Natural Queen of The Week: Kandeezie

 This weeks beauty of the week is the reason I stick to being natural. Meet Kandeezie, the unique beauty she has to being to the natural world is her accomplishments and courage. Upon running into Kandeezies picture I had an immediate jaw dropping experience, then a speechless moment  and when she cut off most of her hair about 1 week after the above pix I had the same reactions. Ether way she looks phenomenal! I am even more inspired to see naturals with Kandeezies hair texture because it reassures me of what I can look forward to, I LOVE BEING INSPIRED!!!!

1. How long have you been natural? how long did you transition?

I've been natural on and off since high school. This most recent time has been about 2 years, when I started the blog as a way to encourage myself and document my styles. 

2. What are the pros and cons (if any) of being natural?

The pros are: self-acceptance, no running from rain, sharing with a large community, and resisting oppression (natural hair is still political ground, unfortunately). Cons: People still politicizing natural hair. I think they don't even realize it when they do that. One day, it will just be hair, but until then, I'll keep clarifying and correcting people and challenging men on their ideas of what is "attractive". 

3. Please describe your hair texture and its behaviors ex. kinky curly coarse coil very dry....

My hair has many textures, as with most people. It's stretchy and straightens very easily, so I have to be careful with heat and its potential damage. If I let it air dry, no styling, I would have a tight fro in the back and on the sides, then a fluffy curl on the top. Curly/coily hair is naturally dry. I don't see that as a problem and I don't try to fix it either. As long as my ends aren't splitting, then I'm fine with it being dry.

4. What inspired you to become natural?

There are tooooooo many reasons to name here. First time around, I did it because my step-sister did it. This time around, one of the big ones was that I got tired of spending $200 to get it done. But, mind you, I was only getting my hair done twice a year. I never really did it often - just blow-dried it in between perms. It was usually left with lots of texture. Even still, I was tired of no one knowing how to do my hair. Even seasoned professionals who claim to be experts on black hair seemed to only know relaxers. I was tired of hearing how "nice" my hair was straight but getting nothing when it was curly. I was tired of seeing my natural hair being depicted as something that needed to be tamed or managed. I was tired of my son asking if he can get his hair straight too because the kids are making fun of him at school. I was tired of having my natural hair being shown as the before picture in hair commercials. I'm doing a degree in sociology and we study societal messages from every single angle. When we study beauty ideals, black natural hair always came up as being at the BOTTOM of the hair hierarchy. I understand my own social conditioning and I constantly try to challenge myself. This was me accepting myself. This was me forcing others to accept me. I still like straight styles, and I am not as anti-relaxer as I use to be, but I love natural hair as equally as other types of hair. That's the place that I wanted to get at. 

5. What is your hair goal?

To find my own style. My hair is in line with me learning how to wear makeup for the first time. I wasn't really into it before but now I love it! I am finally in my 30s (I've been looking forward to it my whole life. Strange, I know...) and I want to feel good and confident and beautiful in my own skin. Long, short, in between - doesn't matter. As long as it suits my face and has style, I'm up for it!

6. Name 4 fave hair products?

1. I'm a BIG fan of Qhemet Biologics.  Their Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade is my favourite! 
2. Soma Hair Technology has some good stuff too, especially their Solace Anti-Frizz, but they're hard to find. It's kinda ridiculous sometimes who hard I have to search to find a supplier. 
3. Dove Baby Shampoo - very gentle on hair. My friend in NY was telling me that she can only find it in Canada. It's too bad if that's the case.
4. Homemade anything! I make a lot of my own concoctions and I subscribe to other blogs who do homemade recipes. It's fun to find the right customized blend. 

7. What tips and advice would you share with us?

It's a process! Everything is a process. The community is so large now, it's easy to find support. Be honest with what makes you feel uncomfortable and what you have a hard time with. Someone out there probably shares part of your concerns. In terms of tips for caring for your hair, I suggest you read The Rules on how to care for curly hair at TightlyCurly.com. She really helped me to learn how to be gentle with my hair and stop trying to use straight hair tools and styles for curly hair. 

8. Where can you be found?

I'm blogging at itsmynaturalhair.com. I'm on twitter and everywhere else on the web as Kandeezie! 

9. What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming natural?

There are many ways to go natural. I transitioned, I big clopped. Some people braid/put extensions in. I would recommend reading about what other people are doing, check out some of the black natural hair fashion blogs that showcase women looking gorgeous with their hair and pick the styles you think would suit your face. That gives you something to look forward to. Seeing beautiful women with natural hair helped to make me feel more confident, even though I've been doing it forever. Every little bit of a confidence booster helps. 

kandeezie after recent haircut

10. Would you say being natural affects your life? if so in what way?

It has helped me to find some wonderful people who are doing awesome things. I feel more beautiful now than I ever did before. Perhaps it's a combination of growing older, feeling more secure, and being able to let my own voice speak for myself. I feel great! I feel even better seeing all of these young women rocking their hair with such style! It's wonderful to see progress happen right before my eyes!