Showing posts with label Naturale Spotlight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Naturale Spotlight. Show all posts
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Naturale Spotlight: Sydni
Posted by
Yirssi |
By Yirssi, from Breaking The Glass Ceilings, and Living Life To The Fullest.
Meet 22 year old Sydni, a Temple University graduate, and 3 year natural:
Do you remember how old you were when you got your first relaxer?
Looking back, getting my relaxer was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I was 13 years old and I did it because I was tired of all the kids in my middle school making fun of my hair. They said I looked like Oprah. Being 13 and ridiculed over your hair, something that you're born with and can't change is hard especially at that age. You're starting puberty and into boys and all you want to be is accepted.
How long have you been natural and what made you decide to go natural?
I've been natural for 3 years. I decided to go natural because my friend Kassandra told me I should do it. Her hair was full, bouncy and beautiful and I decided to give the natural thing a try. Plus, I was sick and tired of my hair breaking off. Another reason I decided to go natural is that I live in Philadelphia and being in an area where you see so many black women rocking their natural tresses is a beautiful thing. I grew up in a predominately white neighborhood outside of Pittsburgh and finding a girl with natural hair was far and few between. But living in a city where nappy hair was viewed as beautiful sparked an epiphany for me that I could do it too.
How do u like being natural?
I don't regret it at all. I've learned to love myself in new ways. Having my natural hair made me feel free. I won't lie, sometimes I get frustrated because I feel like my hair has a mind of its own by changing and looking different everyday. But no matter how frustrated I become, I never want to go back. I love being natural.
It makes me feel beautiful.
Do you have a specific hair regimen? If so, what is it?
I put Blue magic hair grease on my scalp every night, wet each strand and then twist my hair and put curlers on the end.
The grease gives my hair sheen and when I take the twists, my afro is a combination fo curly and wavy.
Meet 22 year old Sydni, a Temple University graduate, and 3 year natural:
Sydni and a friend.
Do you remember how old you were when you got your first relaxer?
Looking back, getting my relaxer was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I was 13 years old and I did it because I was tired of all the kids in my middle school making fun of my hair. They said I looked like Oprah. Being 13 and ridiculed over your hair, something that you're born with and can't change is hard especially at that age. You're starting puberty and into boys and all you want to be is accepted.
How long have you been natural and what made you decide to go natural?
I've been natural for 3 years. I decided to go natural because my friend Kassandra told me I should do it. Her hair was full, bouncy and beautiful and I decided to give the natural thing a try. Plus, I was sick and tired of my hair breaking off. Another reason I decided to go natural is that I live in Philadelphia and being in an area where you see so many black women rocking their natural tresses is a beautiful thing. I grew up in a predominately white neighborhood outside of Pittsburgh and finding a girl with natural hair was far and few between. But living in a city where nappy hair was viewed as beautiful sparked an epiphany for me that I could do it too.
How do u like being natural?
I don't regret it at all. I've learned to love myself in new ways. Having my natural hair made me feel free. I won't lie, sometimes I get frustrated because I feel like my hair has a mind of its own by changing and looking different everyday. But no matter how frustrated I become, I never want to go back. I love being natural.
It makes me feel beautiful.
Do you have a specific hair regimen? If so, what is it?
I put Blue magic hair grease on my scalp every night, wet each strand and then twist my hair and put curlers on the end.
The grease gives my hair sheen and when I take the twists, my afro is a combination fo curly and wavy.
**
Thank you Sydni for your time, and I look forward to seeing you as one of Television's new reporters in the near future.
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Thursday, January 21, 2010
Naturale Spotlight: Yirssi
Posted by
Anonymous |
Yirssi
<--(big chop)
Share your transitioning story!:
Well, I wasn't patient enough to transition! I had my last relaxer in August of 2009. I remember that I purposefully didn't tell my friend, who was relaxing my hair, how much it truly itched, because I wanted it to be as straight as possible after it was done. I had scabs for weeks after. Shortly after, I read a NY Times article about black women's hair, and although I'm not black (I'm Dominican) the article resonated with me. About a week later I began a blog called Breaking The Glass Ceilings, and wrote a post called Good Hair, that was inspired by Chris Rock's movie. After I wrote this post I thought long and hard about the reasons why I wouldn't go natural. And really, the only reason was because I was afraid of what people in my community would say, or think. I don't ever don't do something just because of other people, and I wasn't going to start letting people dictate what I do with my hair. And thus began my transitioning program. I researched up and down, read blogs, looked at pics, and when it came time to go to the hair salon to re-relax my hair I realized I wouldn't be patient enough to deal with curly hair, and straight hair at once. So instead, on Oct. 31 2009 I got my BC. I blogged about what it was like to get the BC, too.
(with relaxed hair)
When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your newly au naturale hair?
I BC on Oct. 31 2009. I loved it. In a way I feel like letting go of my relaxed hair helped me let go of all my fears. If I could take such a bold, public, obvious step even though I was extremely afraid of the outcome, I can face other, smaller fears, too.
Why did you choose to go naturale?
My hair was completely damaged. I wanted to give it a fresh start.
Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
Short term. I was too impatient to wait!
What do you wish you knew before you went natural?
How liberating it is. And how easy it is to just wash n go!
(1 month after BC)
What was your transitioning routine?
Before the BC I did a lot of Bantu knot-outs.
What would you say is your hair type?
A little 3C, but mostly 4A
How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
I'm taking this straight off my blog post:
"The reactions vary mostly generationally and racially. My generation is mostly saying "you cut your hair. Oh. Wow," and trying to obviously not say something negative. (Although a number of people have been supportive on Facebook).
The next generation (in their 30's and forth) seems to love it. Everyone seems to give me a genuine "I love it!"
But this stops with the few Hispanic people I've showed it to. It doesn't seem like any Hispanic that I've showed it to so far likes it, and I've gotten a number of "Don't worry! Hair grows back!" Although everyone seems to understand that I cut it to start anew, since I want to go back to natural. All in all, the comments haven't been as negative as I expected. So I guess that's a good thing!"
Also, just last week my aunt, who hadn't seen my cut, said "I can't believe you cut all your pretty hair!"
My response to them... I was just so happy with my BC, that I honestly didn't care about what anyone thought, or said!
What tips or tricks do you have to share with the transitioning ladies or the au naturale gals out there?
Even after getting the BC you have to protect your hair with the right products, and with a satin bonnet or scarf at night. Also, co-washing is the bomb!
Thanks so much Yirssi for doing this spotlight!! You all should go check out her blog, its great! She is a wonderful person and friend and also extremely intelligent and well versed on a variety of topics! Here are the links to her sites!
love love!!
![www [dot] ceceUNedited [dot] com](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IgQvEFKlW2Y/S8u_r1RFJsI/AAAAAAAAAK8/KG92BKUQw-Q/s320/chelsea+signature+REAL.png)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Naturale Spotlight: Mae
Posted by
Anonymous |
Photo of Mae now with a chunky two-strand
twist out that was pinned up into a faux fro-hawk
(watch her video creating the style here!)
Mae
Share your transitioning story!
Well my transitioning journey was interesting since I've actually gone through it twice! Let me explain... So I started my first transitioning journey around October of '08 and it lasted for four months. Prior to that, I had long relaxed hair that had been that way since I was 6! ! However, at that fourth month of my transition, I couldn't take the two different textures anymore and decided to relax my hair with the "creamy crack"! I immediately regretted my decision though and started reading natural hair care blogs and started watching the plethora of YouTube videos of women who were making the transition from relaxed hair to natural hair successfully! That gave me the ammunition to start my SECOND transition journey, which also lasted four months but this time ended with the BIG CHOP on July 22, 2009 : ) I found that the key during my successful transition journey was not being afraid to work with styles that didn't require heat like flexi-rod sets, bantu knots,etc.
When did you BC? What was your initial reaction to your newly au naturale hair?
I BC'ed on July 22, 2009! (I honestly can't believe that it has been more than 5 months since that date now!!). My initial reaction was literally "Wow...wow...wow" over and over again as I looked in the mirror. I had never seen myself with that little hair before, but it grew on me literally the next day! I actually have live footage from my Big Chop event that you can see HERE!.
This is Mae on the day of her Big Chop!!
July 22nd, 2009
Why did you choose to go naturale?
I decided to transition for several reasons. I have two younger sisters who made the transition to natural and I saw how healthy their hair had become after going completely natural. I also had recently moved away for grad school, and the area that I moved to charged an arm & a leg for relaxers, so that monetary issue definitely helped the push for going natural ,lol : )
Were you a long term or short term transitioner, and why?
I was a short term transitioner (4 months) because as I started seeing my healthy, naturally coily roots peeking through under the relaxed hair...I couldn't wait any longer!
What do you wish you knew before you went natural?
Since I had two "tries" at this, I really learned everything I think I needed at that point before I did the Big Chop. However, I would recommend to anyone to thoroughly research about the natural hair journey before you embark, so you don't have to go through a transitioning experience like mine! There are TONS of resources online from blogs to YouTube channels that are all dedicated to helping you along on your own journey!
What was your transitioning routine?
I didn't really have a routine since I was constantly trying out new styles. You can see some of the styles that I tried HERE. During my transition period though, I made sure to steer clear away from shampoos with sulfates (and started co-washing) and also stuck to styles that required minimal to no heat. It was during this time that shea butter became my BEST friend ,lol. It really helped to seal moisture in my hair and I loved that it was a product I could use both on my hair and my skin!
This photo is one of Mae's transitioning styles with a pin-up
after a flexi-rod set.
How did you moisturize your hair to prevent breakage at the new growth line?
Again, I made sure to use products that wouldn't remove the necessary oils from my hair to cause over-drying like sulfate-based shampoos. When I would finish washing, I would massage my hair with natural oils like jojoba oil and then sealed my hair with shea butter. Besides moisturizing your hair to prevent breakage, I found it also important to NOT try and comb my hair unless it was wet and covered with conditioner. This definitely minimized any breakage at the new growth line.
What would you say is your hair type?
Anyone who knows me knows that I dislike "hair typing" because of how some people take it to mean that whatever products works for a person of their "hair type" automatically means that it will work for them - definitely not the case all the time! However, if I did have to place myself, I would say I'm all over the "4" category. My hair is tightly coiled, but there are definitely varying degrees throughout my entire head!
How did family and friends react to the new you? What was your response to them?
My friends and family were extremely supportive! In fact, a lot of my friends were natural so I would go to them whenever I had questions throughout my journey. My dad was the only one who took a while to get used to it, but it was more because I had like 1 inch of hair on my head, rather than the fact that it was natural,lol. I have to say there were "acquaintances" who would always come up to me and ask " what happened to all that beautiful LONG, FLOWING hair?" and I would smile and sweetly say, I cut it off ...simple as that! : )
What tips or tricks do you have to share with the transitioning ladies or the au naturale gals out there?
Well I'm always sharing tips on my site (www.naturalchica.com), but I'll share one tip each for my transitioning chicas and the au naturale chicas.
Transitioning chicas: Whenever you feel yourself starting to get frustrated with your journey, don't be afraid to try a new style! Sometimes trying a new style can give you that extra boost of confidence to continue on with the journey. You'd be surprised at how many styles you can try while you're transitioning. From getting that super cute short cut as a precursor to your BC or a really fly two-strand twist out...you really can't go wrong!
Au naturale chicas: I'm a newbie myself in this category, but one thing I've learned so far is the importance of retaining moisture in your hair. I've found that by using a water-based, oil-based and cream-based system, I can retain moisture in my hair and also promote its health. I personally like to use a water-based leave in conditioner (recently tried a homemade mixture of water,aloe vera juice, jojoba oil, lemon oil), an oil-blend (avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil, castor oil) and a homemade hair cream (shea butter/cocoa butter/coconut oil base). This has really helped to retain moisture and keep my hair healthy which has added to great growth retention!
This is Mae with one of her transitioning styles before she did her BC.
It is styled in two strand twists.
Once again, thank you so much for doing this feature Mae! She has a lot of information to share and a great personality as well! Please sub her page and follow her blog, she is also sings and creates music so check out her lovely music on her page!
xoxo
Naturale Radiance
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