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

Much ado about braids

Right now, I have on my head my favourite protective style – BRAIDS. I love braids and maybe I have "lucky" hair because my hair thrives on it. I don't get crazy breakage but that could be because I wear my braids for about 4-5 weeks. After 5 weeks is pushing it and since I can’t get my fingers out of my hair I can’t stand it after 5 weeks.

I have had the braids in my hair for 2 weeks and it is maaaddd rough, only because the lady who did it for me doesn't know how to make hair. I 'shoulda' known. You know when you get that gut feeling that something is wrong when the supposed "professional" is complaining about the hair extensions you bought, saying it is fake and it is not twisting well. Yeah, so Omozee got that feeling yet stayed through the 14hr ordeal. I 'shoulda' known when it was past 6hrs and we still weren't done but moving on. The braids are extra rough and I can’t take it anymore so I am taking them out in 3 days and will put them back in after 3 weeks.

So what do I do in between braids?
I deep condition a whole lot and keep the hair moisturized and in tiny twists (which I am not a huge fan of or plaits. I find this stretches the hair and preps it in time for the next braids. If I am going anywhere special, I do the plaits wet. I rinse or co-wash (condition (er) wash) my hair; add Shea butter and coconut oil on the wet hair, which is my moisturizer of choice. Then section and do single plaits.

I like to do this 2 or 3 days before the event so on the day of, I take the singles out, moisturize my scalp again then take a blow drier and stretch out the hair with a med / low heat setting while lightly pulling on the hair. Not a lot of pull, just a little bit in the same motion massaging the scalp (I know it sounds like a lot of work but believe me when you pull the hair, your hands or fingers touch your scalp so hey :D ). Then I style my hair. For me it is just using my fingers as a comb, adding more Shea or coconut oil for shine and stepping out the door, I love the stress free life. So if you are looking for French buns and cinnamon rolls, you are reading the wrong post. Lol I love them, don't get me wrong if I can get Tola (a darling) to do it for me :) so there you have it!

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Omozee

Megatek

I think I will let you decide for your self. I have included the link so you can read up on it. You can also find out about it via the tube (you tube). I got a bottle of it, which to me is just bonkers. Why? Well it cost $29 plus shipping and customs duty to Canada (sheeks).

The reason I bought it is because I love to experiment and it can last up to a year. Basically, the Biochemist in me knows this product is packed with a lot of PROTEINS OR AMINO'S aka the building blocks of life and cells. From very basic biochemistry, I know it speeds up the turn over of dead cells fast and also strengthens cells hence less breakage and faster growth. The downside is that since it is filled up with a whole lot of proteins, it can do the reverse of what it is suppose to do if care is not taken and my hair HATES proteins. Aphogee disaster will be discussed in the next post. So this is going to be a challenging challenge :). But I believe I am up to the task and armed with loads of Shea butter, coconut oil and Miss Jessie’s baby butter cream (I swear by it and my hair loves it).


By the way I am so on my Biotin and other vitamins especially while on megatek because I don’t trust the overload of proteins :)


In subsequent posts, I will chronicle my challenge. I am starting small so I will use it for 1 month and the routine is 2ce a week for one month so every other day in the week I will have braids or weaves on my hair :) .So lets see how this goes. Ok folks, I have talked too much lol take it easy