Hey hey! It's L. reporting for full curl interview duty!
Introducing Jessica Rivas. A creative director straight out of Miami, FL. Jessica has been one to capture moments in it's simplest form. She has demonstrated, with her simple yet intricate work, that life's gifts are quite beautiful. I have taken time to study Rivas's photography and I find a message being delivered from her creations. Comfort. Pure comfort. A comfort that leaves you patient enough to want more.
 Jessica is also a young lady who is seeking a regimen she can rely on for full curl devotion. She too enjoys the journey with drug store hair products. Not only that but, Rivas comes equipped with natural curls of her own. Which is to why I wanted her apart of this curl experiment!
1.) For starters, describe your hair on a perfect summer day? Describe on a bad summer day?
First off, thanks so much for having me and reaching out to give some insight for all the curly heads who go through the same thing together! It's a pleasure and joy.
On a perfect summer day, the weather is still, refreshing and warm, my hair is flowy and soft, curls may be intertwined together with volume from root to tip. Teased from flipping it around and allowing my curls to be free-formed and happy.
On a bad summer day, the weather may be humid, heavy and hot (the three H's curly heads dislike! gah)- so, my hair holds no volume. The curls may be loose and less defined, which is why I throw it up in a messy hair-bun and call it a "bad summer hair" day!
2.) Due to living in an area where warm to hot weather occurs, what products, whether beneficial to curly hair or not, do you rely on for UV protection/frizz-free/fly-aways &/or shrinkage. (If any)
Miami definitely has unpredictable weather. So it is a mission and a half to have my hair curly every following day. A product I find myself constantly going to, when I am on-the-go or for protection, is my DevaCurl Mist-er Right. It's light, misty, smells sweet and leaves you feeling refreshed on those warm to hot weather changes.
3.) Any advice for our curly viewers on styling, products, or hair recovery secrets?
Definitely! From experience too.
Curly viewers, do not comb your hair once you are out of the shower. I advice purchasing a wide tooth comb or any comb that the set of teeth are separate and combing it while in the shower with conditioner. That's the only time you should comb your curls. If you use wide set teeth combs or any similar, your curls are less likely to come apart and they'll join together to form full curls. As well as less breakage! Another tip, drying your hair with a towel that's 100% cotton (by drying I mean once out of the shower, flip your head over and scrunch-dry your hair so it's not to wet and dripping but remains damp). These can be found anywhere and are soft and fluffy for your head and hair. I have also heard that a great secret is sleeping with a satin shower-cap on, but have not tried this myself (although it does sound pleasant so I might get one soon and test it out).
My hair type is thin but, I have plenty of hair on my head. So the appearance is thick-hair but in reality, it's a lot of thin hairs together. I also advice to be gentle yet rough with it. Use your fingers to tease the roots and don't be afraid to flip your hair around for that big hair look.
Eliminate using products with alcohol and sulfates. Condition your hair more than you shampoo it, and just love and embrace your curls! Let them flow and find their twists and turns.
4.) Speaking of hair recovery products, any at home hair care that you may know of? Any drug store products?Â
Haven't tried any home hair care recovery methods ... I think ... but! I have used drug store products. When I dye my hair or just feel my hair has been a bit damaged due to sun-exposure,etc., I condition and treat (no shampoo) my hair with Queen Helene Cholesterol Hair Conditioning Cream. At first, it may feel strange and stringy but it does add moisture and replenishes the hair. You let that soak in for as long as you believe you need it. A couple other steps: comb, rinse and wha-lah :D
5.) Do you blow dry or straighten your locks? If so, do you use any heat protecting products?
 Sometimes, for a different look or because I have an outfit that I feel will look better with straightened locks, I go for the iron. I try not to iron my hair often and if I do, it's at least every other two weeks. I don't use any heat protecting products but after I blow dry, to each section of hair I am about to iron, I apply Moroccan Oil. Gives your hair that silky/shiny and healthy outcome.
6.) What are your 'go to products' on a daily/weekly basis?
I have tried countless products. And the ones that I have remained loyal to after trails, for my hair type, is TRESemme Flawless Curls Mousse. Especially for when I go out dancing, to when I just want my curls extra defined and in shape. But I use this only once and that's when my hair is damp/fresh, out of the shower, and about twice a week. The product I use that's a all-around go to product, on the daily/weekly basis, are Shea Moisture products.
In specific, I own the Curl and Style Milk/Thickening Growth Milk- which are home-made, organic, hair styling creams. Also own the Curling Souffle but I barely use it because it's left my hair sticky and weighed down. OH, and Kinky-Curly Knot Today is a natural leave-in that works wonders.
So basically, once out of the shower, I do my dry-scrunching. Next, I grab my Shea Moisture Milk & flip my hair. I apply throughout my scalp, hair to tip and then begin to scrunch my hair. Once I know the milk is thoroughly in my hair, I grab the Kinky-Curly and apply that the same way. Grab towel and dry-scrunch again. When using the mousse, I do not use any of these products to not mix them, since the mousse has much more chemicals than the others.Â
P.S. - All these products smell de-li-cious. Not only that but the scent remains throughout your day, depending on how many times you apply the creams and such. But it's always yummy to have your curls smelling nice and you get a sniff of them every time you shake your head or move!
7.) What shampoo and conditioner do you use? Are they sulfate free?
Pantene has always done me well. Any Pantene works for me (since there are so many options now-a-days) and it's a light conditioner so it lifts my hair naturally without any weight. But if you are looking for a sulfate-free product, I own but try to make last, the Restorative Conditioner from Shea Moisture. (love S.M!)
8.) Do you use a diffuser? What is the name or brand of the diffuser?
 Nope nope. I always allow my curls to air-dry. It takes about 2 hours to fully dry from the inside-out.
9.) How many times a week do you condition?
Whenever necessary. Also depends what I do that week. If I go to the gym or running, go out to a bar, or even outside all day, etc, I try not to wash my hair too much because I also let the natural oils seep through the roots. My estimated guess would be, give or take, about 4/5 times a week I condition my hair and shampoo my hair 2/3 times a week.
10.) Do you take any vitamins for hair health/hair growth? If so, what is it called? And where can out viewer find it?
 Actually, I recently purchased Biotin which is for skin/hair/nail health. Naturally, I have fair skin and rarely if not ever, break out. But when I started taking these regularly, I'd break out. So advice, drink plenty of water. Results are said to be shown within a month of using but it all depends on your body and your lifestyle in eating/activity/etc.
11.) Split ends. They can be a nightmare. How do you deal? Is there some sort of treatment or do you just snip them off?
Haha sure can. Well, treatments are the ones I mentioned above (cholesterol cream, organic formulas, combing hair right, etc.) As for hair cuts, first, MAKE SURE your hair stylist knows how to cut curly hair because it is different from cutting straight hair. I have had several bad experiences with hair stylists because they would swear and claim to me that they knew exactly how to cut my hair and once I left the place after allowing my hair to dry, my face would drop and I'll curse myself for trusting my hair in the hands of someone who was just in it to do the hair cut and that's it!
If you feel you know the right hair stylist, awesome. Style your hair however. I tend to ask for a trim on the crown of my head to life up the curls and shape my face, then layer my hair in a v-formation for the extra "umph". I do trims usually every 4-6 months or if it needs it, badly!
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12.) I've noticed that your hair is lightened. Did you process it or did you use some sort of lightening cream? Any drug store hair dye? We want to know!
Yes, my hair is lightened butttt before that, I have gone through a series of experiments. I went from brunette, dirty blonde, black, to back around and half the time, I used drug store hair dye (which I no longer will do nor recommend!). When I got it lightened, I went to a hair salon to remove the black, dye it completely brunette and asked for peek-a-boo blonde highlights all over and it came out so pretty! Loved it and left the salon smiling ear-to-ear. I go to the beach often too. So I am sure the salt water and sun have an affect on how my hair lightened.
About a week ago, I took action because my natural color was already crawling in and asking for a makeover- so I went to a hair salon and just went back to my natural almond-honey brunette color. Which is what I am rocking now and have no plans on changing it!
13.) Last but surely not least, knowing that you're constantly on the go, how do you maintain your hair from frizzing, sweating, tangling, drying, and any hair damaging that can be effected by the Suns UV rays.
 Question #2 answers this one!
Photo Credits:Â @DelgadoDan, @LouieRenton & @Jahrue
Attire: We are Non Standard (@wearenonstandard)
https://twitter.com/Xhezzi
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Jessica, It was a pleasure! Thank you for taking the time and dedication for this interview. Until next time y'all!
