Meet Safia from French Guiana!

Where are you from: My name is Safia and I come from FRENCH GUIANA. If I can say a few words about F.G, it's that when you arrive there you are amazed by its lush Amazonian rainforest that gives the extraordinary view of a green ocean from the plane. The specifity of F.G is certainly the ethnical and linguistic diversity. We have Amerindians, Haitians, Dominicans, Brasilians, Indians, Europeans, Chinese and descendants of African slaves. All of them lives together harmoniously, there is no ethnic stratification like I have noticed in some other countries.

Tell us about your Natural Hair: Now regarding my hairstyle, thanks to my mother, I am deeply tied to my african roots so I decided early that I would have a magnificent mane of natural hair. I started my locs only 6 years ago though. Today, I am proud to be one of the many examples showing that locs can be clean and stylish. I have a successful and blossoming life, locs never prevented me from all of my accomplishments. I think that it is the struggle of our generation to revolutionize the vision of locs and break the erroneous prejudices that this hairstyle suffered. Personally, through modelling, I am participating in valuating natural black hairstyles."

"By the way, I congratulate the excellent initiative of your site, Karen. It shows fabulous [doll] models with natural hair crowns, who reinforce black pride. You can be sure that as soon as I have a daughter I will buy each single doll that you make!

Your advice to others: My message to the readers is - we can be feminine, modern, brilliant, attractive, stylish, sexy, trendy, creative, successful, and all of that with natural hair!!! Plates, braids, afro, locs, short... whatever the way u comb it, thank you to all the proud women who have a natural hair crown, and doing so, participate in the upliftment of black beauty!

For the readers who want more information about my hair regimen, they can find me on my facebook page:  where i share positive energy, spiritual thoughts, and natural hair pride, or on my facebook profile."

French Native Beauty - Anaïse

Today's Natural Beauty is Anaïse (it sounds like "Anna-is", it's a french). She is from French Guiana.

Q: What is your hair story?  What kind of hair styles have you rocked, before embracing your natural hair?
A: I was 12 or 13 years old when I started relaxing, but I met problems with breakage, lot of length gone and damaged hair! I was 15-16 years old and I thought I would prefer a short and healthy natural hair, rather than “long” and damaged relaxed hair. Then I decided to do a big chop once. Unfortunately, it wasn't so easy at this time because I wasn't enough mature to embrace my natural hair. Indeed, relaxed hair is a standard for a lot of people. I decided to go back to relaxed, as it took a good length. 

Q: When and why did you decide to start wearing your hair naturally?
A: I was around 19 years old and I left my country to study in France. So it was easier to wear my hair in my teeny weeny afro again! Before going to the plane, I went to a hairdresser for the big chop again! No laughs, no unkind remarks… it was easier, new friends, new schoolmates, new life, new community! You know, living in French Guyana is like living in a small village, and it’s harder to correspond with a beauty standard or ideal because people like to talk, gossip, and give "advice". Obviously, in France there are many black people who don't like kinky hair and prefer relaxing but in general, "indifference" is the norm. I realized we can be pretty the way we are. Everyone has complexes and some unkind remarks that can hurt, so you can choose to pay them no mind even if it's not easy everyday!

Q: Did you have any big fears about going back to your natural texture?
A: Hum...looking like a guy! But I found great ways to feel more feminine. Since the BC, I've tried to take care of my hair, my skin, make up, jewels, etc.

Q: What are three products you can't live without for nurturing/styling your hair?
A: Organic Root Stimulator's Olive Oil Moisturizing Lotion, Curl Junkie's Hibiscus & Banana Deep Fix, Bioshine Intense's aloe vera treatment (Brazil)

Q: What would you say to someone who's thinking about embracing their natural hair, but scared about being rejected in various parts of their lives?
A: Appearance isn’t the most important thing (humor, intelligence, temper, points of view are far more important in terms of relationships), but people sometimes act like is. Everyone wants to be loved and appreciated for who they are, but you also do your best to be an “attractive person”. I’ve never really felt ashamed about my hair but there was a gap between my natural hair (+ other things) and some TV idols. Today, I feel prettier than ever because I'm not challenging a beauty standard. I understood 

 there is difference between  "my beauty" and "the ideal of beauty".

Q: How can we keep up with you and your journey i.e. blog, twitter, facebook, fotki, tumblr, personal or professional website? (Optional)
A: I have a blog but if you don't speak french, it's difficult to understand!  http://nefertarians.blogspot.com/

Thank you Anaïse! Gorgeous pictures and I enjoyed reading your interview. ~ Karen

Nikeisha from Trinidad

How long have you been growing your Loc's?

I’ve been growing my locks for about 10 years. I’ve been completely natural for around 12.

What made you decide to grow your hair naturally without chemicals?

When I finished school and started to work, the girl that sat next to me respectfully suggested that I give my hair a rest from the chemicals – my hairline was pretty damaged. It’s funny, cause although I knew my hair was over processed and my hair line forsaking me, from being pulled back too tight, too often, I never even thought about taking a break. It always seemed ‘natural’ to keep getting a relaxer. In fact I started braiding with the intention to resume relaxing after a couple months.
I took up Art classes and began making friends with the older people within the group. Amongst them, was a really robust respect for African heritage, which I kind of fell into. Around that time as well I became a born again Christian. I stop just attending to God casually and really knowing Him and understanding the beauty He purposely gave to me.  The enlightenment and homage to African culture was more of a healthy appreciation than a black supremacy/ fight the power kind of thing. I was just really infatuated with my dark skin, my nose, my frame and every kink in my hair. It was awesome.
So with all that going on around me, in my head and in my spirit, I just never got another relaxer; locks came some time after.

What are some of your favorite products?
My favourite products are Wave Nouveau Finishing Lotion and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. As we say here in Trini – it bes’! The combination keeps my hair light and soft. I’m also loving Aubrey Organics Clarifying Shampoo, it gently removes excess everything, without stripping my hair. About a year ago, really close friend of mine, started sharing all the info she was coming across on natural hair. Sites like thenaturalhaven.com, hairlicious.com, napturality.com. Since then I’ve been creating my own hair regimen and my hair’s responded well – it’s naturally blacker and shinier. But I have learned, the hard way, to go easy on the quantity of products I put in my hair at a time, since it could be a little difficult to get them all out and they then remain in the locks. Not cool.

You’re from Trinidad. What is the culture like there?

Trinidad is actually part of a twin island state – Trinidad and Tobago. My country is definitely unique and undoubtedly blessed. We have a ton of natural resources, invented the steel pan, have lots of beaches, pretty birds and flowers - all that cool Caribbean stuff. But our richest treasure is the people themselves :-).          (To read the rest of Nikeisha's Interview, click on READ MORE to continue......)

Giveaway Winners for International Beauty!!

Good morning everyone,

Last week, I posted a challenge for a Naturally Beautiful Hair Giveaway. The 2 prizes for this giveaway are 2 separate 3-piece sets of Peruvian Earrings. The challenge was for the readers to submit links to photo's of international beauty, from around the world. There where 6 photo's that were submitted, each beautiful because of the cultural richness. The two winners are:

**Angel: Her photo is of Gambian beauties in their traditional dress.

**Natural In the Making: Her photo entry is of a young Samoan woman practicing for Tausala.

Congratulations to the two winners. Remember, which ever winner that contacts me first at naturalhairbeauty@gmail.com, will have first choice in what package (#1 or #2) they want.

Also, I want to thank all of the people that participated in this giveaway. It is always a joy to see something new and beautiful from another country and culture. Please take a look below at the rest of the entries.