Michele is a natural that loves to rock daring styles. She has learned
to love her hair and all its beauty! To Michele being natural is not a
fad, but a way of life… Michele exudes confidence and creativity in
her photos.
Marita A: How long have you been natural?
Michele: I have been natural for a year; my one year anniversary was
July 1, 2012
Marita A: What inspired you to go natural?
Michele: One day while I was flipping through my baby pictures, I saw
my natural hair in two puff balls. They looked soft and my curl
definition was great, so I wondered if my hair could return to that
state, so I decided to start my natural hair journey.
Marita A: What was the most difficult part of transitioning to natural hair?
Michele: The most difficult part was being patient as the new growth
started to grow in. This is my second time going natural; I’ve learned
a lot from the first round. I let my natural hair do its own thing do
in order to stay strong. I wore my hair in braids to keep from putting
heat on it. After you learn how to accept the hair that grows out of
your head, the rest is easy.
Marita A: How did your family, friends, spouse or significant other
react to your hair’s new kinky texture?
Michele: When I told my friends and family that I wanted to go
natural, they gave me this weird look like “why she wanna do that?”
Everyone thought I was crazy and that I was not going to look right
with my natural hair. After my big chop (big trim) I decided to wear
my hair in twists which I thought were cute since I did them myself.
My loving family looked at them and told me that I needed a hair
stylist soon, since I was going to wear my hair natural. Their support
or lack thereof, kept me on the path to prove to them that natural
hair was beautiful.
Marita A: Have you tried to convert any of your friends or family
members into naturalistas?
Michele: I have tried to convince my friends and family, but they say
they just can’t do it. They have learned to accept my hair, but
they’ve never expressed the desire to make that commitment. I try to
tell them benefits of natural hair but they seem to think that natural
hair is too hard to maintain. If they only knew my hair is easier to
detangle now than it was when I was relaxed. I don’t push the subject,
I just continue to be a light and hope that someone will follow.
Marita A: What’s in your makeup bag?
Michele: Funny you should ask because I don’t have one. When I do wear
makeup I usually wear Bare Minerals foundation, eye shadow, and some
lip gloss.
Marita A: How did you keep your skin naturally beautiful?
Michele: I drink plenty of water to keep my skin hydrated, I use
African black soap (the real one) to clean my face, and I make sure
that I keep it moisturized.
Marita A: Did you go through any kind of personal/spiritual
transformation while going through the process of going natural?
Michele: While I transitioned for nine months, I spent that time
learning what my natural hair really liked. The main thing was water
and moisture. My natural hair always stayed nice and moisturized,
while my relaxed hair was dry and brittle. When I did my big chop
(trim) I felt free. I had to learn how to love my natural hair since I
had never seen it before. While I was rediscovering my hair, I learned
how to love myself the way that God made me. Being natural is not a
fad, for me it’s a lifestyle.
Marita A: What are some of your favorite hair styles?
Michele: My favorite styles are braided Mohawk, two strand twists, and
updos. I love anything that can show how versatile natural hair can
be.
Marita A: What encouragement can you give to someone who maybe
considering going natural?
Michele: I would tell anyone that is considering going natural to be
patient. Whether you do the big chop or choose to transition for an
extended period of time, take time to learn your hair. Educate
yourself about natural hair by means of You Tube, natural hair blogs,
meet-ups, and other naturals you may know. Know your intent of going
natural and focus on reaching your long-term goals. With
determination, education, and goals your natural hair journey will be
a success and you will never turn back.
Thank you Michele for being a member of Chicago Natural Beauty Meetup.
