Niquinn's Hair Story
Why did I decide to go
natural?
I decided to go natural in the winter of 2005, and I
haven’t looked back! I had a few friends who were relaxer free, and I began
going to a stylist who specialized in natural hair. We began growing out my relaxer,
and the two texture differences (straight vs. natural) were too much for me to
handle. I did notice my hair was healthier and thicker at the roots where my
hair was relaxer free. My 25th birthday (Jan 2006) was the last time
I remember my stylist flat ironing my hair with the two different textures. Two
weeks later, I decided to wash my hair and “do something” with it but the two
textures were too difficult to manage. It was a Saturday and I called my
stylist requesting an emergency “Big Chop,” but unfortunately she was unable to
schedule me that day, so we decided to do it on Tuesday. I went to her salon
after work on Tuesday (I didn't tell anyone), she chopped off my hair and I had
a fade! It was extremely liberating and
I loved it. At the time I was a Pre-K teacher, and one of my students told me I
was ugly. Of course he didn't know any better, he was only 5 years-old, and he
had been conditioned to believe that hair equates beauty.
I decided to stop using chemical relaxers because I
wanted something different. Chemical relaxers are both damaging and dangerous,
and when I was relaxing my hair, they were expensive. I remember paying $100
once for a relaxer at a hair salon in Dallas, and my stylist stated that he was
giving me a “discount” because I was going to Essence Fest (*side eye*). Now,
my hair ALWAYS looked good, but it was a process that was not only time
consuming but costly. There was too much preparation before a relaxer: don’t
scratch your scalp, don’t get your hair wet, touch up 6-8 weeks so breakage
won’t occur, etc. Now that I am natural, I can scratch my scalp and wet my hair
daily if I choose.
Shea Butter Mix (hair, face, and body)
Jamaican Black Castor Oil (hair and face when extremely
dry)
Jojoba Oil (hair but mainly face)
Coconut Milk (conditioner for hair)
V05 Conditioner (great co-wash and conditioner)
Derm Organic (Shampoo & Masque)
Queen Helene Cholesterol (conditioner)
Hair Masque Deep Conditioner Recipe (place on hair before
washing, sit under heated dryer for 15 minutes, but a heated dryer is not
mandatory): Mix equal parts of conditioner, olive oil and honey, distribute
evenly throughout your hair, and use conditioner cap (this mixture is sticky).
Wash and style hair as usual!
Chemical relaxers are DANGEROUS and POISONOUS. Studies
have shown that relaxers have been linked to uterine fibroid tumors and early
puberty, and the population that is most affected: black women. This is no
coincidence, and the base for a relaxer is sodium hydroxide: a strong base that
is corrosive and causes chemical burns. Nothing you place on your body or in
your hair should burn!
Did you receive any flak for going natural?
What
is something you wish you would have known before making this jump?
Life
is a journey and hair is a journey too! Hair is expression, and it is always
evolving. There is nothing that I wish I would've known because it was a
journey then and it still is a journey today. What worked for me two years ago
may not be working today, and what I am doing now with my hair will probably
evolve next year. What works for my hair may not work for the next person, but
it’s good to share hair stories and hair products in order to experiment. My
motto: “If I can eat it, it’s good for my hair.” So, I recommend more women
experiment with hair smoothies.
In your opinion, what is the best thing
about being natural?
There
are so many good things about being natural. I am not worried about the rain
(it actually makes my hair look better and my curls POP). I am not worried
about sweating, swimming, or any other physical activity that may disturb my
hair. I like the styles that I am able to attain due to the texture of my hair.
What are your thoughts about this natural
hair trend? Do you feel as though it's a trend?
I
have heard about the “natural hair trend,” and I don’t like that it’s being
considered a trend. It’s the way my hair grows out of my scalp. I am not a
trend. I am not revolutionary. I am not Angela Davis (a few people stated I reminded
them of her, definitely a compliment but I am ME). The word trend as it relates
to natural hair should never be used again. A trend may refer to a fad, and
fads die out. No one should look at natural hair as a fad, and think that it
will die out. Natural hair is NATURAL, it’s beautiful, and it deconstructs all
little girls’ beliefs about Western beauty standards.
Any suggestions/tips for other women thinking
about this natural journey?
It’s a journey not a destination! It won’t be easy because
you have to reshape your thinking regarding your definition of beauty. I’ll end
on this note: Do you because “those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter
don’t mind.”
Thanks Niquinn for sharing your story!
Niquinn is truly wearing her glory. She's an inspiration to me.
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