“The U.S. really pushes light skin, and straight hair BUT I am seeing the U.S. incorporate more ethnic beauty in the media. It’s so refreshing!!!” ~she2.petite
BGLH: Where do you live? Where you reppin’?
S2P: I live in Atlanta. My family is 100% Jamaican so I would say I identify with that most. I grew up in the states. I usually spend summers/vacations with my paternal grandmother in Westmoreland, but my mother is from Kingston. Every Jamaican American family is different. My family is older and more traditional but very Jamaican nonetheless. Goat-head soup for life.
BGLH: Your hair was very healthy and beautiful when it was relaxed. A lot of women wouldn’t leave that behind. So why did you decide to cut it all off and go natural?
S2P: I took pretty good care of my hair when i had relaxed hair. I decided to go natural because I was tired of being a slave to my hair dresser. Driving three hours skimping on buying groceries to afford getting my hair done. Wanting color and being afraid my hair would fall out. I thought about how much I loved playing with my new growth, it always felt really good. I wished my whole head felt like that. I get restless and I’m cheap. I like change.
BGLH: When and how did you transition into natural hair?
S2P: I transitioned in May ’07 until December ’07 then I big chopped.
BGLH: You have amazing styles! Where do you get style inspiration from?
S2P: I get my inspiration from being bored on the weekends and experimenting with my hair. I’ll wear the style a few times until it’s exactly how I want it.
BGLH: Could you describe your products and regimen?
S2P: I prefer natural products but I do use gel sometimes.
BGLH: I saw in one of your albums that you said that you wanted to resist society’s standard of beauty. Were you referring to Jamaica or America, and what, in your opinion, is the standard of beauty in those cultures?
S2P: I was referring to American standards because that’s where I live. I’ve noticed that America is way more strict on what is considered attractive. There are so many perspectives in both cultures. Jamaica is more accepting of traditionally African features mainly because the dominant culture is of African decent. Though they have a tendency to make note of skin tone with terms such as brownin’ etc which is no worse than red bone/yellow bone in the U.S. The U.S. really pushes light skin, and straight hair BUT I am seeing the U.S. incorporate more ethnic beauty in the media. It’s so refreshing!!!
BGLH: And what’s the best thing about being natural?
S2P: How unique it can be. The versatility.
Thanks for the insights! You can see more of she2.petite at http://public.fotki.com/romasuki/.
