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

Sesame Street Song- I love my hair

Interview with Sharon "Shay" Brown

Hi!

I wanted to do an interview of Shay because her style is so FRESH! Her hair always looks lovely no matter what hairstyle she is rocking. Shay is a working woman who carries her natural hair in its naturalness to work. Thank you for doing this interview Shay. Enjoy the interview!

Name : Shay ( Sharon) Brown

Where are you from: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

What do you do? I work at R.I.M Research In Motion as a New Product Operator

At One Time did you have relaxed hair? And why did you decide to go Natural?

When I was about 8, I begged my Mom to straighten my hair. I used to cry every time my Mom came near my hair with a comb! Many women around me (including my Mom) had "relaxed hair". I thought it was a right of passage - that it was just what every black woman did, either that or a Jerry Curl! I rarely saw black women "keeping it natural."

It wasn't until I was 22, that I really started to get sick and tired of the relaxed hair routine. The BURN was killing my scalp! I had to relax my hair every 4-6 weeks because the middle of my hair would get so tough. I had a short cut so I had to style it ( with a curling iron), almost every day.I tried to go natural twice, before finally succeeding. I just didn't know what I was doing the first time. I made the mistake of treating my natural hair like it was relaxed. Thank God for my natural hair Mentor, who helped me a lot on my journey.

How did you go natural?

When my relaxed hair started to break badly ( in the middle especially), I started to get weaves. I wanted to keep some length so I transitioned for about 3 months. After taking out a weave one time, I just decided to do the Big Chop! I thought I could sport the TWA. Then when I saw it, I got so nervous and insecure, so I called up my hairdresser for an emergency weave the next day! *LOL*

Did you have anyone help or encourage you?
A family friend, Cecile, really helped me along the way. She had been natural for about 5 years and I was so jealous of her curls and amazing hair styles. I never thought that my natural hair could look like hers. She gave me a lot of tips and products. She also encouraged me to go online, and do my own research, and figure out what works for me.

What is your daily hair regimen?

I do a conditioner wash about once a week. Moisture, Moisture, Moisture, with natural products and oils. I have problems with breakage and dryness. I like to wear my hair in protective styles like extentions or twists, and a ponytail. I do like to sport my Full Fro every once in a while though!

Negative comments?
My mom doesn't like my "Nappy Hair". Although she agrees that relaxed hair is not healthy for me, she just prefers that I wear my hair in extentions and weaves all the time. I just respond by saying, "I like and I feel very comfortable with my natural hair, and I am sorry that you don't!"

No one else has said anything negative to me ( I hope they aren't thinking it)!

Do you feel awkward about wearing your natural hair to work?
Not at all! I work in a relaxed environment. I don't work with the public, or in a corporate field... if I did, I would probably feel different about wearing my hair in a fro.

What do you like best about your natural hair?
NO MORE BURN! And I don't have to rely on hairdressers as much. I am able to do a lot of styles on my own. I am also not afraid of the rain :) *LOL!*

What is your funkiest hair style?
Oh my full Fro or my FroHawk! Please see pics :)

What do you say to people who want to go natural?
JUST DO IT! Find a natural support group and go online to do some research. Find some natural hair pictures that inspire you!

There you have it friends.

Keep it natural!

Omozo

Article in Elan Magazine

An article about natural hair in Elan Magazne. Read here

Interview with Bb

We know that in Nigeria there are not many women who are making popular music and it's even more rare to see a woman making rap music. Well, here is Bb a rap artist who is holding her own in the male dominated world of rap music. She gave us an interview about her music and her hair. You can also listen to her music on facebook.

Now here is her interview with O'Naturals. Enjoy:

Real Name and Stage Name:

Anthonia Abisoye Olurin aka Bb

What do you do? (Are you in music full time now or do you do other stuff?).

Wow, I like to think of my self as an all round entertainer. It’s first the music, then stage, writing, presenting, mc-ing; it could be exhausting


How long have you been locked?

About two and a bit years now

Why did you decide to loc your hair?

I always wanted to but never got round to while I was in University cause I didn’t want unnecessary attention (the Nigerian factor) but once I was done, I braved it and got my locks in.

Your style

My style is comfortable and o so natural so my hair ‘werks’ for me. I sincerely don’t have a clue about extensions and all, they confuse me. I hate sitting in the salon for long and when I still had my hair permed, the salon was a whole days affair. My locks are natural. No disrespect but I really am not for those who spend their yearly paychecks on extensions.

Maintaining your locs

Wash it myself (lol) but I do have a stylist who pays special attention to it and puts a lot of work into my hair. I am not ashamed to say this but I actually get my hair done once a month. Shhh don’t tell o!

Product recommendations, salon recommendations or just hair advice.

Well when it comes to product advice like I said I’m clueless asides shea butter.

When it comes to the locks, it’s a whole new game entirely. It could be quite expensive but it’s worth it. Sadly, we live in a society that leans towards myopia. If you’ve got the locks you are thought to be weird and irresponsible. I reckon you have to be really brave and keep being brave to have the locks, and anytime you are tempted to stick a pair of scissors in there, remember:

1. It’s taken you a looong time to get where you are now

2. They really secretly want to be like you

3. You haven’t had to wonder where your tail comb is for a while now and

4. You know when you look into the mirror it looks so good.

Did you always want to be a musician?

Nope, I knew I love music but I never thought I’d end up on stage holding the mic doing Rap music.

Describe your journey into the music industry?

Accidental but I guess it was meant to be

Describe your music

Crazy, funny, natural, me.

Inspiration.

God mostly. Then people and things around me.

When it comes to your music what do you hope people will get from it?

In everything I do I realize I always want to make people smile. I hope I am able to make people happy and think deeply with any form of art that comes from me.

Why does it seem like in this country there are so few women who are into music full time?

Meen have you tried being a female in the industry? It’s hard! But I realize now after so many years that you need God’s favour, if you don’t have that? *shakes head*

On following your dreams?

Just a liner “To thine own self be true” .I wouldn’t want to wake up in 30 years and keep wondering ‘what if I had done that’?, would you?

Anything else you would like to add?

Eeerm? Buy my Album Iyalode? lol