Tag Archives: Interviews

Interviews with fellow naturals on their natural hair journey.

An Interview With Curlfriend Jade

Image

Reply

Natural hair Interview With Jade

**Natural Hair Interviews**

So today I FINALLY managed to get Jade to spill the beans on her natural hair journey so far! Here’s the interview we had :)

Hey curlfriend! Tell us a bit more about yourself.

Hiiiii! I’m Jade; a lover of sports and currently a Psychology student at Uni.

When & Why did you choose to go natural?

I went natural May 2010. Well that was the last time relaxed my hair I actually cut of the relaxed bits in February 2011. I chose to go natural because my sister had done so before me. Throughout the 2 years she was natural I still had relaxed hair and saw her hair had grown so much and so healthy. I will not lie, I was pretty jealous because I felt that my hair had not grown one bit within the time my sister was natural. I just really wanted to look after my hair properly, like get to know what is good and what is bad for it  and just generally monitor my hair because it was mega thin and damaged.

What was the major challenge you faced in going natural?

The major challenge I faced was leaving my hair out. I could not bring myself to do it until after the first year. I thought I looked quite silly with it, I also did not know what to do with it and it made me look soooo much younger. Oh yeah how could I forget the most obvious. I was scared of what people would think and say.

How did people react to your decision and did you get any negative feedback?

Well some people like my sister and Cindy were pretty supportive. However some were not rating and could not see why I wanted to go natural. Some of my friends teased me a bit saying that I looked like, ‘a little African boy’ or ‘a house girl’. but nothing to rash.

Has being natural changed your outlook in life at all?

Yeah it really has, I have gone beyond looking at what is good for my hair, but what is good for my body and health. I am really happy that I have grown to love my own hair and to see that natural hair is actually beautiful.

What are your three favourite hair products at the moment?Natural hair Interview With Jade

Coconut oil
Profective daily leave in conditioner
Kera care natural textures range

What’s your hair regime?

To be honest I don’t really have one. I mainly keep it in braids or twists.

What’s your favourite protective hairstyle?

It would have to be kinky twists, absolutely love them!

Who’s your biggest hairspiration?

You (Cindy) and my sister

Is there anything you regret at all in your natural hair journey?

Straightening the bits of my hair I left out when I had weave in. I noticed that I had a bit of heat damage on one side of the hair. I thought if I washed it and did my parting for the next weave on the other side it would just got back to the natural frizz. ERM…I WAS WRONG. Having changed the side of my parting I also got heat damage on that side too  -_- Back then I didn’t know that people tend to use hair serum to protect the hair, but then again I have recently heard that people still experience heat damage after having used it.  I have just decided that I will not be using straighteners on my hair for a very, very long time, if not ever.

Do you have any hair goals at the moment?

Erm I know a lot of people say length is not  important. But I have never really had long hair (not that I can remember) and I would quite like to see some length.

Any last remarks?

Mmmmm well just make sure you actually take care of your hair and be careful of the products you you put or use on it. Basically don’t make the same mistakes I did!

 Natural Hair Interview with Jade

Alrighty guys & dolls, that’s a wrap for today. Great interview Jade; I’m sure we will be hearing a bit more from you later ;) Tune in later for reviews by Jade – should be interesting!

Send your stories to contact@thenhb.com or through the contact page.

Also stay tuned for the Newly Natural series coming up!!

Until next time y’all…

…Toodles & Noodles : o)

Happy 3 Year Hairiversary | Care for your hair

Image

Reply

So today’s post is a special one and one I’ve been holding back for the right time. It’s (the stunning) Pelumi’s (aka Care For Your Hair) 3 year ‘hairiversary’ (well it was on the 23rd of July). Her hair has definitely come a loooong way and she’s been such a success at establishing a forum for encouragement for British Naturals. She’s been so helpful to me in the past when I was starting out (not to mention very patient too!). It’s been fabulous watching her grow and expand. Here’s an interview I did earlier on with her, you’ll definitely be encouraged!

Why did you choose to go natural?

I went natural because I was just really tired of my relaxed hair. I loved big, curly styles and one day just thought why not embrace my own kinky curly tresses.

When did you go natural and how log has it been?

I did the Big Chop July ’09 – so it’s over 2 years now.

Did you transition or bc or both?

I BC’d, it would have been nice to transition, but I didn’t have the patience for that.

What texture is your hair?

Although I’m not big on hair typing, my hair is within the type 4 category.

How long is your actual hair now?

It’s grazing armpit length.

What was the major challenge you faced in going natural ?

To be honest there were no maaajjoor challenges, but I did find it frustrating to find products that worked in the early stages.

How did people react to your decision and did you get any negative feedback?

In the beginning it was 50/50, some really liked it and others not. Now looking back on it, those that weren’t to keen on it now love my hair – I think the length initially put them off.

Has being natural changed your Outlook in life at all?

It’s allowed me to love ME and not to rely on things such as extensions or weaves as my ‘source of beauty’.

What is the best and worst thing about your hair in your opinion?

Best thing is that it’s versatile! I love the fact that if I want it straight I can have it straight, if I want it curly I can have it that way too. Honestly I can’t thing of a worst thing at all :)

What are your three favourite hair products at the moment?

KeraCare’s new ‘Natural Textures’ line is very impressive!

I love Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia leave in and also Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie!

What’s your favourite protective hairstyle?

Twists!!!

Who’s your biggest hairspiration?

Ooo I have sooo many! But my top four would have to be

Carmen aka Sheacocoluv – YouTube Channel ‘MyNaturalSistas’: She was the first person I subbed to and our hair type is pretty much the same

Jo – YouTube Channel ‘LoveIslandBeauty’

Mae aka Natural Chica – YouTube Channel ‘NikkiMae2003′

Kim – YouTube Channel ‘KimmayTube’

Is there anything you regret at all in your natural hair journey?

Not wearing my hair out much in the early stages.

What advice would you give to young budding naturals?

There’s sooo much I could say, but the main thing is to LOVE your hair… show your hair love and it’ll love you back!

Any other information about yourself you’d like to add I.e. website/blog etc.

Facebook page: ‘Care For Your Hair‘
Blog: www.cfyh.co.uk
Twitter: @CareForYourHair

 

Alright y’all, you heard the lady, get browsing her site, Like her FB page and follow her on twitter!

 Definitely check out her post reviewing her past 3 years here.

 Once again, happy hairiversary Pelumi and congratulations on everything- wishing you all the best!

An interview with….ELIZABETH!

Posted on by
Reply

Ladies you’re in for a treat today! I’ve got here an interview with the one and only ELIZABETH! A newbie to #TeamNatural. Elizabeth, a dear sister in Christ, has wowed me so much with her plethora of beautiful hairstyles and her hair is nearly as long as mine in half the time (I better get those protective hairstyles in again!). I’m trying to catch up with her now! I’m honoured to have the chance to post up this interview. Here it is!

1. When & why did you decide to go natural?

I started transitioning from April 2009 but it was not intentional, I just couldn’t be bothered with re-touching my hair plus my re-growth was not too bad. I did my big chop Feb 10 so have been fully natural for 7 months now. Main reason for going natural was boredm of permed hair I just needed a change.

2. What were people’s reactions to your decision?

At first nearly everyone around me was like NOOOOO! Your hairs long, why would you do that?! However, there were a few supporters   :wink:

3. Do you have any hairspiration(s)? If so, who?

Would have to say Cindy in my biggest hairspiration, mainly down to the confidence exhibits with her natural hair, even when she had her BC.

4. What’s your favourite hairstyle atm?

Favourite hairstyle right now has to be the tuck and roll, well that’s what I call it I’m not too sure what it’s actually called.

5. What is / are your favourite hair product(s)?

Currently, my favourite hair product is pure coconut oil. It leaves my hair really soft and shiny and has reduced my shrinkage :D

6. Do you have a certain length of hair you’re aspiring to reach? If so, what is it?

Right now I’m not really to fussed about length, I just want to see what happens as the years go on.

7. What advice would you give to those who are scared to go natural or those who already are but never leave their natural hair out?

For those people who are scared about going natural I would say, first examine the reasons why your scared in the first place. Because im sure most of the reasons will be based on insecurities which need to be dealt with regardless if you decide to go natural or not. And for those people who are natural but never leave their hair out, I would just say love what you have first, embrace your natural hair just as you embrace your weave. Also find about different natural hairstyles, i know sometimes it hard to find people who have the same length as you, but youtube has a range.

8. Have you learnt anything from your experience so far? If so, what?

Going natural has taught me a lot, especially about my negative self image. I always had the view that natural hair wasn’t good enough and with it you could never go far in life. Looking back on that statement now, I realise how deluded i was. Kinky hair is the hair God gave me, and when he made me He examined me and saw that it was good, so who i’m i to say something is ugly when God said it’s beautiful. Now I feel much more confident within myself, and not so concerned with trying to gain the approval and acceptance of man. I AM FREE!

Thanks Elizabeth for your kind words and advice! Lots of love here from NHB <3

Feel free to contact NHB on your experiences going natural ladies!

Guys & Natural Hair – One perspective

Posted on by
Reply

 

Okay so I’ve finally had a chance to sit down and blog! This is a special one though. So I’m sure it’s crossed your mind at least once ladies: What Do Guys (especially those of Afro-Caribbean backgrounds) actually think about natural hair?!

Well, ponder no more! Here’s an interview (with more soon to come hopefully!) with an Actor and Young Entrepreneur who goes by the name: WILLZ and is 21 From South London:

What do you think about natural hair?

I think natural hair is beautiful, I applaud those who make an effort to maintain their natural hair as my mother is a hair dresser so from a young age seeing my mothers customers I understood that maintaining natural hair is not easy. Embracing your God given natural hair is definitely making a positive statement.

What are your views on relaxed hair and extensions?

I don’t have nothing against relaxed hair or extensions, in fact I’m not too impressed with the amount of pressure that women get from men about their decisions to use extensions in their hair. Extensions every once in a while is fine by me BUT excessive use of extensions all year round is a different story.


 Do you prefer natural hair, relaxed hair or extensions on ladies?

Natural hair, relaxed hair, extension hair, no hair… I have no preference when it comes to ladies hairstyles. Just as long as they’re confident in their selves they can wear a clowns wig.

Do you think there is an issue with natural hair, extensions and relaxed hair at all I.e. any controversy etc?

Yeah definitely young black brothers got issues with extensions. At one point I was guilty for promoting the banter, but I don’t have an issue with it no more. As I’ve grown I’ve learnt to accept it. As long as you rock it well by all means do your thing. I think the main controversy is that we embrace the European wavy look on black females but the reality is the majority of black females don’t naturally have that texture to their hair. And we’re in a time where afro hair isn’t really glamorized in popular culture as wavy European hair is.

What’s the first thing that springs to mind when you see ladies with natural hair?

AFROCENTRICITY! And Pam Grier (famous actor from the Blaxploitation era) as she was known for sporting her Afro in most of her blockbuster films. I also think about Africa when I see natural hair, it’s a beautiful thing. Natural hair represents the natural beauty to me and it represents a strong confident lady in my eyes.

Any other thought and views you’d like to share on the subject?
I’d like to send a special shout out to Cindy on her blog, although it is for women taking a glance at it I instantly felt a good vibe from it. I’m so sure that many women will appreciate this blog, and I wish you all the best on your future ventures that may be created from this blog. I see it doing a lot of good things. God bless.

Hope this has been a great read! What are your views on this? Feel free to post comments or send more suggestions ;)