Meet Sunday Sophisticant....Adrian James

Introduction:
I am a wife, mother, and professional counselor.  I'm the youngest of 4 (self-proclaimed favorite), born and raised in the small town of Eupora, MS.  I am a graduate of the great Mississippi State University with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and Master's in Counselor Education.  I've been married to my better half Charles for almost 6 years, and I am a mother of a Yorkie who thinks he's human and the most beautiful, intelligent, precious little girl named Camryn who is 3.  I work for a community mental health center in Hattiesburg, MS where I am a supervisor.  I enjoy reading, exercising, and travel that isn't work related.

How long have you been natural?

I've been natural for almost 4 years.  I decided to become natural because I was tired of relaxers and the damage that it was doing to my hair.  I began transitioning in August of 2010.  I had taken my micro braids down and decided that I was no longer going to use a relaxer.  I started going to a local hair salon in Hattiesburg called Magic Hands where the stylist helped me maintain my hair without a relaxer.  After transitioning for a year, then finding out that I was pregnant, I decided to do the BC.  I knew that I would not feel like going to a salon and spending too much time there so I cut all of my hair off.

What is your hair regimen:

My hair is extremely thick.  I would say that I'm a 4C.  When I go to stylists, the first thing I hear is "you have a lot of hair".  Before becoming natural, I hated having to do anything to my hair.  When I first cut my hair, I didn't know what to do because my hair had never been that short.  I mainly had braids or sew-ins throughout my pregnancy.  After my daughter's birth, I had a horrible experience with a stylist who damaged a section of my hair with heating tools.  Now I rarely go to the salon.  I wash my hair weekly.  My regimen varies.  Sometimes I deep condition before I wash my hair (mainly when I feel lazy and want to get it over with) but I deep condition during each wash because I have color treated hair.  After washing my hair, I braid my hair and use perm rods at the ends.  I rarely twist my hair, I've learned that braid outs works better for me.  

What are your favorite products:

My shampoo varies but I love Shea Moisture and Cream of Nature products.  I suffer from extremely dry scalp so I make sure I use tea tree oil in all of my shampoos.  I love Tresemme naturals conditioner.  My leave ins vary from Kinky Curly Knot Today, Cantu Shea Butter, or Alikay Naturals lemongrass.  My deep conditioners include Organics Hair Mayonnaise or my own concoction (whatever is running low in the kitchen mayo, honey, eggs, Greek yogurt, etc...) My favorite oils are coconut oil, olive oil, Jamaican black castor oil, and grapeseed oil.

What are your do’s and don’ts:

I always detangle prior to washing.  I always go to YouTube to try new recipes.  Naptural85, Mynaturalsistas, BlakizBeautyful are my go to channels.  I always try to make sure my hair is moisturize.  I always try to style my hair the night before.  I never rush on wash day.  I never do wash n gos (I look like Frederick Douglas).  I never try new styles if I have to go somewhere.

Tips!!!

The two tips to help others on the natural journey.   1. Being Natural takes work.  If you are lazy don't bother or if you do keep it cut short to avoid damaging your hair.  2.  Love the hair that you have and not the hair that you want to have.  Don't get caught up on your hair crush.

How can the readers reach you?

adriantjames@yahoo.com

Sunday Sophisticant Flashback!

Happy Sunday Natural Sophisticants!

                                                                                              

As you know, we regularly feature a natural sophisticant each Sunday. This sophisticant shares her hair story and life with us. Doing this feature provides more natural hair information, thus promoting hair knowledge and growth. As our blog continues to grow, we would like to feature more of you. So, email or inbox us your stories and photos! We know you're out there because we met tons of you at Naturals in the Spring! We appreciate your support and kindly ask that you subscribe to our blog, as well as, like our Facebook and Instagram pages. Today, the Natural Sophisticant is featuring a Flashback Sunday of some of our past Sunday Sophisticants! Enjoy and subscribe!

 
                                                      

              

                            

Meet Sunday Sophisticant...Donna Ellis

 

Introduction:

I am 35 years old, single with no children.  I served 7
years of Active Duty in the US Army and am currently serving in the Army Reserves while working at the Mississippi Department of Transportation.  My hobbies include reading and working out (running, spinning, step aerobics, Zumba).  

How long have you been natural?

I have been natural for 5 years and made the decision after joining Facebook and seeing one of my fabulous Sorors rock her beautiful afro seemingly effortlessly.  I used to style my hair in an afro when I wore a relaxer by using perm rods, so I’ve always been fond of the style.

Regimen & Favorite Products:

I have very fine, curly hair which is crazy because the Soror whose ‘fro I fell in love with has a courser, kinkier texture, and I really thought and hoped my hair would look like hers.  I first big chopped in 2010 and quickly found the regimen and products that I’ve been using since then.  It is a regimen that I was introduced to via YouTube vlogger Mahoganycurls.  I shampoo my hair once a week using Kinky Kurly shampoo, then detangle (using my fingers only) with a generous amount of Herbal Essence Hello Hydration conditioner.  Once I rinse out the conditioner, I add a small amount of Kinky Kurly leave-in conditioner and Kinky Kurly curling custard (to control frizz).  Afterwards, I shake my head vigorously to get rid of the excess water and let my hair air dry.  All of this is done with no comb, brush, or towel.  When my hair is shorter, I’ll do this every day (the detangling through the air drying), but as it grows longer, I only have to go through this process once a week, because I’m able to pick it out at the roots and shape it after the steam from my morning shower hits it.  The bigger and kinkier my hair is, the more a love it.  My natural hair works for me because I work out about 6 days a week.  The sweat only makes my hair bigger and helps give it the afro texture that I want, so I never have to worry about sweating my hairstyle out.  

The only other hairstyle I wear besides a variation of the afro is a donut/sock bun.  I wear this style during drill weekend to make sure I’m in compliance with Army uniform standards. 

Definitely the Kinky Kurly line and the Herbal Essence Hello Hydration conditioner.  The products listed above are the only products I use except for when I have to switch over to the Army side.  Then I’ll use IC Fantasia gel and Pump It Up spritz to get a neat bun.

Tips!!!

I don’t do what most naturals do, so it’s hard for me to tell others what they should be doing, but some of the things I never do are: I never oil my scalp, I’ve never had a “wash day”, I never sleep on a satin pillow case (and hardly ever sleep in a satin scarf - only when I need to get my bun right), I will never take a hair growth supplement, I never wear protective styles.  I normally tell people these things, because most people think they have to do all of this extra stuff to grow and retain their hair length, and it just becomes expensive, frustrating, and unnecessary.  Always do what works best for you.

One tip I like to give to people who transition from relaxed to natural is to try to wear hairstyles that make your relaxed hair look like your natural hair, not vice versa.  Some examples are perm rod sets, straw sets, bantu-knot outs, or braid-outs.  And as stated above, always do what works best for you.