Hi there lovely, so glad you stopped by the Coils Curls and Coffee Blog. My name is Deidra Marie Craig. Certified color lover and excessive smiler. I’ve been blogging since 2012, but didn’t really get serious about it until around 2015. My first official blog post was in 2015 and the rest is history. Throughout the years, I’ve realized there are so many men and women out there in the world who don’t have it all together, just like me. I’m just navigating life and trying to take things on as they come. With that in mind, my overall goal is to really use my blog as an outlet to empower men and women to be themselves, because that is enough! Smile a little and mostly importantly, never let the world dull your shine or steal your joy!
You’ll see a lot of color, a lot of energy and a lot of smiles on my blog and social media pages. My mom said, I came out the womb smiling, so I guess it’s always been like this. I’m just a happy gal trying to make everyone’s world a bit more colorful. Over the years, the concept of my blog has really shifted, I’ve come into my own and have realized a lot about myself, one of them being that I’m a fashionista at heart. All of my looks are my own, styled by me and worn by me everyday. More importantly, I’ve dedicated a portion of this blog to educating myself and my readers about the power of sustainable fashion. There are more than enough clothes in the world, why not find something unique, original and vintage to complete your look. That being said, every look on my blog includes one thrifted or vintage piece. It’s my way of reducing thrift store clutter and participating in fashion in a fun and sustainable way.
In case you didn’t know, I’m also a lover of all things curly hair and I am obsessed with coffee, blame it on the college days. I’m no stranger to hair woes so I’ll sprinkle a few blogpost about my natural haircare tips and tricks and I’ll showcase my most loved beauty finds, share my personal hair journey and a bit about my life in Raleigh, all while sipping a fresh cup of ice-brewed coffee (Almond or Coconut flavor of course) because how else would I possibly start my day?
I hope my tips and tricks help you navigate this world just a little better. Oh, and feel free to share your world with me because this blog is a sharing community where I aim to create a culture of individuals who are not afraid to be bold, stand out and share their stories with the world. Why? Because our stories matter and you never know who it can help out.
Simply put, I’m just a color obsessed, coffee loving, vintage/thrift fashion and product junkie who wants to change the world! Let’s change it together, one curl and coffee cup at a time! Check my FAQ’s for more deets on me!
FAQ’s
How old are you?
Well, didn’t your mother ever tell you not to ask a woman this question? I’m not ashamed to share that I’m the big 33, but if you meet me in person I’ll just tell you I’m 25. That’s believable, right? 🙂
What’s your favorite coffee spot? Favorite coffee?
Currently digging Cup of Joe right now and this cute little local coffee shop I go to sometimes, but I’m no stranger to Starbucks. My poison of choice, Almond flavor or Coconut flavored latte, on the rocks, skim milk, dark roast, if I’m feeling saucy I ask for an extra shot ;).
What do you do for a living?
This is a bit of a loaded question. I’m sort of a jack of all trades and have dabbled in a bit of everything. Currently a full-time Public Communications Specialist, part-time clothes dealer, blogger, photographer and soon to be mommy :). I know, you’re asking yourself how in the world I do all of this, one word….COFFEE!
Who takes your pics for you?
My husband, Charles, takes all my pics, but I occasionally enlist the help of my photographer friends when their in town. Perhaps you’ve heard of them. One of my newest friends to shoot with is this pretty lady.
What kind of camera do you use? How do you edit your pics?
I use a Nikon D500 with a 24-70mm lens. I shoot in many different modes based on my mood that day, but try to stick with Aperture and Manual Mode. I also use my iPhone 8 plus quite a bit to take photos for the gram and FB. As far as editing is concerned, I use Lightroom and Lightroom mobile for all my photo edits.
Where do you shop?
I’m a bit random with my shopping habits, but one thing is for sure, I’m not big on full price items and opt to thrift and shop vintage, bargain hunt and find things that are unusual to mix and match. Click here for more on my shopping addiction.
Where are you from?
While I talk a good game, I’m not originally from NC. I’m actually from a small town called New Bedford in the great state of Massachusetts. Lived there till I was about 13 and have been in NC ever since, so I guess I’m a NC native.
What is your hair type?
I don’t typically rely on the hair typing system, but if I had to take a guess, I’d say I’m in the 4A/4B range, VERY high density, medium porosity hair. My hair can be just about anything on any given day, but for the sake of consistency, I would say it’s mostly kinks and spiral coils with a sprinkle of VERY dense, thick curls.
Do you ever straighten your hair?
I’ve been down this road a few times with less than impressive results. Let’s just put it this way, last time my hair was “straight” it was for my wedding in 2011. I’ll occasionally do a blowout just to chop off some length and maintain my bangs, but other than that, I’m to lazy to straighten. Ain’t nobody got time for that, LOL :).
What are your favorite hair products?
Oh gosh, I’m such a product junkie that it’s hard to narrow it down, but the products that ALWAYS stay in rotation in my regimen are:
– Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner
– Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle
– Avocado Oil
– Apricot Oil
Do you have kids?
Why yes, I have a sweet baby girl named Charlee and two pesky cats named Tux and Lincoln who are fully committed to ruining my house and tearing up my carpet. Love them dearly though 🙂
Where did you go to school?
I’m a proud graduate of North Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University. Go Pack! Go Eagles!
What places have you travelled domestic and international?
My husband and I have many commitments in NC, but are working on traveling more, after all, you only live once, right? Here is a list of places we have been and have booked for the coming years though:
Domestic Travel
Atlanta, Georgia
Dallas, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Manhattan, New York
Orlando, Florida
New Orleans, Louisiana
Boston, Massachusetts
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Los Angeles, California
Daytona Beach, Florida
Miami, Florida
Me on somebody’s tour van in St. Lucia
International Travel
Honolulu, Hawaii
Saint Maarten
Saint Kitts
Saint Lucia
Antigua
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Barbados
Honduras
Belize
Costa Maya, Mexico
Kingston, Jamaica
Cozumel, Mexico
Freeport, Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas
Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada, New York
Costa Rica
How can I contact you for collaboration?
I love collabs and am open to making magical content related to beauty, hair, fashion, lifestyle and all things coffee. Shoot me an email with your ideas or if you just have questions, I’m pretty much an open book and would love to chat. Would love to hear from you! Check my contact info here
Current Collaborations
Coils Curls & Coffee 