Nia Sioux starts her hair care with a triple-shampoo cleanse at 9 a.m. every two weeks, or sooner after intense workouts. She scrubs her scalp first to remove all product residue, follows with a second cleanse, then applies a scalp-focused shampoo. “I have a shampoo prescribed by a dermatologist, but I’ll also use something tingling on the scalp, like a rosemary shampoo,” Sioux said.

Her favorites rotate by hairstyle. TPH by Taraji shampoos work for general use, Olaplex for repair, Cécred with braids, Pattern for natural curls, Shea Moisture as a staple, and Bread for its scent. “I really like how my curls are defined and hydrated after using Pattern,” she noted.

At 9:20 a.m., she applies Olaplex No. 6 all over, lets it sit, then rinses. On non-deep-conditioner days, she combs in conditioner for a few minutes. Deep treatments stay on 20 to 30 minutes. By 9:50 a.m., a Parachute waffle towel dries her hair gently. For blow-drying, she sections it, sprays heat protectant, and finishes with oils like Cécred edge drops, Shakira’s Iconic Densifying Scalp serum, and Moroccanoil for shine.

She blow-dries with a Pattern dryer and its bristled attachment at 10 a.m., skipping advanced brush techniques. Gisou hair perfume goes on wet hair for lasting scent. Nights end with wrapping straight hair, a scarf, and bonnet—Sioux calls herself a “crazy sleeper.” Mornings bring scalp oil like Cécred or Isima, Pattern edge control for braids, or simply unwrapping straight styles.

Sioux’s journey traces back to Dance Moms, where producers banned braids and protective styles. “My hair was straightened, pulled into tight styles, and damaged with gel and hair spray,” she recalled. Heat tools hit weekly, hairpieces zip-tied in, breaking her curl pattern. Pre-show, her godmother’s salon kept it healthy with trims, washes, deep conditioners, and beaded braids every few weeks.

Post-show damage hit hard. “It was really hard to look at my natural hair in the state that it was in,” Sioux said. She went natural at first but faced judgment, then shared vulnerable YouTube videos on recovery. Those helped her embrace her hair’s state. Now, protective styles like boho braids and sew-ins dominate her busy life as a star and author.

Coloring tempts her, though past blonde attempts fell short. “I’m trying to make sure I look into things and learn how to take care of my hair before making drastic changes,” she said. Trauma from the show lingers, but her hair stays “fairly healthy.” Sioux hopes her story encourages others: “It’s beautiful no matter what.”