A Happy Nappy Affair's February Inspiration of the month

Have you ever met someone who made you want to stand taller and become a better person? Well I have to say that I have and I met this person in a place where I didn't expect to. When you start down this natural journey you can become overwhelmed with so much information that you don't know where to turn to. There are forums, fotkis , picture albums ,blogs, need I go on? You may wander on to one website that shouts the joys of henna , and then another one who can tell you the best place for buying butters, next thing you know you re on YouTube stalking people who tell you one thing that contradicted the first thing you heard.

In the start of my journey I googled natural hair and guess what popped up, Nappturality!. It was a gold mine of information. It was wonderful, I met some wonderful helpful women. Down the road I started to get to know this young lady because we shared a love of products and mixing. If she had questions she asked me and vice versa. When I tried out a concoction she was my first victim , lol. I wish she lived closer so I can experiment on her more

I just wanted to let her know and whomever comes across the site whether on purpose or not, she is my inspiration. Her hair has evolved into something spectacular. Whether she chooses to loc or not , her beauty is something to behold , the sparkle in her eye when she talks on her YouTube channel is so infectious!

You can catch her blogging http://www.mwatum.com/ ,

or reviewing here

She was gracious enough to allow me a couple of questions.

What your current hair status, Natural, transitioning, or thinking about it?
Amina:Natural

If you are natural, how long have you been?
Amina: I’ve been natural since September 2006

If you are not natural, would you ever try to transition?

N/A

If you are transitioning, how long do you think you will transition, and what methods are you using to help yourself while you transition?

N/A

Why did you go natural?

Amina: I never thought that I would go natural. For me, natural hair was not an option because you were always expected to have a relaxer. I grew up with the belief that my hair was ugly and unmanageable. When I moved from Boston to a small town in Indiana, I had a hard time finding a hair salon. When I finally did, she told me that the nearest appointment for a relaxer was 3months away. I panicked! Eventually I found a woman who did relaxers but she kept changing jobs. At the end of the year, I knew I couldn’t depend so much on stylists and had to make a drastic change. I wasn’t sure which one it was going to be. When I went to Zimbabwe for the summer, reading many magazines from South Africa was eye-opening. So many women had locs, twists, shaved heads or twas. It is when I read an article written by Tanesha Smith “going natural” on Elle girl, I thought I was reading my own story. Those moments inspired me. A friend was also getting married and she sent me her wedding pictures where she sported a small fro and looked great. Even though today she went back to a relaxer, she really helped me so much by answering my 1000 questions and referring me to online resources.
In a nutshell, I went natural because I needed to learn how to take care of my hair and accept that there is nothing wrong with my natural hair.
Heres the article.
http://books.google.com/books?id=uwUEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Do you ever feel the need to alter your hair to fit in better with family, peers or a loved one?

Amina:No. Doing the big chop changed me and I refused to alter my hair to please someone.

Did you have expectations of your hair looking a certain way when you made up your mind to go natural?

Amina: Not really. I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn’t remember how my natural hair texture looked like. So I decided to have no expectations

What has been your consistent driving force to continue on with your natural journey?

Amina: The freedom. Going natural has been liberating and I compare myself less to others. It has also made me pay attention to what I put inside my body.

What does natural mean to you?

Amina:To me, natural means beautiful, liberating, self-love and self-acceptance

What was one of the hardest things that you have or are struggling with as you walk down this natural journey?

Amina:Finding the right products that worked for me. At first I bought all Carol’s Daughter line and nothing worked for me. My hair was constantly dry and I had no idea how to take care of it. Right now, I am a struggling with a bald spot since I’ve been transitioning to a vegan diet and lately I’ve been under much stress. I am also always thinking about locking but can’t commit

What if any thing can you share with someone going through transitioning their mind and hair to natural?

Amina:Be patient and enjoy each stage! When I big chopped, I wanted a huge fro right now. I didn’t enjoy enough what each step had to offer because I was too busy getting obsessed about length.

What goals do you hope to achieve for yourself that you didn’t have prior to becoming natural?

Amina:I want to have healthy hair. I want my edges to be more filled in and maybe one day I’ll lock

Amina will be receiving a basketfull of natural goodies, which is the least we could do in return for her simply being herself.

My Definition of a Nappy , may not be yours

Enjoy
http://lecoil.tumblr.com/page/9

Starting to interview

I'm going to start interviewing transitioners, naturals , and anyone thats entertaining the thoughts of going natural. Interesting times are ahead!

The Republic Tea

Ive always admired Zhara and her outlook on healthy hair and life. She has this herbal tea drink that shes posted on her fotki. Well I'm about as lazy as drinking things than I dont know what. One day on fotki ( my third home), I spotted this republic tea on a ladys picture album. I was like well this sounds pretty darn good. I looked it up at the site and heres the description

No bones about it: strength is beautiful. From lustrous locks to oh-so-gorgeous nails, growth and strength come from what you eat - and drink. So when it's tea time, consider this caffeine-free herbal blend, based on healthpromoting organic rooibos. A luscious little beauty treatment - the kind that works from the inside out. This natural blend with horsetail, oatstraw, nettles and silica, delivers minerals for body and bones we don't always get in our diets. Add the assertive flavors of Guatemalan black limon and peppermint, and we're talking about one very attractive brew. Sip it and look forward to more good hair days.

I found it at a local Vitamin Shoppe right next to my job which worked out great because I was dreading shipping price and time. Its called Get Growing. I received 36 bags for $9.99. Online its $10.50. It has a peppermint flavor thats very nice and soothing. I sweeten it very lightly , no more than one shake( of a packet) of Sun Crystals( stevia/pure sugar cane). I just love the full flavor that comes from this. The ingredients are : Organic Rooibos (leaf), Peppermint (leaf), Horsetail (aerial parts), Stinging Nettle (aerial parts), Oatstraw, Black Limon.

http://www.republicoftea.com/templates/detail.asp?navID=2087

Blog Updates/ Sample Giveaways

I love the fact that people have decided to follow my blog. I don't mind if the responses aren't frequent, I simply like that fact that maybe someone else out there can gain just one insight or show me something that can change my outlook on things. I check my dashboard regularly to check up on the people that I follow myself. It's relaxing and relevant to my natural journey to read, watch, and fotki stalk other women as well.

coming soon sample giveaways

shealoe mixtures
black soap
Buttermix samples
Clay bundles
Ayurvedic Herb bundles

Let me know what you would like to try or what interests you and we can get it rolling

Pre-poo, what is that you say... Poo who??

As a natural I like to use conditioner to wash my hair , or sometimes shampoo's. The shampoo has to be a natural one though without any harsh addictive such as SLS or SLES ( Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS ) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to "foam up". Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants. Although SLES is somewhat less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore much longer-lasting.

I have found several natural shampoo's that are gentle and do not strip moisture from my hair but my hair still feels squeaky clean when using them at times. A couple of favorites are:

Given by Natures Rosemary Mint Shampoo, Just Mint Shampoo* ( discontinued)
Blended Beautys Soy Shampoo ( This is top notch, the price is too high though)
OyinHandmade Honeywash
HerbNLife Royal Rinse Shampoo
Black Soap

Even when using these I prepoo because I know my hair is going to get super clean. The choices of a prepoo can range greatly. Anything that you can use for deep conditioning can be used for a prepoo.

I started off with olive oil and honey, then moved on to Myashas Honeydew Treatment, then Aubrey Organics Conditioners, and any type of oil. The choice is up to you. I change frequently but the end result is the same. My hair feels GREAT.


I prepoo, cleanse, deep condition , rinse and style. So I'm only wetting my hair twice. If I'm doing a henna I prepoo , henna and rinse, deep condition, rinse and style. Still only twice. I never wash my hair first then henna, then rinse, then deep condition , then rinse and style. Too much water and handling can strip the hair as well.

Whats my hair type?

When you first entertain the thoughts of going natural , most women have this question in mind. You see all the marketing on television , magazines and in the media with all these women with "textured hair" and wonder what yours will look like.

You only have google natural hair in a search engine and become overwhelmed by the depth of information out there. I myself was misguided by looking at Carols Daughter in 2006. I saw Lisa Price and Jada Pickett giving information on what products worked for them. I said heck well let me buy these products and my hair will look like theirs. I didn't grasp the fact that their hair texture is different then mine because honestly no one explained each head of hair is different. It took me awhile to figure out this.

I transitioned 2007-2008 by wearing weaves and braids. I would clip my hair after taking it out and going about my business. I made my own products and on occasion I would order something online if I read online with great reviews. I didn't know jack about definition , or clumping or , curl pop.I purchased some Curly Pudding from Miss Jessie's and did twists, I assumed that's what I could do with it. My hair was a hot purple mess. So I started researching and wound up on Nappturality. It felt like home and lo and behold I was nominated to be Napptural of the Month starting off the year 2009.


My styling techniques were strictly twists, twist outs, and braids. I didn't know my hair could do anything else. I read and researched and started to see trends about hair typing. I knew for myself I didn't want to fall into the trap of wanting my hair to look like someone elses with a looser trap. I am and was quite happy with my type 4 hair. As I slowly started my hair routine I noticed my hair was curly. I was like cool, did I shout to the world no, I just kept it moving . Oddly it rubs me wrong when I wear my hair in a wash and go and people take notice. I'd rather you tell me you love my hair as it looks like a cloud of cotton , then clumps of curls.

It does pain me though to see women get caught up in hair typing and longing for curls like other naturals. The world has changed in many ways but for women of the diaspora its a struggle for us with our hair. It always has been. Speaking for myself, I love weaves and braids. Its a chance to give myself a break from daily styling but theres nothing like running my fingers throughout my own head and feeling how good it is that it is all mine.

I just hope that if you discover once you're fully natural that your hair doesn't curl and doesn't clump and doesn't define , you don't get disappointed because God made you and God doesn't make mistakes.