Everything You Need To Know About Natural Hair With Monique Rodriguez

Summer is quickly approaching and leaving hair au naturel is the seasonal style du jour. For some – those with kinky, textured strands – this trend may seem difficult to achieve. But rest assured, all hair types and textures can bask in the glory of their natural state.


We enlisted Monique Rodriguez, founder of all-natural hair and skincare line, Mielle Organics, to dish on all things natural hair, from edge control and shrinkage to must-have maintenance products.
 If someone wants to begin the natural hair journey what are the steps and products you recommend to get started?

Monique Rodriguez: First, understand why you are going natural and understand what natural means and how it is defined by you. Then, educate yourself on natural hair, styling techniques, and products. Youtube is a great source for education and styling techniques. I recommend first a great deep conditioner like our (1.) Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner, then a moisture regimen, such as using our (2.) Organic White Peony Ultra Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner, (3.) Mint Almond Oil, and       (4.) Avocado Moisturizing Hair Milk. When your hair is natural, it tends to be dryer, and dry hair breaks so you have to moisturize daily: Moisture is the key to length retention.
TLLC: In your opinion, what is the biggest misconception about natural hair?

MR: That it’s hard to manage. It’s not hard to manage, you just have to have proper technique, great products, and patience.
TLLC: Edges are always a big topic of discussion. What edge control product do you recommend?

MR: I recommend our (5.) Honey & Ginger Edge Gel. It’s made with organic ingredients to help stimulate growth. It’s also a flexible hold to hold your edges without a sticky, gummy, or flaking feeling.
TLLC: Is there a product that works best for repairing damaged edges and/or hair in general?

MR: Our (6.) Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner is great for repairing damaged hair as well as taking our advanced healthy hair formulas as you are repairing from the inside out. Also rubbing our mint almond oil along your edges daily in conjuction with taking our multivitamins will help restore the hair.
TLLC: What are some do’s and don’ts for caring for color-treated natural hair?

MR: Don’t shampoo too often, do condition your hair regularly. Don’t use hair spray and avoid drying alcohols. Don’t let just anyone color your hair. Use sulfate-free shampoo to keep the color from fading.
TLLC: Are there practices or treatments that accelerate growth?
MR: A good consistent regimen, proper diet, low manipulation styles, protective styles, taking our advanced (7.) Healthy Hair Formula growth vitamins, and weekly hot oil treatments and deep conditioning.

TLLC: What do you recommend to prevent dry, harsh natural hair?

MR: Regular deep conditioning, eliminating drying alcohols such as SD alcohol and isopropyl alcohol from your products, and doing the LOC method daily: Leave-in, oil, and our (8.) Avocado Moisturizing Hair Milk. Also, make sure to protect the hair during swimming and eliminate too many heat styles.
TLLC: Are there any secrets to dealing with shrinkage that you recommend?
MR: Shrinkage is actually healthy hair, and it means that the hair has great elasticity. There are styles that can stretch the hair such as braid-outs and twist-outs, but shrinkage is healthy.