April is a natural who believes that women should embrace the beauty they possess inside as well as outside. Native to Chicago, April is an accountant for a non-profit organization, where she enjoys her work. Outside of work, she loves mentoring the youth and giving back to the community through various outreach initiatives. When this hardworking natural needs a break from work and extracurricular activities she travels and spends time with family and friends. Having gotten a perm at an early age like most young women do, April is happy to see that so many women are embracing their natural hair and are sharing their experiences as she has transitioned to natural hair.
Marita A: How long have you been natural?
April: My current natural hair journey began about 2 years ago in September of 2010. Prior to this natural journey, I was natural 7 years before deciding to give a perm a try. Getting routine perms would only last about 5 months before I decided to grow it out. I missed my natural hair and yearned to have it back, so here I am now, happily natural again!
Marita A: What inspired you to go natural?
April: My inspiration to go natural was a result of leaving home to attend college. Three primary factors influenced my decision: my fabulous hairstylist could not come with me; I would not have money to maintain my permed hair, and I DEFINITELY knew I was not going to attempt giving myself a perm or let anyone else attempt to perm it! Therefore, the choice was easy, take a leap of faith and embrace my natural hair.
Marita A: Who are your YouTube or Facebook “hairspirations”?
April: It was not until recently that I began looking into “hairspirations” on YouTube. Prior to that, I just did what came natural. However, it would have been extremely helpful to discover Rachel O. Beauty and other YouTube sensations, like Naturalbella the first time I went natural. I love the products, videos, blog and support system offered by Rachel O. Beauty. I look forward to connecting with other “hairspirations” through future events like the Chicago Natural Meetup Mall Tour I attended in July.
Marita A: What was the most difficult part of transitioning to natural?
April: The most difficult part for me was finding the right products for my hair type and adjusting to the fact that many days it seemed as if my hair had a mind of its own! However, once I found products that worked for me, like Organic Root Stimulator Mayonnaise Conditioner and developed the right routine for maintaining the desired style and texture; I truly began to enjoy my natural hair more.
Marita A: How did your family, friends, spouse or significant other react to your hair’s new, kinky texture?
April: My family and friends have always been tremendously supportive, including my boyfriend. My mom even took the time to teach me how she maintained her natural hair when she was younger. She showed me pictures from her natural hair days. At the time, out of my four closest friends, I was the only one brave enough to go entirely natural. I’m happy to say that only one of my friends out of the group who is not natural!
Marita A: What’s in your makeup bag?
April: There is very little in my makeup bag. My face is like a blank canvas. Most days, I wear no makeup at all. The few times I wear makeup, it is usually just a little eye shadow. However, I love a good lip gloss, and I try to keep plenty of it handy. I’m terribly interested in becoming more makeup savvy and increasing the products in my makeup collection.
Marita A: How did you keep your skin naturally beautiful?
April: To keep my skin beautiful, I keep it simple: I drink plenty of water and I try my best to get as many vitamins as possible by eating healthy foods. I also use a gentle face wash regularly and a light moisturizer afterwards.
Marita A: Did you go through any kind of personal/spiritual transformation while going through the process of going natural?
April: I went through a personal transformation. Going natural increased my confidence. When I first transitioned to natural hair, there were not many girls rocking afros. Being different was scary at first, but it became a part of my identity. It challenged me to try new things and embrace change. I began adding various hair accessories and creating different hair styles, and it was great. Overall, going natural helped me to develop confidence in embracing my own style.
Marita A: What are some of your favorite hair styles?
April: My favorite hair styles include the curly fro that I create after taking down two strand twists and an all out natural fro or putting my hair in a ponytail and enhancing it with a puff; this became my favorite transition style the second time around while I waited for my hair to grow longer.
Marita A: What encouragement can you give to someone who maybe considering going natural?
April: I would encourage someone considering going natural to have PATIENCE and ENDURANCE, especially during the early stages. Finding the right hair products can be costly and frustrating. When you find the right products for your hair and a system to maintain you hair, it gets easy. Furthermore, embrace and enjoy the journey while loving your natural self. If you are concerned about letting go of your perm, realize that natural hair comes with versatility. When I want the look of a perm, I can go to the salon and have them straighten my hair. When I’m ready to rock my fro again, I just wash my hair. I LOVE IT! I can enjoy the best of both worlds without the harsh chemicals. However, like chemicals, too much heat from straightening can damage the hair if not done properly. To avoid heat damage, I do not get it straightened very often. Regardless, if you are considering going natural, already natural or have permed hair, believe you are beautiful and embrace the inner and outer beauty you possess.
Thank you April for sharing your story!
