Book Review: Natural Hair Brand Miss Jessie

Book Review: Miss Jessie's by Miko Branch




If you have not had the chance to read this book yet it's an absolute must and here's why.
To all my naturalistas and curly girls please join me on my new blog to read my review of  the Miss Jessies's book.https://goodhealthqueen.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-reviewmiss-jessies-by-miko-branch.html




To all my subscribers wondering where I have been, I am recommitting to blogging but all my new posts will be on www.goodhealthquee.com please join me there!




Thanks for stopping by, sharing your comments, Following , Liking the FB page, subscribing by email, sharing with your friends and all those good stuffs...(smiles) Until next time have a better and healthier life... N'na

Benefits of Shea Butter for Hair & Skin

Since I grew up in West Africa I have to admit that I have nothing but great things to say about Shea Butter. It's actually the only cosmetic product that I used from the time I was a baby till now.

To learn more about African Shea Butter please check & follow my New Blog , check our New facebook page and join us on Instagram
Instagram #goodhealthdiva
Facebook.com/naturalnnako

LET'S TALK HAIR: Natural Hair Journey: African Naturals' founder hair journey

Hello hello helloooo!!!
I know it's been a moment since I wrote a post, especially about natural hair, but here I am!

My Hair Talk today is with my sweet sister Z.from Namibia who is the founder of the facebook page African Naturals. If you are familiar with on her page you should know for yourself that she is an awesome person and offers an awesome page.
If you haven't please, get the chance to acquaint yourself with African Naturals & come by the Healthy can be done!Natural Fit Life page to let us know that you visited (LIKEd) African Naturals and how much you enjoyed it.

Z. from African Naturals is also a fan of our facebook page Healthy can be done!Natural Fit Life and it would be a pleasure to have you on both pages. She takes care not just of her hair but of her body as well and that's why we are tag teaming here!(smiles)

Okay enough with the introductions, let's jump in the conversation & for pictures you got to meet us on fb! I guarantee you you will enjoy the pictures on both pages. Hope to see you there once you are done here!

Before we jump into the conversation here some facts about Namibia.


The capital is called Windhoek, it's in Southern Africa between Angola & South Africa.
Angola was colonized by Portugal and speak portuguese, but like South Africa, Namibia speaks Afrikaan. Namibia is near the Atlanttic Ocean.

Now that you know where Z. lives let's find more about her hair journey & healthy lifestyle!

 

How long have you been natural?

I’ve been natural for a year and half now

What made you decide to be natural?

My daughter asked me why she hasn’t got beautiful hair and that she wanted long flowing hair,when I tried to explain that she has beautiful hair, she asked if we have beautiful hair why do I put weaves in then…lol! So the next day I removed my weaves and cut my hair, have enjoyed every moment of my hair journey since and my daughter is loving her hair!

What frustrations did you have to overcome in your hair journey?

Accepting my hair texture and learning to style my hair, it was awkward and there were times I wondered what I had gotten myself into, but then I’d braid my hair in a protective style and feel better afterward.

What do you believe to be the most rewarding thing about natural hair?

The styles I can do, the thickness of my hair and becoming so much more confident!

How do you maintain your hair healthy?

I wash my hair once a week with detangling shampoo, deep condition every two weeks and use olive and coconut oil to moisturize my tresses. I also believe in eating right and drinking lots of water.

How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle?

I exercise 3 times a week, eat fruit every single day, do yoga every morning and drink plenty of water. I have to set an example to my children as they’re growing.

What advice would you give someone who is considering going natural?

Just do it!lol! Being natural is such a rewarding experience. You learn, you grow, your hair grows J

You started a facebook page about natural hair, when did you start the page and what made you decide to start one?

Gosh, most ideas come when you least expect it. I was chatting to a friend and we started sharing hair regimens and art as well as a million other things and I thought, wait…this would be nice if many people could share ideas with us as well and vice versa. I started the page end of last year.

From your experience do you feel like there’s an age group that’s more open to natural hair?

In Namibia, you can find naturals from 3 years up to 70…all age groups are open to it.

Do you think that it will get adopted more widely on the continent of Africa or do you think that it will take a while for women all over the continent to widely embrace it?

Well, with the whole world gearing up for natural hair, it has taken the world by storm,but you will always find those who are not too keen about it..

When people complain about natural hair what’s the most frequent complaints you hear and what advice do you offer them?

So far I haven’t heard complaints J

                                                                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well... short & sweet right? Didn't you enjoy her answers? I liked how her daughter inspired her to go natural, that was funny what she said about weaved. I also appreciate how by living a healthy lifestyle she is setting an example for her children now. I enjoyed how she said " you learn, your grow, your hair grows" because that's exactly how it is with any healthy change we make. We learn in the process & we grow a lot through it!
What about you what did you get from this interview?Was there anything in particular that Z. said here that inspired you?

Either you are into natural hair or healthy living or both, please LIKE us on facebook, share your posts with us. I love pictures so any pictures of your hairstyles or healthy meals or whatever inspiring thing you have in store please share. Let me know if your would like to be featured here or on facebook. You are also welcome to join our fitness support group Natural Fit Life on facebook.

Last but not least, catch us on twitter, pinterest @ N'nako Healthy can be done!, Follow this blog if you are new and above all, make healthy choices for your hair & for your body. You are unique & valuable and worth so much, so do what's trully best for you! I wish you well and hope to hear from you! Hugs & Blessings~ Your girl,NB!

Natural Hair: My hair journey update

Hello
Hope all is well with you as you read this post. I just wanted to share quickly an update about my natural hair. I haven't written about my own hair in a while and being asked what my hair looks like now I figured it was time for an update.

I have been transitioning for over one year and my hair is finally natural. Here's a picture I took recently, 3 months postpartum. I currently have braids on just because I enjoy the convenience of it.




Thanks for stopping by, sharing your comments, Following , Liking the FB page, subscribing by email, sharing with your friends and all those good stuffs...(smiles) Until next time have a better and healthier life...

N'na

Natural Hair: Hair Journey & Protective Style Jumbo braids

Jumbo braids.

                    My Journey to Jumbo Braids
                                            By

                                       Larisa Dawkins (aka Nap Risa Py)

            So I’m at an in-between state with my hair….too short and not too long. It is giving me fits…..so I decided to do some protective styles. I started out getting a wig made, however, as soon as it reached 90 plus degrees outside, I had to forgo the wig!! So, I decided to try a modified “Curly Girl Method”……BIG SIGH…..I hate wash and go’s but I tried it anyway…..I got about a week into that and realized that it was not going to work for me……then, I had an epiphany…..Jumbo Braids!! I started researching on YouTube and found a few channels that had an example of the braids I was looking for. There are several different names for them: Jumbo braids, poetic justice braids, Solange Knowles style braids, etc….. So, I figured why not try it!! The styles looked easy to maintain, versatile (you can wear them in several different styles), long wearing and requires hardly any maintenance (I am natural, but I’m a lazy natural….teeheehee) !!! PERFECT!!

Where did you get the hair and how much did it cost you?

   My first task was to find the hair. I went to my local beauty supply store and asked and wouldn’t you know it…. they actually have braiding hair called, Jumbo Braid hair!! No kidding…but it really is 100% Kanekalon hair and it costs $3.99 per pack. It does come in a variety of colors and most packs were about 18”…. so I got 5 packs. I still wasn’t sure, so I went to another beauty supply store and bought 5 more packs that were 24” long!! I know, what can I say; I live in Texas, so go long or go home!!! LOL!!

How long did it take to braid and how many pack of hair did you use?

Now, I am not a braider, so I asked my resident braid expert, my Niece Meme, how long this would take….she said 3-4 hours…..we started at 11:30pm on a Friday night and did not get finished until 0930 the next morning….yes, you read that right, 10 HOURS!!!!! UGH……let me be honest with you guys, I have a GI-NOR-MOUS head , so we used 9.5 packs of hair and it took 10 hours…..for the average person, I believe it would probably take about 3-4 hours, especially if you went to a professional braider.  But when you are being frugal, and have a tendency to change styles, as fast as I do, you realize you have to forfeit some things!! 

Jumbo braids

How long do you plan on wearing the braids and how do you maintain them?

My goal is to wear the braids for a month…so far so good!! I’ve washed my scalp once so far and it was pretty easy. The challenge is not wet the entire strand of braids, as the drying time will be much longer. But just focusing on the scalp and the length of the braid that intertwines my hair, has worked out well.  Anyone looking for an easy to maintain style that is versatile and long lasting should check out Jumbo Braids!!  And yes, you do need a strong neck!!!

Jumbo braids

The pictures above were kindly provided by Nap Risa. Please do not copy without written consent.





N'na

Natural hair: How to transition from relaxers to natural hair

Natural hair: 
How to transition from relaxers to natural hair.
                 10 Tips for easy transitioning
                              by N'na

I have transitioned for over a year before enjoying my natural texture and have learned a few things over this incredible journey. Going natural has taught me more patience than I had and opened my life to so many new things. Below are some of my tips that have made my experience enjoyable.

1) Do not rush to big chop. Cutting you hair is not the only way to go natural.

2) Do your homework and ask a lot of questions.

3)Make up your mind and have peace with your decision.

4) Deep condition you hair at least every two weeks for healthy hair.

5) Continue getting your hair professionally done or caring for it in the best of your abilities. Going natural is not an excuse to neglect your hair. Preferably stick to hairdressers who are experienced in treating and styling natural hair.

6) Get you hair trimmed as needed. Cutting your ends gradually will facilitate its growth and the transition to natural hair.

7) Use products and treatments that work best for you hair. You can use protective styles, products from professional brands with no paraben and/or  kitchen/natural products such as coconut oil, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Shea butter.

8) Love the process and be patient. A transition is just that, a journey to a chosen destination. It's a special time worth enjoying and impatience can influence you to make decisions you might not be pleased with.

9) Surround yourself with supportive people and if the ones closest to you are slow to share you excitement, remain confident in yourself. Our loved ones will always turn around because at the end, all they care about is our happiness.

When you don't get the support you expected remind yourself that it's not personal they just want you to make the right decision based on  their own belief system.

If you are married or have a boyfriend it's important to have his support and his input. Do not neglect your man's opinion and tactfully show him why going natural is best for you. 
I was very fortunate to have my husband's support from the get go but I have always valued his input in the process as we discussed very frequently the beauty of natural hair.  http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-am-coming-out-call-to-naturals.html

10) Attitude is everything. Beauty is a whole package deal. It's not just hair so as you learn to take great care of your hair take great care of the whole you as well.

We would love to learn from you. Are you new to transitioning or have you been doing it for a while? How long? What's your tips to transitioning? Which one of the tips above best relate to your journey?


N'na

Natural hair: Celebrities with natural hair Viola Davis

               Natural hair inspiration: Celebrities with Natural hair
                                                   Viola Davis


I am a Viola Davis fan. She is already a great inspiration as an actress. I enjoyed her in EAT PRAY LOVE,

I appreciated and was proud of her role in THE HELP. If you
 have not seen the movie yet please do! It's a beautiful and powerful story with some pretty funny scenes like the one depicted in the picture below.

I always get a smile on my face when I watch her but the picture of her at the Oscars was so stunning and MESMERIZING! She was so gorgeous with her natural hair and she was proof that you can be classy and natural!




Isn't she stunning? She is so beauuutiful with her natural hair! Hummm!  Thanks Miss Davis for being such an inspiration in so many ways.



picture from http://news.instyle.com/2012/02/24/viola-davis-hair-natural-wig/

She is pictured below with her husband who encouraged her to dicth the wigs! 

Picture of the Oscars 2012 source http://www.justjared.com/2012/02/26/viola-davis-oscars-2012-red-carpet/

Are you a Viola Davis fan?Who is/are your hair inspiration?


N'na

Natural hair: To Big Chop or not to big chop? My hair journey: Transitioning made easy!

To big shop or not to big chop? That is the question.

That is the question most women contemplate when deciding to go natural.

I have been transitioning since last year and I am finally just inches away to the end of my journey! The beginning was both exciting and frustrating, like any new endeavor we undertake.

 Once I got into the routine of things I became more and more comfortable with the transition and enjoyed the process.

Going natural is and should be a personal decision. Once we decide to do it we are faced with another big decision. We have to decide either we would transition or big chop. We all make our choices for different reasons but what's important is to own and be comfortable with the choice we make.

I knew that transitioning was the best option for me because I sure can't tolerate having ' bad hair days'. I can't tolerate the thoughts of my hair being in a condition I have NO idea how to manage.

I did notice in the course of my journey that most people put pressure on the BC but it's my hair not theirs. I am the one who has to be happy and feel confident about my " crown" so I was in no way going to give into any kind of pressure about the BC.

Transitioning granted me more control. I can handle my hair with length. I would have been a frustrate sister if I had cut my hair and learned to care for  it short and impatiently waiting for growth. I knew that even with a relaxer, short styles can be demanding so there was no way I would have complicated my life by having a BC.

Plus I am married and greatly respect the idea to always being/feeling  attractive. Personally I think that when we are into a relationship we should maintain our best look even with natural hair and I did not think that I could pull it off with a BC! 

I feel more confident when I look my best and I had doubt that a big chop would help me maintain that confidence consistently.

I wanted the natural hair without dealing with unwelcome frustrations.

Here an old article on the start of my natural journey: http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-am-coming-out-call-to-naturals.html


My Tips for easy transitioning:
Transitioning was easy for me because of the following:

1) I asked a LOT of questions before deciding to go natural.

2) I deep conditioned my hair every two weeks.

3) I maintained regular visit to the salon by having my hair professionally maintained and had my ends trimmed as needed.

4) I stuck with hair stylists that had natural hair and were very experienced in maintaining my hair healthy.

5) I stuck to products and procedures that work best for me from professional brands my hairdresser recommended to homemade products/treatment I loved.

I rarely used any protective styles throughout my transition. I got my hair braided just once in the course of my transition, and I used a pretty wig a couple of days when I was too lazy to attend to my hair.

Well, that's what worked for me and made my transition enjoyable!

Remember that it's your hair and either you BC or transition you are the one that has to love your hair (and make your man fall in love with your "crown").


What about you? What did you do once you decide to go natural? Are you a new natural? Are you transitioning or going with a Big Chop? Why?

N'na

Thank God I am natural! Interview with...

Thank God I am natural!!!
Have you said that to yourself lately? I know of many naturals who are just happy to be natural but one in particular said this very thing to herself a few years ago and her gratitude for her natural hair seemed to had taken a life of it's own ever since.  She has recently released her book " Thank God I'm Natural: The Ulmitate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair" !  A book that " Essence Magazine calls Thank God I'm Natural, "The Natural Hair Bible"
Written by a Harvard graduate, Thank God I’m Natural is a must-read for any black woman who has suffered hair loss or breakage caused by relaxers -- or has grown tired of spending thousands of dollars and her Saturday afternoons frying her kinky tresses into submission. Featuring the advice of celebrity stylists for Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, and Erykah Badu (among others), Thank God I’m Natural offers up to date information -- and a plethora of tips to help women break free from wigs, weaves, and damaging chemical processes.  While there is no shortage of information on this topic to be found on the Internet, Thank God I’m Natural is the most comprehensive natural hair guide on the market today, and the book black women need now more than ever before."

I have had the pleasure of interviewing this amazing woman who has been an inspiration to me on many levels beside natural hair and I believe that you will be greatly inspired by what she had to share. I am talking about the bright and beautiful Chris-Tia Donalson.

Hello everyone!

My name is Chris-Tia Donaldson and I’m the author of Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair. To give you some information about myself, by day, I’m a lawyer for one of the largest software companies in the world, and by night I (along with a team of talented and dedicated people) am working to launch a lifestyle brand whose mission is to empower black women to live healthier natural lives. At this juncture, our primary focus is to help educate women who are thinking about going natural learn about the benefits of making this choice, as well as giving women the resources and information not only to take care of their hair naturally, but their bodies as well. 

GHD:How long have you been a natural and why?

I went natural in 2002 after I grew tired and frustrated of spending so much time and money on my hair. When my hair was relaxed, it would go through this vicious cycle, where it would grow then break off, then grown then break off some more. Finally, I met a stylist, William of W Salon in Boston, who told me that I didn’t need a perm and that I could start pressing my hair.  I decided to stop pressing my hair and wore a wig for two years. Although I was natural at the time, I was never fully comfortable with wearing my own hair until one life changing episode happened. You can read all about it in my new book Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair available online at www.tginsore.com or get a sneak peak online at Amazon.com.

GHD:How do you take care of your hair? What’s your hair regimen?

I believe less is more, so my hair regimen is fairly simple. I wash my hair once a week with Elucence’s Moisturizing Benefits Shampoo and Conditioner. I’ll then apply a little Knot Today to my hair to help with detangling with a wide tooth comb. I have found that if I use a wide tooth comb instead of my Denman, I can preserve my curl pattern and increase curl definition.  I’ll then two strand twist my hair with Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera Gel and Organic Root Stimulator Loc and Twist Gel.  I’ll leave the twist in for a couple of days, take them down and mist them just a little to get some fullness. I also like to get my hair trimmed every 8 -10 weeks. I found that when my ends are clipped regularly and my hair is shaped up nicely, it grows so much faster. Finally, I sleep with a silk scarf or bonnet and then in the morning I'm good to go. It's a fairly simple hair routine. However, I have been natural for a while, so I've got it down to a science.

GHD:What products do you use?

I like to use Elucence’s Moisturizing Benefits Shampoo and Conditioner. That works best for my hair type and curl pattern. As I mentioned above, I also like Shea Moisture’s Curl Enhancing Smoothie Coconut Oil, and Aloe Vera Loc and Organic Root Stimulator Loc and Twist Gel.

GHD:You are the founder of an organization called Thank God I’m Natural. What exactly is it about? Why the name? How did you come up with the name and the vision?

I feel the name of my company was truly inspired by God. As you may or may not know, I wore a wig for two years when I first went natural, because I worked at a very prestigious law firm after graduating from law school. I came very close to getting fired from this job, because I felt had to look and act a certain way in order to be successful in corporate America. It turns out trying to be something I wasn’t back fired, and I was almost let go from this job because of it. I left that situation, went natural, and never looked back.  It took me a while to accept my hair for what it was and come to the realization that my locks were beautiful, but once I did I said, “Thank God I’m Natural”.

It’s like a light went off and my eyes were open. Everything I had been trained to think about good hair and bad hair was erased and I was finally like wow, God created my hair to be worn this way, and I don’t have to spend all this time and money sitting in a beauty shop getting my hair transformed into something it isn’t.  That decision has also had such an impact on other areas in my life. Not long after going natural, I started to care not only about what products I put on my hair, but the products I was using on my body. My body began to crave everything natural from food, to exercise, to meditation, to healing therapies. It’s been amazing journey, and I have been fortunate enough to share this journey with women all over the world!

GHD:I imagine that since you started Thank God I’m natural it’s probably bigger than you might have envisioned as far as its impact on women. How has this organization surprised you? How has it changed your life? I suppose that many others have reported that it has changes their lives as well, in what ways?

I never knew that when I wrote Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair it would be this successful. First of all, writing a book seemed crazy, as I wasn’t the greatest writer when I first set out to work on this project. I wrote legal briefs and negotiated contracts, so my writing had a formal professional tone to it, whereas this project required me to dig deep inside of myself and find my personal voice and tap into my creative side.

I always knew that it made sense to write the book first and then work on the products second, even though no one had done it this way before, but it’s amazing to watch and see how my vision and God’s plan has come into fruition.

I never knew so many people would be so open to this project and would gravitate to it the way that they do. We’re changing lives all over the world, and I’m blessed and humbled to be given the opportunity to help women make life-changing decisions.

GHD:As a natural, an entrepreneur and an author what do you know now that you wish you knew then that you want to pass on to others?

As a natural, I just want to tell women, especially new naturals, that it’s okay to have a Bad Hair Day. A lot of the people look at all the women with gorgeous natural hair on YouTube and Facebook and think people look  like that every day and that’s not the case.  So if your hair is giving you trouble don’t throw in the towel, it only gets better with time. I also want to let new naturals know that not everyone is okay with how their hair looks after the Big Chop, and it can take some getting used to. If you feel like you need to wear a wig, weave, kinky twists, or whatever, it’s okay. No one is judging you, and your journey is your own.

As an entrepreneur, I would tell women to find what you love and do it. I think part of the reason TGIN has been successful is because it never feels like work to me. I LOVE WHAT I DO and I literally can’t wait to wake up in the morning and start grinding on the tasks for the day. We have a lot on our plate right now and we’re trying to figure out who is responsible for what, but every day is a challenge. I can’t wait to see where the company ends up in the next 5 years.

As an author, I would just tell writers, you have to commit to your craft. It took me 3.5 years to write Thank God I’m Natural, but I got it done even when I was working at a law firm working 80 hours a week. So make time, even if it’s only 15 minutes  every day. If you carve out time for your book/project, you’ll look up one day and be holding a copy of your book in your hand.

GHD:From the moment I came across your Facebook page and read more of your materials I told myself that you were a very successful woman, but not just a successful woman,  a caring woman as well. What’s the key to your success? What is it about you that anyone can learn from and even emulate to reach their goals and be successful?

Wow, great question. Like I said in the previous question you have to find what you love and do it.

Once you find your passion, you have to WORK HARD and be ruthless in your execution!  I have a full time job, and TGIN takes up a ton of time. I would never be able to write for our blog 4x a week, stay active on social media, run an online apparel business, ship books out to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores, travel for events, and try to launch a product line, if it weren’t for a team of dedicated people around me helping to get this off the ground. While I‘m getting to the point where I have people helping me with some of these aspects of the business, I have to create processes and a standard for getting things done, whereby that process can be replicated without me. I also empower my team to make decisions and come up with their own ideas and challenge my views and beliefs on things.

You also have to believe your own hype. I’m humble as all get out, but deep down inside, you have to think and believe in your dream or no one else will. Jordan wouldn’t be Jordan, Tiger wouldn’t be Tiger, and Oprah wouldn’t be Oprah, if they didn’t feel like they were put on this Earth with a purpose. Yes, we all doubt ourselves at time, but you have to know God created you with a special purpose in mind and believe in yourself as cheesy as it may sound.

Finally, TALK to PEOPLE. I have learned more about this business by connecting with people on LinkedIn and having short 45 minute conversations then I do Googling a certain topics. Google is great for giving you the background you need to talk to people and sounding like you have done some research, but talking to people in your field is really what has helped me take things to the next level.

 GHD:As a Harvard graduate and really sort of a public figure you are a role model to others. I personally mentor some young people and it's always reaffirming to share with them some words of wisdom from public figures. I am very aware that a woman’s identity is more than hair and I wanted to know what message you have for young ladies not just in their hair journey but in their lives’ journey. What can you tell a young reader to motivate them to move forward in life?

I would tell young readers that you should never be afraid to be you.  Whoever you are, be that, and for those young people still trying to figure out who they are, that’s fine too. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something you want to do and not something you’re pressured into.  It’s so important that you (without sounding cliché) do you!

(I am asking this question because even though we are talking about hair I want to use it as a platform to instill excellence in other areas of life because pretty hair is worthless without a successful life and by successful I don’t mean that everyone needs a Harvard degree but everyone can be successful in their own ways)

GHD:When we talk about hair journey it seems to me that it starts with hair but then bigger issues surface that are much deeper and bigger than hair: Issues such as self-esteem, relationships, our place and roles in the community small or global etc. Do you agree with that perception? How do you think that the hair journey eventually impacts women? How did it impact you?

I totally agree that going natural has a major impact on who we are and how view ourselves on so many levels. On a fundamental level, when you think a certain part of you is inherently ugly, and go to such extreme lengths to alter your appearance it can take a major toll on your self-esteem. Your personality even suffers because of it. One man recently told me he loves how carefree his wife is now that she’s natural. He noticed that after growing out her relaxer she doesn’t have to go to the ladies room 6-7 times to fix her hair, like she did when she had a perm, because she’s just so carefree. I feel the same way. I feel like I can live my life and that my hair no longer interferes with basic things like working out, walking in the rain, or my sex life.

But those are changes you see immediately.  Over time, as I mentioned earlier, my diet has changed completely. Although I’m not completely vegetarian (I still eat seafood), I now eat a largely plant based diet, because I know that my body just feels lighter when I don’t eat tons of meat. I also work out more and take better care of my body, because I’m slowly starting to recognize that it’s a beauty myth that for black women being 20-25 pounds overweight is okay.

Finally, I’m more aware of my overall health and the rhythms of my body. I can notice if something is wrong without having to go to a doctor and I prefer alternative therapies to traditional medicines, whenever possible. I’m just more in tuned with myself and I wasn’t this aware prior to going natural. It may sound a little bit ”different,” but I promise you, going natural is just the first chapter in a very long journey.

GHD:With all the many people that you come in contact with what are the most frequent questions they have about hair and what’s the most recurring concern they have about their hair as it relates to their lives?

The most common questions I get are “If I go natural, how will it impact me in the corporate world?”, “Will guys like me if my hair is natural?” , “How do I deal with family and friends that don’t support my decision to wear my hair in its natural state?”

GHD:I am becoming more and more aware that some women and young ladies are being faced with a dilemma.  Most dating or married women who are embarking into their hair journey are not fortunate to have supportive partners as some men go as far as giving them an ultimatum! What do you think about this issue? Obviously a married woman can’t give up on her commitment to her family based on hair’s preference! What do you suggest as the best way to handle such a situation?

Well in regards to women dating while natural my best advice would be no matter what your hair looks like, you have to be confident. Men like confident women. Period!  Some of the world’s most attractive women don’t have much hair or at one time didn’t have hair (i.e. Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, Nia Long etc) and there are other women, who have long beautiful flowing natural locs (Tracee Ellis Ross, Amel Larrieux). Now yes, these women are all gorgeous in their own right but their beauty isn’t their hair, it’s their confidence.

For a man to give a woman an ultimatum when it comes to hair is proof this man isn’t the one for her. Point. Blank. Period.

GHD:Well to finish it up, I do write a health and wellness blog so I can’t finish without asking some health and wellness questions as it relates to you. It’s great to have natural hair but if hair is going to be treated as our crown it only makes sense to me that our lives and bodies shine as well. Your life does shine powerfully and I greatly appreciate you sharing all this with me and my readers! How do you stay healthy? Do you have an exercise regimen? An activity that benefits your physically?

I love this question. I could go on and on, but here are some of the principles I try to live by.

1.       Steer Clear of Processed Foods (other than frozen veggies). Many processed foods are made with trans-fats, saturated fats, and large amounts of sodium and sugar. These types of foods should be avoided completely or eat them sparingly.  Always go for brown over white since it has the fiber and nutrients, which causes you to be full. That means brown rice, brown bread, brown bagels, whole wheat pasta, etc.

2.       Eat out less. Cook at home more. When you cook at home, you know exactly what you’re putting in your food. At restaurants, a lot of foods are dripping with excess calories because they are swimming in butters and sauces.  If you have to eat out, go for ethnic foods. They tend to be better for you then American foods, since there aren’t a lot of breads and fries. Think Indian, Thai, Sushi, Mediterranean, Mexican etc.

3.       Drink plenty of water.  Four years ago, I used to drink diet coke with almost every meal after 11 am, but I noticed when I stopped I wasn’t as bloated as I used to be. There have been some studies to suggest that diet coke, even though its zero calories, can actually lead to weight gain because your body doesn’t recognize the artificial sweeteners as sugars and hence doesn’t metabolize it properly. Now, I tend to drink water and ice tea, which is basically water with herbs.

4.       Drink a Green Smoothie For Breakfast. A green smoothie is basically a salad in a glass. A lot of my friends and fans have tried green smoothies, and the consensus is people overwhelming love them. Green smoothies are great because you’re drinking raw veggies with an apple juice blend, so the sweet balances out the sour creating a party in your mouth. Greens are great, because they are alkaline, high and fiber, and help with digestion.  They also give the skin a younger looking appearance, and help with hair and nail growth. Raw greens are even better, because vegetables tend to lose a majority of their nutrients when they are cooked, which is why green smoothies are awesome. You can check out my blog for some of my green smoothie recipes.

5.       Limit Fried foods – I love mozzarella sticks, fried goat cheese, and French friends, but I try to limit my intake of fried foods, otherwise.

6.       Workout 5 days a week. I make it a point to workout Monday – Friday, because I have found that when you say three or four days, it becomes two or three.  When you go for five, it becomes a part of your lifestyle and you tend to be more consistent. I’d rather someone work out for 20 minutes five days a week, versus 90 minutes one day a week.

7.       Invest in a heart rate monitor. Yes, they can be expensive, but they are totally worth it. Heart rate monitors are great, because you know exactly how many calories you’re burning when you’re working out. I put on a lot of weight last year, because I would go to the gym, and then turn around and felt I had a license to eat junk. The problem was I wasn’t burning enough calories to outweigh the junk so I packed on the pounds. Once I started wearing a heart rate monitor, I saw that 30 minutes in the gym, equaled about 200 calories burned, which meant I couldn’t go bananas and eat at McDonalds.

8.       Eat Five Meals a Day. I recently met with a nutritionist and she told me I had to start eating regularly throughout the day to keep my metabolism working. I used to skip breakfast, eat lunch around 1:30, and maybe eat dinner around 8:30. This was wreaking havoc on my body since it would hold onto my last meal (and go into starvation mode) instead of processing it. Now I drink a smoothie for breakfast, have a snack before lunch usually a granola bar or peach Greek yogurt, a lunch of whatever I feel like (it's better to treat yourself during the day), another snack around 3pm, usually a piece of fruit, and a salad for dinner.

9.       Pray Every Morning Before I Leave the House.  I try to read a devotional every morning, whether it’s my Bible or Joel Osteen’s blog. I find that staying in touch with God keeps me centered and my faith strong. I heard the best quote, “If you pray, don’t worry. If you worry, don’t bother praying.”

How do you relax? And do you have any natural beauty product that’s a key ingredient to your beauty regimen?

I relax by working out, spending time with my girlfriends, and talking on the phone with my family. I also love reading magazines. Some of my favorites are Martha Stewart Living, Inc. and Organic Spa Magazine.  I’m also a huge fan of naps. Sleep is so important, but you don’t realize how important it is until you don’t have it. So when I get time to just cool out, I’m definitely trying to take more naps.

GHD:What are some of your favorite things in life? Anything random from a favorite color to a favorite dish or place to visit!

My favorite things in life are my family and friends. I would love to visit Ghana and Nigeria.

GHD:Last but not least, you have recently published a book. Can you tell us more about the book, what made you decide to write this book and what people can expect to gain from reading it? Where can we get your book?   

Well, I think there are a number of factors which explain why Thank God I’m Natural was recently proclaimed the “Natural Hair Bible” by Essence Magazine. First off, it covers virtually every topic related to natural hair (e.g. the truth about hair relaxers, product picks for different types of natural hair, dealing with hair loss, tips for distinguishing between natural products and their imposters, as well as, many other subjects). It also features the styling recommendations of celebrity stylists for individuals like Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, Floetry, Mos Def, among others, in addition to the perspectives of everyday women on going natural. The book also contains an entire chapter devoted to homemade hair recipes, which people LOVE, as well as an international salon directory.  I’ll also add that the models are absolutely beautiful, and the styles are modern, up to date and something you would wear to work or if you’re going out on a date with your man or woman (hey it’s 2011).

Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair is now available at Barnes & Noble, Borders and online at Amazon.com and www.tginstore.com. For more information about Chris-Tia Donaldson or Thank God I’m Natural, please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thankgodimnatural or check out our blog at www.tginblog.com.

GHD:Finally, what’s next for you?

I have two more books coming out. One is going to be like a TGIN Pt II, which is specifically for transitioners. I also hope to do a cookbook of meatless recipes for people interested in exploring a vegetarian diet. Finally, we are super psyched to be working on our hair care line at the moment and hope to expand our graphic tee line to include more athletic and yoga apparel. The next couple of years are going to be extremely busy, but I think we’re going to have a lot of fun taking TGIN to the next level.

Well....that concludes my interview with Chris-Tia. Here are a few ways to learn more about Thank God I'm natural!   http://www.thankgodimnatural.com/
 http://thankgodimnatural.wordpress.com/
 http://twitter.com/TGINatural

All the pictures above were sent to me by Chris-Tia herself and should you want to copy them I encourage you to contact her yourself for permission to do so.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this article and if you are new to the site please grant us the pleasure of having you as a follower and knowing what you think!

So what do you think? Is there anything in particular that Chris-Tia shared that hit home with you? If you have already read the book what's your feedback on it?


All right reserved 2011.N'na the Goodhealthiva!

On hair: Talking hair with a Natural: Africa's hair journey part 2

About a month ago I posted part 1 of my conversation with my friend Africa Brown who lives in the UK.  I decided to divide the interview in two parts because it would have been too long to read in one chunk and my questions were obviously falling into two categories. The first set of questions was more about her hair care regimen as it relates to her hair journey  http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/03/africas-hair-journey.html  and the last set of questions I asked her were more about the social and personal aspect of her hair journey. As I was ending part 1 I promised to share with you part 2, here it is: the rest of my conversation with Africa Brown.  

A picture of Africa's natural hair on a work day! Look nice and porfessional!

I think that for some people who have had relaxed hair there is something and someone that triggered them going natural? Was someone an inspiration to you? Or did something take place that triggered your desire to be/stay natural? There was no real trigger for why I went natural. I only relaxed my hair due to lack of knowledge about my own hair, not because I wanted to emulate a white woman.

How did your friends and family react to your decision to go natural? I have had good reactions from my family. I have an aunt and sister, who are both natural, but wear wigs. I have been able to educate them on taking care of their hair. The next step is to get them to wear it out. The relaxed side of my family loves my hair but is afraid to go natural. My partner adores my hair and has been very encouraging.

Do you think that people treat naturals differently than girls with relaxed hair? How? No, not from my experience.

Where you live right now, are they a lot of natural? There are quite a few naturals where I live but it is evident that they are not maintaining their hair. I am currently looking at designing some afro hair care leaflets, which will basically show how to take care of natural hair the easy way. I see so many naturals, who I just want to educate on maintaining afro hair. So if I just hand them a leaflet this way I am helping them without them realizing.

 Do you think that being natural have influenced/improved you and your life? How? I am much happier as a natural. I do not care so much what other people think about my hair.

When I see some natural women I think that it takes a certain courage to be natural in a society where we are trained to look and act like others and I think that certain naturals have a higher sense of pride and purpose would you agree? I definitely agree with that. It does take courage and you have to be prepared for the stares and the ignorant comments. My boyfriend loves my hair and says it makes him feel closer to me as a black woman.

 Beside your hair being natural are there other ways in which you embrace a natural and green lifestyle? Like the use of natural remedies instead of depending a lot on medicine or the use of natural skin care? Any Green practice that’s important to you like recycling rain water, saving energy, recycling?I have stopped using products with parabens in them. I now use African black soap to cleanse my skin instead of using high street cleansers and I use Fairtrade shea butter from Ghana for my skin and hair.

 I have always led a relatively green lifestyle but I still have a way to go in regards to the use of medicines. I have also decided to make a change and buy black owned products only. I no longer buy from the Asian beauty stores. I am fortunate enough to have black owned stores in my area, although my main products are purchased online.

Do you think that most natural embrace natural ways in other area of their lives or not necessarily?No, not really. I know of a few other naturals who do not care about what they put into their bodies.

What advice would you give to anyone you want to be natural but is intimidated to do it mainly because of society? It is the hair you were born with and nobody can change that. Just accept yourself for what you have. I have heard many women say that natural hair does not suit them. I always respond by saying how can your own hair not suit you? They never have an answer for that!

What’s to you the most rewarding thing about being natural?Being able to show the world that I am rocking what the Lord blessed me with and that I am proud. I do not want to look like everybody else. I am me, I am Africa! I love my hair and I will never relax my hair again. My hair can do anything that I want it to do. I can change my hair and have a different hair style every day. No other race can do that. I am proud of my uniqueness.

Since I engaged this conversation with African Brown I have become more aware that many women are not as fortunate as she has been, to have a partner who is fully supportive of her natural hair. I have read about some women's concerns that their boyfriends or husbands are reluctant to their decision and some would go as far as giving them an ultimatum! I want to hear from you.Do you want me to share your natural journey? If yes simply send me a message at goodhealthdiva@gmail.com with the sugject: My hair Journey.
Are you a natural? How supportive is your man about your decision to go natural? If he was reluctant at first how did you get him to support your decision? Do you think that men have a say on their women's decision concerning their hair?Do you think that people do treat women with relaxed hair differently than they treat naturals? How so? If you are a man reading this article what is your take on the issue of natural hair?

N'na

On hair: Talking hair with a Natural: Africa's hair Journey Part 1!

Hello!
Here we go, the story I promised you, Africa Brown's hair journey!
The reason why I picked Africa to be the first person I featured is because of her beautiful personality! She has been very supportive of the blog and my endeavors when we first met and it was important to me to honor her kindness. So I decided to pick her as my first Natural on my blog!
What I like  most about Africa is that she is very enthusiastic, she get things done, and like I said she has a beautiful personality!  She also has very beautiful and healthy hair as we will see!
I truly think that it takes more than pretty hair to make a woman a truly beautiful person! So even though I am sharing her hair story, I must tell you that it's the person that she is that caused me to be so curious about her hair journey and it's her personality that makes her story worth sharing and worth reading.

I warn you that this will be lengthy because I will not even edit what she shared with me! It's with her full consent and collaboration that I am sharing with you everything she shared with me !
So make yourself comfortable, join in our Girls'Talk about hair and stick around to leave your comments and if you are not a Follower yet please join us and become one today!

First of all let's see who is Africa Brown, in her own words:

"Hi, my name is Africa and I am here to share my  journey with you. I am in my early 30's and enjoy working out (kickboxing, aerobics), going abroad to far away places and spending time with my family (8 nieces and nephews). I am a big natural hair lover, who embraced her kinks just under 4 years ago. I work full time as a manager, in an independent living unit for adults who have learning disabilities,  I really enjoy what I do. I love to relax by going to the local spa and sauna and by going for walks in the park"

This is my girl, in her favorite outfit! Pretty girl doesn't play! Look at that diva stare!!! She said she does kickboxing so watch out now! This is a fierce girl right there! ( I am just messing with her)

Now that I made this little introduction, here are all the questions I drilled her with! Again I am not even going to edit anything, I will give it to you raw ( & N'natural ha ha ha), so here's my real, N'natural, conversation with Africa...Oh before I get into it, since I asked her a lot of questions I classified them as general questions, hair maintenance questions and social & personal questions! I actually asked them in the order they are presented below, what you will see in purple are her answers!

How long have you been natural?

 I have been natural for 4 years

What made you decide to become natural?

 My regular hairdresser moved away, I was getting burns and my temples were thinning out.

What was your biggest motivation to be and stay natural?

 The first time I wore my hair out I felt beautiful. I got a very positive response from my family, all of who are relaxed. (apart from an aunt and my sister) I want to show black people that natural hair is beautiful and can grow. I feel blessed that I am able to be a part of this.
(Ok, let me throw my 2 cents in here while we are on the subject, I share below, way below. a picture of the first time she wore her hair out and ooh I must tell you, the picture is hot! I mean something about the picture...no wonder she felt beautiful that day, you can tell she FELT beautiful, you got to feel good in your skin to be truly attractive to others don't you think?! Alright let's go on, sorry for the little interruption but I just had to say that, you know...)

How did you go about being natural? Did you transition for a while or did you cut your hair short  as soon as you made up your mind to be natural? How was your journey?

The last relaxer I got was a disaster so I put my hair in to braids for a while. I went to get a steam treatment and just decided there and then to big chop. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders!

What was the biggest challenge for you in being natural?

 My biggest challenge was finding the right products for my hair and being able to find the right styles to suit my face

Some say that it takes much patience because it’s sometimes frustrating to transition. Is that true?
 My transition wasn't intentional so you could say it was easy as I didn't even know I was doing it. I do agree that transitioning can be frustrating but I believe this is sometimes due to impatience and lack of  knowledge. It took me 3 years to discover exactly what my hair needed. There was a lot of cost and trial and ever involved.

I was very curious about the way she maintains her hair and her beauty tips so since she was willing I kept going...

What’s your typical hair care regimen? Daily, weekly or bi-weekly, monthly… I maintain my hair on a weekly basis. I henna my hair monthly.

I moisturize my hair then seal with an oil. This is very important. I only cut my hair if I need to. (usually 3 times a year or less)

I wash and condition my hair once a week. I like to deep condition my hair each time I wash it but if I am busy I will just co-wash. (conditioner only wash)

I apply coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil for 30 mins (pre-poo) !  ( I love coconut oil and use it daily in my diet as well as in my beauty regimen, you will actually find 2 posts under the label coconut oil that show ways I use it! One of the post has a cool video of a face mask you might like to try on your face and guys you can try this too http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/face-mask-for-him.html)

 I wash with Aubrey Organics shampoo

I apply my fresh deep conditioning mixture, which consists of 3 very ripe avocado's, coconut oil, evoo ( Extra Virgin Olive Oil) , almond oil ( I have a few on almond oil, it's a very good oil so check the blog to learn more interesting things about almond oil) , Shea butter and Castor oil.

I sit under the steamer for 20mins then rinse out. I do a final rinse with Tresemme Natural's conditioner

I apply my Cecelia's Rosemary Creamy Hair butter; hairwegrownatural.moisture spritz and healthy hair butter; almond oil and Shea butter

I started asking her some additional questions but slowed my rolls here because this seems like a lot of work doesn't it?! So I asked her...

How long does it take to do your hair?

When I henna, it takes me a full day, which is about 15 hours as I leave the henna for 8 hours then do a deep treatment for another 7 hours. When styling, say twisting my hair, this takes me about 2 to 3 hours.  When I just have my hair back with a hair band it takes me 10/15 minutes from start to finish to moisture/seal my hair then pin it up. I plait in to large braids before I go to bed (5mins)

Hum I don't know how someone like me will care for a 15 hours treatment done by myself! I don't even like to shampoo my own hair, being treated at the salon is so much better to me but let's keep going here...

Do you braid your hair often?What’s the biggest advantage you see to braiding your hair?

I braid my hair after I have washed and conditioned it. I no longer blow dry, unless it is for a special occasion. Since I have stopped blow drying so often,  I have seen the condition of hair improve greatly and I have length retention. I braid in to 4 cornrows and wear braid outs!

Ok, can you show exactly what you use on your hair?

It's avocado in the blender!!!

Come on now....no need squinting your eyes to check the label, here we go:

Now moving on to my next question to Africa.

What’s your favorite way to style your hair? 

What products worked best for you? What products have you tried that did not work for you?!

Cream based products have been perfect for my hair, as well as vegetable glycerine and aloe vera juice.

My hair has responded negatively to protein and water based gels. I spend on average 5pounds a month on my hair. I buy my Shea butter, hairwegrownatural products and Cecelia's Rosemary Hair Butter  in bulk (approx every 4 months). I buy my oils when they run out and fresh avocado's weekly so I 'd say my average monthly spend would be around 5pounds.

I buy all my products from black owned businesses. I have my own steamer and hood dryer so I save money by not having to go to the salon.

I show below  some of her favorite styles and that's how she styles her hair for work!

I personally like this one a lot, it's creative isn't it?!

Well, giving my 2 cents in here my favorite style of her hair is this one below...

 and I like.... yeah I am still adding my 2 cents in here....I like the picture  below too!  Remember when I mentioned earlier that I had a picture of the first time she wore her hair out and how she said she Felt so beautiful ...well... We were talking about the picture below! It was taken the first time she wore her hair out!...There's something about this picture, maybe it's the red in the background and her look that make the picture so...so...feminine!  But one thing is clear, you can sense from the picture that she feels confident and beautiful! What do you think?   

          

Now, besides caring for your healthy hair what are ways you care naturally for your body? (I asked because I believe that healthy eating affects the health of our hair and nails).
 I have stopped eating fast food and have started eating more water based foods, such as watermelon and cucumber. I have also upped my fruit and veg intake.

Any beauty tips and techniques you would like to share? Listen to your hair. If it doesn't like something, stop using it and vice versa!

I noticed that some naturals like to accessorize their hair with flowers and that eye make-up is very  important to some! What are some of your favorite accessories and best beauty techniques?
 I love to accessorize with flowers and hair bands.

(N.B: 4/7/11 link to my new post with my  floral designed hair accessories http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/04/natural-hair-accessories.html)

I do not wear a lot of make up apart from a little eye shadow and mascara.

Now, natural does not mean blah right! It's natural to accessorize, so I asked her to send me pictures of her favorite accessories ....

What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps as far as keeping their hair healthy?
Finding the right products and low manipulation. Protective styling is also important. This is where you put your hair in to style for a minimum of a week, so that you don't have to comb it etc. The hair is then left alone and any length is retained.

 I have been transitioning for some months now and I was told that deep conditioning every two weeks was very important! Is there anything else besides deep conditioning that we should be doing?

Wash your hair weekly if not bi-weekly. Our hair needs moisture to grow and be healthy. Moisturising and sealing is the most important thing of all. Do not trim/cut your hair unless you have split ends. 
Watch Youtube videos and find those that have the same hair type/texture as yourself so you will have a better understanding of what your hair can do!

Well all those questions about hair maintenance are fine and all but that's not always what other people worry about! Some people's concern is not maintaining their hair but how it might affect other people's idea of them. So I had some social and personal questions for her,  but let's take a break and have you come back for part 2! What do you say?
 Make sure to come back for part 2 because she has some interesting things to share and some of her friends are sharing their natural looks as well! For now, please leave some comments, become a Follower if it's your first time here and LIKE Goodhealthdiva page on facebook!

Sooooo....What do you think? We talked about her hair regimen, what about yours? If you are a natural how long have you been natural and what products have worked best for you? What's the one thing you used on your hair that you will never use again? Why? Have you been caring for your hair as well as she has? Please share your tips!  Any guy around here? If you are a man reading this do you have a preference for natural girls? If your woman wanted to be natural would you support her?  

N'na