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Ayanna | Expert & Educator of Curls

@thecurlmentor

3.3K

followers

2095

following

Curl Educator | Science-based
Not a drop-in stylist
Transformation Specialist ✨
Strand Certified
@texturevsrace Collaborative Coach

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Color on textured hair should never be haphazard.
IT SHOULD BE INTENTIONAL – MINDFUL

Texture determines processing speed.
Condition determines what’s possible.
A strand test determines what we can realistically do SAFELY.

Here, color is done, MINDFULLY

This is why EVERY color journey begins with a Color Plan + Prep Session.

During this visit we:
• Assess hair + scalp condition
• Perform a strand test
• Map out your color strategy
• Prepare the hair so color performs beautifully

COLOR IS NOT PERFORMED DURING THIS VISIT–
This is the professional step to ensure predictable results in a healthy manner.

I’m opening 3 Color Plan sessions when I begin seeing clients in my new space starting the week of March 15.

If you’ve been thinking about highlights, dimensional color, or a color transformation — this is where we begin.

Book directly in the link in the bio. taken in Washington D. C. by @thecurlmentor

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14

7 months ago

So, are you ready to see a Curl Specialist?

I created this in my stories in January to establish an understanding of what this is. This is part one.

My IG followers who follow other curl specialists get it. They’ve been booking it up! Thanks for following my policies and booking.

After June 5, I will be accepting new clients in a new way, and the price after June 5th will not be today’s price. So, it will behoove you to book now (for an appt that’s 3-4 weeks from now) and start prepping today.

.
Stay tuned as I answer your #1 questions:

Are you taking new clients?
And, how do I book?

In the meantime, check the FAQ in my highlights.

#CurlTransformation #NaturalHairDC #Dcnaturalhair #CurlyCut #CutitKinky by @thecurlmentor

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3 years ago

The universe got what I was saying mixed up. I said, in 2023, I’m coming in HOT! 2023 said, I gotchu, you want the fury. With all the hurdles. It can’t just be me.
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Since I haven’t been on the ‘Gram much lately, I feel I need to reintroduce myself to new and vet followers.
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Hey Loves 👋🏾 I’m Ayanna!

I’m a Curl Specialist who is also a Colorist. I didn’t choose this path. It chose me.

I’ve been saying this is what I wanted to do since I was 7 years old. Ask my Auntie Addie.
-

Throughout my childhood and career, I’ve been captivated by the intrinsic beauty of natural curls and inspired by the mix of emotions we experience as humans with tight curls interacting with the world of Western beauty standards. Nothing that looked like or included me.

So, my craft, passion, and purpose is God’s gift to you through me. #Ordained #PurposeDriven

Can you relate?

#CurlSpecialist #KinkyChicks by @thecurlmentor

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4 years ago

AIN NO FCKN WAY 😂

ONLY 4% OF MY FOLLOWERS VIEWED THIS THIS POST AND I ONLY HAVE 2 LIKES AND NO COMMENT.

SO, in an effort to trick this algorithm, I will have to unfollow the people who follow me and don't engage to get visibility.

Instagram’s current ranking is much more about whether individual people are likely to watch, interact, share, save, or revisit content

If you're a "friend", or lover of Ayanna and not engaging when you know I'm trying to build something, I'm going down that follower list and I'm unfollowing because that's how the algorithm works, but also why are you here?

You're just looking and scrolling past and not supporting?? Maybe I'm not seeing your posts because you're not engaging.

2) I'm going to do what I call a Social Media Power Hour.

For one hour, we intentionally show up for each other.
Not fake comments.
Not random likes.
Actual support.

Here's how it works:

1) Everyone participating drops one post they want more eyes on. Maybe you tag me in the comments of the post.

During the same hour, we visit each other’s pages and engage with the content that genuinely resonates.

Thoughtful comments, saves, shares, likes.

If something is worth sending to someone else, send it. If it’s worth saving, save it.

2) If you don't want your content reposted, don't repost any content.

Nobody is required to repost anything they don’t actually want to repost.

If you want in on the first Social Media Power Hour, comment POWER.

#SocialMediaPowerHour by @thecurlmentor

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11 days ago

Everybody’s talking about what a sew-in should cost.

So let me show you what happened before I even started the sew-in.

Last week, I transformed dark dyed hair into a dimensional blonde for a full sew-in install.

What people often see is the finished look.
What they don’t always see is the labor, precision, and technical work, THE SKILL required to create it.

Dark, previously dyed hair → dimensional blonde.
Lifting. Placement. Paint strokes so that it doesn't look stamped on. Dimension. Toning. Cleansing in between lightning and toning.

All while Protecting the integrity of the hair, so that she's able to wear it again.

And when all of that was finished?
I still had a sew-in to do. AND more toning the next morning (Day 3) because I'm a perfectionist

Beautiful results are one thing.
The work AND THE SKILL behind them is another.

Would you have guessed this was the starting point?
(The color looks more yellow warm in the video because of the lighting)

#1Ksewin #dcsewin #dchairstylist #dchairsalon #shawdc taken in Shaw, Washington, D.C. by @thecurlmentor

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11 days ago

IF YOU’RE GOING TO DO IT, DO IT RIGHT.

Stop blaming humidity for your silk press reverting! 🙅🏾‍♀️

And stop shortchanging your hair to the cheapest service on the menu.

The cheapest silk press can become the expensive choice when the hair underneath it isn’t being properly prepared.

A silk press that lasts is not just about flat ironing with the right products.

The results you want starts long before heat touches the hair.

For a silk press to perform well:

1) The hair needs to be in optimal condition.
Hair that is compromised will not respond to heat or hold a finish the same way healthy, supported hair will.

2) The hair needs to be truly clean.
Arriving with hair that hasn't been cleansed in over 10 days makes it harder to remove daily buildup + it would too dehydrated by 10.

Buildup can interfere with how evenly the hair responds to heat, reduce shine and movement, and keep treatments and styling products from doing their best work.

3. Even healthy hair would benefit from repair prior to meeting hot plates.
Repeated heat, prolonged buildup, and other stressors all add up.

Sometimes the smarter move is some type of bond builder for preventative structural support before adding more heat.
It's just insurance and prevention.

Prevention is far better than cure.

4. The cuticle needs to be able to retain moisture.
If the hair cannot hold onto moisture, it will continue to seek the moisture in the environment, which can work against the smooth finish with the longevity you are trying to maintain.

That is why a silk press should never be approached as just “get it straight.”

Humidity isn’t always the reason your silk press reverted.

Sometimes, the real issue is that your hair wasn’t properly prepared or in condition to perform.

The condition of the hair determines how well your hair performs.

Save this before your next silk press.
Tag a friend who still blames their hair genetics or the weather.

If your silk press looks beautiful in the salon but not performing once you leave, The Fall Silk Edit at ORÍ was created with that in mind.

Comment SMOOTH and the details will be sent directly to you. taken in Shaw, Washington, D.C. by @thecurlmentor

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12 days ago

This weekend in New York, we gathered at Mriya Gallery @mriya.gallery to celebrate Dominique LyVar.

Not just to mourn him, but to honor and celebrate the impact he left behind.

If you don't know, @keyaartistically l is a curator of "curated" events. 🙂 Keya created something beautiful.

An ART GALLERY full of people connected by Dom, this industry, education, by artistry, and by the work we were fortunate enough to share with him.

What better way to celebrate the life of an artist– a SAVANT– in an art gallery!? AND dancing to house music. It's like her hands were guided by Dom. 😃

There were stories, laughter, tears, and so much love in the room!

I thought attending will make it real for me, but it still feels surreal. Although it's surreal, this weekend felt different because of how he was celebrated. It wasn't a funeral. It was a celebration.

King Dom, you were loved deeply, and you were respected.

You will be remembered.

Thank you, Keya, for giving us a place to gather and celebrate him in such a meaningful and beautiful way. taken in Mriya Gallery by @thecurlmentor

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16 days ago

Before your presentation says anything about you, it says something to you.

WHY ORÍ

There's a reason this place is called Orí.

Swipe through ---->

In Yoruba philosophy, Orí literally means "head", but it is far more than just the physical head.

Your Orí Òde, the outer head, is your physical identity – your skull, your presence in this material world.

It's a reflection of your Orí Inú, the inner head (your spiritual self, your consciousness, your character, your destiny).

The two are always in conversation.
that chages the way we think about something as ordinary as tending to our hair.

The way you groom.
The way you maintain.
The care you practice when there is no occasion, no audience and no one waiting to compliment you.

ORÍ is created for you.
Yes...
You
the woman who doesn't need an occasion, an audience, or external validation to justify maintaining herself.

She doesn't need somewhere to go.
She doesn't need anyone to see.
She doesn't need a reason beyond the standard she holds for herself.

Because at some point, tending to yourself is not only about how you look.
It's a physical expression of the standard you hold for yourself

Because the standard was never for them.

It was always for you.

Opening Season reservations are now available. Claim space through the link. taken in Washington D. C. by @thecurlmentor

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23 days ago

And just like that she is ready for color.

The first step to coloring your hair is assessing your hair's current condition and history, and prepping the canvas.

The part people love to skip.

Prepatory ‐ prep work for the main event.

Color PrepatOrí- Prep work for your msin event.

If you are considering color this season, let's prepare the canvas.

Reserve your Color PrepatOrí and let's plan it out.

#ColoredCurls #Curly #Color #dchairstylist
#dmvhairstylist taken in Washington D. C. by @thecurlmentor

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9

a month ago

Fall for Ribboned Dimension

Dimensional; Not basic.
We don't do basic.

Custom placement with seamless transitions 🤌🏾🤏🏾

This is designed to look sun-kissed and grow out softly,

If you are considering color for the Fall, just know our approach is health first, color second. If that sounds like your vibe, I just opened a couple of transformation appointments. Let me know in the comments if you're ready.

#balayage #brunette #haircolor #hairgoals #viralhair taken in Washington D. C. by @thecurlmentor

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a month ago

The last time Dom and I worked alongside each other was at IBS New York.

At some point, he looked at me and said,
“You were the first person I taught with my first time teaching on stage. I was so nervous.”

I told him, “I couldn’t tell.”

He laughed and said he was a nervous wreck.

I told him that day I’d had an anxiety attack on stage and didn't even know it.

His said,
“I couldn’t tell. You did well.”

And that exchange has been sitting with me ever since.

Years later, both of us admitting to each other that there were times when neither of us felt like we had it all together. He said, "That’s most of the time. I'm always nervous".

But I also told Dominique: “You are a savant. And you can't teach that."

He said, "what you mean?"

A savant teaching curls. The way he could see hair, understand it, and translate what he saw into his hands was extraordinary.

Technique can be taught. Theory can be taught. Systems can be taught.

But some things you can't teach.

Dominique had that.

I’m grateful that I got to stand beside him, teach beside him, laugh with him, and tell him while he was here that I saw how gifted he was.

I hate to say, Rest well, Dominique. Like, is this for real?

My TVR teammate. My fellow educator.

A TRUE savant. by @thecurlmentor

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a month ago

Have you noticed the old website and booking has closed? The subscription is up. I have new everything.
Check the new info in my stories and bio.

Follow along at @myoridc

Oh, yes– Do you care for your hair more than I do?

Reserve your care at ORÍ.

See you soon!

Got questions? Ask here in the comment section. Not in DM. taken in Washington D. C. by @thecurlmentor

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4

a month ago