I LIKE IT NATURAL!

Hello Naturals! 

What or whom inspired you to go natural?

Angie Stone and my friend Patrice. I woke up one morning and was just tired of pressing my hair.  

How has your journey been thus far?

Lovely, it’s been 5 years. 

What products do you use for your regimen?

Kinky Curly, Shea moistures, coconut oil, and the natural products my beautician uses.

How was being natural affected your life?

It’s forced me to get my day started earlier, and affirmed the liberating idea of being both physical and spiritually naked 

What are some natural styles that you like to rock?

I’m lazy with my hair so I usually just wear my natural curl pattern. Sometimes I rock two strand bantu knots. 

What would you like to tell a transitioning for fellow natural?

Live as God made you. 

Is there a blog or web page where we can find you?

unorthodoxerratictalk.tumblr.com and discoveringjoywnaomi.blogspot.com

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Have you ever thought about how unnatural it is for any woman of any race to straightened one’s hair? 

Hello Naturals!

What or whom inspired you to go natural?

Honestly, when I stopped perming my hair I didn’t realize what “going natural” was. I was just trying to grow my hair back from a cut I did in middle school and  ”transitioned” for 3 years before cutting the ends off. However, my best friend’s sister had the cutest fro and I remember asking her how she got her hair that way. She then introduced me to youtube and that’s when I started experimenting with hairstyles I saw online. Some of the hair gurus I loved watching were Rustic Beauty (who gave me the idea to cut my ends!), Kimmaytube, and Pretty Dimples.

How has your journey been thus far?

Great! Now that I know different techniques to get my hair how I want it, my confidence has defiantly increased, but at first I was so lost. Just ask the kids from my high school lol..it was either a hit or miss for my hair. Although I still have an occasional bad hair day (or week), I don’t let it affect me like it did before.

What products do you use for your regimen?

Whatever I have around. I’m pretty cheap, so I use stuff like Shea butter and shampoos and conditioners I see on sale. At this moment, I’m using KMS California Free Shape Shampoo (which i bought from a salon that was closing), Suave or Pantene for curly hair conditioner, Garnier Fructis leave-in and shea butter.

How has being natural affected your life?

I think it has changed the way people perceive me. Sometimes people think I’m a certain way because of my hair, and after meeting me they tell me how different I am from what they thought, which is really interesting to me. There are different stereotypes people with natural hair get that I didn’t deal with while wearing straight hair, and it has made me more aware of my identity as a black woman in America. Not to get too deep, but sometimes having natural hair is like some political statement where you’ll have people who hate it (until it grows long) or admire you for being “brave.” So I had to learn to be comfortable with my choice, while also learning to react positively to negative feedback.  

What are some natural styles that you like to rock?

I love bantu knot-outs and mini-twists.

What would you like to tell a transitioning for fellow natural?

The best thing I did during my “natural hair journey” was research and experiment. Going on youtube or different blogs and learning from other naturals is a such a great way to learn about our hair, especially if you don’t have people around you who can teach you.

Is there a blog or web page where we can find you?

I have a tumblr: http://brownblessing.tumblr.com/  and follow me on twitter ;) @benitabonete

 
Is there anything else you would like to add?

Stay positive and find people who are too. When I cut my hair and some people tripped, it was nice to have my friends and also the natural hair community online who understood what I was going through (or at least gave some advice to help). 

On March 20, 2011 The “I Like It Natural: Natural Hair Summit 2011” event was hosted in Memorial Union on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia. At such a fabulous event there has to be Press.

____ On the Radio________

A Sound Clip was provided by KBIA. KBIA coverage reaches Columbia, MO and Jefferson City, MO. Student reporter, Alana Young covers the event.

Interview given by Alana Young, representative from KBIA. Those interviewed JaNee C. Harrell & Eboni Young, members of the Natural Hair Board, and DaRico Jackson, Mizani Representative.

We are not able to post The sound clip due to copyright reasons and unfortunately there is not a direct link.

____ Online Publications____

*myNoire online magazine by De’Andrea Tobias has a selective focus on Black Hair Care. The “I Like It Natural: Natural Hair Summit 2011” was featured in this online mag! Please go to myNoire and read our Feature!

*mymissourian.com featured the “I Like It Natural: Natural Hair Summit 2011. On the site you find video footage of Natural Hair Board member, Carmen Adkins, personal choice to go natural and a collage capturing moments! Enjoy

____

Please email iLikeItnatural@gmail.com for any other coverage of the “I Like It Natural: Natural Hair Summit 2011”

Sincerely,

Naptural

Sponsors

MU Women Center

Multi-Cultural Center

Thank God I’m Natural Chris-tia

 www.thankgodimnatural.wordpress.com

Curls

http://www.curls.biz/

Hydratherma Naturals

http://www.healthyhairjourney.com/

Darcey’s Botanicals     

http://www.darcysbotanicals.com/      

Mizani® TRUE TEXTURES™

http://www.mizani-usa.com/?rid=300

ErthTonez by Chi Chi

http://www.erthtonez.com/

One Me Naturally by Moesha Tall

 www.1menaturally.etsy.com

www.jewelrywonder.com/1menaturally

Salutations

This weeks feature is of a beautiful “twa” (teeny weeny afro). Read her HAIRstory on her royal crown. We would like to present to you the “Naturale of the Week”

                                     Ms. Jade Earl

What or whom inspired you to go natural?

I wasn’t really inspired by anyone specifically and I’ve been natural for as long as I can remember (I had locks before cutting my hair). But, I can say that it was definitely all about timing. I just wanted to do something different and something new that I wouldn’t have to think about so much. I wasn’t scared of transitioning at all because I knew that I was ready for something different. I was entering a new phase in my life.

How has your journey been thus far?

 I can’t even quite say that it’s a journey. After all, I just try to go to the barber as much as I can and come out with a nice haircut :)..but, I would say that since my hair has a thick texture, I have to kind of train it to lay a certain way once I get my hair cut every month. When it’s at its shortest, as a fade, it’s really easy to have small, tiny pieces sticking up and I just try to condition and moisturize and keep the flyaways to a minimum. I can usually go about a month and a half without a barbershop visit. After that, The Bush starts growing :)

What products do you use for your regimen?

I really try to go back to the basics when it comes to my hair products. Aloe Vera and Shea butter are the two items that I really depend on for daily moisture. I really like Carol’s Daughter because the products really moisturize well after I wash my hair. I use Pantene shampoo and conditioner because it definitely does its job :) I think one of the perceptions that people may have is that once you’re hair is this short, you don’t have to do anything. It isn’t that you don’t have to do anything, you just may not have to do as much. It’s definitely a lot easier to maintain, but moisturizing is still especially important because, at least with my hair texture, my hair can easily look dull and dry.

How has being natural affected your life?

It hasn’t really affected my life much. I may get a few more head turns than I’m used to (which is hilarious in itself), especially when my hair is just cut, but, really, there hasn’t been much of a change. It can be a little bit of a turn off when people only see going natural as a trend. I can see how it can be seen as that because of people in the public eye, like Solange and Amber Rose, being celebrated for it. However, nothing is wrong with that at all because they are beautiful women who rock it well. But, I’ve been natural for a long time and it wasn’t because 80 people in my class were doing it. My hair was easier to maintain when it was locked and now, it’s even easier for me as a college student (on a college budget). Since I have had my hair natural since I was a kid, I can’t really say that it’s empowering because natural is the only thing I know. My mom had locks and it was always embraced by the people in my immediate environment. Plus, I’m kind of artsy and out there in a sense, so that may have something to do with it :) But, I do have a sense of pride for being able to keep it up for myself for this long, even through puberty, growth spurts and other awkward adolescent moments.

What are some natural styles that you like to rock?

I really just like cutting it as low as I possibly can into a fade. I may eventually try to grow it longer to see what happens, but for now, I love my fade. It makes me sad when my hair starts growing :/

What would you like to tell a transitioning or fellow natural?

I would tell someone who wants to go natural to just do it. I mean, I think that’s definitely easier said than done. Even though I’ve never felt hesitant to go natural, I don’t ever undermine another woman’s hesitance. It can be a big deal and I think you need to have a certain attitude (not arrogance) to embrace the idea that your hair may not do what you want it to do. Hair is important (and when weaves look right, they just do), but I think it speaks volumes when a woman can let it go. Natural looks beautiful on every woman.

—you betta say it!