Keep It Kinky: Natural Hair and Beauty: Hempress Steph's Regal Locks

Name: Hempress Steph

From: Guadeloupe, French Caribbean

Currently Living in: New York City, USA

Daily Grind: Modeling and Photography

KiK: How long have you had locs and why did you decide to get them?

HS: I started in the summer of 2001 but it didn't lock immediately and I had to wait mid 2002 to have my entire hair fully locked. Before I had my dreadlocks, I had a very short natural hairdo with twists, and one day I decided that I want my twists to be permanent, and embracing dreadlocks came naturally. I've always wanted to have locs, since being little girl, because I always found it so beautiful and mysterious in the same time. Also, because I've always had a very sensitive scalp, the idea of banning that instrument of torture called a "comb" (lol) was very appealing to me. It was the best decision I ever made.

KiK: Do you ever miss or want your loose natural hair?

HS: Not really. Like I said, I'm very "tender headed", and besides dreadlocks or very short afros, all other natural hairstyles require daily combing and brushing, and I don't want to deal with that. (lol)

KiK: Your locs really are beautiful. I just started mine and I'm curious. What method you used to start your locs?

HS: I started with two strand twists, which used to unravel after each shampoo lol, but with perseverance and care they finally locked. I used regular products (but absolutely no "gels" or "wax"), and they just locked naturally. Also, I'm not a hair salon type of person. I do everything on my own because I'm the only one who knows my hair and how it needs to be taken care of. No other hands can touch that sensitive scalp on mine lol, unless you're extremely gentle.

KiK: OK miss self-styler. So how do you maintain your hair now?

HS: I have a very specific but laid-back routine. I usually twist my hair at the root because I like my dreads to look neat, however after a shampoo, it's totally unraveled at the root, and I like to leave my hair like that for several days, just to let it breathe, without touching it. Then I shampoo it again, and I moisturize it thoroughly (using carrot, olive or tea tree oil, etc), before twisting it and have the look I want for the next days. After I do that, I leave my hair alone though and just moisturize it from time to time with an oil sheen spray. I rarely use a shower cap (unless I have a curly hairstyle) because I noticed the hot steam is good for my hair. It gets it kinkier and naturally moisturized (smile).

KiK: If you could loc your hair again, what would you do differently?

HS: I wouldn't start with two strand twists because it takes a longer time to lock and you have thinner locs as a result, so I would just braid it normally (3 strands), have them thicker and I would also wait for my hair to be longer. I started with a tiny fro and going through the long process had its ups and downs (even though it was totally worth it), so if I had to do it again I will wait until I have a big afro, and not a tiny one.

KiK: Will you ever cut or cut off your locs?

HS: At some point I thought of it, like having a mowhawk with dreadlocks lol, but then I came back to my senses and realized that it might not be a good idea, at least not right now lol. I love my hair the way it is, each dreadlock has its own personality, and even if I can definitely feel the weight on my neck sometimes, it's just the weight of a royal crown, so I embrace it fully. I do trim them from time to time, because hair is like grass, you need to cut the edges in order to make it grow better. But overall I just let my hair do its thing. I'm not really focused on length, if it grows it means it's healthy, so that's very cool with me :)

KiK: So tell us more about your daily grind/photography. How did you get started and where do you see yourself in 5 years?

HS: Modeling and photography have always been something I've been wanting of doing, but in my own kind of way. It took me years to be truly involved because I was so busy with school, but I finally decided to be more serious about it two or three years ago, and I'm glad I did because it improved my vision of the world, and really liberated me. I love to be in front of the camera as much as I like to be behind it, and I want to excel both as a model and a photographer. In five years...well, I hope to be as determined and focused as I am now. I would also love to have accomplished great modeling gigs and prove myself as a photographer. Everything takes time in this industry. Nothing comes right away because it's so competitive and there's so much you can do in the same time, but it's totally worth it.