*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Introduce yourself!
P: My name is Pédrhina. I was born and raised in the oh so infamous city of Miami, Florida (Dade County Baby ;o) Moved to Boston about 12 years ago and about a little over 3 years ago I took the plunge and decided to pursue my passion of writing, acting and supporting the love of my life (My Hubby) and moved to Sunny Southern California…San Diego to be exact.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
P: I made a conscious decision to go natural around late 2005 to early 2006, but I wasn’t secure enough in myself to stick with it…although I couldn’t own up to it that at the time. I can openly admit to that now because after much reflection I recognized that I would literally go to a natural hair salon, pay my money, spend no less than a few hours there and would seriously have a wig in my bag to plunk on before I walked out the door. Looking back on it now, I can laugh out loud but that was pure foolishness I tell you. I was embracing what I loved about myself, but in the same breath I was so consumed with what I thought society, my family, my peer group, and my professional counterparts would think of me. So much so, that I completely ignored/rejected being authentically Me. Before the end of 2006 I was back on the creamy addiction…a relaxer.

Fast forward a few years, 2009 was a life-altering year for me. After moving to California I really got clear about who I am and what I stand for. So I made myself a promise to be true to me no matter how hard I thought it was going to be. A few relaxers later, over lapped with amateur color services, also paired with bad hair care habits left me with heavy breakage on the left side of my head. And after about 4 months (February 2010) of slicking down my longer hairs over that troubled spot, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror one night while mixing up a batch of store bought relaxer and thought, “What’s wrong with you being you, your basically harming/damaging your hair for the sake of what? You talk a good game, but you’re not living up to it Pédrhina…you can’t say that you love yourself, but yet you’re afraid to see the real you.”

At my core, my idea/perception of beauty is diverse, but at the time I was conforming myself to only one view/perception of beauty. I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror that night; someone who wasn’t being authentic…doing one thing and saying another. And without even a second thought I grabbed a pair of scissors and my husband’s clippers, cut off what I could and buzzed the rest of it all off. I stepped out of my comfort and decided to fully embrace the natural me…pairing what I believed on the inside with representing what that meant on the outside.

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*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Introduce yourself!
J: Hi! My name is Jonelle and I’m 27 years old. I’m from New England and I’m a preschool teacher. I love anything artistic and expressive (I am a praise dancer at my church, I love to crochet, I love working out and staying in shape, and I love cooking and coming up with new healthy recipes).

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
J: Well, I’ve always had long relaxed hair and it was my “pride and joy”…but it was slowly getting damaged and breaking off. I kept needing to get a “trim” (aka cutting off the broken ends) to make my hair look healthier. Then I let my hair grow out without a relaxer and I got intrigued by my “cute waves” in my new growth. I thought, “Wow, what if all my hair looked like this?!” That’s when I started obsessing over YouTube natural hair videos and decided to do the Big Chop :-) No regrets!

How would you describe your texture?
J: I would describe my hair as mostly 4a with a splash of 3b on the top and some 4b on the sides…my hair is weird like that! I have a ton of fine hairs…the individual hairs are very “thin”, but there are so many of them it makes my hair thick! My hair cooperates with me pretty well, as long as I care for it well. My hair has the attitude, “You take care of me and I’ll take care of you LOL!”

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
J: I don’t really have a set styling regimen, but it all depends on what my hair needs and what my schedule allows me to have time to do with my hair. I do however really try to always wash and deep condition my hair weekly. I sometimes get lazy and just co-wash if time is tight, but the ideal situation is for me to wash with sulfate-free shampoo and deep condition. I then usually moisturize my hair and twist (if I have time) or moisturize my hair and put it up in a bun (quick/lazy/cute style).

I always use Qhemet Biologics Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade on my scalp because I struggle with dry scalp/itching…this stuff really helps though! It is the only product I’ve found to help prevent dandruff and itching! Then I spray on my newfound love, Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier to detangle. I then apply my homemade Shealoe mix (shea butter, aloe vera gel, castor oil, olive oil, and a bit of tea tree oil) to my hair to moisturize. Then, I twist my hair in about 25-35 twists. I usually keep the twists in overnight to air-dry and then wear a twist-out throughout the week. To moisturize before bed, I’ll use my spritz (consisting of water, an oil of choice, and a little Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier) and retwist into larger sections).

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*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Photographer: J Quazi King

Introduce yourself!
N: My name is Nikisha. I’ve been living in Brooklyn since age 3, but I was born in Toronto, Canada. I’m a teacher and co-founder of the online publication UrbanBushBabes.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
N: I got tired of conforming to fit in. I finally embraced what God gave me and stopped living for others.

When and how did you transition into natural hair?
N: My hair was natural until I was in the 8th grade, that’s when I relaxed it. After that first time I kept it straight with blow driers, hot combs, flat irons, curling irons, clothing irons…lol, yes the iron you use for clothes. I was almost a senior in college when I finally stopped straightening it. I had to cut it to about chin length and kept cutting it little by little until all the damage was gone and I got my curls back.

In what ways (if any) has going natural affected you?
N: For one, I finally feel comfortable in my own skin. I have more freedom as far as swimming, working out, I don’t have to hide from the rain like I did when my hair was straight.

How would you describe your hair?
N: I have 3c hair type. Pen sized tight spiral curls that are fine. My hair without any product has a natural frizz and gets bigger as the days go on after wash day. The dirtier my hair, the bigger and better it is!

What is your regimen?
N: I wash my hair once a week. I start with wetting my hair and applying a deep conditioner like Camille Rose Algae Deep Conditioning Mask and leave it on for 30-60 minutes under a gel heating cap. Then I finger detangle in 2 sections, rinse out and put 2 big twists in my hair and shampoo with Trader Joes Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo. I rinse out and apply a conditioner like Darcy’s Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Conditioner, finger detangle some more and then comb with my wide tooth Jilbere comb. I rinse, then I semi dry my hair with an old t-shirt. I apply a small amount of leave in like Giovanni’s Direct Leave-in or Camille Rose Moisture Butter. I seal with Treasured Locks African Argan Elixer. I also do apple cider vinegar rinses once a month. When I wear protective styles I seal with Belle Butter’s Double Agent Butter.

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*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

How would you describe your texture?
J: If I had to pick a hair type, I would say my hair is a 4a/3c hybrid with a bit of 4b in the back. The back of my head boasts the tightest coils while the front has looser, more defined curls. I have a ton of hair, so it is really thick but the actual strands are fine. Because my hair is so soft, I feel like that makes it more prone to frizziness and it succumbs to any kind of heat without much resistance. My hair also takes an eternity and a half to air dry.

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
J: I am constantly changing my hairstyles. My favorite style has to be my double-strand twists because the styling options are endless. If I take the time to throw some twists into my hair, I usually rock them for about a month before I reach my threshold of frizz. Sometimes I put my twists in flexi-rods and wear them curly. Sometimes I arrange them into a funky up-do. If I’m in a hurry, I’ll pull them back into a ponytail or wear them straight down. At night, I can just moisturize and seal my ends and keep it moving.

Unfortunately my patience with installing twists is thin, so my hair is usually out and free. I love over-sized fluffy buns. They keep my hair out of my face and off of my neck, which is especially great on hot days and also keeps the amount of time I spend with my hands in my hair down A TON. Lately I’ve been in love with my twist-outs and bantu-knot outs. I’m not much of a braid-out girl unless it’s done with about 6-8 medium sized cornrows.

As far as my hair product arsenal, these are my current favs: Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk (prep for twist-outs), Kinky-Curly Knot Today (leave-in conditioner), Oyin Handmade Hair Dew (moisturizing), Shea Radiance Hair Butter and coconut oil (sealing). I can always depend on them when I need to be sure my hair will be looking just right.

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*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Introduce yourself!
J: Hey, my name is Jasma and I currently live in New Orleans, Louisiana. I am currently working at Ochsner Hospital, but I’m getting ready to go back to school in the fall to get my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education…YAHOO!

How long have you been natural?
J: I have been wrapped and in love with my curls for 1 year and 2 months and we have such a great relationship.

How and why did you transition into natural hair?
J: My decision to transition wasn’t a difficult one for me because my hair was beginning to thin out and I was going bald around my edges. I really started to get tired of my relaxed hair so I decided to start transitioning. I would stay up until long hours of the night watching YouTube videos on transitioning tips and the do’s and don’ts of going natural. I also began wearing protective styles so I wouldn’t have so much breakage. Before I big chopped I was already taking care of my hair as if it was natural. I would condition wash only and make sure to comb my hair starting from the ends and working my way up to roots. I even started cutting my hair little by little until I finally reached the point where I would be comfortable wearing a twa. So after transitioning for 5 months, I did the big chop and I must say it felt so good to be free from dead hair.

What are your must-have products for shampooing, conditioning and styling your hair?
J: I am a product junkie so I love buying products, but there are some that I can’t live without. I don’t like using shampoo because it makes my hair feel so dry, but if I decide to shampoo I use Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly. I must have Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Mask and Camille Rose Conditioners. I just started using these products and they will be with me forever. I prefer products that are moisturizing and make my curls soft. I deep condition for an hour and wash it out with luke warm water. I usually make Saturdays my wash day and take down my hair on Monday morning so I can have a fresh look for the week. I feel every natural should have a variety of styling products, so having Kinky Curly Knot Today, Coco Curls, and Jane Carter Curl Defining Cream is a must have. I have to keep products that give my hair shine, minimize frizz, keep my hair soft, provide slip, and give me crazy defined curls. These styling products do exactly that.

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