Meet our 2nd Bride, Letariel, who was kind enough to share with us her BODA (Spanish for wedding) Hair!
How long have you been natural?
I have been natural for about 9+ years.
Did you have any stereotypes about natural hair or those with natural hair beforehand?
I never had a stereotype about Natural Hair, all I knew it was BEAUTIFUL to me! 🙂
Do you feel that anything changed in your life (i.e. Boost in confidence) when you became all natural?
YES! Alot has changed...I have received greater CONFIDENCE, I have inspired SO many people to go Natural, I am stopped almost EVERYWHERE I go with questions about my hair. My greatest moments of my Natural hair journey is when I give honest advice on going Natural to strangers & they walk away feeling EMPOWERED about becoming who God "Naturally" created them to be!
If you went through a transition process, how did you care for your hair during that process (styles...products you used, etc.) ?
Well honestly, I was NOT well received by many people after my BC! The toughest part during my transition process was the negative feedback from people I didn't expect it from (family & friends). I struggled for a while with the issue & had thoughts of actually returning to chemicals...but after some deep soul searching I came out of my shell and basically set a standard for myself that this is ME & you can love it or hate it, cause at the end of the day my hair will NOT Change!
My everyday hair routine, is simply wetting my hair with H2O, run a little Doo Groo Scalp Oil on my scalp (I only do this about twice a week) slick on some Ampro Pro Style Berry Ice gel, and then I simply pick it out with "my fingers". People ask me "Do you use a pick?" My answer, "ONLY when I wash my hair, but never on a daily basis".
What do you love most about being natural?
I'm very eccentric and a free spirit, so I LOVE that my hair is JUST LIKE ME!! 😉 Meaning when I wake up...if I feel like a fro, then I'm a "fro it", if I feel like a mo-hawk, then I'm a "mo-hawk" it, If I feel like a sweet pin up on the side, then...well you get idea now! LOL! I LOVE that I can do WHATEVER I want to do to it, and don't have to wait on a "hair appointment" to determine how I want MY hair to be styled for that week!
What words would you leave with someone who is thinking about going natural?
My words would be to NOT let society, friends, your job, not even family let you determine what your life would be like if you go Natural! I was told that if I went Natural that It would be VERY hard for me to find a job in my career field. Well, not only did I get hired in my career field as an Educator, but during my interview I was even complimented on my hair by the employer that hired me! Ha ha ha!! LOL!! 😉 So Natural hair can be VERY professional!
Any sites where we can keep up with your journey: YouTube, fotki album,any other picture sharing site...etc
I am currently on Facebook, I am an aspiring natural hair model. So you may see me in some magazines & websites in the near future! 😉
How long did you have your style in mind before the actual wedding?
I had my style in mind for years!! I knew when I got married that I did NOT want the "traditional veil" look! I'm very different & eccentric when it comes to my sense of style. So I wanted to make sure that my entire look from head to toe, represented ME! Which can be very eccentric, but also very elegant!
Can you give us some details on how you cared for your hair the night before the wedding and how you styled it the day of? (ie. products used...)
Well, to be completely honest I really didn't do much. The BEST part about being NATURAL is all I needed to do was....are you ready for it.....GO TO SLEEP!!! LOL! Yes I said it! The night before my wedding, seriously all I did to prepare for the next day was put on a silk night cap & put a little "Doo Groo Scalp Oil" on my scalp and on the tips of my hair to help my hair stay moisturized through the night and to help maintain it's natural luster. The Day of my wedding was so GREAT! For 3 reasons:
1. I didn't have to get up EARLY that morning to go sit in someone's hair salon the day of my wedding to get it straighten or get extensions.
2. The Day of my wedding it was much warmer than what we anticipated, and when those last minute nerves came into place I was able to NOT worry about sweating my hair out.
3. I was able to style my hair......I promise you guys, in 10 minutes!!! My make-up artist was SO surprised at the time it took me to style my hair & she expressed that out of ALL the brides she has EVER worked with, my hair & over all style was the most simple and creative she has ever seen!! 🙂
To style my hair, I simply used Ampro Pro Style Protein "Berry Ice" styling gel, some good ole H2O ;), & Luster Sheen's Gloss Spray. I wet my hair to make it moist to comb out, I slicked some gel on the sides and back of my hair, then I pinned it up in the back with one small twist, sprayed it with a couple mists of the glosser spray, and let the rest of my hair fall on the side of my face and pinned my veil on the other side to give it a couture vintage feel.
Did you feel any pressure to straighten your hair or get a weave for your wedding?
At times I must say that I did, simply because it was VERY difficult for me to find a veil to fit in my hair the way I envisioned. BUT I had to stay true to myself and represent for all my Naturalistas out there! 😉
After searching & searching on line and in EVERY bridal boutique I could come across, I finally came across a couture designer by the name of Dorene Vandermeer at unveiledbridaldesigns.com! I emailed Dorene only 6 weeks before my wedding, described to hear in DETAIL exactly what I desired and she was able to design & create for me EXACTLY what I wanted. It was such a BEAUTIFUL moment when I received my veil in the mail. When I placed the veil in my hair it was like peanut butter & jelly had just met for the first time! LOL! Any future Brides out there if you are Natural and you DONT won't to look like the "traditional bride" I strongly encourage you to give Dorene a try, she is SO wonderful & easy to work with. Her link is below: Oh yeah, and tell her that I sent you there. 😉
What would you tell someone who is feeling pressured to "hide" their natural hair for their special day because of what others around them are saying?
I would say be TRUE to yourself!! BE YOU!! It's YOUR DAY!! You ONLY get this day ONCE!! Don't allow "folk" including close friends and family make you have any regrets on YOUR Wedding Day!
Anything else you'd like to share with our Natural Chica readers?
I would like to just encourage any "Newby" Naturalistas out there to KEEP going with your transition process! It's EXACTLY what it is called...A PROCESS!! And with a process you must let it run it's course! Have PATIENCE & learn your hair, because your hair MAY not be like your sister's hair, or your best friend's hair, it's YOUR HAIR!! And you can either allow your hair to make YOU or you can MAKE it be WHATEVER you desire it to be! So to all my Natural Chica's out there KEEP GOING DON'T STOP!! It will ONLY get BETTER from here! 😉
Stay Blessed! 😉
