*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally
Introduce yourself!
S: My name is Safiya or FIYA (my stage name). I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and I currently live in Delaware. I’m a professional singer and beauty vlogger.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
S: About two years before my big chop I started to think about going natural after browsing natural hair forums, but I had zero support from family and friends. In October 2008, I finally decided that I was tired of the relaxers and needed a change! I had my last relaxer on October 18, 2008 and since then I have not looked back.
When and how did you transition into natural hair?
S: My transition began in October 2008 and lasted for 7 months. On May 21, 2009 I did my big chop! For the most part my transition wasn’t difficult. I wore the same flexi-rod twist out set and did a weave or two here and there. I originally planned to transition for 9 months, but once the hot May weather set in it became very difficult for me, so I ended up doing my big chop at 1 in the morning out of frustration. I videotaped the moment and it’s on my youtube channel for all to see.
In what ways (if any) has going natural affected you?
S: Going natural helped me grow to be more confident in myself because after my big chop I wasn’t able to hide behind my hair any more! Going natural also led me to a healthier lifestyle.
How would you describe your hair?
S: My hair is very dense with medium strands and medium porosity. My texture is mainly a mixture of tight coils and curls.
What is your regimen?
S: I start with a prepoo consisting of equal parts honey and safflower oil. After applying the prepoo I sit under my Huetiful Steamer for about 15 minutes and then I wash usually with Oyin Handmade’s Poo Bar. After that I apply Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner and comb it through my strands using my Ouidad Double Detangler. After a few minutes I rinse and then apply a leave in (Giovanni), my homemade shea butter mixture, and a little bit of Oyin’s Sugar Berry Pomade to the ends to seal before I twist or braid my hair.
Tell us about your hair color?
S: I’m fortunate to be born with naturally reddish brown hair. I enhance my color with henna (henna gives me a deeper darker shade of red). I hope to experiment with color in the future!
What mistakes have you made with your hair that you’ve learned from?
S: In the past I’ve made the mistake of not keeping my hair properly moisturized. I’ve found that finding the proper moisture balance is key in getting my hair to behave the way I want.
What’s the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
S: Low manipulation. With my busy schedule it’s very important that I get a good twist or braid set at the beginning of the week that will last me at least 5 days. I also try to keep my hair braided or twisted up if I can, to keep my ends protected.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
S: You can find me on:
Youtube – youtube.com/br0nzeqt
Facebook – facebook.com/fiyasings
Official Website – www.fiyasings.com
Twitter – twitter.com/itsfiya
Tumblr – safisings.tumblr.com
