Kia Marie has an amazing YouTube Channel (Hairitage93) that focuses on natural care, beauty and wellness. To learn more AND support, visit her channel here!

“I straightened my hair for the first time in two years. The last time I straightened it, I had to cut off so much damage which was disappointing because I had been natural for almost four years. A lot of people knew me for having big hair, so everyone expected it to be longer. I thought that I was doing a good job taking care of it, but the truth is it barely hit my shoulders when straightened the first time. At that point, I realized that I wasn’t doing something right, so I revamped my entire regime and focused on protective styling and better moisture routines. Two years later when I straightened my hair again, I was impressed by the drastic change in the overall health of my hair. My newly straightened hair was thick and full when it had previously been terribly thin and lifeless. We as black women go through so much stuff when it comes to our hair. Most of us didn’t learn about the true and glorious potential of our hair growing up, so for twenty-something-year-old me to look in the mirror and realize, ‘that’s all mine’ was truly surreal. I wish that I would’ve known about this sooner.

Natural hair influences the self-care topics that I share on my various platforms. It’s all about healthy hair, nails, skin and mindset because when you take care of yourself, you feel good and others can feel that, too. Thankfully, we’re in the age where self-care has become more prevalent. On top of that, we’re becoming more aware that there’s more than one way to live a happy and fulfilling life. Whether we are the creative entrepreneurs, the artists, working a 9 – 5 or a balance of the three — whatever we choose to do, it’s a win because we ultimately have access to more ways than ever before to help us live the life we choose.”