Whether you wear your hair natural, relaxed, long or short, keeping your mane tamed can break the bank and eat up your free time! But for some, the price and effort to ensure your tresses stay in check is worth it. That’s why we’re introducing this brand new series to spotlight our readers’ coolest ‘dos. Do you pay a pretty penny or do you know how to handle your hair with frugality? Do you spend a lot of cash on your coif? Send your submissions to [email protected] for a chance to break down the cost of your coif.

NAME: Aja Burrell Wood

SIGNATURE STYLE: A wash-and-go, go-with-the-flow twist out

PRICE TAG: $30-$35 a month

OCCUPATION/PASSION PROJECT: Ethnomusicologist, who teaches Black Music courses at The New School and Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR HAIRSTYLE?

My hairstyle has definitely evolved over time. Around 1995, I stopped perming my hair, and it’s been quite the journey of hair and self-discovery. I’ve had my share of side-eye worthy product fails and bad hair days along the way. Over time, I began to figure out what worked best for me and what to avoid like the plague. Now, most days I wear wash and go styles or twist-outs and let my hair get bigger as the days go by. I like to go with the flow.

WHAT PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES DO YOU USE TO STYLE YOUR HAIR THIS WAY?

I absolutely love Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Nourishing & Conditioning Styling Foam for almost any style.  Giovanni shampoos and conditioners are my go-to on wash days, and Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner/Detangler is definitely one of my must-haves.

I usually shampoo once a week and I always detangle my hair under running water with my fingers and a rinse-out conditioner. After that, I’ll put in a leave-in conditioner, some type of moisturizer/cream, and then a styling foam. I’ll either let it air dry loose or put two braids in and let it air dry that way. If I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll put a few twists in for a twist-out. But that’s not often.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO STYLE YOUR HAIR THIS WAY?

A lot of what I do is about minimizing time and costs while keeping my hair healthy. I used to go through so many products trying to find the right one until I realized I wasn’t using half the products I was buying – a waste of time and money.

Now, I probably spend around $30-$35 a month. For most of the products I use, a little goes a long way.  Also, I buy the largest bottles of shampoo and conditioner (around 33 oz) I can find, which help keep costs down.

HOW CAN FOLKS FIND YOU ONLINE?

Instagram: @ajatheethnomusicologist

Twitter: @alwaysaja

www.ajaburrellwood.com

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