Naturally Obsessed

When and why did you decide to go natural?

I went natural on November 7, 2009.  Going natural was always something that I wanted to do, but I didn't understand what it took to maintain and keep up with natural hair.  I had a lot of inspiration from my two younger sisters who actually went natural two years prior to my BIG Chop.  Conversations with my about their hair gave me a lot of encouragement along with watching YouTube and hair care forums.

Were your friends and family supoportive of your decision?  If not, how were you able to move forward?

My friends were very supportive of my decision to go natural.  On a few occasions they would send me links of certain websites and books I could read.  The one person that I did get negative feedback from was my boyfriend.  I remember I tried going natural once before and he was right there with me.  I took my extensions out after a year and said "I'm going natural".  At that time I didn't know there were sources available that I could turn to for help with my decision.  So a week later i ran to my hair dresser and told her to perm e pronto, and he (the stylist ) gave me a look of I told so.  When I said I was going natural for the second time I knew he would have something to say.  I finally Bc'ed and he told me, which I thought was funny, "You know I never really liked girls with weaves and perms anyway!"

What is your current hair routine?

My routine is perfect for me; I spritz my hair every morning and every night with a mixture that consists of Giovanni leave in, water, jojoba oil, and a splash of glycerin.  I co-wash and deep condition my hair once a week and even though its winter I do wash & go's on my TWA.  Don't be alarmed it usually dries before I get outside.  That's it for now because my hair is still too short for braid and/or twist outs. 

What are your hair goals?

I just want healthy hair!!

How has your perception of beauty changed since going natural?

It hasn't changed much.  I believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What advice would you give to a new natural?

It's not as hard as you think it is.  Please don't be discouraged because you don't have a looser texture, love your coils and kinks.  Take your time with your hair and when you give it your hair will return the favor ten times over!!! 

For more info about this beauty be sure to follow her on Twitter. 

When and why did you decide to go natural?

For more info and pictures please visit her Fotki http://members.fotki.com/MileHighCitySista

When and why did you decide to go natural?

 I'm so new to this!  My last relaxer was February 27, 2009, I transitioned for 6 months and BC'ed in August.  I remember the last day I got a perm,  I was pissed off at my stylist for taking forever to do my hair, thus making me late picking up my besties from the train station.  I remember saying with conviction "This is the last time she'll be seeing me".  I have not been back to that salon since.  Then I tried another stylist who was more professional than the previous one.  However, I didn't leave her chair feeling like I got my money's worth.  After that I decided that I needed to take care of my own hair.

 For years I pondered the idea of going natural.  I actually tried a couple of times, but I was accustomed to styling relaxed hair, not natural hair.  I always reverted back to the infamous "touch up".  This go round I did a lot more research.  i started googling  (key words: transitional hairstyles) like crazy!  Long story short, I found all my answers on YouTube.  Who would have thunk it?!?

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision?  If not, how were you able to move forward?

My friends and family know that when my mind is REALLY made up, there is no way of convincing me otherwise.  My grandmother and mother probably had the hardest time getting used to seeing me with nappy hair.  My grandmother actually thought my decision to go natural was a tactic to grow long hair.  I remember her asking me " So how long are you going to go without a perm? ".  My response "FOREVER".

Nowadays everyone is pretty supportive.  They are often amazed at how much thicker my hair is now, and the different style options I have with my natural hair.  They can't do that with relaxed hair.  My aunt and grandmother are currently transitioning into natural hair.  I'd like to think of myself as a trendsetter :-)

What is current hair routine?

I'm still trying to figure this one out.  I pretty much wash it whenever I feel like it,  mostly co-wash.  I use only natural or mostly natural products (absolutely no alcohol based products).  I don't use a lot of heat, I may flat iron every now and then.  These days I'm finding my natural curls more appealing than straight hair.

Some of my favorite products are olive oil mousse, coconut oil, water and Eco styling gel.

What are your hair goals?  What steps are you taking to achieve them?

 I can't lie and say that I don't care about length.  I CARE ABOUT LENGTH!  I want my hair to be long, curly and healthy.  I've been making sure that my hair is moisturized, clean and trimmed.  I've also lightened up on using heat.  Recently I've been pondering the idea of getting Sisterlocks.  Sisterlocks are not cheap though, I'm currently working hard and saving money to get them.

How do you protect your hair in cold and warm weather?

In the summer, I wore protective styles like kinky twists or cornrows (with hair added).  Now that its cold I'm letting my hair breathe.  I've been wearing puffs and curly fros.

What is your definition of "Good Hair" ?

 Good hair is the hair that naturally grows out of one's head.  Good hair is free.

Blog: http://blog.theindiestry.com/

Website: http://www.theindiestry.com/

Youtube: Ladybaltimore2010

When and why did you decide to go natural?

I have been natural my entire life.  However, I did not know the right products to use on my hair or how to care for my hair properly.  I would use products that were alcohol based and that contained many other unhealthy ingredients that would dry out my hair terribly.  I also had color treated hair and would frequently get it straightened.  Which resulted in some pieces permanently losing their texture.  I often wore tightly slicked back hairstyles which caused a lot of breakage.  This past summer I decided to do my own Big Chop to get rid of all the color and heat processed parts of my hair.  I had a lot of length taken off.  I started off with APL (Armpit Length) hair and left the salon with my hair hitting my ears stretched.  It was a big change, but I knew it was the healthiest thing to do.  I wanted to grow out my hair and start with a clean slate and use healthier products.

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision?  If not, how were you able to move forward?

 My family and friends were definitely supportive of my decision.  Well...my mom of course was a little hard to convince at first.  She is definitely old school and loves her some long hair.  Between my sister cutting off her of Halle Berry style and myself, she got used to it pretty quickly.  Ultimately, it is really about how you feel as an individual in your hair.

What is current hair routine?

i shampoo my hair about every 2 weeks with Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Threat, which really makes my hair feel minty clean and fresh.  I co-wash 1-2 times a week, using Suave Coconut Naturals, leaving a little of the conditioner in my hair.  After washes, I usually do protective styles (Two Strand Twists) using Aubrey Organics B5 Design Gel.  I find myself not doing too many wash & gos, as they can be a little drying to my hair.  Also I love, love, love virgin coconut oil and use it to moisturize my ends and scalp daily.  Moisturizing is key.  I do a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment once a week and a protein treatment with Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner once a month.  Protein, for me, can be a little drying if I use too much, so I try to limit my use to only once as month. 

Henna has been workings working wonders for me.  I henna once a month as well.  I am planning to trim once every 6 months or twice a year.  Lastly, I sleep in a silk scarf or bonnet every night to protect my hair.

What are your hair goals?  What steps are you taking to achieve them?

 My hair goal is to continue to maintain healthy hair.  I would grow out my hair to BSL (Bra Strap Length).  I think that moisturizing is a crucial part to maintaining length, as it prevents breakage and split ends.  I use coconut oil on my hair everyday.  I also exercise and eat a balanced diet, I believe if you are not healthy internally, your hair and skin definitely will suffer the consequences.

How do you protect your hair in cold and warm weather?

In the winter the cold air just sucks up all the moisture from your strands.  I wear a lot more protective styles to help keep the moisture in.  For the summer, I pretty much do the same thing, I protect my hair by doing protective styles as well.  Loose buns, ponytails, 2 strand twists and also covering my hair with a colorful scarf or hat to protect my hair from the sun....Gotta keep it stylish!

What is your definition of "Good Hair" ?

Good Hair to me is healthy hair.  It is hair that chooses not to be tamed or to be assimilated into the societal standard of beauty.  It is beautiful hair that defines who we are as individuals and as a people.  It is diverse, spontaneous and full of life and of zest.

Blog: kiffecoco.blogspot.com

Fotki: fotki.com/metisse86

As a model, you constantly have to change your look for shows and various photo shoots, that can be quite damaging to your hair.  How do you keep

I've been on a journey of self discovery for so many years, and I think I'm finally coming into my own.  I'm not an insecure as I was once, and the things that I thought mattered don't mean much to me anymore.  Who cares if my hair is nappy or I have all these freckles on my face.  I can accept and appreciate me for me.  I walk with my head up high, but I remain humble and thankful for all my blessings.

Blog: Model Liberation

Agency: Grace Model Management

When and why did you decide to go natural?

I went natural in June of 2007, so it's been about two years and some change (it definitely feels longer).  As far as why I went natural, it wasn't a profound realization of the beauty of natural hair at first.  I was starting college and I realized that no one would be be there to keep up with my hair, and I was never really attached to my hair to begin with.  I was the one who begged my mother to cut it, and she had a much harder time with it than I did.  My plan was to transition for a year, but I only made it about 5 months before I got sick of my permed ends.

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision?  If not, how were you able to move forward?

My mom was the only one in REAL protest.  She had a hard time letting go of my hair because it wasn't like my permed hair was unhealthy, I took good care of it and it grew well.  But I was ready for a change and I needed to save money.  The more I found out about natural hair, the stronger my attraction to it became.  Overall everyone was very supportive of my decision, which made it so much easier.  When I first BC'd I got a couple of looks and snide remarks from many black people.  Unfortunately, the craziest times were when I had to explain to other black people that the hair that grew out of my scalp wasn't naturally straight.  But I was able to ignore it and move forward.  I was finding a strength in being natural that distiguished me from many other people around me.

What is current hair routine?

LOL..This question can't be answered straight.  My routine changes depending on my wallet and my mood.  I go through moments of product junkyism....

My first routine is the one found on TightlyCurly.com, which is the conditioner only method.  I can say this is mainly my summer routine..pretty much its leaving in a heavy conditioner, like herbal essences ( the color treated one is my FAVE, the smell is to die for!!), and using my trusty Denman brush to define my curls as I de-tangle.  I can't remember the last time I used a comb.  Many people complain that the Denman takes a lot of hair out, and my trick was removing three rows of bristles.  It gave me the same results with none of that "snap-crackle-pop", if you've ever used a Denman on 4a/4b hair then you know what I mean...lol.  After de-tangling the hair I twist it , then let it out the next day.  I sleep with a satin bonnet, and I'll do it all over again 2 days later.

My second routine, mainly for the winter, is kind of the same except I use an all natural conditioner (which I rinse unlike the first routine) and a leave-in conditioner.  My main products are the Aubrey Organics line and the leave-in I swear by is Giovanni Direct Leave-In Conditioner.  I use the Direct Leave-in to twist and I usually leave my twists in for the whole week, sometimes two weeks and have a fly twist-out by the end of that.  I really stress my hair in the summer with a lot of manipulation because of the frequent washing (sweat + natural hair = gross).

I'd say overall my 3 main rules for hair care are:

No Shampoo - No Heat - Condition, Condition, Condition!!

And my secret weapon is Coconut Oil!

What are your hair goals?  What steps are you taking to achieve them?

 You know its funny because I used to be obsessed with with length in my early stages.  I would look at those with length ("hangage"), and wonder when I would get there.  I definitely went through my stages of curl envy.  I've realized along with embracing my 4a/4b hair that length is not really something I care to entertain.  I actually am very tempted to cut my hair again, but I going to wait and see how big this bad girl can get :-)

I actually think I have reached my hair goals, which were to have beautiful, full, thick, healthy hair.  I'd say my next goal is to stay healthy while coloring, because while I was a permie and in more recent months I've frequently experimented with color (with good and bad results) and I miss that.  I've been patient waiting for a new color but I think the time is right, so you'll have to visit my Fotki soon to see my new one.

How do you protect your hair in cold and warm weather?

In both warm and cold weather, twists are my haven.  I have been able to find cute up-dos and styling aides with twists that for the summer keep me cool and gives my hair a break.  For the winter twists protect my fro from the frigid temperatures.  I use to swear by braid outs, but I realized twists are what my hair really loves.

What is your definition of "Good Hair" ?

When and why did you decide to go natural?

I decided to go natural in early October 2008, at the time I was contemplating whether to BC or transition.  I began researching relentlessly and fell in love with sharpness of TWA's via on-line images.  I have had several spunky short cuts that I adored and figured I could rock a TWA without a problem.  I BC'd on December 30, 2008 because I wanted to start the New Year au natural.  My biggest reason for going natural simply was because I got tired of always having to travel back to NYC (my hometown) to keep up with my hair demands.  The stylists in my current location just "didn't do it for me" to say the least.

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision?  If not, how were you able to move forward? 

My friends and family were very supportive, but quite honestly had they not have been I still would have done it anyway.  It's just the way I am.  When an idea robs my thoughts until the point of insanity, I do what ever it takes to accomplish what I have in mind.

What is current hair routine?

 I try to keep my routine uncomplicated.  I de-tangle prior to washing and set my hair in twists.  I then wash with a tingly shampoo and deep condition afterwards.  While I deep condition I grab my favorite nail lacquer and get to polishing my nails.  For styling purposes i moisturize with a water based leave in, followed by a hair butter/cream and seal with coconut oil.  I recently discovered the wonders of bentonite clay for my hair and I would also love to try Henna with indigo.

What are your hair goals?  What steps are you taking to achieve them?

My hair goal is a healthy humongous mane.  The bigger the better.  To achieve this I'm doing the basic necessities of hair care, maintaining a cleansed scalp, maintaining a moisture/protein balance and paying special attention to the condition of my ends.

How do you protect your hair in cold and warm weather?

I tend to treat my hair year round pretty equally because my hair tends to be on the dry side regardless of the seasons.

What is your definition of "Good Hair" ?

My definition of "good hair" is that here is no such thing.  it is a notion that our communities need to get rid of in my opinion.

For more images of this natural beauty please visit her Fotki albums http://public.fotki.com/La-Reina-del-Kink/