Inspiration comes in different aspects. I love the beauty of natural hair; its textures, styles, colors..the list is never ending. This weeks beauty of the week is also a friend of mine, every now and then I meet a natural sista I feel truly makes being natural more rewarding. Meet Leisl, the unique beauty Leisl has to bring to the natural world is her warmth inside out, her hair is thriving and she has taken it a step further by creating her very own deep treatment (DT) concoction that I am dying to try once my hair is out of braids. Thanks Queen for making this journey another reason to be excited.
1. How long have you been natural?
I’ve been natural since the end of February 2009 - 1 year and 9 months.
a. How long did you transition?
I transitioned for 18 months and my hair was braided the whole time. If you choose to do your transition this way, remember to keep your scalp and hair moisturized and do nightly massages on your scalp.
2. What are the pros and cons (if any) of being natural?
When it comes to being natural, the pros far exceed the cons. I actually had to stop and think about the cons and I can only come up with a couple things the first is getting used to your hair in a natural state and figuring out what products work best for you. It’s all in how you perceive things that determine the end result so rather than seeing it as a challenge, enjoy the adventure of doing your research – which I strongly advise and be patient with yourself.
The pros are numerous, aside from the feeling of freedom that comes with being natural; I now have a strong urge to take better care of myself. My eating habits have also changed. I’ve always loved to do experiments and now that aspect of me is being fully appeased. I love shopping for and creating hair concoctions that work effectively on my hair. Once you figure out what works best for you, coming up with your own hair creations will come naturally as you learn to expound on what you’ve gained through your research. Before I didn’t know what loving my hair really meant but now I love it to the point where I have to remind myself to stop touching it so much - lol
3. Please describe your hair texture and its behaviors ex. kinky curly coarse coil very dry....
My hair texture is 4a mostly with S and O curls. It’s fine and soft to the touch. My hair tends to be on the dry side with high porosity so my focus most of the time is on moisture. I also incorporate protein into my routine – internally and externally but be careful when it comes to protein overload as everyone’s hair is different. Do some research on protein and moisture balance to see what’s right for you. Also, Apple Cider Vinegar(ACV) tends to help with my porosity issues so I rinse with it often.
4. What made you want to become natural?
My decision to become natural started when I put braids in my hair to help gain some length and give my hair a rest from the relaxers – being natural was the furthest thing from my mind. Prior to that, my hair had been breaking badly. I never wore it open and I had a closet full of wigs – I was known for wearing a different wig everyday! Anyhoo, I decided to put braided extensions in and maintain it for 6 months. During that time my hair flourished but it was on the dry side so I started doing research and that first search led me to Long Hair Care Forum (LHCF). I must say, I thought I knew a thing or two about hair cause I could braid and work with natural hair care ingredients but nothing could have prepared me for the wealth of knowledge these ladies openly shared – I’d rather not list names for fare of forgetting some but there are a lot of talented beautiful people there – check it out when you get a chance. What I learned through this site and additional research enabled me to enhance what I already knew and some! It wasn’t long until I found Fotki - a site with volumes of pictures for me to enjoy - I was hooked! So much beautiful natural hair, so much versatility, so much love, so many jaw-dropping hair pictures – literally. The way these ladies support one another on these sites is ourstanding. The encouragement I saw passing from one person to another as I read and learned more and more about my hair, strongly influenced my decision to go natural. I felt like I had found a place where I could be a part of something cool, something bigger than me, something enlightening, something inspirational. It wasn’t too long after I did my Bid Chop (BC) that I opened a free account with Fotki and began documenting my journey. I’ve met so many wonderful naturals since then – including the host of this site – who’ve really been so kind and supportive from the start. Now that I’m natural I know that I could never go back to relaxing my hair again but I respect those who choose to do so.
5. What is your hair goal?
My goal is to have healthy, waist length hair stretched.
6. Name 4 fave hair products?
Currently, my 4 favorite hair products are: IC Fantasia hair gel (clear and green), World of Curls curl activator gel (for extra dry hair – it has a slightly yellow colour), Henna and VO5 Repair and Protect. BTW, this stuff is an excellent leave-in conditioner and if your hair tends to be dry like mine, it’s especially good when mixed with your favorite oils. My mix consists of VO5 Repair and Protect, EVOO – 2 tablespoons, Vitamin E oil – 1 tablespoon, Shark Oil – 1 tablespoon, Argon Oil – 1 tablespoon and Rosemary Essential Oil - about 10 drops.
7. What tips and advice would you share with us?
Finding other naturals (online or in person) with similar hair, really takes a lot of guess work off the early stages of your journey. I was really new to the natural world so I quickly realized that I needed to do more research after I found LHCF – there are many similar sites but this is the one that resonated with me. This site enabled me to gain a vast scope of knowledge and eventually led me to the Fotki photo sharing website.
Natural hair is very versatile so why not enhance it as such…There are lots of times where a simple style is essential but having fun with your styles is a great way to show how creative you are; a flower here, a scarf there, a head band, a pretty clip or two all these adornments serve to take a style from pretty to fabulous! Whenever you can, show the world how unique, exciting, versatile and fun natural hair can be J
8. Where can you be found?
9. What advise would you give someone who is considering becoming natural?
Decide whether you want a long or short transition and how you want to transition. Also, if you don’t already know, learn the proper way to comb your hair – this will enable you to retain more hair on your scalp. Research what proper protein/moisture balance is – remember, hair mainly consists of a protein called keratin. Treat your hair like it’s a piece of fine delicate jewelry – love your hair and it will love you back. You may want to check out supplements geared towards hair health but again do your research to see what works best for you and your health. I’m currently using: MSM(100mg) – 2 per day, Omega 3 – 1 per day, Nettle – 1 per day, Horsetail – 1 per day, A prenatal pill in place of a multi-vitamin (I’m not pregnant), Soy Lecthin – 1 per day, Mega Acidophilus – 1 per day and Garlic & Parsley – 2 per day. I take less than the daily requirements for some of my vitamins because I find it best with my current diet. I also take one teaspoon of wheat grass per day. I find that these supplements work well for me and I take them 5 days per week and rest on the weekend – I take some in the afternoon and some in the morning. I may add or remove vitamins as necessary but the above list are my staples and if I remove any, it’s only temporary. I also get my protein mainly from ingesting beans, eggs, fish and protein shakes - I use the shakes as meal replacements. Lastly, drink lots of water and eat your fruits and veggies.
10. Would you say being natural has affected your life? if so in what way?
Yes, I would say that being natural has affected my life profoundly. I receive compliments daily and I also receive inquisitive looks. My hair is healthier and grows faster than ever before. I’ve gained volumes of knowledge. I now know what liberation feels like and I definitely look and feel more beautiful. I’ve been told that I’m emanating a calm confidence - I didn’t even know such ‘emanations’ existed – lol and I’ve met some incredibly supportive people along my journey. If you’re thinking of going natural, now is the time. If I could change anything about my natural journey it would be that I would have transitioned years ago but then again, there’s no time like the present J
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