Spotlight - Bianca

Bianca is in the spotlight today! Bianca is one of the sassiest and most fashionable people that I know and her hair totally reflects her fun, spunky personality. Check out her wonderful blog too! Enjoy!

1. How long have you been natural? For over two years now!
   
2. Why did you decide to go natural? At first, I just wanted the freedom of wash and go in the Spring/Summer, so I did just that for a whole Summer. By the time Fall rolled around, I just got some new color and didn’t get a relaxer; I’ve been relaxer free ever since!
3. Were your friends and family supportive of your decision to go natural? My friends and family always liked my hair curly and wondered why I didn’t wear it like that more often - I was the one that had to get used to it!
4. Do you think society’s perception of you has changed now that you are natural? Nope! I get lots of compliments and I LOVE my curls!
5. Do you have any tips for those transitioning? Since we all have different textures of hair, I can only share what I did. Also, understand I didn’t start from scratch, cutting my hair off and growing it back. What I noticed about my hair, was the edges and maybe the middle would need a relaxer, while the rest of my hair was fine. So, for me when I wouldn’t wear it curly, I just hit the edges with a flat iron, WAY too often! My tip would be to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
6. How would you describe your hair vibe? Vibrant, sexy, carefree and fabulous! I’m a red head now so also a bit sultry.
7. Which 3 hair products could you not live without? I swear by Pantene Hydrating Curls shampoo and conditioner, my Motions pink light oil moisturizer and sexy silky hair serum!
   
8. What is your favorite hair style? My luscious curls after it has been two strand twisted
9. Are you completely satisfied with the state of your natural hair? If not, when will you be completely satisfied? I love my hair! It is growing and is super healthy, even though I get it professionally dyed and highlighted. I will be ultra satisfied when my hair gets longer, but of course!
10. Do you ever think you will go back to relaxers or texturizers? NEVER!!!
11. Last but not least, describe your daily routine and your wash routine? In the Summer, I used to wash my hair everyday and let it air dry. Now that it’s a bit too cold, I wash 2-3 times a week and two strand twist it after applying my Motions and Silky Sexy hair serum. The serum keeps the curls defined and not frizzy, so I love this wonderful potion! At night, I may two strand twist or just put up in a pony tail and take it out in the morning for volume.

Spotlight - Amber

Spotlight time! Amber is a soror and very good friend of mine. As you can see, her hair is gorgeous and she wears it well! If you are interested in being "spotlighted", send me an email!
1. How long have you been natural? 7 years. My last relaxer was in October 2001.

2. Why did you decide to go natural? I was going to study abroad in Italy for a semester my junior year in college, and I knew that no one would be able to manage my relaxer for those 5 months. I tested individual braids out the fall semester of my junior year (2001) because I never had extensions before, and I needed to know how to care for them. I then got individual braids again when I left for Italy in the spring. Upon returning to the States in May of 2002 I took out the braids and saw the tremendous amount of growth that occurred since my last relaxer 7 months prior. I did not feel that I could relax my gorgeous, thick, jet black new growth, and the difference in thickness and healthiness between the relaxed hair and the natural hair was overwhelming- I could see through the fried and died part of the hair, but not the new growth. I decided to keep the new growth and do away with what, up until that point, I thought was “healthy” and “vibrant” relaxed hair.

3. Were your friends and family supportive of your decision to go natural? I didn’t tell them! Shhhh! Some secrets are better left untold until the truth comes out. I didn’t want any negativity headed my way with that decision, and being from the South I had a strong suspicion no one would support me. I just cut off all the relaxer one day, and then got kinky twists the next day.

4. Do you think society’s perception of you has changed now that you are natural? Absolutely. I am still very much a down south country girl and I think some people miss that part of me upon first glance. I hear the “you seem so neo-soul” stuff all the time, and I suppose I fit that category to a certain extent, but I came up on perms, cornbread, and DJ Screw. On the other hand, I do think my hair reflects more correctly my artistic side, and that my hair is an extension of my artistic self. There is also a perception that I am, or need to be, more politically outspoken because people assume that my natural hair means I am more “politically conscious” than other people.

5. Do you have any tips for those transitioning? Do not give up, do not be discouraged. This is a self-discovery journey. You do not know what your hair is REALLY like, what it wants or needs to be happy, how it likes to grow, act, etc., until you let it be itself. And there will be many a messy day when you may feel “unpretty” because your hair has a mind of its own, and you can’t control it. Those days will come and they will go. But it is worth it to go through the journey. Practical tips- the earlier you cut the relaxer out, the HAPPIER you will be. Yes. Let it go! Trying to keep a straight look while transitioning seems like such a pain. If you don’t feel you are ready for a short look, cut the relaxer and do what I did- cornrows, twisties, etc. The feeling of having hair past my ears and on my neck was comforting since I wore my hair to my shoulders for such a long time while it was relaxed. It took me a while to embrace my afro for what it was, without my kinky twists or braids, but once I did, I never looked back.

6. How would you describe your hair vibe? Funky. Fresh. How cliché` yet true.

7. Which 3 hair products could you not live without? KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo, Trader Joe’s Nourish Conditioner (real talk, it reinvigorates the curls and keeps the hair soft), and KeraCare Styling Gel.

8. What is your favorite hair style? Do I really have to answer this question? It changes with the season/my mood, but I suppose a combo of two strand flat and individual twists.

9. Are you completely satisfied with the state of your natural hair? If not, when will you be completely satisfied? I’m never satisfied with my hair. If I feel the texture is right, then I need to do something else like cut it or color it. If the color is right then I need to find a new style that accentuates the color. Like I said before, I feel my hair is an extension of my artistic side.

10. Do you ever think you will go back to relaxers or texturizers? Highly doubtful. I had the type of hair that did not like to “cooperate” with my relaxer- so much so that I got a relaxer every 5 weeks to keep my hair “acting right.” And I burned every time. I don’t think my scalp could take all that again.

11. Last but not least, describe your daily routine and your wash routine? Depending on my hair style, I wash my hair at least one to three times a week. This is because of a chronic dry scalp/dandruff issue. If I have twists, I wash once a week and re-style the next. If I am wearing an afro or hair pulled back in a puff, I wash it more frequently. My wash includes one round with Neutrogena T/Gel Stubborn Itch Control Shampoo, one round with KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo, and 5-30 minutes (depending on time allowance) of Trader Joe’s Nourish Shampoo. I moisturize with KeraCare’s Essential Oils, and I also use hot oil treatments every 2-3 months.

Spotlight - Mia

Here is the first spotlight! Check out the beautiful Mia. As long as I have known her, I just found out a few months ago that she was natural! I have always envied her hair because it is beautiful as you can see.

I plan on asking everyone the same questions, but if that gets boring, I'll switch it up a bit. Enjoy!

1. How long have you been natural? I got my last perm in May 2007.
2. Why did you decide to go natural? I had been envying my friends who had the “guts” to go natural for quite some time. It seemed like everyone went natural my last year of college but I just was not brave enough to rock a short fro and I definitely knew that about myself. When I was pregnant I read that perms in the first trimester were a no-no. That is really what pushed me into the realm of the natural. After three months of a long overdue perm, I decided to just go for it (I was quite round and uncomfortable already! So why not!)
3. Were your friends and family supportive of your decision to go natural? The main person in my life most definitely was NOT! My boyfriend was scared to death that I was going to be “bald” or “nappy” or a slew of other terrible things that he associated with being natural (FYI he is now IN LOVE with my hair). My natural friends were very encouraging and I think my permed friends were just waiting to see what could be a disaster.
4. Do you think society’s perception of you has changed now that you are natural? I mainly wear my hair straightened. I received a ton of complements on my hair and how healthy it looks and I make sure to take the time to tell people that it is all natural. When I do wear my hair out, I do seriously get the sense that people think that I am somewhat of a different person. I feel like white people associate it with being very afro-centric and I get the feeling they are shocked that they never knew that about me before—like I have revealed my blackness by not straightening my hair.
5. Do you have any tips for those transitioning? KEEP THE FAITH!!!! Know that it IS hard in the beginning but it is so worth it.
6. How would you describe your hair vibe? I am not really sure what this means….lol. BUT—I like wearing my hair straight because it is easy. I have not taken the time to explore my texture and products (which is why I live vicariously through this blog and rely on it for my hair education). But I have just started wearing my hair out and I would describe it as “young and eager to discover itself”. The possibilities are so vast and I just love having options!
7. Which 3 hair products could you not live without? Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme, Miss Jessie’s Curly Meringue and Tresseme Conditioner (I know I know—but it gets the job done!)
8. What is your favorite hair style? Flat ironed straight.
9. Are you completely satisfied with the state of your natural hair? If not, when will you be completely satisfied? I am 94% satisfied. I just want it to be longer I can’t wait to wear it out and have it be draping.
10. Do you ever think you will go back to relaxers or texturizers? NEVER
11. Last but not least, describe your daily routine and your wash routine? Generally I do a co-wash (thanks Elisa!), blow dry it straight and use my Chi to straighten it. I put a somewhat tight curl on the ends with the Chi and wrap it for about a week and a half at night, never having to put heat on it again until I wash. If I do wear it out, I co-wash and comb it out while the conditioner is in. Afterward, I just put some Curly Meringue throughout and pull it back into a ponytail.

Check me out!

Check me out on The Coil Review! I am the fourth from the top. This is a great site founded and owned by one of my sorors *skee-wee*. The Coil Review boasts many resources including a salon directory, stylists directory, natural tips and more! Take a peek! Thanks Kaeisha!