Natural hair: Why I became a natural

Natural Hair: Why I became a natural, the beginning of my hair journey

I invite you to play the song below as you read...

Hello!!! Thanks for stopping by and welcome if that's your very first time here.
This post today is an introduction to some of the things I have in mind for the coming months.  I wanted to share with you my journey as a new Natural and how I got to consider undertaking this special journey.

I must say that I am not passionate about whether my hair is relaxed or not.  My decision to embark in a Natural journey has nothing to do with a special conviction like some seem to have.
I do love my hair relaxed,  it's just that I finally wanted to try something different with my hair and at this stage I am more curious than I am convicted.  Here is how my journey started:

Two years ago, I thought about going Natural but I went back to relaxing my hair because I honestly did not know what I was doing and what I was getting myself into! 

Then about 5-6months ago I contemplated once again the idea of being Natural because I kept admiring my mom's hair.

 She reverted to her natural hair about 3 years ago and  it had me thinking..." if  Maman's hair looks so pretty natural, sure mine would look fine too".

Becoming natural once again was easy for Maman (word for mommy in French) because she already had a short hair style! Her hair was very fragile and she used to think that she did not have very good hair! Silly, right?! When she decided to go natural, it was mainly because she was traveling a lot and did not have time to keep up with the maintenance of relaxing her hair, getting it professionally done etc.

She was so surprised to see how pretty her natural hair turned out that she realized how ridiculous it had been for her to relax her hair all those years! She started hinting at me that my hair would probably be nice if not nicer, should I would decided to go natural.

My twin sister has been natural for some years as well and she too used to think negatively of the quality of her hair until she went Natural.

 I was always told that from all my sisters, I was the one gifted with  " very good hair"!  I must admit that my hair has never been unhealthy! I always took great care of my hair except for the fact that I don't enjoy to brush or style it myself. I take care of my hair by having 'experts' take care of me!

 Even as a College student I did very good maintaining my hair healthy and nice! So unlike people who went natural because of bad experiences with relaxer, my decision to go natural has nothing to do with any bad experiences with relaxers nor is it an issue for me to keep up with my salon's visits! My reasons are more like..."let's try something new", "it could be good after all"!

So I finally decided to bravely embark in this journey, with my hubby's support,

Hubby & I in Charleston SC at a Gilligan's restaurant!
yeah you can laugh it's alright!!! I get it all the time! He is 6'5" and I am 4'11"

 by:

• asking plenty of questions
• doing lot of researches
• &  with the advices from many to be patient, keep taking good care of my hair & getting them deep conditioned regularly.

My biggest concerns were:
 1) I did not want to cut them totally short , have a BC meaning Big Chop like the Naturals call it...

 Look at this one! She is gorgeous isn't she?!
This girl is Christina Goh. She is actually an old high school classmate with a fabulous voice and a beautiful singing career. She is known as " La Perle Noire de l'Afro-Blues"!
That style fits her so well! But a short hair style like this is not for me right now...The last time my hair was like this I was a toddler! In the Naturals lingo this would be called T.W.A  for teeny weeny Afro.

2) I wanted to have some styles that would support my active lifestyle and still look feminine and stylish. I know short like above would be ideal but I am currently embracing other options like braids or sparrow curls.

I was used to getting my hair done every week, simply because...well...I used to run every single day , until my foot injury, and I have too much pride in my hair to go out on week-ends with  my hair not looking fly! (lol)

My friend and big brother K.A we are hanging out @ the GA Aquarium in ATL

 Plus the sister loves her hair and loves having someone doing it! I don't like doing my own hair, especially shampooing! Maybe that will change. I realized lately that most naturals love doing their own hair! Like my friend Africa below that you will soon be meeting!

Anyway, since embarking in that journey, I am discovering that there is kind of a sub-culture existing. The culture of Black women who do not use relaxer in their hair, who sport braids or creative styles with their hair...the Naturals!

Ladrica, a beautiful and God fearing natural who lives her life with great purpose

Many of the Naturals I am encountering along the way have their own brand of products as they probably developed them as they were trying to find products that work best for them.

 My most fantastic observation about Naturals is that many of the Naturals I meet seem to have a higher sense of purpose in life and a lot of confidence in themselves! Some tend to be very passionate abut their hair and put that energy in all their do.

 I am certain that there are some naturals out there who are not very impressive, it's just that I have been blessed to meet some amazing ladies and they are keeping me inspired! If I am going all the way, I need to hang around the ones who are beautiful not just on the outside but on the inside as well. My goal is to bring to you some of them right here for your enjoyment, to inspire the Naturals among you, and to help us all to understand them better regardless of our hair preferences.

 That's why, being 5-6 months in my journey of transitioning, (the term apparently used in the Naturals' world to say that I no longer relax my hair but haven't cut them down to its natural roots) I decided that it's time to talk about Naturals, natural hair care and natural products! I plan on featuring a Natural every month and I will support the ones with their own brand of products by often featuring some natural products.

Those are divacakes cupcakes bath bombs  from Chocolashea available on Etsy

I will still write about everything health related and I will open up about my weight journey back to my slimmer me and overcoming my foot injury as I am now considering cross training instead of relying on running so much.

The thing is this : no matter who we are and what culture or subculture we belong to, we still need to be healthy and fit so I will stay true to this passion of mine. This site will never be just about hair or just about naturals, or just about one very specific thing because we are people with a common desire for healthy living and we all have many facets.

 It's just that today  I'm coming out with my Natural facet and I am inspired by the song and the attitude of the Diva in the video below.  The one and only Diana Ross!  Her daughter, Tracee Ellis Ross,  is one of the most gorgeous natural celebrities out there...

I am inviting any Natural and their fans to join in the fun, follow the Blog, leave comments, share their stories, LIKE the page Healthy can be done facebook, follow Goodhealthdiva on twitter and spread the word about the blog and all these good stuffs...

For those of you who just have no clue what in the world it is I am talking about... juts keep coming by, Follow the blog and be entertained and educated by learning more about the world of Naturals' beauty! It is a fascinating world, you will be just as amazed as I am! I am in awe each day!

Look how beautiful Naturals are...

Those are some celebrities of couuuurse, but my goal is to show you some Real people (lol)...yeah celebrities are real people too, I know...but not all of us can relate to them!

 I want to show you Naturals we can relate to like this gorgeous one right below , Ladrica, owner of http://www.chocolashea.com/ the products showed above are actually hers!

 So if you are a Natural and would like for me to feature you (& your products) please e-mail me at goodhealthdiva@gmail.com.  In April I am featuring my gorgeous friend from the U.K Africa Brown. Soon after that I hope of having the privilege of featuring Ladrica. It will be good stuff so you better come back (smiles)!

Sharing below some pictures of the hair clips I made recently for a few of my summer dresses, I love dresses, skirts and flowers so I am now having fun designing accessories including hair clips and jewelries. Since I specialize in custom gifts and cards let me know if you are interested in any hair clips and accessories customized just for you!

Dark Orange hair clip

Pink summer dress

Pink daisy hair clip

Purple Summer Dress

Purple hair clip

Are you a natural reading this? How long have you been one? What do you like most about being natural? Did you have a lot of support becoming a natural? Do you think that most naturals are very self-confident women and seem to have a higher sense of purpose?! If you are a man reading this article, do you have a special affection for Naturals or not necessarily? What's your take on it?



N'na

Coming in April: Interview with the gorgeous Natural Africa Brown

I will be interviewing Africa Brown, a gorgeous Natural living in U.K about her Natural journey so mark your calendar and come back for this interesting and special interview!

N'na

Eating Al fresco and savouring my day in little ways...

Hellooo! How are you all doing today?!
Here the weather has been gorgeous for the past few days and I couldn't be happier!
On Saturday I got the opportunity to visit Huntsville Alabama and Sunday my husband and I went on a bike ride it was so pleasant! I will share the pictures with you very soon!
The week has started on a  pretty busy pace and today was another one of those very productive days!
I managed to squeeze a 20 minutes walk this morning. Better than nothing! I can't seem to function well unless I have exercised in the morning.  After my cup of coffee first thing in the morning I had to create 20 minutes to enjoy the outdoors after my morning stretch! No time for running today or going for an hour walk! I still savoured every seconds of this short walk!
On those busy days, even eating seem to be difficult to manage.I know that it's unhealthy to go hungry so I made sure to eat at least a yogurt for breakfast

and make some freshly squeeze citrus juice using one pink grapefruit, a lemon, and 4 tangerines.

Homemade fresh citrus juice

I had a very late lunch.  It was 3:00pm by the time I had the chance to enjoy something good to eat but it was worth the wait! I made it worthwhile by eating Al fresco! I love eating AL fresco each time the weather allows it!
My lunch consisted of a serving of lettuce with no dressings. I squeezed half a lemon on it and it was tasty enough for me! I also had a Southern Home Chicken & Wild Rice soup with a glass of water.

Al fresco healthy lunch lettuce and soup

Hummmm... finally...20 minutes of peace while eating on my deck! Enjoying the musical sounds of nature, having my cheeks kissed by a gentle breeze and smiling at the view of a bird perched on a branch,




Bird perched on a branch in the backyard while eating my late lunch!



an eagle flying over my head, he was too fast for me to capture him but he was gorgeous...I love days like those! Thank God for good weather!

Well I am sharing those pictures with you and I am off to my other tasks before the day end! Still have to make dinner! I just wanted to say before I leave...remember to pamper yourself and treat yourself even if you have a busy day! Make time for you even if it's only 20 minutes.  I don't care if you are eating lunch by yourself, with a friend, at home alone or in a public place, always find little ways to make your experience a treat!
 Learn to savour the moments in your days even if you only have 20 minutes to do it. Take a walk, stretch your body it needs it, massage your feet they serve you well or simply turn a meal into a pleasurable moment even if you are short on time!

If it's your first time on this blog I suggest that you read one of my most popular posts:
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/pampering-yourself-is-good-for-your.html  and the following posts
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/02/shrimp-soup-for-soul-and-good-night.html
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/its-good-for-your-spirit-cest-bon-pour.html

This being said I am eager to hear from you...
When was the last time you took time to appreciate yourself and turn a mundane activity into a moment of pleasure? What small thing to you do to be good to yourself that turns out to have a big impact on the quality of you day and of your life?




N'na

Interview: My findings about Sensaria & beauty tips from Janine Aguero

Have you ever heard about Sensaria? Well, I had never heard about it until recently when my new friend, and co-owner of The Sample Shoppe, Janine Aguero told me about it!  True to my curious nature I asked her to share more about the company before I did some research on my own! It's great to come across things online but it's always better to talk to someone in person about  a particular product. Don't you think?!




 This gorgeous woman is Janine Aguero, so you see why I would turn to her for beauty tips! (smiles)


Janine kindly agreed to an  'interview' about Sensaria  but before I say more about Sensaria let me tell you a little bit more about Janine! Janine Aguero is a Sensaria sale representative, but she is focusing most of her energy on her own business. Her cousin Lisa and her are the proud and successful co-founders of an online business with a pretty neat concept. Called The Sample Shoppe,   they actually sell samples of products thus allowing customers to try some samples before committing to the purchase of a particular item.  This idea is not just great for a customer, it's also great for a vendor willing to market their products!

I encourage you to read more about their unique business and those special women right after reading this! The link to their site will be provided below,  please stick around for a while and let's just talk about Sensaria first...

GoodHealthDiva: What's Sensaria?
 Janine Aguero: Sensaria Natural Body care is the premier direct seller of spa-grade products for home use.

GHD: How did you come in contact with the products?
J.A:  At Christmastime, I decided to only purchase my gifts from independent business owners instead of going to the "chains" at the mall.  I asked some women on a forum I belong to if they would send me their catalog.  I received a Sensaria catalog with a few samples of their products.  When I put on and smelled the Mango body lotion....I was hooked!

GHD:What appealed you to those products?
J.A:  I loved the freshness of the products. They are all natural, with little or no parabens or fillers.  Since your skin is your biggest organ, I don't like putting chemicals on my skin, so Sensaria was the intelligent choice.

GHD: What do you think make them special and which one would  you greatly recommend?
  J.A: What makes Sensaria special is the fact they use the finest grade botanicals, essential oils, vitamins and minerals.  There are no harsh chemicals, lanolin, or mineral oils in their products.  And one of the most important reasons I think Sensaria is special is because their products are cruelty free!  It's hard to recommend just one product...I love their body butters and, of course, the Mango body lotion.

GHD:  Is there any products for men? I love to promote the ideas of men pampering themselves and taking care of their skin beyond the daily hygienic and grooming routine !
J.A:  Yes, we actually have a Men's Skin Care System which includes  Face Wash for Men, Face Scrub for Men, and Hydra gel for Men

 ( I just found that picture on the Sensaria site. It's the men skin care system, currently available for $55.00)


GHD: What are some of beauty tips beyond Sensaria that you would love to share with any female and male reading this article?
J.A: I would say to keep your skin cleansed thoroughly, especially before bedtime.  NEVER go to sleep with makeup on...it ages your skin.  Also, always use a moisturizer, day and night, even if you are only in your 20's, you're never to young to start taking care of your skin.  Another tip would be to always eat a balanced diet, with a minimal amount of sweets, fried food, and junk food, with lots of fruits and veggies.

Doing some researches on my own, I found that in addition to skin care, hair care and body care products, Sensaria also offers Home Care products like their "Aroma-sensory burner" and home fragrance oils available in scents like rosemary, vanilla, mandarin & cucumber.
 This 32 flo oz citrus cleaner is available for $18 and is:  

" A safe, phosphate-free, non-alkaline, biodegradable household cleaner that can be used diluted or full strength. Effective as a household cleaner, a laundry detergent, a stain remover, a fruit and vegetable wash and more. At full strength, Citrus Cleaner is strong enough to take on the most stubborn surface stains, yet mild enough for dish washing or hand washing delicate fabrics.

Recommended for Use By

Households looking for a naturally-based, all-purpose, multi-use cleaner"  (http://www.mysensaria.com/jaguero)

 
They also have some products called Mineral Genesis, those have great reviews but I must tell you the price tag on those is not for people on a budget! However, I am sure those products might be well worth the try! For my part, I will simply start with the Mango lotion. If I get hooked I might go for more of their products.

You can order Sensaria products on the following link http://www.mysensaria.com/jaguero. For those of you interested in a business opportunity selling a great product, there is the possibility of becoming a Sensaria representative.
I for my part, I intend on ordering thw mango body lotion because mango is actually one of my favorite fruits and I know that  mangoes have amazing health properties!

As Janine suggested, eating a balanced diet, with a minimal amount of sweets, fried food, and junk food, with lots of fruits and veggies, and drinking plenty of water is probably the best beauty practice one can have.
Back in college, I suffered from a 2nd degree burn due to a household fire and in spite of the repulsive look of my burns my skin and my wound healed pretty well with minimal scarring due to the fact that my diet mainly consisted of fruits and vegetables. So I do strongly believe that good healthy food  and plenty of water play a considerable role in the beauty of our skin!

Janine is obviously a very beautiful woman and I will take her word for it concerning the mango lotion! If you are curious to learn more about The Sample Shoppe visit http://www.thesampleshoppe.com
To learn more about Sensaria and their products go to http://www.mysensaria.com/jaguero . I guarantee you that both sites are worth a visit.

Was it your first time hearring about Sensaria? If are familiar with Sensaria, what is the one product that you would recommend? Is there any brand of botanical skin care products that you would recommend as highly as Janine recommends Sensaria?
If you make a stop on either sites or both please be kind to come back and let us know more about your impressions! Should you eventually order a product from any of those sites please grant us the pleasure of reading all about it by leaving us a comment! (smiles)






N'na