Angelique // Natural Hair Style Icon

*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Introduce yourself!
A: My name is Angelique. I live in Los Angeles, California and I’m a professional model.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
A: I was tired of feeling as though relaxers were weakening my hair. When I was wearing relaxers many years ago I always found myself loving to feel the curly new growth, but continued relaxing for some time until I decided to go natural. My hair grew very fast and felt healthier when I made “the chop” for the first time.

When and how did you transition into natural hair?
A: I initially made the first chop of all my hair when I was pregnant with my first child to avoid putting those chemicals into my system, and I let it grow for a few years. Because of modeling, I would go on castings for hair products, but many times the client would want me to relax my hair and I would refuse. When I finally broke down and decided to give a client the option to relax my hair, I was chosen to be photographed for a popular hair relaxer box. I knew I was going to have to start all over again, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. Afterwards, I cut my hair all off again when the new growth was about a few inches and have not used a relaxer since. It was an easy transition because I was pregnant with my second child, and had already experienced the process of “going natural”. Being that I would wear wigs for work, my clients and agents didn’t notice any difference.

In what ways (if any) has going natural affected you?
A: Being a model, you don’t always know what is going to be done to your hair that day for a job. Most of the time, hairstylists are more about getting your hair styled the way they want regardless of how much damage is being done with heat, teasing, spraying, gelling, etc. When I wear my hair with its natural texture, they rarely do much to it…which I definitely appreciate. But a lot of times I don’t use my natural texture because clients like to have straight options. Depending on the job, I usually cornrow my hair and use straight wigs of various lengths. It saves a lot of time and effort, plus they can do whatever crap they want to my wigs because they are replaceable. If I didn’t use wigs for my jobs and just straightened my own hair…let’s just say I would look like a cat scratched through and ravaged my hair. I would not be getting much work with two strands of hair on my head, ya know ;)

How would you describe your hair?
A: I like to say sometimes that my hair is confused. In the front it’s more wavy and straighter because that is what is exposed when I am wearing wigs. I guess you can really say that it’s the more damaged part of my hair. Other parts are a looser curl than the majority of my hair. The rest is very coiled after being washed…kinda resembling the spring in a clickable pen because it’s protected more often.

What is your regimen?
A: I wash my hair with a baking soda and water mixture. Then I use an unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar and water mixture to rinse. Sometimes I use a natural leave in conditioner like Kinky Curly’s Knot Today. I posted a YouTube video about the baking soda and apple cider vinegar regimen —> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZNA86eFMEY

How do you retain length and moisture in your hair?
A: I typically cornrow my hair under the wigs I wear for work. When I choose to expose my own hair on days I am not working I try as much to do protective styling with a pinup/1940s/1950s flair. These styles are simplest for me because I can’t commit to locking my hair or doing intricate braid patterns…though I really want to lock my hair. I moisturize my hair with a combination of things including olive oil, jojoba oil, unrefined shea butter, glycerin…it all depends on what I will be doing that day, or whichever of these is in reaching distance in my bathroom.

What mistakes have you made with your hair that you’ve learned from?
A: I have learned to read the labels of hair products. Just because something says “all natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it is free of all sorts of chemicals. I refuse to use anything with sulfates because they are so drying for the scalp and hair. I also don’t use products with mineral oil because it clogs pores and hair follicles. Those two are the main things I avoid like the plague, but there are many other chemicals in hair products that are not only bad for your hair, but also your health.

What’s the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
A: Take vitamins, drink lots of water, and moisturize. All three are an important combination for healthy hair.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
A:
http://www.thepinupnoire.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/PinUp-Angelique-Noire-Like-Me-Page/216850215028305
http://twitter.com/#!/pinupnoire
http://thepinupnoire.tumblr.com/
http://www.youtube.com/thepinupnoire

Anything else you want to add?
A: Every moment, thank God xoxo