Be Featured on Natural Chica!

DON'T FORGET TO SIGN THE GUESTBOOK : )

JOIN THE NEW FACEBOOK FAN PAGE FOR NATURAL CHICA!

Hola chicas! Thanks for stopping by! There are several ways to be "featured" on Natural Chica:

1. Submit your PREGUNTAS (questions) that will be opened up for all readers to respond to

2. Be a fellow, natural blogger/vlogger and sign up for my Blogger/Vlogger Naturalistas feature

3. Be currently rockin' a fabulous TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro) and sign up for my FAB TWA's feature

4. Be transitioning/natural and sign up for my Háblame! (Talk to Me!) feature

5. Have some PENSAMIENTOS INTERESANTES (interesting thoughts) you'd love to share with the others and hear their opinions on the matter

6. Do you make your own natural body/hair products, hair accessories,etc ?. Email me to be considered for the Empresa Spotlight (Business Spotlight)!

For more details -> BE ON NATURAL CHICA post!

New Year...Natural Hair!

Wishing you all a happy holidays season!

As we prepare to enter the new year, I decided to feature all those who are going into the beginning of a new year with natural hair for the first time! That is those who decided to do the "big chop/gradual chop" this year and transitioned from relaxed to natural hair.

I am collecting your pre-big chop(BC) and post-BC pics for a feature post that I will put up between Dec. 31st/Jan 1st to commemorate this wonderful transition. If you're in this category (like me!) and want to participate, email your photos to goingaunaturale@gmail.com.

I have already received a good number of photos and can't wait to receive more! : )

5 month mark of being a NATURAL CHICA!!

Couldn't let the day pass without acknowledging that it is my 5 month anniversary (post-Big Chop) of being a NATURAL CHICA!

I'm traveling for the holidays, and it was great to be by the beach with the wind blowing through my hair without a single worry of my hair getting messed up by the wind or the moisture in the air!

The style in the picture shown is the result of a chunky two-strand twist out that was transformed into a fro-hawk.

As always, still loving my natural journey!!

Háblame: Faith

Vamos a hablar con (Let's talk with) FAITH

How long have you been natural/transitioning? And if you haven't been natural your whole life, what prompted you to make the change?

I have been natural for about 5 years. My move was simply because permed/relaxed hair was too much to keep up. I didn't really know how to take care of my hair to begin with, so I was adding to the problem. Once I saw my hair line start to recede and my ends were breaking, me and perm/relaxation decided to take a break!

Did you have any stereotypes about natural hair or those with natural hair beforehand? If so, what were some of them and has your viewpoint changed?

One of the stereotypes I faced and still struggle with is pretty girls have long straight hair. Since my hair has been short most of my life, I dealt with that part. While I had support from family, friends and my life partner, the media is only know showing women with natural hair. Oprah and Tyra talk about natural hair, but I don't see either of them rocking their "real" natural hair. Meaning without flat irons or lace front wigs.

Do you feel that anything changed in your life (i.e. Boost in confidence) when you became all natural/started transitioning?

I do feel like my confidence has grown. I'm a leo so I have a huge ego to begin with. Still, when you face the world with a look that few people are rocking, you can't help but feel a little swagger.

If you went through/going through a transition process, how did you care for your hair during that process (styles...products you used, etc.) ?

My transition happened without me really knowing it. I just kept weaving, and braiding. I seriously killed the wigs! My crew called me "weavey or wiggy wonder"! When it got to a certain length, I just cut off the dead ends.

I must be honest. I didn't really like transitioning. Wigs/weaves cost money, and I have 2 different textures in my head. I am just now learning how to manage it. Plus it seemed like my hair was taking forever and a day to grow. I didn't know about shrinkage, so I just thought it wasn't growing.

When I became pregnant with my son, my hair flourished! Then about 6 months to a year afterwards, it started breaking again. So I said whatever and BC'd again. I guess my hair and my son will be growing together!

Everyone has different hair, even if we share the same type. Supposedly I'm 4c, but really I have no clue. My hair takes to Sauve conditoner. I love it and it's cheap. I use it as a co-washer, leave in conditioner and detangler. Coconut oil for moisture and to seal my ends. I used Creme of Nature Shampoo about once every week or so. Once every 2 weeks or once a month I deep condition. I mix 1 egg, oil and mayonnaise in my hair. I leave it in for 2 hours or overnight, then rinse in the morning.

What do you love most about being natural/transitioning?

What I really love about being natural is that I am teaching my son that beauty has many looks. The media, even black media, has these young people thinking there is only one way to be beautiful. He's half black and half white. He will grow up knowing that beauty comes in all forms, colours and shapes.

What words would you leave with someone who is thinking about going natural?

My word of wisdom for anyone going natural is that everyone has different hair. What works for some, may not work for you. It will take trial and error to see what your hair likes, but that's part of the fun! Plus when, people stop you in the street and tell you how cute you are, it's a HUGE ego stroke!

Any sites where we can keep up with your journey: YouTube, fotki album, any other picture sharing site...etc.

The websites that I found helpful, aside from your own are www.motowngirl.com, www.afroniquelyyou.com, and www.leaveinthekinks.com.

Blogger/Vlogger Naturalista: Milan aka AGrlCanMac

Several weeks ago, we had a lovely makeup tutorial given to us by AGrlCanMac (Milan). Now hear about her natural story! She recently celebrated her 1 year curliversary!!

How long have you been natural? And if you haven't been natural your whole life, what prompted you to make the change?

I have been natural for 11 months. Almost a year! Yay! What prompted me to make the change was I got to a point where I was bored with relaxers and wanted a change. No matter how well I took care of my relaxed tresses, they lacked body and character I felt. I always luv'd big hair and curls so when I made the decision I looked to Youtube, Fotki, and natural hair blogs for inspiration and information. I also started doing more research on relaxers and when I found out what they were made up of, I couldn't stomach getting them anymore.

Do you feel that anything changed in your life (i.e. Boost in confidence when you became all natural?

I def got a boost in confidence. I just feel so much flyyer with my big, highly textured hair. I also had more money to spend or invest on other things. LOL. I also am able to be more of the carefree person that I already am. Natural hair is more fun, so much easier for me and less work than when I was relaxed. Lastly, I just feel more like me. No other race does all the chemically altering crap. So it feels good to just rock out with the hair that grows out of my head.

When and why did you start your blog/vlog?

It's funny you should ask that. I started it May of 2008 out of sheer boredom. My original intention for it was to be an all things beauty blog. When I decided I was transitioning, I started doing posts on there to document my journey and the blog evolved from there into covering beauty, hair, and style.

What types of topics do you post on your blog/vlog?

It mainly talks about hair now but I also cover beauty, make up looks and tutorials, and style. My most recent add on is a weekly feature called "Accessories That Can Mac". Every Tuesday, I feature different accessories that I think are hot. I'm so excited about it and keep asking myself why I didn't think about this sooner! I luv accessories as much as I luv hair and make up.

What do you love most about blogging/vlogging?

I love that it's a fun way to express yourself and what you enjoy; what in life excites you. You don't have to be a writer extraordinaire or know the right thing to say. Just say whatever. Blog one word or sentence a day but guess what it's your blog and you can do that! You can be an attorney by day and have a bmx biking blog. With blogging you can let your imagination run wild. You get to be a kid again and dream big and as crazy as you like. Blogging is simply FUN.

How would you describe your hair?

I would describe it as flyy. Lol. As far as the texture goes, it's coily 4A, Sister OS, fine strands, medium density and soft

What are 5 products your hair can't live without?

1. My castile soap mix

2. Coconut oil

3. My shea frosting for twisting

4. Creamy leave in/daily hair moisturizer

5. My homemade moisturizing mist: water. aloe vera juice, and jojoba oil

What words would you leave with someone who is thinking about going natural?

Just do it. You KNOW you wanna! All us naturals in cyber land got you covered! The resources and inspiration are in abundance. Everything I learned when I was on the fence were on blogs like yours, hair forums, and YouTube.

Do you have any other electronic means that we can use to keep up with your natural journey? (i.e. Fotki)

Yes, you can check out my youtube channel www.youtube.com/vivacious1083

www.naturalsunshine.ning.com my screenname is Milan on there

http://members.fotki.com/vivacious1083

Empresa Spotlight: Jane Carter Solution

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jane Carter from Jane Carter Solution, which is a natural-based hair care system. When it was confirmed that I’d be able to interview Ms. Carter regarding the company, I was too thrilled! I had always seen her product line during my numerous visits to Whole Foods Market and so I was anxious to learn more about the Jane Carter Solution company.

If you’ve never heard of Jane Carter Solution, here’s a small excerpt from the company to give you some background before you read the interview:

“Jane Carter, a stylist and salon owner, began developing Jane Carter Solution over 10 years ago in response to an allergic reaction caused by the chemicals in traditional hair care products. Frustrated by the lack of non-chemical choices, Jane decided to formulate her own hair care line using simple, natural ingredients that would work on every hair type and texture regardless of ethnicity. Most recently featured in Essence (Nov 09) and Ebony (Sep 09), Jane is a well-recognized authority on hair care and is a frequent guest at industry, charitable and entertainment events. A staunch supporter of grassroots initiatives, she is committed to the protection, growth and development of global communities in need.”

Since the interview was over the phone, the following will be my description of Ms. Carter’s responses to the stated questions.

When was the Jane Carter Solution system developed and what was the inspiration for its creation?

Well, Ms. Carter’s background is very interesting and it is important to explain what steps she went through to even create Jane Carter Solution. Ms. Carter has been a hair stylist for over 20 years and has maintained a very diverse client base. However, several years ago, she noticed that she had begun to develop allergies to the products that she was exposed to all day long in the salon. She mentioned to me that some of the adverse responses included asthmatic conditions and dermatitis.

It was when she started reading product labels that she began to understand the harmful effects of some of the ingredients, and from that point, she actually started throwing out all of the products in the salon! After that revelation, she took matters into her own hands by educating herself in areas like aromatherapy and herbology. Having this background gave her the understanding to the numerous beneficial effects of natural ingredients, which led her to develop her first product – a hair nourishing serum that is still offered today by the company.

She started off by using the product in her salon and there was a domino effect soon after. Clients would ask her how they could purchase the product, which led Ms. Carter to start thinking seriously about mass producing and marketing her creation. During a training program she was giving at Clairol on establishing a multicultural client base, she was able to discuss her wishes to establish her product line with one of Clairol’s leading chemists. One of the first questions the chemist asked her was how much it cost for her to make the product. When she told him that it would cost $6, he informed her that she would not be successful and that to really be successful in the business , she would need to market a product that cost like $0.99 to make and sell it for $12.00 (Crazy, I know!!).

Well Ms. Carter did NOT take his advice and actually went on to see if she could develop 2 or 3 more products for her line to market. To do so, she sought the help of three other chemists who were knowledgeable and practing in the hair care industry. She stressed to them that she wanted her market to remain diverse and she didn’t want her products to be “categorized”. You know, like the “ethnic” and “all others” sections we see all too often in ANY store that sells hair products. Well, when the chemists returned their formulation plans to Ms. Carter, she quickly noticed that they contained the ingredients that all the mainstream products already contained, which were the ingredients she was trying to stay away from (ie. silicones). Once again, Ms. Carter took things into her own hands and decided to take 2 semesters of a formulations course so she could have a deeper understanding of how to combine different ingredients for her hair care line.

Ms. Carter informed me that during her years as a hair stylist, she has encountered many people who have had scalp problems. She said many of these people included those with relaxers or those with locs but who refused to wash their hair for weeks at a time in some cases. This is one of the reasons why the next product she developed was the 100% scalp renew. It has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and did help a lot of her clients who exhibited scalp conditions.

Since then, her product line has expanded and her products can be found all over the nation in stores and select hair salons, as well as online. One of the largest well-known markets where her products can be found are at my favorite store (in the whole wide world! Lol) Whole Foods Market. When asked why she chose to market her products there, she explained it was because Whole Foods Market matched her company’s philosophies. As many of you know, Whole Foods Market prides themselves on providing natural and organic-based products, which matched the mission of Jane Carter Solutions in providing a hair care line that not only works, but has ingredients that over time will actually improve the health of your hair.

What makes the Jane Carter solution unique when compared to other natural-based hair care products?

Jane Carter’s background really helps her company have a unique standing in the natural-based hair care product community. First off, she is a stylist, has taken courses (aromatherapy, herbology, formulations) that have helped her to rationally design her products, and also holds an M.B.A. degree. She says one of her pet peeves is the fact that many people hold the idea that there are certain hair products just for “ethnic” groups and then there is the rest, and that you have to market your products in that manner. Jane Carter Solutions prides itself in making hair care products that span every hair type and texture. Ms. Carter stated that she doesn’t want to “perpetuate hair type segregation” and that its crazy that consumers still buy into thinking that they have to use products that are specifically titled to these groups.

What inspires the selection of some of the natural ingredients you use in your products? (Kokum Butter, Illippe Butter,)

First off, let me mention the fact that Ms. Carter is the sole chemist for her company! I thought for sure that she had a team of chemists that brainstorm together to devise the formulations for the line but she does this on her own (can we say impressed!). She states that she choose these ingredients for their amazing healing qualities. Most of the natural butters she uses come from West Africa and are very nourishing to skin and scalp. She says the selection of her ingredients allow her products not to work as a “ band-aid” (simply masking hair damage) but really work to improve the integrity, elasticity and strength of the hair.

She also quickly pointed out some of her other favorite ingredients to use like avocado oil (really great for hair and skin), citrus (works as an antibacterial and since its acidic, works to seal the cuticle) and lavender (soothing qualities).

What have been some of the challenges in developing hair care products for a wide variety of hair types?

Ms. Carter says she really doesn’t see it as a challenge. She went on to explain that the biggest challenge is knowing the market and knowing the needs of the market. Marketing for her products has been successful in whole food stores, however more commercial markets (i.e. beauty stores) try to categorize the hair products in to either the General market (90%) or Ethnic (10%) [Note: Think of the hair care section in Target for example, Ethnic products get not even half of one side of one aisle at times]. “Society has trained us to think that one product can’t be for everybody.”

Where would you like to see your company in the next 10 years?

Ms. Carter relayed that she would love to be just a resource for information. She is working on doing a pilot show that covers topics such as beauty, products and also trends in the beauty industry. She really wants to push this sharing of information since a sad, but true fact is that some of us do not receive sound information from our stylists on healthy hair care and definitely not the beauty supply store in most instances. She is also working on doing a series on blogtalkradio that will promote a conversation on the hair-care industry between the professionals and the consumers.

On a side note, when I asked why is it that most stylists don’t really know much about how certain ingredients in the products affect your hair, she explained to me that there is very little product knowledge that is dispersed during training. She then went on to say that there is little to no discourse between stylists and product developers (I personally found that shocking!). This really made sense to me though, because not once had I heard one of my stylists (and I’ve had many during my relaxed years!) mention the dangers of chemicals found in relaxers, sulfate-based products, the clogging characteristics of mineral oil and petrolatum to name a few! (All of which are found in most mainstream hair care products!).

[Sidenote: Learned from Ms. Carter that it is more profitable to be a product developer than a hair stylist. Profit margin for hair stylists on average (~12%), for product developers (~50%).

To someone who is new to your hair care product system, what products would you recommend for them to try first?

Nourish and shine-#1 selling product

Revitalizing Leave-in conditioner ( Can be used to refresh your hair in the morning since it’s water-based)

Any tips for maintaining healthy natural hair in the winter months?

Ms. Carter explained that the biggest misconception is that hair needs oil for moisture. Hair needs nourishment (butters) and moisture from water-based products.

Where can Jane Carter Solutions products be purchased?

For all of the locations where Jane Carter Solutions can be found, visit this LINK.

Note: Jane Carter Solutions also has a YouTube channel and Ms. Carter also shared with me that they will be selling their products in select Target stores (250 locations) in February!

After this interview, it was clear to me that Jane Carter is an impressive and knowledgeable woman in her field (I learned so much from this one interview!). She has a diverse background, which has really given her the tools to be successful in creating natural-based hair care products for a diverse clientele. She is passionate about making hair care products that not only make the hair look great, but nourish and strengthen it as well.

Thank you Jane Carter for taking the time to share with the Natural Chica Readers!

(Note: Jane Carter Solutions sent me a trial-size of their Revitalizing Leave-in Conditioner, Wrap & Roll, and their Nourish & Shine. I’ll be sure to write a review of how those worked for me!)

How I Style and Shape My Afro

Just a quick video tutorial on how I wash, style and shape my afro. You'll see that some of the products I currently use have changed some from the ones I've mentioned previously in the blog. I hope to do a post later talking about the products I currently have in rotation...yes rotation! lol ( I have so many products that I can't stick to one staple regimen right now - that would be the Product Junkie (PJ) in me,lol).

Anywho, enjoy the vid!