Meet Afr0Strory!
How long have you been natural? And if you haven't been natural your
whole life, what prompted you to make the change?
Well, I was around nine years old when I got a relaxer for the first time. However, my hair came out in clumps when my mother washed my hair a week or so later. I didn’t get another relaxer until age 14. At 21, I decided to go natural for good, and have been natural for almost 3 years.
Do you feel that anything changed in your life (i.e. Boost in confidence)
when you became all natural? Definitely! Prior to being natural I had no inkling about how beautiful my natural self really was. I suffered from what I call Natural Body Image Shame. Growing up, I struggled to embrace my dark skin and my hair in its natural state. For me, having natural hair was a manifestation of my journey for self-discovery and confidence in just being muah!
When and why did you start your vlog?
I created AFROSTORY in December 2009 to serve as the sister channel to my website www.theafrostory.com and blog www.theafrostory.blogspot.com. I wanted to vlog about how black women use cultural heritage preservation to cope with and overcome Natural Body Image (NBI) shame. More importantly, I wanted to share my own perspective on how knowing my cultural heritage empowered me to love my natural self. My vlogging experience is a part of my journey for self discovery, and I wanted to gain inspiration from other sistahs while inspiring others to keep telling their story.
What types of topics do you post on your vlog?
I look at the various ways sistahs use cultural heritage preservation to tell “ourstory.” I talk about hair and beauty politics, traditional cooking, fine arts, fashion, spirituality, folk medicine and everything in between. I also hope to talk about the services offered through my cultural heritage business and reviews for books, natural hair products etc.
What do you love most about vlogging?
It allows me to network with other people with similar interests. When I learned about vlogging I was like, “Hallelujah! There’s sistahs out there that can relate. I am soooo not alone.” I learned so much from the vlogging of other people, and I wanted to do my part in inspiring others.
How would you describe your hair?
It’s my crown and I rock it with pride. It’s kinky, coily, righteous, and fierce! Sometimes when I gaze at it in the mirror I smile. It’s a constant reminder of the arduous journey it took for me to love the REAL ME.
What are 5 products your hair can't live without?
1. Shea Butter
2. Leave-In Conditioner (Right now I’m in love with Kinky Curly’s Knot Today)
3. Either Coconut or Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4. Hair Mud (I create using a bentonite clay and shea butter concoction)
5. Alaffia Shea & Virgin Coconut Enriching Shampoo (though I’d like to try other lines)
What words would you leave with someone who is thinking about going
natural?
Know why you’re making the decision. Surround yourself with positive thinking people and don’t be afraid to ask sistahs that are natural questions. Be patient and enjoy the journey!
Do you have any other electronic means that we can use to keep up with
your natural journey? (i.e. Fotki)
My blog: www.theafrostory.blogspot.com
