"I was a Napp in hiding" - Interview with Eugenia

Happy Friday everyone! Woohoo! Today we are featuring a woman who inspires me with her grace and gentleness and maturity. Eugenia tells us about her natural journey in this interview, so please enjoy!

What is your name?

Eugenia Olayinka Afolabi

Where are you from and where do you live?

I’m from Nigeria and live in Canada

What do you do?

I’m a Corporate Communications professional –– my current role: Writer/Editor in a health care regulatory organization in Toronto Canada

How long have you kept your hair natural?

It's been 7 years.

Wow for real! At one time you had your hair relaxed. Tell us why you decided to go natural?

One day, my uncle who is a neurosurgeon described the type of neurological damage chemical relaxers cause –– in his expert opinion there are many medical issues black women face that are linked to our use of these chemicals. Imagine if a girl started relaxing her hair at age 15 and retouching every 2 months, by age 60, she would have had 540 instances of direct exposure, through skin and by inhalation, to ammonium thioglycolate, sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide –– culprits for adverse health conditions including cancer! And why? Just to fit into a euro-centric mold of beautiful hair?! My uncle convinced me; that ended my saga with the “creamy crack.” lol!

How did you go natural? Did you transition or did you do the big chop ('cold turkey' method)? Did anyone help you or encourage you?

I transitioned by putting my hair in braided extensions, then moved to wigs and weaves. Hehe..

Yeah, I think you are now an expert in wigs! LOL. So after you went natural, you kinda kept your nappiness hidden. That is why I always called you a "Napp in hiding".

Yes, I was a “Napp in hiding.”

Why did you keep your natural hair "hidden"?

Two reasons:

1. I did not know what to do with my hair

2. Even though I swore never to go back to the chemicals, for a while I was concerned that rocking my natural hair will “rock the boat” in my work environment. You know, the beauty of natural afro hair is that it changes easily with washing, combing and everyday styling -- it rebels against consistency. I was afraid of appearing fickle in the workplace because I knew my hair will not always look consistent compared to my non-black or relaxed-haired counterparts.

What made you decide to now come out of hiding and rock your natural hair?

I think I just had enough! I was dying to be authentic. Whenever I rocked my natural hair on weekends, I felt more like myself and when wearing the weaves/wigs to work, I felt like I was in costume. Plus, the wigs and weaves were damaging my natural hair edges. The deal was sealed when a friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer and had to wear a wig when she started loosing her hair with treatments. I thought to myself: "She has a valid reason to wear a wig but what is my reason for covering when I have a head full of healthy natural hair?!

What’s your daily hair regimen?

Well, that depends on what my hair is doing that day/week. I wash weekly. If I have twist-outs, I daily spritz with water and almond oil mix, fluff my hair and go. If I plan to wear it in a bun, I put in four to six plaits every night so it doesn’t become tough to comb the next morning.

Did you ever feel awkward about wearing your natural hair to work?

Oh yes, I did! See my answer above. That’s all changed now -- I wear my hair confidently.

What kind of comments do you get about your natural hair? How do you respond?

Surprisingly, it has been mostly positive comments, even at work. I respond politely even to annoying comments.

My favourite comment: My preferred look of you is when you show your natural hair. Me: Aaaw…thanks!

Another comment: “You cut your hair again?!” ME: Yep! (This is not the truth but I don’t have enough time at work to explain the structure of black hair and moisture related shrinkage to each person who makes this comment.)

In the workplace, my favourite comment is no comment –– ignore my hair and let’s focus on getting some work done! Lol!

LOL! What do you like best about your hair?

I like its versatility. I can do so many styles with it that cannot be achieved with straight hair. When I look at my hair, I see myself as God made me and I believe that by embracing it, I am agreeing with his opinion of His creation: “Behold, it was very good.”

Favourite hair products and products you cannot live without?

My absolute favourite product is all-natural –– can’t live without Shea butter (best hair humectant and moisturiser). I mostly condition-wash but if I have to remove build-up, I use Deva Curl Low-Poo Shampoo. I also use virgin coconut oil for conditioning and mayonnaise/egg yolk mix for deep conditioning. To keep it smelling nice after deep conditioning, I use Whole Foods’ 365 line of conditioners.

What do you say to people who want to go natural or to other "Napps in hiding"?

Do it! There are many resources online (like this blog *wink*) to help you along whether you decide to do the big chop, transition or lock your hair –– read blogs, watch you-tube and you will find the joy in being true to yourself: curls, kinks, napps and all.

Till next time, keep it natural!

Omozo

O’NATURALS NATURAL HAIR HOOK-UP + CONTEST

The first O’Naturals Natural Hair Hook-Up took place on Saturday July 23, 2011 in Lagos Nigeria. It was excellent fun! The ladies who came were all excited and eager to share their experiences and learn from one another. Big ‘thumbs up’ to all who came out. They left with goodies for their beautiful tresses. Two lucky ladies received some hair products from the Miss Jessie’s line of hair products.

We played an ice-breaker game during the event that got us clapping and laughing. Each person was to complete the sentence “My hair is …” Here are some memorable responses.

“My hair is … better now because I cut off the split ends”

“My hair is … wishing I knew how to do corn rows so that I could do it myself” She had lovely tiny braids done by someone else.

“My hair is fake right now because I am stumped!” She had braids with extensions.

“My hair is … now just the way I want it to be” This one got major applause.

How about you? Complete the sentence “My hair is …”

We will be giving away some hair goodies to some lucky ladies who send in their responses. Please, please keep your responses to no more than 15 words. Please send your responses to onaturals@gmail.com. Include your name, email address and phone number.We will contact selected winners and share their responses on the blog.

Make sure you join us for the next hair hook-up event. Till then …

Keep it natural!

Omozo

Welcome Cabella Hermoso

Hallo!

Hope you are having a fab week with life and of course your natural hair ;)

We are introducing a guest blogger to O'Naturals. Her name is Cabella Hermoso. She is natural, lives in Lagos Nigeria and ... I'll let you hear from her. Her responses are in brown.

Hi Cabella. Welcome to O'Naturals!

Thank you. I am glad to be joining you ladies.

Aww ... thanks. So tell us a little about you.

My name is Cabella Hermoso. The C in my name is pronounced with a K sound. I live in Lagos Nigeria. I am the second girl (and child) in a family of 3 children. I am a consultant in effective leadership. Whatever that means! I enjoy reading and traveling but I never do enough of both. I do more sleeping ...

How long have you been natural?

Let me count ... for 12 years. Wow! I did not realize it has been that long.

So why did you go natural?

Somebody at my university dared me. I was working at the library and had my permed hair cut into a bob. I did not like the cut at all and complained. So I guess he was tired of my whining and said "If you hate your hair that bad then I dare you to shave it off!" I came in the next day with a shaved head. In hindsight, he did not really dare me to go natural just to shave my hair off and I guess that was the trigger. As my hair grew, I auditioned for a part in a play at uni. The director offered me a different part (the leading role) because my "tight curls" were perfect for the character. I thought "For real? I can get things because of my natural hair?" So I kept my hair natural ever since.

What role was it?

Annie. Ha! Ha!

Do you still get things because of your naturally tight curls?

Not really. Sad. But I am okay with it now. (Smiling)

What are you going to be writing about?

You know it is nothing deep like that. I will be gisting the readers about my life, especially in Lagos and Nigeria, as it relates to my hair. That's mostly what it will be.

Okay, the truth is that you have told me about some outrageous experiences and that is why I asked you to consider writing for the blog.

Yeah, you are right. Like the time the woman in the store bought me TCB relaxer and ran out to give it to me in the parking lot! I was like "See me see nonsence!" She did not say a thing. She gave me the relaxer and looked at me somehow and went back into the store.

*Laughing* What did you do?

I went back into the store, told the cashier that the purchase was a mistake, got the refund, went to Mr. Biggs and gave the rest of the money to someone who needed it more than me!

How do you usually wear your hair?

You see sometimes, I think it is the way I wear my hair that is the wahala. I mostly wear some variation of an afro. A twist-out afro, a braid-out afro, an afro afro, a "this is not supposed to be an afro" afro.

So maybe you stand out?

Maybe? Don't you stand out when you go places with your natural hair?

I guess ... How often will you be blogging here?

You have graciously given me the weekend slot. That means I will be here weekly. And I appreciate the opportunity and swear on my big afro not to let you down.

There you have it. We hope that Cabella's contribution will be enjoyable to our readers. Be sure to send in your comments to her posts. Feel free to email her with suggestions at: cabella726@gmail.com.

You can also follow her on her twitter account: cabella726. Happy reading friends and

Keep it natural!

Omozo

Argan + Castor oil - Courtesy Curly Nikki's blog

Hi Friends!

Hope you are all having a fab weekend even though it is ending.

I read a post on Curly Nikki's blog and it is about moisturizing with Argan and Castor oils. You can read the blog post here.

For those of you in Lagos, Nigeria (or Nigeria), getting these oils may be a bit of an assignment. Please, I beg, share with us if you know where we can buy PURE Argan or Castor oil. Another thing to note is that in Nigeria these oils may be called something else so please I beg, share if you know the local name.

Also, we would love to know if there are other oils that work miracles for your natural hair. We all need a little inspiration!

Keep it natural!

Omozo.

WE ARE NOW ON TWITTER!

Find and follow us on Twitter by searching ONaturals@gmail.com.

Keep it natural!

Omozo

Kinky or straight weave - why do we prefer one over the other?

Hi there!

Ever wondered why some people choose to wear afro weaves instead of straight weaves?

I have been wondering about it ever since I heard that TY Bello's afro is a WEAVE! TY Bello is a Nigerian musician and photographer. She is the photographer who took the first pictures of Nigeria's first family - President Goodluck Jonathan and family.

You can also listen to her latest single here: The Future

Whether the story that her hair is a weave is true or false, I hail her for wearing her natural hair or weave BIG AND KINKY.

What are your thoughts and/or comments please? Do you know of anyone who prefers to wear more kinky weaves instead of straight weaves? Share please.

Keep it natural.

Omozo

Been a long time!

Hello Friends!

It has been ages since we posted here. Major apologies for the looooooooooooooong silence. We have been going through some transition and as a result, we had to be quiet for a while.

A reader of the blog chastized me by saying we should have informed our readers that we would be "offline" for some time. I take that correction and humbly ask for forgiveness.

We are back up and will continue to give you quality information on natural hair.

We have also received a lot of requests from readers who want to contribute by writing posts. So, we are adding that element to the blog. If you are a reader who wants to send in articles to us, please contact us at o.naturals@gmail.com. Let us know what you want to write about or send a sample piece to us. Remember that we reserve the right to publish your piece or not. Please look at the tags we have on the blog and choose what you want to write about. Your piece must be 500 words or less.

Once again, sorry for the loooooooooong silence, thank you for your patience and support and here's to an even better time ahead.

Keep it natural!

Omozo