LaTasha Benn has a beautiful head of gorgeous locs. When I see her she kinda reminds of how much I miss having locs. Her spirit is just as beautiful as her fabulous long flowing locs. Read on…
How long have you been natural?
Man time flies, and it’s hard to believe that it has been 7 years since I went natural. I will be celebrating my 5 year “loc-iversary” in November. It has truly been a journey, especially for me who was famous for wearing my hair straight and long in a wrap with a middle part. EVERYDAY!
What inspired you to go natural?
No real inspiration, well at least nothing really deep. I simply wanted to try something different so I decided to get a really short haircut, like Halle Berry or Fantasia (at the time). I couldn’t stand the maintenance involved in keeping a short cut, because I was so used to the “wrap and go” routine I’d had for years. The final hair cut involved a set of clippers. I asked my mother, who is a cosmetologist, to go ahead and cut it all OFF! I no longer wanted to be tied to my hair and just wanted to start over.
What is your profession?
Currently, I am a full-time Recruiter for Coinstar/Redbox Automated Retail and have been with the company for a little over 3 years. I’m also an Independent Make-up Artist, my company is LYBartistry. I hope to follow my dreams and do make-up on a full-time basis within the next couple of years.
Did you receive any negative comments from family or friends?
No, no negative comments. I actually received a lot of compliments from friends and family. I was told I look great with short hair and that I had the face AND head to be able to rock a short do. I will say however, that I wasn’t getting as much attention from the fellas anymore, which in some cases was a plus (hehe).
What’s your favorite natural hair style?
Well, I’ve had a few different styles, but I would have to say my favorite was when it was really low, Caesar style. I loved it because it was very low maintenance and different. I think it takes a lot of confidence for a woman to cut all her hair off and that’s what I felt, Confident.
What advice can you give to someone interested in growing locks?
Funny, someone just messaged me on Facebook asking for advice. The best advice I can give, is to be PATIENT. It is a long process and can be frustrating at times. I would suggest making sure that you’re ready for the journey and when you think it’s taking too long for your hair to lock up, give it a another week and another and another and before you know it you’ll be loc’d and lovely!
What products work well for you?
Shea Butter, Shea Butter, and more Shea Butter! I also love Carol’s Daughter’s Loc Butter. It has a light hold, doesn’t flake, and smells delicious! I use various shampoos, but I always look for something with Tea Tree in it. I think it really cleans my locs better than other ingredients.
What are your top three natural beauty makeup tips?
1.My favorite makeup tip is using a highlighting pencil on bottom lid instead of black in order to open up my eyes.
What do you enjoy most about having locs?
The best thing about my locs is that they’re easy to maintain (see the theme here, I hate spending too much time on my hair) and also that I can do soooo many things with them and it doesn’t take much. I wear my hair in more styles than I ever did when I had straight hair. The most challenging thing about them now is sleeping with them. They are so long that I have tie them up in a bun on top of my head at night so I can sleep without them being in my face. Other than that, I have grown to love them and as they grow, yes they get to be more high maintenance, but I become more attached to them the longer they get.
