Guest Post by: Marita A.

Thank you to all that have served and that are currently serving this country, especially our Natural Beauty of the Week. Jaeda is a New Jersey native, currently residing in Illinois. Back home she attended and graduated from Temple University, served as an Air Force reservist and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Jaeda keeps busy and fit with kickboxing and teaching pole fitness. While she has a knack for bargain shopping, her true passions in life are dance and helping others. She works part time with deaf and hearing impaired children, with the hopes of someday becoming an interpreter for the deaf and hearing impaired. While healthy eating and nutrition are staples in her life, this natural diva admits to having a huge weakness for the red velvet cupcakes at her favorite Crumbs bakery.

Marita A: How long have you been natural?

Jaeda: I consider myself an old school natural J I’ve been natural since August of 1995, right after graduating from high school.

Marita A: What inspired you to go natural?

Jaeda: I was bullied into it, LOL not really! While transitioning to college, I was working to save money for school. My aunt encouraged me to find a low maintenance hairstyle since dealing with relaxed hair could be expensive. It made sense, so the following week, I went to Hair Cuttery at the Gallery Mall and had it chopped all off.

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

Jaeda: Actually it wasn’t difficult at all; it was a pretty natural progression. I’ve always had an Afrocentric style in high school, I still to this day. Transitioning to natural hair just seemed to make sense to me.

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

Jaeda: After my first big chop since high school, I went to homecoming that following fall rocking my IBTWA (itty bitty tiny weeny afro) and received many compliments, even from the ones who never spoke in high school. Since then, no matter how I rock my natural hair (short, in locs, an afro, or protective style), I always get the compliment that it fits me. My boyfriend absolutely loves it!

Marita A: Have you tried to convert any of your friends or family members into naturalistas?

Jaeda: I wouldn’t say convert but more so inspired. My daughter, mother and sisters are all natural and have been for some time. It’s actually pretty common with the women in my family to have natural hair; even my grandmothers are returning to natural hair.

Marita A: What’s in your makeup bag?

Jaeda: Can’t proudly say that I own one since I am more of a lip balm/lip gloss type of girl. Most of what I do have was probably a gift; I can’t tell you the colors or who it is by. I do use MAC foundation sparingly, when I have to get in front of a camera. The rest I leave to the professionals (a.k.a. my girlfriends that know what they are doing).

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

Jaeda: For facial care, Paula’s Choice products are my holy grail; I hope to never have to stray from it. To keep my skin aglow, I was with plain ole’ body wash and moisturize with my homemade mix of shea butter that I add various butter and oils to. It’s also important to mention I drink 8-12 glasses of water every day, take multivitamins and green supplements, and eat healthy clean foods like fresh fruits and veggies on a consistent basis. Native Foods Vegan Restaurant has become my new addiction.

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

Jaeda: I think it’s hard to be natural and not go through some transformation. Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of images to look at and think of myself as beautiful. Going natural, somehow gave me a new found inner confidence and just let my natural beauty radiate. In my opinion showing your inner confidence and embracing what God blessed you with is way more beautiful than external looks any day.

Marita A: What are some of your favorite hair styles?

Jaeda: You know I do rock an occasional twist-out or bantu knot-out. Protective styles have become my favorite. I am style challenged even with the help of You Tube, but I can do a flat twist or two strand twist updo within 30 minutes and leave it like that for the week. Easy Peezy!

Marita A: What encouragement can you give to someone who maybe considering going natural?

Jaeda: My best is advice is to not stress, eat healthy, drink lots of water. More importantly don’t get caught up or overwhelmed with YouTube bandwagons and the multitude of natural and not-so-natural products that are out now. As with anything in life, don’t ever let fear or other people’s opinions speak louder than your inner voice, it will always tell you what’s best for you. Everyone will always have something different to say or suggest, so let your hair journey be your own and enjoy it. Ashe’

Thank you Jaeda for sharing your natural hair journey.