If you’re new to your natural hair journey and you already feel overwhelmed, this is me saying: breathe—I got you. In Episode 1 of my Curls Reboot series, I’m introducing my five-part reset for anyone who wants to understand their curls instead of fighting them. I’m also being super honest about my own hair history, because I’ve big chopped twice. The first time I was 14 after years of perming, and my hair was literally stiff from chemicals plus salt water, chlorine, and sun. I hated it, didn’t know what to do, and I basically lived in braids just to survive. The second time I chopped was when I was 19, and again—I went right back to braids. But during COVID, I finally tried a braid out, failed the first time, and then started actually learning what my hair needed: how to moisturize, which products worked together, how long to let my braids dry, and how to take them down the right way. Once I found my routine and stayed consistent, everything changed. Weekly wash days, oiling my scalp the night before, braiding, sealing with oil, trimming regularly, and not keeping braids in too long—that’s what helped me grow the healthiest, juiciest curls I’ve ever had. No magic oil, no miracle supplements—just consistency and a routine that doesn’t stress me out.