Today, vamos a conocer (we're going to get to know) Kayla! I actually met Kayla back in 2005 because of a national pageant competition we both were in. We ended up keeping in touch throughout the years, so I was thrilled when I heard that she had actually decided to go natural around the same time I did! I'm so glad that she was willing to share her story with all of us : ) Read on....
Natural Chica: How long have you been natural? And if you haven't been
natural your whole life, what prompted you to make the change?
natural your whole life, what prompted you to make the change?
Kayla: I believe March 2009 was my last relaxer but I am not completely sure because at the time I was not planning on using it as a transitioning period. I had wanted to go natural on and off since my high school years (just because I was curious of what was under there!) but got frustrated while transitioning and ended up relaxing it mid way. So this time, I woke up one random day (it had been about two months since my last relaxer), got some hair shears and literally just wacked it off. It was the only way!
Natural Chica: 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?
Natural Chica: 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?
Kayla: To be honest, I’m a bit of a germaphobe and I believed that when natural you were supposed to only clean your hair like once a month or something random. That freaked me out! But now I know better and thank God for it!
Natural Chica: Do you feel that anything changed in your life (i.e. Boost in confidence)
when you became all natural?
Kayla: To be frank, it has been no walk in the park. I have not gotten a lot of encouragement and usually have no idea what I am going to do with my hair (or better yet what my hair is going to do to me!) from one day to the next. But it has been humbling and has taught me to look upward for who I am . I never noticed it but I might’ve given my relaxed hair too much attention and credit. It would flap in the wind and people would “ohhh and ahhh” asking for a detailed rundown of my hair regimen and I think after a while, it began to define me...and that’s not cool. And although I am happy with my natural hair and love the person I am with it, I have to start all over learning about something that I once had down to a “T” and it has revealed that hair does not nor should it make me.
Natural Chica: How did you care for your hair during the transition process (styles...products you used, etc.) ?
Natural Chica: How did you care for your hair during the transition process (styles...products you used, etc.) ?
Kayla: After I did the BC, I kept it in braids and kinky twists, and two stranded twists going back, which I do myself (I am a licensed braider) until I got bored and decided to rock the fro.
Natural Chica: What do you love most about being natural?
Natural Chica: What do you love most about being natural?
Kayla: That it’s me. No lie (or lye...hehe) I got my first relaxer when I was two. My hair has always been intimidating-ly thick [and long] and my mom was terrified I do believe! So all these years I have been curious:”What is my hair really like?” I had few to no pictures of my natural hair and it just came to a point where I just wanted to be me...without alteration”. I love that this is me au natural!
Natural Chica: What words would you leave with someone who is thinking about going
natural?
Kayla: Don’t be afraid of who you are. It’s like leaving the house without a full face of makeup; this sort of liberating and freeing place of 100% natural. It is...what it is and there is unbelievable, incomparable beauty and power in it. When you embrace that, you will be so much more content with who you are.
Natural Chica: Any sites where we can keep up with your journey: YouTube, fotki album,
any other picture sharing site...etc.
Natural Chica: Any sites where we can keep up with your journey: YouTube, fotki album,
any other picture sharing site...etc.
BONUS!! : ) : A pic of Kayla and I at the pageant back in 2005!
[Note: Kayla is in the dark blue on the left, and that's me in the white (I told you I have an obsession with things in my hair!,lol)
Thanks for sharing Kayla!!! Muchísimas Gracias : ) (Much Thanks!!)
