I LIKE IT NATURAL!

“Eventually I knew what hair wanted; it wanted to be itself… to be left alone by anyone, including me, who did not love it as it was.” – Alice Walker

  • 6th November
    2012
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We have exciting news to share!

Hello all!

Thank you all so much for supporting the Mizzou Natural Hair Summit for the past two years. We have exciting news to share about some changes that will be implemented soon.

We are currently in the process of becoming an organization called Team Naptural on the MU campus. That’s right: an organization. This means that we’ll have a smoother time creating the next Natural Hair Summit, which will, once again, be held in mid-March. This will also help to increase our presence on the MU campus. 

We’re so excited for what these changes will entail. We’re currently in the process of interviews and are wrapping up some other important tasks to get the ball rolling.

We would like to thank every single person who had a hand in getting us to this point. Thank you so much for supporting our event through attendance, promotion or by being a speaker, vender or sponsor.

We will update frequently about happenings in our organization.

Hope to see you next year!

-Team Naptural

(Mizzou Natural Hair Summit President Mickey Moulder, left, natural hair vlogger Meechy Monroe, center, Mizzou Natural Hair Summit Vice-President Syd Hayman, right)

  • 3rd March
    2012
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Naturale of the Week: Freedom, Power, Poetry

Hello Naturals! 

This week’s feature is on a seasoned Naturale. We would like to present to you Ms. Naomi Daughtery. Read her HAIRstory here.

Name: Naomi Daughtery, Hometown: Chicago <3, Major: Journalism

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? 


  • 14th February
    2012
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Naturale of the Week: “Versatile, Sassy, Carefree”

Hello Naturals!

This week’s feature is on a seasoned Naturale. We would like to present to you Ms. Benita Brown. Read her HAIRstory here.


Name: Benita Brown, Hometown: Chicago, Major: Journalism (Magazine Publishing and Management) 

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). 


  • 27th December
    2011
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  • 27th December
    2011
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