From the moment you meet Kenya, probably the first thing you will notice is her big, bountiful, beautiful hair. The second you might notice is her infectious, free-spirited, positive attitude. As the curator of the Curls & Cocktails event series, this Nashville-based curly-haired maven brings women from all over the country together in the spirit of empowerment and education in the natural hair world.
Read on to learn more about Kenya Patterson’s self love journey, hair tips and her quest to change the natural hair game, one event at a time.
What’s the inspiration behind your Instagram name @Halfietruths?
It’s just my way of saying mixed, biracial, and multi-ethnic. My dad is black and my mom is white; that makes me a halfie :).
You openly talk about being biracial on your blog. Did being biracial ever affect your standard of beauty in terms of how you viewed yourself growing up?
Yes, it most certainly did impact my standard of beauty and more-so physical acceptance. I think a lot of biracial children who grow up in a predominately white community question the desire level of their physical appearance. I used to wish that I was white, with straight hair and “normal” skin. I get teary-eyed to admit that, but its true and I have swirly, mini-luvvs who have wished on that same star. For a very long time, knowing that I will have children who may wish for fairer skin or “normal” hair, impacted how I loved or who I loved rather. I wanted my children to see themselves in their parents, so they never had doubt or these saddening wishes, so I wasn’t open to dating outside of black men. It wasn’t until recently, that I realized no matter who I make my children with, they will see themselves in us...duh!! It will be my job, like it was my mother’s, and all mothers’, to make sure they know they’re beautiful, strong and worthy of all this world has to offer.
Now you started the Curls&Cocktails event series in ATL this year. What is the objective of these events?
I want women to come to a C&C event and see a little of themselves in each other, feel beautiful, strong, inspiring, and make new friends, thus making this curlworld a little smaller! Anything that happens outside of this-learning about a new product, discovering hair tips or networking-is just a side-effect of being in a room full of beautiful, smart and
cultured women.
"My biggest hope is that women feel good
about being themselves and they pay this
feeling forward so natural hair transforms
from being a movement to being the norm."
These events are needed because my big hair still gets crazy looks. I still get asked how I make it like this, and everyday people want to touch it because it’s still foreign. Events like C&C provide support and raise awareness that being natural is not a trend-it’s a lifestyle and until this lifestyle is no longer seen as foreign, these event are necessary. We have a ways to go!
Speaking of which-The natural hair movement has evolved over the years. What are your thoughts on the natural hair care community today?
It’s beautiful and, more importantly, it’s powerful! I like to think of the natural hair community as a huge tree with a network of so many branches that touch every aspect of life. If you look at a popular natural Instagram account, it will lead you to another account that focuses on health and another that focuses on fitness and others that are focused on entrepreneurship, or motivational and inspirational guidance, writers, poets, teachers, artists, dancers, mentors, athletes, chefs, mothers, sisters, and daughters. The branches are endless. It’s so very cool that social media has given us a tool to witness this growing tree/community.
You have a mane of gorgeous hair. What are some of your staple products that you can’t live without?
Thanks girl! I wash once a week with TRESemme. I use the conditioner as a leave-in as well. I don’t DC (deep condition) as much as I should, but when I do, I make my own (recipe below). I’m not a product junkie at all. I stick with what works. I go back and forth between 3 stylers: Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding or Curls Unleashed Defining Cream, which both give me definition and hold. Shea Moisture’s Curly Smoothie gives me lots of volume with soft curls that don’t last very long.
How long have you be rocking your natural locks?
I started to transition in 2009, and it was a nightmare! If you want to go natural, big chop. Just do it! You’re hair will be healthy, so it will grow faster and you will save yourself the headache of dealing with two different textures of hair. I finally BC’d in June or July of 2010 so it’s been 3 years!
What is one piece of advice you would have told yourself about your hair journey 20 years ago?
“Just do it, don’t be such a punk!!!” I was addicted to length, even unhealthy length. I didn’t want to do the work. I was scared. I think lots of women are though! It’s gonna be fine!!! Better than fine- fabulous! Trust me.
What is the biggest hair mistake you have made?
Color. I have the strongest urge to be a red-head. I was born to be a ginger! I tried to go red three times in one year. It never took and it released my curls a lot. I’d have to BC again to get the perfect coils I once had.
Who would you say is your hair crush?
Hands down @Charmsie. Her color and curls are perfection. Perfection. The very cool thing is that she is equally beautiful on the inside & worthy of allll the adoration she gets!
Describe your hair in a word.
Lastly, who or what inspires you to be daring and beautiful?
I don’t have daughters, but I have four, very special, mini curlgirls (my niece Maddy, and my unofficial goddaughters: Zoe, Mikayla & Malia) who look up to me and it’s my job to be daring & beautiful so they know nothing else!
Pamper your locks with Kenya's special, all-natural deep conditioning recipe that will help your hair get healthy.
Kenya's Deep Conditioning Hair Recipe:
2 parts coconut oil
1 part extra virgin olive oil
1 ½ an avocado
1tbs honey.
Mix contents in a bowl. Section hair and apply mix. Cover hair with plastic shower cap and leave DC in overnight. In the AM, wash conditioner out with your regular shampoo, conditioner & leave-in conditioner routine.
Stay up-to-date on Kenya's world, including her next event near you when you follow her on Instagram @Halfietruths.
