1 year Natural featuring Tejada

 

What’s your name and where are you from?

Tejada Sands, and I’m from San Salvador.

I remember sharing your photo post big chop last year, how would you describe your hair 1 year after?

 One year after, I can say that it’s still manageable. I enjoy seeing the growth and knowing that it’s healthy. I have a scalp condition, seborrheic dermatitis and it always required me washing often. Therefore, being natural was the best way to handle it, even though it’s still not the easiest of processes.

Were your friends, family, supportive during your hair journey?

I won’t say that they were unsupportive, just misinformed. This issue to them was , how was I going to deal with the hair. There were those that also like that I made the change. Now, it’s not really such a big deal, nor did it ever bother me.

What lessons have you learnt about yourself and your hair during this past year? Would you do anything differently?

This journey is really teaching me patience. The styles don’t always come out how I want, and I think that’s my biggest issue. Sometimes, I do wish I had a different type of hair, just for styling purposes, but for the most part I enjoy what I have and embrace it. So, being able to embrace my hair was also a big lesson. I honestly don’t think there is anything that I would do differently, maybe do the big chop earlier so that my growth could be even further along. 

If you could go back a year, what would you tell yourself about your natural hair?

I would probably tell myself to be more adventurous with it.

What are your current hair staples?

Oils that can be found in my pantry: Olive, coconut, grapeseed. Ecostyler gel and a really good leave in conditioner, currently using the Cantu leave in cream. Once I’ve emptied a product I like to try others as well.

What’s your go to hair style?

Now that it’s long enough I’d say a puff.

Who are some of your natural hair inspirations?

I don’t really have any per say, there are some youtube stars that every now and again I catch up on, but I found I’m not really hair obsessed so I don’t spend a lot of time on it. But journeytowasitlength, and Naptural85 would probably be 2 that I follow.

What would you like to see more of from the Bahamian natural hair community?

I’d like to see more natural hair events and meet ups. Even though there is an online community there isn’t a huge personal interaction community. I’d also love to see more naturals blogging and vlogging. We have a lot of talented naturals and they should share those talents with the world.

Blessings & Love,

Drea

For natural hair features and business inquiries email 242naturalista@gmail.com

A journey from Loc'd to Unloc'd

What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Shanel L Adderley and I'm from The Bahamas.

Have you always been natural? 

No I haven't always been natural. In starting college and knowing the career I wanted to be in, I knew I would not be able to maintain permed hair. I started college August 2010 and in February 2011 I decided not to perm my hair anymore. 

Why did you start your loc journey?

In August 2011, after reading up on locking hair and talking to persons who had loc'd hair, I decided to loc my hair. But I can truly say seeing my aunt's hair loc'd gave me more confidence to go ahead with it. 

 What made you end your loc journey?

I ended my loc journey due to my hair being damaged after bleaching it the second time. It was shredding a lot and dropping off when it got wet. Then I also got tired of the locks, but now I miss them. Funny aye!  

 How did your family/friends react to you locing and unlocing your hair? 

 When I first started  loc'ing my mom had a lot to say. I remember her saying if this was something I was sure I wanted do and that she wasn't a fan of it. Everyone else  seemed cool about it.

What are your favourite products for loc’d hair? Are you using the same products post unlocing?

I was never the one to use a lot of different products for my hair. Washing my hair the majority of the time was when I went to my hairstylist and it was whatever she used. I was fine with that. If I did wash my hair at home I use suave shampoo and conditioner.  But I never had a certain product for it. I would kept my hair in the same hairstyle until I went back to my hairstylist. Lol...I am just one week into learning my natural hair so I do not have certain product as yet. I was told different hair requires different products

 Do you have any favourite Bahamian natural hair salons? 

Mmmmmm....I really do not have any favorite natural hair salons but I will recommend Lion of Judah by Toya, Rose, who is currently situated in Eleuthera and Sherilyn, at the Hair Clinic.

What advice would you give to other 242Naturalistas loc’d and unloc’d?

My advice to other naturalists lock'd and unloc'd would be, one, our hair is our beauty, two, we have to take care it because no one will, and finally, what will work for someone might not work for you.

Thank you once again for the privilege to express my journey and I hope it will be an encouragement to all natural, permed and bald.