Where are you from?
M: I live in Atlanta GA, I’m a bartender.
When did you go natural?
M: I went natural in 2004. I did protective styles for about 3 1/2 years and I still wear protective styles sometimes. I wasn’t really around my family when I decided to go natural. They don’t have a problem with it and they like my hair now. Now, at work it was a different story. I been called nappy head and told I need a perm. It hurt my feelings at first because I was transitioning and I didn’t know how to handle negative remarks in the beginning.
I started to learn the history and the science of my hair so when people say something negative I could handle myself alot better. Now when they something negative, I tell them I’m only expressing myself culturally and I do not follow the European or western standards of beauty. I like the freedom of being natural. My hair grows much more without the aid of chemicals.
What do you use in your hair?
M: I use mostly natural products — Burt Bee’s shampoo and conditioner, cantu shea butter, and 100% pure extra virgin coconut oil. I don’t use alot of products.
What mistakes have you made with your hair that you’ve learnt from?
M: When I was transitioning I did a big chop on my hair leaving barely 2 inches. I went to a stylist to get comb twist and she used brown stying gel to hold the curls or twist. The gel severely damaged my hair, leaving it very dry and brittle. I had to cut my hair again and at the time I didn’t know anything about maintaining natural hair. My lesson is don’t let everyone in our head and learn how to maintain your natural hair. I am very thankful for YouTube.
What is the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
M: The best thing I do for my hair is saturate it in coconut oil overnight once a week. I wash out the coconut oil in the morning. The coconut oil leaves my hair very soft and it stimulates hair growth.
If your hair had a nickname what would it be?
M: I would call it Biggie, because it’s huge especially if I blow dry it out.
I love your hair. It is very beautiful, BIG, and vibrant. I’m natural and I love it. It’s only been 15 months now since I’ve been natural. I’m having difficulty using the right products for my hair. The only products I’m confortable using in my hair is: water, shea butter, and grape seed oil. shampoo & conditioner? I’m having a battle (lol). Can you give me some advice how to care my hair so it can grow BIG and beautiful like yours?
My next year will be brighter after reading this post!
All of people New Year might be greater being aware of that!
@ CO..There are plenty of 4a/b women out there, but you have to do your research. I have 3b hair but I open my horizon to other hair types. But to list a few on youtube…rusticbeauty,sera2544,longhairdontcare2010 and many more… I hope this helps, and remember that your hair has to do with not only you but your diet and genetics too!!
wow beautiful hair I love the length. Please provide us with where we can see more of your hair.
Anybody who says something to her is a hater, because she’s so radiant it’s incredible. I don’t believe for a second she’d look half as good with straight hair. What a beauty!
Gosh! Beautiful, beauuutiful! It’s obvious people are just hating on her.
Monique:
I have lived in the ATL for most of the last 28 years. I went dread in 1988…in fact, I was the first sistah to wait tables in the better restaurants with locks (Buckhead, Midtown, VA-HI)…yep, I sure was…made plenty of good money to…after all, it is how you present, convey and exude yourself that makes the difference…and interestingly enough it was the black ppl of the ATL that I encountered the most comments from…mind you, this was almost 25 years ago…so dreads were not as common as they are today.
We may always hear the internalized self-hatred from our own ppl…and that has to be and remain their problem…let them deal with the chains on their own minds…I liberated myself…indeed I did…continue in your individualized pursuits of defining your own Black Womanhood…you have a very beautiful head of hair.
Years ago, when I read my mother’s books from cosmetology school…the on thing that I most remember about our hair type was that (according to the book) it needs moisture…moisture…moisture…I use EVOO, lanolin, jojoba oil and vitamin E oil…aloe vera as a conditioner and a clarifying shampoo or castille soap so as to not get build up…shampoo…rinse…apply aloe…let soak in…rinse…add a mixture of the above mentioned oil combos…braid it while it is wet…viola…shiny, soft and beautiful your hair will be…and then ask them haters…how you liking me now…xooxoxo
Monique, I love love love your hair! I would love for mine to look like yours; I just don’t have that length at this point… But it is gorgeous sis!
Most of the people who invest in diamonds almost never offer them. These days probably 80% from the diamond offered while in the United states of america and throughout the entire world do not reseller diamonds. So handful of folks really sell their diamonds..
She has BEAUTIFUL hair!
You’re hair is beautiful…don’t let anyone tell you different
Love ya hair