Andrea

Origins and current location?

Well I was born in Johannesburg but I’ve been in Polokwane for over ten years, so I’m a Polokwane girl.

What are you currently up to?

I’m a call centre agent. In my spare time I’m researching on natural hair or spending time with my family.

How long have you been natural? Briefly take us through your natural hair journey.

I was natural all my life when one day, I think I was in grade 7, I saw this cute box of relaxer my mom was using on my sister’s hair, I felt jealous and also wanted to look like those beautiful girls on the box. Well, two weeks there after my hair broke off because I was combing it too much (I was too baar that the comb went through my hair so easy). My mom cut my hair(mama knows best) and  it went back to normal. I then stayed natural accepting that I’ve got a lot of curly hair and I couldn’t wear it straight like most coloureds… well, that’s until it was time for my matric ball in 2006, I did a reverse perm because I wanted a straight, sleek look. Oh boy! that was the bullet I shot myself with in the foot because following my matric I got pregnant and my hair just stopped growing and it was breaking so bad. I was switching up between natural and relaxed hair right till 2010 in march. I just decided to do one last BC (big chop) and I haven’t looked back since. This year I’m officially 1 year natural again. lol

Why did you decide to go natural?

Because my hair was perfect before I started with the creamy crack, I missed my childhood hair and hair straightner just doesn’t work for me. Every time I got a relaxer or whatever, two weeks later, it would fall out.

 

What do you love about your hair?

Hmmm??… I love that it’s versatile. I can go from an afro to a sleek blow out without extensions or chemicals. I love that it demands TLC. It has taught me to eat right, exercise, and take better care of myself. And the reaction I get for all the different things I do to it… I LOVE IT!! It’s so unique.

What are some of the challenges and advantages you’ve experienced since you went natural?

Advantages: I don’t have to run for my life when it rains.lol.  There is no more shrinkage, I never have a bad hair day, falling in love with the way God made me, no more forcing. lol.

Challenges: breaking through to society that an afro is just as beautiful as straight hair. My spending habits; I’m a product junkie! But that is because our biggest challenge is not being able to find the correct product.

What does your hair care regimen look like?

Monthly I do a henna treatment it strengthens the hair and gives it a bit off colour I also get a trim after 6-8 weeks, if I don’t, my hair starts to break. Weekly I wash using Mega Growth Profectiv shampoo. I just learned to detangle — by first using a cheap condish, twisting my hair and doing a deep treatment with my favourite conditioners. I love mixing things and creating a concoctions. I also add olive oil, put a shower cap and sit for as long as I can. Then I just redo it into smaller twists using JO’M beeswax shea butter & other products or leave it au naturale.

What hair products do you use and where do you buy them?

I’m still trying out a lot of products to see what suites me, it’s only a year that I’ve been natural the “right way”. I mostly buy at Clicks or Checkers or Ebony (an Indian owned shop). I use Profectiv Mega Growth, their products are good.  I also use JO’M hair products, their shea butter & beeswax works good for my twist.  ORS (organic root stimulator) — I love their Smooth n Hold Pudding for my afro. Soft n free also has a new “natural” range milk protein & olive oil. Natural oils are also a must.

Do you struggle finding products that work for your hair or are you happy with the ones you’re currently using?

It’s a struggle especially reading what people are doing overseas, the wide range of products they have for natural type 4 hair and the support they give each other, but you have to make it work. Improvise and be more natural. My key is reading the ingredients, water must be number one and if you can’t pronounce the first three ingredients it’s a no-no!

Do you have a favourite natural hair salon where you treat your hair?

No, the only time I go to a salon is to get braids done, or to get my hair trimmed.

Which type of natural hairstyle(s) do you like to rock?

I’m so lazy so I mostly wear a fro, or twist if I don’t want to manipulate my hair too much. It’s longer now so I sometimes do flat twists and wear a clip-on pony tail. Once a month(actually when I think of it), when I get my hair trimmed, I have it blown out.

Planning on locking in the future?

No ways. My mom has been trying to get me to loc my hair but it’s too restrictive, if I want locs I just do a twist.

Which celebrity’s natural hair do you love or admire (local or international)?

Sho I admire so many. Tracie Ellis Ross, wow,  fell in love the first time I laid eyes on that hair; Regina King; Claire Mawisa, such a beauty; Renate Stuurman; Corrine bailey Rae; Tracie Thoms, just to name a few (or I will never stop)

Any tips you’d like to share with our readers?

If you really want beautiful natural hair try taking a holistic approach to it, it will change not only your hair regimen but your way of life and thinking for the better… also always remember, water is key.

 

Lerato

 

Origins and current location?

Mafikeng, now in Cape Town.

What are you currently up to?

Writing. Fiction. Online magazine.

How long have you been natural? Briefly take us through your natural hair journey.

I’ve always been natural. I stopped relaxing when I was a teenager. I mostly did braids or the ‘tong’.

Why did you decide to go natural?

It’s natural. It’s more harmonious with who I am and it’s the best way to celebrate oneself.

You are now sporting a shorter hairstyle, but you’ve had a big afro before. What prompted the decision to cut your hair short?

In 2009, I decided to go completely — mostly as an exercise in letting go. It really helped me to find my inner beauty.

What do you love about your hair now and when it was an afro?

It’s growing into an afro… it’s thick and there.

What are some of the challenges and advantages you’ve experienced since you went natural?

Combing – what a drag!

What does your hair care regimen look like?

Washing it everyday (or every second day) and using avocado oil on it.

What hair products do you use and where do you buy them? 

Organics shampoo and Caivil avo oil hair food.

Do you struggle finding products that work for your hair or are you happy with the ones you’re currently using?

Yes, as my hair grows, I find I need other or better products.

Do you have a favourite natural hair salon where you treat your hair?

No.

Which type of natural hairstyle(s) do you like to rock?

I’ve had dreadlocks, bald (most favourite) and worn my naturally big curly hair.

Planning on locking in the future?

Done it in the past – may or may not be repeated again in the future.

Which celebrity’s natural hair do you love or admire (local or international)?

Nia Long – the natural mushroom.

Any tips you’d like to share with our readers?

Work with your hair. It knows the best ways to wear it. There are days when I try to wear a badu-like wrap and my head just aches. Natural is best, simply because it is authentic to you and really what can beat nature?

 

*Photographer for all pictures: Daniel Goodman

Eullanda

Origins and current location?

I am originally from Johannesburg and currently residing in Soweto.

What are you currently up to?
Currently working for a financial  institution.

How long have you been natural? Briefly take us through your natural hair journey.
It hasn’t been long, its less than a year, so am still a baby on my first steps. I cut my hair after seeing a huge stadium on my hairline…and the rest is history.

Why did you decide to go natural?
I had used relaxers for a very long time and my hair was so thin and looking dull.

What do you love about your hair?
After cutting, it looks thicker and healthier. I love the fact that it makes people look at me as if I’m crazy…hahahaha

What are some of the challenges and advantages you’ve experienced since you went natural?
The challenges I am facing  currently is the fact that I’m unable to comb and style my hair because of the length, its still short. The advantage is that I am me, myself and I…looking natural all the way (love my coil). I don’t spend a lot of money on treatments every two weeks at the salon.

What does your hair care regimen look like?
I wash my hair now and then. Plait my hair into anything from cornrows to maphondo, to Benny and Betty and braids.

What hair products do you use and where do you buy them?
I was using  Virgin hair fertilizer and I just recently bought the JOM product that I read about on the net. They consist of a shampoo,moisturizer and a spray for braids. I buy the Virgin hair fertilizer @ Charlie Parker and JOM products @ Clicks.

Do you struggle finding products that work for your hair or are you happy with the ones you’re currently using?
So far I don’t have any complaints. I haven’t used them for long so yah patiently waiting to see the good results.

Do you have a favourite natural hair salon where you treat your hair?
DIY works for me okwamanje so I might get a salon that will cater for our black natural hair in the near future once length of my hair is longer.

Which type of natural hairstyle(s) do you like to rock?
My afro, braids and cornrows.

Planning on locking in the future?
Not at all. I only like them on other people.

Any tips you’d like to share with our readers?
Patience….I have realized that natural hair needs a lot patience.

Get awesome autumn hair!

A few updates to summer hairdos will transform tired hair into glamorous autumn style. Motions® Hair Care stylist, Nthato Mashishi, has the low down on the hottest hair looks from the international fall/winter fashion runways. Solange Knowles (Beyoncé’s baby sister) and Alicia Keys are just two of the dozens of celebrities embracing the natural texture of their hair.

Nthato has a few tips to get the soft, natural curl look this autumn. “Start with a spritz of oil spray for a healthy shine. I use Motions® 3-in-1 Oil. Separate the hair into small sections. Spray each section with the oil spray and twirl the piece around your finger to create a natural curl shape.” Finish the hairstyle by spraying with Motions® Oil Sheen & Conditioning Spray to enhance your natural shine.

For short hair, Janet Jackson’s wet look style is easy to achieve and it’s fabulously sexy. Fingers are perfect for styling the hair. “This natural look for shorter hair will look sexy on all hair textures. Don’t mess with it too much. Once it’s dry, just a few sprays of Motions® Oil Sheen and Conditioning Spray and you’re good to go.” The next time you visit the salon, have the hair cut shorter on the sides and back to neaten up this look.

For more style tips from Nthato Mashishi and more hairstyle how-to’s, visit http://www.facebook.com/MotionsSouthAfrica .

 

*Article by MotionsSouth Africa.

Thato

Thato is one of our Facebook page fan and when we saw her profile picture, we just couldn’t let her story slip through our fingers like that.    Origins and current location? Originally from Soweto, currently residing in Cape Town.   What are you currently up to? I am a student at University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health. How long have you been natural? Briefly take us through your natural hair journey. It will be 2 years since my last relax this coming March, I have been natural since 2009. I spotted protective styles (weaves, braids and plaits with extensions) for the remainder of 2009. I realised that every time I took out the protective hairdos my hair would break horrendously and my scalp was very unhealthy thus I opted to look after my own hair myself. That was the best decision I had made for my hair. Why did you decide to go natural? I had a dry scalp with a lot of dandruff no matter how often I washed my hair it just would not go away. My scalp needed serious attention because it was flaking and burning when I put hair chemicals including hair food and lotion. My hair was thinning, lifeless and my scalp was really unhealthy. I decided to just let the hair grow out with the hope that it would regain its strength and volume. I could also tend to my scalp making it healthy again with less dandruff. What do you love about your hair? I love the fact that it does what it wants when it wants; it has a mind of its own. Every style I do, no matter how many times I have done it before it looks different every time. My hair is soft and manageable for which I am grateful. What are some of the challenges and advantages you’ve experienced since you went natural? My biggest challenge at the moment is keeping my hair moisturised. The longer it gets the harder it is for me to maintain the moisture which results in unwanted breakage. As my hair gets longer I am also finding it tedious to look after it myself, sadly there are no salon that will really look after my afro without feeling the need to blow it our when I do not want to. The joys of being natural include feeling more myself than when I have braids and weaves. I spend less money going to salon and maintaining my hair and my hair is definitely healthier YAY for me 🙂 What does your hair care regimen look like? I noticed that if I wash my hair without plaiting it into sizable “threes” or “amapondo” it tangles horribly and is hard to detangle. I now plait my hair into “amapondo” then I wash my hair weekly with baking soda, aspirin (Dispirin) and lemon juice. I pour lemon juice and massage my scalp with it for about 15 mins (for those with sensitive scalps you can dilute the lemon juice).Yes, do expect it to sting or be a bit itchy this is normal. I stir in 500 mg aspirin (Disprin) with a couple of teaspoons of baking soda in lukewarm water in a cup.  (This mixture keeps my scalp clean and lowers the dandruff; if you have a lot of dandruff you can make this mixture in to a paste to exfoliate your scalp.) I pour this mixture onto my scalp then rub/massage it. I do this for at least 3 mins, before I rinse it with tepid or cool water. I rinse my hair and scalp well making sure there is no baking soda residue left in my hair. Only after I have applied the coconut oil and olive oil mixture on to my scalp do I apply it on my hair while it is still plaited and wet. To avoid shrinkage I undo the plaits and redo them immediately making sure that I do this while my hair is still wet. I only air dry my hair (unless I am doing a blow out) then I undo the plaits and VOILA style as desired. As I have mentioned before it is now harder to moisturise my hair. To counter the breaking caused I have recently bought the Organic Root Stimulator Carrot Oil which I will be applying 2 times a day to preserve the moisture. I hope the hair fairy makes this works What hair products do you use and where do you buy them? To wash:          lemon juice      (any kind is great even the cheap house brand) Baking soda    (Bicarbonate of soda, again any brands works the                                                            same) Disprin             (Aspirin 200mg or 500mg it does not matter which                                                             strength you use) To Moisturise:    Olive oil /pure coconut oil mixture Organic root stimulator carrot oil Hair strength:   Kair restoring placenta (I use this twice a week) Blow out:             To protect my hair from heat when I am using the blow dryer I use TRESemme heat defence styling spray. Do you struggle finding products that work for your hair or are you happy with the ones you’re currently using? Yes, I have struggled to find some products that would be good to use on my hair for example Shea butter and rose water. However, I have resorted to using the organic root stimulator carrot oil (I hope it will be a beautiful product to retain the moisture). Other than that  am quite happy with all my other products they are easy to find and reasonable too. I also find it difficult to find African hair products that do not contain mineral oil and petroleum so I avoid most hair foods and lotions Do you have a favourite natural hair salon where you treat your hair? I am yet to find a salon that caters for my hair needs. All African salons I have visited or seen in Cape Town are good with braids, plaits and weaves but not Afro natural hair. In most cases one feels pressured to blow out the hair to keep it malleable and manageable because the hairstylists complain about the thickness of the hair. Which type of natural hairstyle(s) do you like to rock? I luuuurve hair accessories, anything big different and right now I like the tiny hats.  Also like the side Mohawk. Planning on locking in the future? Oh hell no!!!  LOL, I have never envisioned myself with locks, Interestingly my mom and sister have dreadlocks but I am not keen or ready to lock my hair. Any tips you’d like to share with our readers? To avoid unnecessary breakage plait your hair into “amapondo” before you wash it, this lesser tangles in the hair. I do not comb my hair (unless I am doing a blow out) this too retains hair growth. Furthermore , take your multivitamins they works wonders.