's getting better, but hopefully I get there soon. Thank you for sharing this with us :)
I love your hair! I have naturally curly hair and I am trying to embrace it with love because I like straight hair but I just start on my healthy hair journey a week ago and I am loving it so far. My goal is to go w/out heat for a year. :)
I dont dye my hair at all because thats what gave me my first damage then I continued to use heat after dyeing and it gave me even more damage. so No dyeing no heat!
Thank you so much for this video! I have a wavy, curly bob and am trying to get as much of the curl back that I used to have. It's probably going to take a long time since I have been using heat on my hair for as long as I can remember. I've just never been satisfied with my natural hair until about a month ago. So no more irons and heat on my hair and hopefully my hair will get curlier again!
when ur hair no longer curls in the same definition and it seems to be curly on certain sections then straight or wavy in others it most likely heat damage
This is so inspiring! I have gone almost 4 weeks without using any heat which is SUCH a big deal for me because I have straightened it for years. I am letting my natural colour grow out and I am going to try to leave it naturally curly this year.
Alba!! I would truely like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your hair advice. It has changed my life. Sounds crazy but you have no idea. I was blessed with beautiful curly hair and took it for granted. I always got compliments on my curls but I was surrounded by women with straight or wavy hair which made me feel that I needed to have hair like them.... Long story short, I ruined my hair from heat damage. As an adult, I love my curly hair and I have been following all of your
I've been on this journey for almost a year & a half now & have noticed some improvements but was still unhappy because my hair had not recovered completely. You are so inspirational because now I look at my hair with a new light. I have started to enjoy this journey more just like you said & I'm already noticing a difference that I never noticed before. Thank you so much!
Great advice! I cut of my loooong damaged hair to pixie in January. Now I'm trying to keep them as healthy as possible. I want my long hair back, but I know that's more important to have healthy hair :D Patience, patience... BTW - You remind me so much of Annie Jaffrey :)
My grandmother told me to embrace my hair ! And hence I am following everything your saying , this really helps with building more self confidence ! In a world of straight hair
Love this. Thanks so much! After I had my daughter almost 5 months ago I went crazy with heat and bleach and colors. I regret it so much. Although I love the straight with curls look I miss my healthy curly hair I had when I was younger and I've been trying to figure out how to get it all back! This was great ! #Patience
I have tears in my eyes !! I see how much your hair ha changed and even the cultural influence, my family never knew how to handle my hair ! I am so grateful I found you ! I am new subscriber , I am glade I found a sister who can guide me !! Sending love from Canada !!!
You don't know how much you helped! My friend totally fried my hair and it is still straight 3 weeks after and two washes😕 I had to hop on RUclips to find a solution and here you are! Thank You!
I finally have someone who understands heat damage hair. I have been searching for year. My hair is badly damaged been straightening my hair to please my mom ( Dominican who hates her curly hair) since I was young I had beautiful long curly hair. But now it's bad and damage. Thank you so much. I really needed this.
its in my deep conditioning video. I wrap with plastic and my heat is trapped in the plastic naturally from ur own body. no artificial heat is required.
I have been following your hair routine for about two months....All the oils and products you use and I have to say my curly have never been better...The fact that I can touch my hair with a chuck coming makes me happy....Thank you so much....
yes its cut dry and curled naturally. so if i stretch out the bang its actually up to my chin it just shrinks up the way u see it. thats the beauty of dry cutting curly technique
Thanks so much for this vid!! My hair is exactly how yours was in 2011.. I thought that I couldnt get my curls back but you gave me hope:) thank you so much your my inspiration |
by no heat i mean no appliances that are applying artificial heat on ur hair. u can still diffuse without heat if ur blow dryer has a cool setting as an option because diffusing on warm or hot air can still add damage and cause more frizz because the air is hot. but cold air prevents frizz doesnt add frizz.
Devachan changed my life... I live in Oklahoma but I went there on my own naturally curly hair journey. It was so lovely to be around only curlies! LOVE LOVE LOVE your videos and Devacurl!
it started with a Red Hair dye, then I diffused with hot heat and then straightened and then dyed again and straightened all in 1-2 months. U can still diffuse especially if ur dryer has a cold setting is perfect because cold air prevents frizz and no damage. heat caused frizz, dryness, and damage that can alter natural form of hair
Natural is a beautiful thing. I too feel that it is all about a persons right to choose but I believe more that working against your hair is not a good thing when it's done in excess. It took me over 30 years to appreciate my curly hair. Preach girl!
no issues to worry about because the reason I dyed it black is because it was red. so inorder to get rid of the red and never dye it again i had to dye it black so as my hair grows out the red is concealed and the black blends in with my own hair color. now i have about 2-3 inches of old dye that is slightly reddish black on the tips but it actually looks awesome because it looks like I have ombre hair on my ends
I'm half Dominican and half British and went through a horrible time with my hair. I have curly hair but My mom which is Dominican wanted my hair to be straight. While I was in DR the salon relaxed my hair with a really strong product. My hair had been bleached at the time so this made my hair super bad. I've been upset for years because I lost my curls and have desperately been trying to find help with my hair. This video really helped. Gracias Alba!
your honestly my inspiration to grow my natrual curly hair back, i hated it soo much i straightened it everyday now the ends are all dead but now by watching you i really want it back :D your awesome keep it up:)
Hi SunKissAlba, I've been natural for over 10yrs but I've only been heat free from October 2012 to the present April 2013 and counting. I was losing a ton of hair every time I touched it, no joke. But since I've stop blowing drying and flat-ironing my hair...my hair has completely stop shedding for almost two months now and I am so thrill! Thank Jesus!. Having fine hair and being older is not a good combo, but I am working with what I have for now and praying for the best outcome. Thank you!
I just found you on RUclips, girl!!!! You are absolutely amazing!!! I love your videos, your style, your way of thinking!!! Keep doing what you're doing!!! You're a star!!! :)
I had my big chop this February towards my natural curly journey. I decided to straighten my hair for the winter which turned out to be a nightmare because I no longer had curls. I've been following your videos about recover and had my very own appointment at the diva chun salon today. The experience was fabulousm. I learned a great deal about my hair and the right products for my hair. Even though I had to cut my hair again, it was a lesson learned so than you for the advice.. ; ))
yeah hair dyes and heat can chemically alter the structure of ur hair giving the same result as heat damage because it fries and kills hair's protein changing the definition of ur hair so you would need the same recovery as heat damage and either stop coloring and bleaching ur hair or use a safer dye without harsh chemicals like they use at the devachan salon
Women empowering women! You are amazing. Not every woman likes to give their "secrets," for healthy hair, but you (and a few others) are different. Thank you for posting videos and giving motivating messages! It really does help!
I'm so glad I've found your channel!! I'm just starting to wear my hair curly so it hopefully becomes healthy again and you've inspired me so much!! Xxxx
I love that you embrace you curly hair! When straight hair girls want curly hair and curly hair girls want straight hair, your happy with yours! I admire that
all the tips are universal for all hair types even if its not curly. No heat, patience and moisturizing products are the ultimate way to recovery and hair damage
I do the pineapple method to sleep which is basically a high non tied ponytail at the top front part of ur head or just leave it loose but what helps most is sleeping on satin pillow case instead of cotton because satin pillow cases dont tug or rip hair out like cotton would. cotton dries and strips hair and satin does not and satin also prevents wrinkles on ur face and doesnt remove moisture
theres more benefits of doing updos then doing a sew in because a sew in is manipulating ur scalp and not allowing a regular blood circulation. Updos and protective styling does the same thing without damaging ur scalp circulation because it tucks hair away without harm
yep. as I said in the video i got rid of all straighteners and heat appliances and learned to style and care for my hair without relying on any heat and soon it just became so easy not hard at all for me :)
OMG thank you. Ive been looking for a tutorial for recovering my hair from all the heat damage and i like yours the best. Thank you! Cant wait to see what my hair will look like.
when I use coconut oil I like the smell but i dont use it to wear it out or leave on as a styler I only use it to deep condition or finger detangle and scalp massage not to leave on as a styler as u can see in my 2 videos mentioned
Im 5 years late to the party, and this is speaking to my heart. As a Dominican, I grew up being told straight hair was the "good" hair. NO ONE around me knew how to properly care for curly hair because everything was done to hide it (braids, relaxers, blow outs, doobies, slicked back, you name it!)! I hated my hair for years and now I'm ready to finally start loving it.
Yasss, siempre me han dicho que tengo "pelo malo" alla en Santo Domingo. I always thought curls were ugly and stuff but I finally learned to love it. Todos en mi familia siempre me preguntan la misma vaina, disque "ay pero pasate el blower" or "te veías mas linda con el relaxer" but i did the big chop anyways.
Nice to see a dominican sister going natural! Those things are changing on the DR, women are starting to wear their hair natural. :) You have gorgeous hair and im going to start the no heat policy too :)
I'm Dominican and I used to have hair like her's but ever since i relaxed it, it's been a turn for the worse. I'm now following my Dominican sisters in going natural and as soon as my hair starts to grow a little more i'm totally using these tips!
I'm spreading the message as well to never relax your hair! It's the worse thing ever and i totally regret it!
Seriously dominicans think the only way to have healthy hair is to do rollos and blowdrying it 😂😂 my family would yell at me for having my hair wet and curly and say that its gonna all rot and fall off lol so sad. And theyre so stubborn too D: but eh gotta love our crazy dominican families 😁
Yes! Every day that I wear my hair curly, my dominican family would make comments like "ese afro" lol. They are always trying to get me to blowdry it to make it stay "healthy" when that isn't the case lol.
I know how yall feel. The lady at the salon and my mom would always tell me my hair was dry because I leave it curly and don't blow dry enough. It's about straight hair for them. I'm NOW realizing that crazy ass dominican ladies at the salon don't know JACK when it comes to cutting and styling my curly hair naturally.
OMG so true !
Actually you're suppose to blow dry your hair every once in a while! You're hair ends up breaking especially at the top and in the middle
K.A Garcia That's Dominicans' view on healthy hair lol that it has to be blowdried sometimes to stay healthy or it will break off. She is proof that you don't have to put any heat to your hair.
Thank you SO MUCH! Watching your videos on curly hair have literally changed my life. I also have heat damage on my curls and watching your videos have encouraged me to care for my hair and to love my curls. I have already gotten all of the dead hair cut off and purchased products from your videos. My hair feels and looks amazing and I have only just begun my journey. I look forward to using your tips and replenishing my hair back to health!
I absolutely love being hispanic and black. Boricuas!!!
You have really inspired me to go curly again! I'm 17 years old and have been straightening my hair constantly for a year now. It's to the point where I haven't seen my hair curly in ages (besides at the pool, of course!). I can feel the damage I've caused. Your amazing journey has truly given me the courage to try out my natural hair again. Thank you so much! By the way, you are so incredibly beautiful!
This really helped me a lot. I've been on my no heat and going natural journey since the beginning of this year and I'm not giving up. Sometimes I've thought about straightening my hair but I always realize it will just get worse. Coming from a Dominican family, I always had my hair straightened even if I didn't really want to. Know I'm really starting to love my curls! Thanks for this video
I'm 13 and I've been getting relaxers since I was 7 and about a month ago I decided to go natural because I was looking for hair tips because I just hated my hair and I had to cut it twice and it was rlly damaged so I came across all these natural channels and all of you girls have really nice healthy hair and I wanted that so got rid of all my bad products and purchased a lot of recomended things from you and other ppl and I really enjoy doing my haif now and it feels so much betterive been doing braidouts mostly but wish me luck I'm rlly dedicated!
Its been 2 years!! How's your hair now?
So happy for you!!
How yoir hair doing girl?
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oh my gosh, i agree with every Dominican comment on here! And I know that story is the same for people from many backgrounds, but I know how it is being Dominican myself in a society with white beauty standards.
Thank you so much for sharing this video! I went through heat damaged hair around 4 to 5 years ago, and ever since, I have been using only Shea butter and Shea nut oil, and the damage has gone, thank goodness. And I find it easier with my curls to leave them be. So now, years later, my hair is finally manageable, relatively easy to do, and I don't need to shed any more tears over a bruised scalp, or over the fact that my hair bands keep on snapping. And I didn't even get to cut it until I had been doing the recovery for about 6 months (mum, your fault) but I could see the healthy hair at the roots, and it made me so happy.
You come from a Dominican family? Me too! It is a struggle to get my mom to support me. She blames my curls for my damaged hair but it is from the heat from so many years. Love you and I hope I can learn a lot! Edit: She is a great mom, don't get me wrong, and I would never want to make it seem as not.
my mom does the same it annoys me so much, she even thinks conditioner is something the beauty industry made up to get money out of stupid people???
same !
Love your video! I am taking on the no heat challenge at the moment and you just gave me confidence to keep moving on It was sad knowing my hair was slowly falling out due to excess heat but I believe now I have the tools and I will succeed in my journey to having healthy hair Thank You
I'm on my heat damage journey rn and it's a struggle for real😩
especially the stage where it's half straight and half curly. :(
Admire you for going on this journey I have just started mine and am determined to stick it out. I'm thinking of doing braids or twists or up dos while I get new growth and need to experiment with good products and moisturizers. You know your stuff and could have amazingly straight looking hair but all power to you for embracing your natural curls and encouraging others to do the same.
You look like a modern version of that girl that played in the Michael Jackson music video, "The Way You Make Me Feel."
That is a compliment.
Oh
This is so true
After watching your curly hair routines and seeing your journey, I was inspired to get rid of my damaging sulfate ridden products. I threw out all of my combs and brushes and cut about 8 inches off so that I can begin my journey back to the curls I used to have in high school. I am excited about my journey and your videos are such a big help. Thank you!!!
Ive always had long hair all my life so when i saw my hair half straight theres no way i can consider leaving my hair that long and not be able to style it curly with half straight hair so as much as i didnt want to cut it, the damage was already done, no turning back. if i want to ever hair my long curly hair again the only way to do that is get it healthy. healthy hair grows, leaving my hair damaged and long was not doing me any justice it only made me wanna hide it so once i cut it i was free
Thank you so much! I just recently started my journey with no heat and I must say it is hard! However, you are such and inspiration and have really motivated me to keep going. I am also dominican and I completely understand how it is with our families and how we are made to believe we have to constantly straighten our hair. Before I always believed that we were supposed to straighten our hair, but now I know that my natural curly state is the best way!
You changed my point of view of beauty Alba, I am so thankful. I learn to love my self and my curls, thank you honey. Te quiero
+Rawaa DKH That's so nice to hear. Happy for you :)
your video helped me recover. thank you soooooo much. I used to have dry damaged hair, but I followed your advice and a few steps of my own, and boom, my hair returned. Its not all back to how it used to be, but gosh, its sooo much better. It actually looks like curly hair now lol. Thanks again, you're awesome. :)
hey if you don't like up-do's but your hair is too damaged to just wear naturally, braids saved my life when i was trying to get my curls back. Also, I stopped shampooing and I just used a cleansing conditioner or cleansing cream every 4 days. That, plus the weekly oil treatment or hair mask.
Who am i kidding it felt like forever before my hair got back to being healthy lol
stephanie santos hey! what kind of cleansing conditioner/cream do you use?
you are so awesome! You have convinced me to start my curly hair recovery journey! And i just want to add that you are beautiful inside and out. i can just tell by how cool you are about everything, sharing all this good info with us. thank you!!
Thank you for the video. What I find most stressful and I feel that I struggle the most is to accept my hair as it is. I have no encouragement from family, I feel that colleagues, people from school or work only say things but they don't mean. There is so much racial preconceptions even from myself. I realize how I acted wrong and I try to take a different turn this time, but it's hard. I know now that if we have enough self love then nobody's opinion would or should matter.
You stay strong, Viviane, and keep confident that your hair is a gorgeous extension of your good heart.
I almost cried watching this video. I was really thinking about shaving my hair completely and just start fresh. I too dyed my hair numerous times. You just gave me the strength to just RELAX! And "enjoy the journey". I live in the Bronx and I am also Dominican, I will definitely try that hair salon you mentioned. You're the BOMB! Thanx xoxo
you're gorgeous and your hair is literally flawless
Your vids have helped me out soo much during my journey, ive come to love my natural hair, as a dominican hair is our priority lol, but ive also learned that staying healthy helps alot!! Eating food that are good for you helps tremendously:) thank you alba for the inspiration:)
What if my hair is heat damaged from scalp and half hair is relaxed? (Due to certain circumstances) What should I do then? I don't have the courage to go bald as some suggested. Nor comfortable doing a pixie cut or of that sort.
I am Puerto Rican and... My mom has always treated/relaxed my hair and my dad doesn't really appreciate of curly hair. It's like... A huge thing for me and on my own.
Ps.
Thank you so much for sharing and inspiring. :)
I absolutely loveeee your channel because my hair is very similar to yours. I went through the heat recovery process before I saw this video and we did the exact same steps, I still have more to go in my hair journey, but I absolutely understand what you meant when you mentioned your mother. I am Dominican too and my family nags me all the time for leaving my hair curly and actually liking it. They feel like the "proper"hair, "beautiful" hair is straight just because of their phobia to being similar to African Americans (which we are because it is in Dominican history) but yeah I just wanted to share, you are my insparation!!!
My hair got so heat damaged that it went frizz instead of being straight hair down to my ears then big ringlets
Jordyn Menadue Same EXACT thing😲😲😲😲😲😲OMG I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE😲😱😱😱😱😱
Youre very welcome!! the same way u feel right now is how I felt 2 years ago when I made the decision to stop all heat. I was like "Nope I love my curls too much to continue damaging just because others thinks it looks more presentable than curly hair" I proved so many people wrong and you can too just stick to it and it always gets better never worse. I promise.
I'm going through heat damage right now & I'm 16 yrs old and I don't know what to do & what you said about your Dominican mom is the same thing I say she doesn't understand that having curly hair can be a blessing at times
Hey I went through heat damage too, if you wanted more tips you should check out my channel. I'd love to help you! (:
Siaa oh ok thank you I will 🤙🏽
I would like your help
arlyn martinez of course!
arlyn martinez check out curlypenny channel! she helped me a LOT
I recently began recovering from heat damage too. I just wanted to say THANK YOU! You are great inspiration for me. I want to congratulate you, with what you have achieved with your hair. You are gorgeous and those curls really fit you. Now you even look happier compared to your old videos where you straightened your hair. ;) Thank you curly girl! :)
I'm not more so suffering from heat damage but more from a case if IDK why my curls left... I had tight spiral curls from the roots of my hair to the end of my hair, and about a year and half ago they just seem to have disappear, I have been using my diffuser about everyday to define my curls a bit, and box rinses but not alot of them. I'm in need of some serious advice on what I should use to get my curl pattern back to what it use to be. I'm very upset and disappointed that I no longer have them like I use to. I have tried everything Shea Moisture that stuff seems to oily or greasy for my hair.oh yes by the way I have very thin fine curly hair (well I DID have curly hair) I used mane N tail nope... plz help any advice
Yes I know I said I been using my diffuser (duh that's heat) but what I meant by no heat damage I meant no flat ironing, but I don't believe I was using my blow dryer with the diffuser that much to damage it... but IDK if it was that or the box rinses and from the chemicals in them idk any advice would be appreciated
I have been researching tips on how to get my curly hair back and I love your channel. Thanks for the help!! Love seeing a fellow Dominican pursuing her dreams. Keep up the good work!
How did you style your hair when it was damaged?
2 word: Updos & Treatments :)
+SunKissAlba what updo's did you do? I need some ideas!
+Michelle Mejia she has two videos that I can recall on hair updos ideas. search for them in her channel. You will like them, they're very easy and quick to do
(Cont) hair advice and my hair is amazing!! I never want to straighten my hair again. And really, you are the reason for it. Some people don't Luke to share their secrets and you told it all and so yea, sorry this is so long but I really wanted to express to you how much I appreciate these curly hair videos. Thank you thank you!
These are awesome tips! I've been trying to get my curl pattern back after bleaching -_-. You're so very helpful!
This video helped me so much, thank you! I have really curly hair, but now my front pieces are straight because of heat damage. Now I don't use heat at all and my hair is starting to grow an my curls are comming back slowly, I love your channel! Love from the Netherlands
So how do you get your curls back after years of heat damage. Video won't open. I have half curly half straight. . ..literally driving me mad :(
It was so nice meeting you on sat at IMATS! You are gorg and I love your simplicity.I hope to get my hair to the state it needs to be, I used to dye my hair blonde and browns but now I did a ombrered so I grow out my hair (thanx for complimenting on my hair). I've been watching your videos since the beginning and I love to see you succeed and I hope nothing but the best in whatever you wish to accomplish! I hope to soon start doing some videos and I wish you can kindof mentor me in whatever way
Ive been watching you since like forever. Love you and your videos even more proud to be dominican. Ive also started a channel similar with some tips hair tutorial diys and all that jazz. Itde be nice if you guys checked it out and let me know
Yes! Watching your videos has made me realize that my hair is truly suffering from heat damage. The front of my hair is almost bone straight and the back is curly. I'm slowly trying to get my hair back to its natural state. Thanks for all your advice and help see you at IMATS!
Oh my god, when I detangle my hair in the shower, is scary.
This is amazing you have just lifted my hopes!!! Coming from a dominican family curls is all i know, and my hair is literally straight like chinese hair i did a bold cut (hair was almost past my boob area now above shoulders) and i still have heat damage. Im going to follow along your videos to finally bring my hair back to its ethnic and natural way!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!
Do you have videos on how you cut your hair?
I love your videos. It helped me embrace my curls more. I haven't straightened my hair for almost 2 months and I'm always getting compliments.
Definitely will. Thank u ur the best!
I caved about a week ago and straightened my hair for my friend's party and mother's day. It's still straight now but I'm washing my hair tomorrow and I'm going to try to get on the No heat band wagon. I want my curls to be as healthy and curly as it was when I was 2. Love ya Alba!
hey is it possible to just let it grow out w\o cutting it at all?
Deja Clay your ends will keep splitting higher and higher if you do. Just get a small trim and do a small trim every month and it will help a lot and slowly get rid of all the damaged hair without really getting rid of that much length
You're amazing and you've inspired me to go natural. I have really bad heat damage from all this flat ironing. So, I love this! Keep doing what you're doing you're much appreciated!
WITH LOVE from Switzerland
pareces una barbie
Funny PinKunny ikr
Your hair looks amazing like this!! You should style it this way again!
Subscribing to you, one reason being is that you are Dominican.
Missing you all in NYC from frizzy humid land in Texas .
ladama I came from California to "frizzy humid land in Texas. My niece said just the heat and humidity of Texas can give you dry damaged hair. Do you find that true? My hair at the ends are straight. I haven't relaxed my hair since 2008. I do however, blow dry and flat iron my hair to trim it. Can just once every two months damage hair that quickly? That in addition to the Texas climate? If so, I will throw out my blow dryer, flat iron and curling irons immediately. I have 3c hair in the crown forward and 4a from the crown back. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Love your hair!
ladama
DanDan Hayles wow sorry I don't get emails from RUclips. I am going through a hard time with my hair. But your comment made me realize something. Your niece is right. My hair is so dry. In part because I don't condition it well (never really had to in NYC)..
DanDan Hayles have you noticed how you can drink water and as soon as you go out you feel super dry? As if Texas just sucked all the h2o from you??? That's because Texas does do that, imagine to your hair. Candyluna@Gmail.com
My friend showed me your channel today and thank for helping all us curly girls out there. I have always hated my hair and was always picked in for it. It was big, frizzy and definitely different from everyone else's. I cut it to a pixie cut in high school and religiously relaxed it, because I didn't know how to manage it, and I have kept it short since. Just a few months ago I have started growing my hair back out to its natural state. Now I have about a 5" long Mohawk (I'm lucky my hair grows really fast). I still have some damage but now I know to take care my hair and love it for what it is. Thank you for everything. :)
Alba is a great resource for type 3 hair! I'm caucasian and have looked everywhere for help with my own type 3 curls. Her advice, techniques and guidelines are clear, direct and helpful. Better than nearly anything I have found. Thank you Alba! You look so gorgeous with those healthy, natural curls. Just stunning!
Awesome video! Your hair really changed. I've been having heat damage for about 7 months. It's getting better, but hopefully I get there soon. Thank you for sharing this with us :)
I love your hair! I have naturally curly hair and I am trying to embrace it with love because I like straight hair but I just start on my healthy hair journey a week ago and I am loving it so far. My goal is to go w/out heat for a year. :)
I dont dye my hair at all because thats what gave me my first damage then I continued to use heat after dyeing and it gave me even more damage. so No dyeing no heat!
Thank you so much for this video! I have a wavy, curly bob and am trying to get as much of the curl back that I used to have. It's probably going to take a long time since I have been using heat on my hair for as long as I can remember. I've just never been satisfied with my natural hair until about a month ago. So no more irons and heat on my hair and hopefully my hair will get curlier again!
when ur hair no longer curls in the same definition and it seems to be curly on certain sections then straight or wavy in others it most likely heat damage
This is so inspiring! I have gone almost 4 weeks without using any heat which is SUCH a big deal for me because I have straightened it for years. I am letting my natural colour grow out and I am going to try to leave it naturally curly this year.
keep up the good work! im recovering from heat damage too. im glad i realized it before it was to late!!
Alba!! I would truely like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your hair advice. It has changed my life. Sounds crazy but you have no idea. I was blessed with beautiful curly hair and took it for granted. I always got compliments on my curls but I was surrounded by women with straight or wavy hair which made me feel that I needed to have hair like them.... Long story short, I ruined my hair from heat damage. As an adult, I love my curly hair and I have been following all of your
Absolutely loved this video. Thank you for taking the time to make it and for helping me embrace my natural curls! :)
I've been on this journey for almost a year & a half now & have noticed some improvements but was still unhappy because my hair had not recovered completely. You are so inspirational because now I look at my hair with a new light. I have started to enjoy this journey more just like you said & I'm already noticing a difference that I never noticed before. Thank you so much!
Great advice! I cut of my loooong damaged hair to pixie in January. Now I'm trying to keep them as healthy as possible. I want my long hair back, but I know that's more important to have healthy hair :D Patience, patience...
BTW - You remind me so much of Annie Jaffrey :)
My grandmother told me to embrace my hair ! And hence I am following everything your saying , this really helps with building more self confidence ! In a world of straight hair
Love this. Thanks so much! After I had my daughter almost 5 months ago I went crazy with heat and bleach and colors. I regret it so much. Although I love the straight with curls look I miss my healthy curly hair I had when I was younger and I've been trying to figure out how to get it all back! This was great ! #Patience
I have tears in my eyes !! I see how much your hair ha changed and even the cultural influence, my family never knew how to handle my hair ! I am so grateful I found you ! I am new subscriber , I am glade I found a sister who can guide me !! Sending love from Canada !!!
You don't know how much you helped! My friend totally fried my hair and it is still straight 3 weeks after and two washes😕 I had to hop on RUclips to find a solution and here you are! Thank You!
I finally have someone who understands heat damage hair. I have been searching for year. My hair is badly damaged been straightening my hair to please my mom ( Dominican who hates her curly hair) since I was young I had beautiful long curly hair. But now it's bad and damage. Thank you so much. I really needed this.
its in my deep conditioning video. I wrap with plastic and my heat is trapped in the plastic naturally from ur own body. no artificial heat is required.
I thank you so much for existing on RUclips (:
I cant wait to start my journey of going back to my natural and curly hair, this helps out soo much (:
My journey has just started, you are super duper helpful and real, can't wait to get my curls fully back! Thx girl :)
I have been following your hair routine for about two months....All the oils and products you use and I have to say my curly have never been better...The fact that I can touch my hair with a chuck coming makes me happy....Thank you so much....
yes its cut dry and curled naturally. so if i stretch out the bang its actually up to my chin it just shrinks up the way u see it. thats the beauty of dry cutting curly technique
I'm Excited To Get Started (: Thank You For Making This Video! Can't Wait To Get My Curls Back!
Thanks so much for this vid!! My hair is exactly how yours was in 2011.. I thought that I couldnt get my curls back but you gave me hope:) thank you so much your my inspiration |
by no heat i mean no appliances that are applying artificial heat on ur hair. u can still diffuse without heat if ur blow dryer has a cool setting as an option because diffusing on warm or hot air can still add damage and cause more frizz because the air is hot. but cold air prevents frizz doesnt add frizz.
Devachan changed my life... I live in Oklahoma but I went there on my own naturally curly hair journey. It was so lovely to be around only curlies! LOVE LOVE LOVE your videos and Devacurl!
it started with a Red Hair dye, then I diffused with hot heat and then straightened and then dyed again and straightened all in 1-2 months. U can still diffuse especially if ur dryer has a cold setting is perfect because cold air prevents frizz and no damage. heat caused frizz, dryness, and damage that can alter natural form of hair
Natural is a beautiful thing. I too feel that it is all about a persons right to choose but I believe more that working against your hair is not a good thing when it's done in excess. It took me over 30 years to appreciate my curly hair. Preach girl!
no issues to worry about because the reason I dyed it black is because it was red. so inorder to get rid of the red and never dye it again i had to dye it black so as my hair grows out the red is concealed and the black blends in with my own hair color. now i have about 2-3 inches of old dye that is slightly reddish black on the tips but it actually looks awesome because it looks like I have ombre hair on my ends
I'm half Dominican and half British and went through a horrible time with my hair. I have curly hair but My mom which is Dominican wanted my hair to be straight. While I was in DR the salon relaxed my hair with a really strong product. My hair had been bleached at the time so this made my hair super bad. I've been upset for years because I lost my curls and have desperately been trying to find help with my hair. This video really helped. Gracias Alba!
your honestly my inspiration to grow my natrual curly hair back, i hated it soo much i straightened it everyday now the ends are all dead but now by watching you i really want it back :D your awesome keep it up:)
Hi SunKissAlba, I've been natural for over 10yrs but I've only been heat free from October 2012 to the present April 2013 and counting. I was losing a ton of hair every time I touched it, no joke. But since I've stop blowing drying and flat-ironing my hair...my hair has completely stop shedding for almost two months now and I am so thrill! Thank Jesus!. Having fine hair and being older is not a good combo, but I am working with what I have for now and praying for the best outcome. Thank you!
I just found you on RUclips, girl!!!! You are absolutely amazing!!! I love your videos, your style, your way of thinking!!! Keep doing what you're doing!!! You're a star!!! :)
Thank you . I'm officially starting this process cause I have curly locks in different places . Serious damage here haha . This video is a huge help !
I had my big chop this February towards my natural curly journey. I decided to straighten my hair for the winter which turned out to be a nightmare because I no longer had curls. I've been following your videos about recover and had my very own appointment at the diva chun salon today. The experience was fabulousm. I learned a great deal about my hair and the right products for my hair. Even though I had to cut my hair again, it was a lesson learned so than you for the advice.. ; ))
this video also applies to color treated hair. the damage i had is mainly from the red dye i use to have and then heat.
yeah hair dyes and heat can chemically alter the structure of ur hair giving the same result as heat damage because it fries and kills hair's protein changing the definition of ur hair so you would need the same recovery as heat damage and either stop coloring and bleaching ur hair or use a safer dye without harsh chemicals like they use at the devachan salon
Women empowering women! You are amazing. Not every woman likes to give their "secrets," for healthy hair, but you (and a few others) are different. Thank you for posting videos and giving motivating messages! It really does help!
I'm so glad I've found your channel!! I'm just starting to wear my hair curly so it hopefully becomes healthy again and you've inspired me so much!! Xxxx
I love that you embrace you curly hair! When straight hair girls want curly hair and curly hair girls want straight hair, your happy with yours! I admire that
all the tips are universal for all hair types even if its not curly. No heat, patience and moisturizing products are the ultimate way to recovery and hair damage
I do the pineapple method to sleep which is basically a high non tied ponytail at the top front part of ur head or just leave it loose but what helps most is sleeping on satin pillow case instead of cotton because satin pillow cases dont tug or rip hair out like cotton would. cotton dries and strips hair and satin does not and satin also prevents wrinkles on ur face and doesnt remove moisture
theres more benefits of doing updos then doing a sew in because a sew in is manipulating ur scalp and not allowing a regular blood circulation. Updos and protective styling does the same thing without damaging ur scalp circulation because it tucks hair away without harm
yep. as I said in the video i got rid of all straighteners and heat appliances and learned to style and care for my hair without relying on any heat and soon it just became so easy not hard at all for me :)
OMG thank you. Ive been looking for a tutorial for recovering my hair from all the heat damage and i like yours the best. Thank you! Cant wait to see what my hair will look like.
when I use coconut oil I like the smell but i dont use it to wear it out or leave on as a styler I only use it to deep condition or finger detangle and scalp massage not to leave on as a styler as u can see in my 2 videos mentioned