Influencer Kia Marie has built a significant online following across platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram by sharing her passion for style, sneakers, and natural hair care. Her signature look, the natural ’fro, is the result of a carefully perfected routine that places a high priority on scalp health and length maintenance.

From Trauma to Triumph: Prioritizing Hair Health

Marie’s current focus on hair health stems from difficult early experiences involving painful detangling, styling, and chemical relaxers on her sensitive hair. She recalls a pivotal moment at age 12 when a hairdresser told her the damage was so severe it needed to be cut off, resulting in a traumatic bowl cut.

This experience profoundly shaped her perspective, teaching her early on how integral hair is to personal confidence. She now understands that hair typing is secondary to factors like porosity and strand thickness, noting that her stylist focuses more on porosity levels.

The Bi-Weekly Wash Cycle

Marie typically reserves her full wash day for Sundays, washing her type-4 hair only every two weeks. In between these sessions, she relies on protective styling to keep her hair safe. Her routine is designed to ensure a thoroughly clean scalp as the foundation for healthier hair growth.

Before entering the shower, she preps by applying detangling products from brands like Pattern and Cécred to break up sections. She acknowledges that pre-shampoo conditioning is controversial but necessary for her length retention goals.

The Deep Cleansing Process

Shampooing for a Clean Base

Marie stresses the importance of starting with a clean base to properly absorb subsequent moisture treatments. She initially uses a clarifying shampoo one or two times, noting that her hairstylist recommended K18, though she previously used Mizani clarifying shampoo.

Following the clarifying wash, she switches to Mizani moisturizing shampoo. She has used these core products for eight to nine years but occasionally rotates others. A key indicator of a good moisturizing shampoo for her is the ability to finger-detangle immediately after rinsing.

Her washing process is described as a holistic, sensory experience that takes significant time. She finger-detangles through every step, ensuring every strand is clean. The hair is not considered clean until she can no longer smell previous product residue and the scalp feels cool.

Conditioning and Detangling

Marie reports going to her stylist quarterly for deep cleaning and trims, as there are limits to at-home care. For deep conditioning, she relies on Mizani deep conditioner for its superior slip, noting it does not require extensive waiting time.

For detangling during conditioning, she sometimes uses a Tangle Teezer for a rough pass, calling it the best tool for tightly coiled hair. The entire washing phase can take 45 minutes, with the deep conditioner left in for 30 minutes to an hour, during which time she may clean her house.

Styling for Length Retention

The Role of Heat in Styling

Products absorb best when the hair is damp or wet, so Marie moves directly into styling after rinsing. She applies Mizani Miracle Cream first. Because her tightly coiled hair naturally curls into itself, causing tangles and fairy knots, she began blow-drying before styling.

This stretching technique, recommended by her stylist, has resulted in noticeable length retention and easier wash days without causing heat damage. If time is limited, she uses the Dyson dryer for a 20-minute session; otherwise, she opts for the RevAir to minimize tension while maintaining volume.

Setting the Style

For her signature look, Marie focuses on definition and hold, preferring foam stylers over creams she used previously. She uses the lightweight Midnight Mender from Amika, sometimes mixing it with a foam from The Doux during winter months.

She then sets her hair using perm rods, pushing through the temporary discomfort for the final look. The entire process, from start to finish, takes approximately three hours. For maintenance throughout the week, she sleeps with a silk bonnet over her hair styled in two buns secured with silk scrunchies.

She uses Cécred oil to remove the set and pick out the hair, followed by Amika to tame flyaways. Marie notes that because these finishing products are silicone-based, diligent clarifying shampoo use is essential.

To stretch the style between washes, she attempts to repeat the perm-rod routine once or twice before her next full wash day.