Growing up as a Black girl, my hair journey was deeply influenced by the representation around me. From the women in my family to the images I saw in the media, every experience shaped my perception of hair and beauty. Looking back, I realize just how much my love for hair diversity was nurtured by the strong Black women in my life, each embracing their own unique hair journey.
Early Influences and Hair Curiosity
One of my earliest influences was my aunt, a licensed cosmetologist. While many kids were obsessed with dolls and toys, I was fixated on hair care. Not necessarily styling—though I admired those who could effortlessly braid, twist, and press—but the process of maintaining and nourishing hair. I loved the science behind it, the ingredients, the techniques, and the transformations that came with good care.
The Relaxer Phase
At a young age, I convinced my mother and aunt to let me get a perm. Not because I disliked my natural hair or because my mother couldn’t style it—she could, and she did—but because straight, relaxed hair was all I saw around me. It was "cool," "in," and I wanted to fit in. I was also fascinated by the idea of straightening my hair without worrying about it puffing back up. I must have been in the second grade when I got my first relaxer, and from then until middle school, my hair journey was a blur. My aunt handled my trims and relaxer appointments, and I didn’t think much about it.
The Transition to Natural
Then middle school came, and something in me shifted. I was ready for a change—I wanted to see and feel my natural curls, no strings attached (pun intended). Around seventh grade, I made the big decision to transition and eventually did my big chop. That moment sparked a new obsession: learning, experimenting, and truly embracing my hair in its natural state. This was right around the start of the natural hair movement, and YouTube became my go-to classroom. I spent hours watching creators like Daye La Soul, Mini Marley, and Naptural85. Did I know what I was doing? Absolutely not. Did I look a hot mess? Looking back, yes. But the intention was there, and that’s what mattered. I was learning, growing, and falling in love with my hair in the process.
A Family of Hair Evolution
My hair journey wasn’t just my own—it became a shared experience within my family. My mom, who had worn locs for as long as I could remember, did the unthinkable: she cut them off. She later restarted her loc journey, growing them back down her back before recently deciding to comb them out. My sister went through her own phases—cutting her hair, loc’ing it, experimenting with color. My aunt, the silk press queen, transitioned to curls, rocked an undercut, and is now growing her hair back. And my grandmother? She’s forever the queen of the pixie cut, keeping her hair short, sleek, and stylish.
The Birth of Synai Symone
This constant evolution of hair in my family shaped one of the core values of Synai Symone: versatility and appreciation for all hair choices. I grew up with Black women who not only loved and embraced their natural roots but also felt empowered to express themselves however they wanted—whether through locs, big chops, silk presses, protective styles, or bold colors. That freedom inspired me to do the same. I went ginger, then rose gold, and finally jet black during my senior year. I experimented with styles and accessories, and for the first time, I tried box braids as a protective style.
My senior year was also a defining moment for me. On my 18th birthday, I launched my first line of wash-day essentials, the Repair and Restore Collection. From there, I entered a protective styling phase throughout college, but I quickly learned that my low-density hair didn’t thrive under constant braids and twists. I was experiencing breakage, and I realized I wasn’t caring for my hair properly between installs. That realization led me to launch my second product line, Refresh and Retain, specifically designed for protective stylers and loc users. At the time, I created these products with my mom and sister in mind, catering to their hair needs while also meeting my own.
Experimenting with Protective Styles
As my journey continued, I explored wigs, missing the ability to wear my hair straight but still fearing heat damage. Ironically, my second wig install—a full closure wig I wore on a trip to Europe—somehow left me with heat damage. To this day, I still don’t know how that happened! But after another mini big chop to remove about half of the damage, I’m once again falling in love with my natural hair, focusing on low-maintenance, low-tension styles that allow my curls to thrive. I’ve realized that as a low-density girly, my hair does best when left out rather than confined in tight protective styles like passion twists or box braids.
Embracing the Journey
Through all these phases, I’ve learned that hair love is about appreciating the journey, not just the destination. Representation matters, and the Black women around me—my mom, sister, aunt, grandmother—showed me that beauty exists in all forms. Whether rocking a fro, locs, a silk press, or a bold new color, the key is embracing the freedom to style our hair as we see fit. That’s the message I want to pass on to future generations: your hair is beautiful as it is, and however you choose to express yourself through it is valid. So rock your fro, get that silk press, try those locs—just make sure you’re doing it for you, with love and appreciation for the crown you wear.
