Real Stories: How Taylor Discovered Her Natural Curl Pattern

MEET TAYLOR

We're thrilled to share her hair journey with you guys because her results are insane. Not only did Taylor achieve an impressive amount of growth, but she also learned to embrace + enhance her natural waves/curls! First, let's get to the fun facts about Taylor to help you get to know her a little better before jumping into her hair journey.

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I am a graphic designer in San Diego, CA. I love shopping secondhand, collecting and tending to my many house plants, and doing ceramics. I recently adopted a rescue dog and have been spending my time playing and training her.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE TEXTURE OF YOUR HAIR?

I have thick, 2a/2b waves. My entire life, I used to think I just had wavy hair that just got frizzy and fluffy depending on how it dried. I would keep it in a braid as much as possible to help control the shapeless waves but did nothing else to it. However, it wasn’t until April of this year that I realized that I have a curl pattern in my hair. I have spent the past few months (AKA my time in quarantine) teaching myself how to enhance my natural waves/curls.

HOW DID YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR HAIR BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE INNATE LIFE PRODUCTS?

Prior to finding The Innate Life and clean beauty, I was very uneducated about how to take care of my hair. I would wash my hair every other day with a very strong, stripping shampoo and condition my whole head, including my roots. I would use paraben and silicone-based products to 'smooth' and tame my frizz, and I would sleep with my hair loose or in a ponytail.

WHAT MADE YOU SEEK OUT THE INNATE LIFE PRODUCTS? HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE COMPANY?

I became aware and interested in clean beauty products in late 2015. I was troubled by the idea that, on a daily basis, I used products literally all over my hair and body that were filled with synthetic, chemical-based ingredients. My first clean beauty swap was for a natural deodorant. I then fell down the rabbit hole and began to replace my face cleansers for oils and make-up with more natural, sustainable brands. I spent the next couple years experimenting with many different products and adjusting my beauty routine to be more gentle to my hair and face. YouTube and blog posts became a great resource for learning more about the clean beauty movement and discovering new companies that aligned themselves with an all-natural mission. It was through YouTube that I discovered The Innate Life.
In 2017, I came across a hair routine video that featured a scalp treatment. I had been using oils in my hair for months but had never heard of a scalp treatment. I was immediately intrigued. I learned that this product was from a company called The Innate Life. A quick google search led me to their website where I read about their mission. I loved that they were a small, women-run business who was transparent about the ingredients in their products.
Not long after I learned about The Innate Life did I receive an email that they would be launching an Indiegogo campaign. Bundles of their products were offered and I knew this was my time to try them out. The campaign was to launch at 7am EST. I live in California and so I remember setting my alarm for 4am PST to make sure I wouldn’t miss out on snagging one of their bundles. A few months later, my Innate Life box arrived. I finally got to try their Scalp Treatment. I was not disappointed. I loved the feeling of applying the treatment and giving myself a scalp massage. Later I tried their Rose Hair Elixir and again, I loved it. These two products soon became part of my daily/weekly hair routine and I am very happy to say they are my two of my holy grail hair products.

WHAT IS YOUR HAIRCARE ROUTINE NOW?

This is my new, curly/wavy hair routine that I’ve been doing since April 2020:

I wash my hair once a week. The night before I wash I put in The Innate Life’s Scalp Treatment and oil the length of my hair with coconut and jojoba oil.

The next day I shampoo just my scalp and condition just my length with shampoo and conditioner. With the conditioner still in, I comb my hair with a wide-tooth comb from Tek. I rinse out the conditioner upside down and finger comb my hair to create my curl clumps. With my hair still upside down and wet, I squish and scrunch to begin defining my waves.

Post washing and condition, I glaze then scrunch on a couple curl styling products. Once my products are in, I plop my hair in a long sleeve shirt for about 20 mins. After plopping, I scrunch my hair with a microfiber towel then spritz on a moisturizing mist. My last step is to diffuse my hair on a low heat setting until it is about 80% dry.

After wash day, my hair routine is very simple. I’ll either wear it down, in a bun, or a braid. I do not use any styling products or heat tools outside of my wash routine. The only product I put on my hair during the week is The Innate Life’s Rose Hair Elixir. I’ll use about 3-5 drops during the day to add shine and tame frizz. At night, I always sleep with a side-braid. I’ll distribute 5-10 drops of the Rose Hair Elixir throughout the length of my hair, focusing on the ends, before braiding. I sleep on a silk pillowcase and use a satin/silk scrunchie to tie my braid. To preserve my curls/waves, I try not to brush my hair. When I do brush, I use a long-pin Tek brush.

HOW DID YOU SEE YOUR HAIR CHANGE AFTER USING THE INNATE LIFE PRODUCTS?

Since using The Innate Life products, I’ve noticed two major changes in my hair. The first is how fast my hair grows and the second is how much stronger and smoother it is. One of my goals was to grow out my hair as long and as healthy as I could. I attribute The Innate Life’s products in helping me achieve that goal.

WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THESE PRODUCTS TO?

I would recommend these products to anyone who is looking to improve their hair health. Regardless of if you’re on a clean beauty journey or not, the Rose Hair Elixir and Scalp Treatment are great ways to give your hair some TLC with very little effort and with major pay off. I see The Innate Life show their commitment to health and wellness through the content they post on Instagram and in their blog. They share tips on how to improve your hair both internally and externally. From doing scalp massages to encouraging hydration, their content is full of positive messages to help you cultivate a wholly healthy life.
I gifted a small bottle of the Rose Hair Elixir to my mom last year for Christmas. She has colour-treated, heat-damaged hair. A few days after using the Rose Hair Elixir, she told me that she saw a difference in her hair and was amazed at it. She doesn’t actively seek out clean products but I’m so happy that just adding this one oil to her hair routine gave her such great results.