Guest Post by: Marita A.

has proved that you can be naturally beautiful at any age. Fabulous and forty, this working mother enjoys family time with her husband, three sons, and their family dog. Her energetic smile and personality are simply contagious! Ceata is the proud owner of three home-based businesses including, Pretty Thingz: BY MY SISTER & ME . She has taken her love for making uniquely customized items and turned it into a prosperous business. Ceata often reminds individuals to not only be blessed but to be a blessing to one another.

Marita A: How long have you been natural?

Ceata: I have been natural for about 6.5 years.

Marita A: What inspired you to go natural?

Ceata: Actually it was due to the health of my scalp, it was constantly inflamed. I had severe psoriasis and eczema; I couldn’t figure what the cause was nor get it under control. Dermatologist visits, special shampoos, and steroid creams were no help. I figured it had to be the relaxer. Sure enough, all of the issues with my scalp went away once I stopped relaxing my hair.

Marita A: Who are your YouTube or Facebook “hairspirations”?

Ceata: I recently discovered Rachel O. but other than her, I really don’t have any.  I don’t have much time to dedicate to YouTube or Facebook.

Marita A: What was the most difficult part of transitioning to natural?

Ceata: My new growth hurt! People think that’s weird but it did. I tried to wear micro braids to help with the transition. They only pulled my hair out and damaged the little that was left on my head.

Marita A: How did your family, friends, spouse or significant other react to your hair’s new kinky texture?

Ceata: My husband was wonderful. Even though he may not have liked it in the beginning, he never discouraged me. Not one negative word to say, EVER.  My sister was a great “nappy cheerleader” also. She transitioned for the second time shortly after me. Everyone else, particularly black men of my age, as well as older men, were not so supportive when I initially transitioned. It was especially evident when I cut all of my hair to start from scratch with my new natural healthy hair. I could sense they really didn’t like it; some people even shared their dislikes with me. Older family members for example, my grandmother’s generation, really couldn’t handle it. I was told I looked “too nappy” and “the slave master MADE us wear our hair that way!” I was inclined to say, “He also convinced us as a race of people not to love and embrace the way God made us.” Out of respect for my elders, I remained quiet. But now, IT’S ALL-GOOD!

Marita A: What’s in your makeup bag?

Ceata: Prescriptives concealer and foundation, a tube of Mac lip-gloss, alongside some really pretty, really cheap drugstore lip-glosses, and whatever pretty eye shadow palette’s I’ve found at Walgreens.

Marita A: How did you keep your skin naturally beautiful?

Ceata: My sister, Jennifer Stephens, makes all natural organic soaps. So that’s the only cleanser I use on my face and body. I always add olive oil, Tamanu oil, grape seed oil, and Shea butter to whatever over the counter lotions or skin moisturizers I use.

 
Marita A: Did you go through any kind of personal/spiritual transformation while going through the process of going natural?

Ceata: My self-esteem went up a few notches. I was determined not to go back to a relaxer; I found that a person must really love themselves fully in order to be confident with such a drastic change to their look, in order to not become discouraged. Think about it, like most of us, I got my first relaxer when I was 10 years old. That was a 33-year habit I had to break.

Marita A: What are some of your favorite hairstyles?

Ceata: I love my Crown Puff and two-strand twists. The FREEDOM to change-up is amazing.
  
Marita A: What encouragement can you give to someone who maybe considering going natural?

Ceata: Go through it with a friend. You need a “nappy cheerleader” to help through the difficult times when your hair is transitioning to its natural state. You can have some crazy hair days, even crazy hair weeks when you just want to turn back. You have to have someone who is wiling to talk you down from that “back-to-relaxer ledge”.

Thank you Ceata for sharing your story!  Are you newly natural of thinking of transitioning from relaxer to natural hair? Join Chicago’s largest natural hair meetup group click here for more information.