Natural Beauty of the Week! Jaye Kennedy

Natural Beauty of the Week - Jaye Kennedy, tells us about her natural hair experience: 

Journey: I had relaxed hair just about all of my life up until mysecond year of college. I rocked the wrap, weaves, roller sets, twistees - youname it and I probably had it done. I grew up in a salon that my Uncle ownedand became very close with the stylists there, so I changed hairstyles the way I changed clothes.  Myhair was past my shoulders and layed on my back. But when I went away toschool I noticed it was thinning. The hard water there was so harshon my hair! I'm kind of a renegade, so one day I just started chopping offpieces of my hair until it was shaved in the back and had nolonger than an inch all around.  This took place November2006 and I haven't looked back since.

I had NO FEARS about going back to my natural texture. Ialways figured that if I didn't like it, I could always get a relaxer again. Mytrain of thought was always "It's just hair! It'll grow back!" Ican't say the same about my sorority sisters that watched me chop off chunks ofhair everyday though. They weren't as convinced as I was to say the least.

Products: Three products I absolutely can't live without are: TripleSilk Therapeutic Conditioner -it detangles, opens up my pores and keeps mycurls looking great. Murray’sBees Wax-sometimes my edges need a little help with staying undercontrol. A Banana Clip-they are the perfect tool to use when tryingto get a mohawk effect. They are pretty hard to come by these days though.

Advice for others: My advice to someone who is scared to embrace their naturalhair is simply this: If you don't like it, you can always go back to what youhad before. You only live life once. Why not try something new, you might loveit! Some people may not be as bold as I was and start from scratch bycutting all of their hair off but you can always wear braids or rock sew-insuntil you achieve your desired length. After all, it is just hair. It'll growback!

Natural Beauty of the Week - Ebony

Name: Ebony

Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Your Stylist? My stylist is Lauren Ashley HD (Shawn Lamar he comes up with the most creative loc styles)
What inspires your fly style? I love girly, yet edgy, but bold looks. I love styles out of Elle magazine!
What makes you a Natural Beauty? Just loving the skin that I'm in. I'm 24 yrs old and I've been natural mostly my whole life and that's the way I was my hair was made and that's the way it's going to stay! Natural girls rock!!

How do you like to rock your natural hair? Locs! But I rock them in styles of a person who has loose hair. Updos, rolls, curls, knots, flat twists, even had curly weave Mohawk with my loc's flat twisted on the sides.
What advice would you give to others thinking of going natural? Research!!! Research as much as you can about your natural hair, products, ingredients, styles, & what's just best for your hair overall.
Where can people find you? My Tumbler page is Ebony Lunsford.

Natural Beauty of the Week - Synethia

Meet Synethia - A women that has a great talent for styling locs. Synethia talked to me about her inspiration and what makes her a Natural Beauty.

Q: What is your hair story?  What kind of hair styles have you rocked, before embracing your natural hair?
A:  I have had many hairstyles from a press to jerri curls to a perm.

Q:  When and why did you decide to start wearing your hair naturally?
A:  I have decided to wear my hair naturally in second year of university. I got really tired of my hair and scalp being battered and scared from perm and damaged from the heat and over processing.

Q:  Did you have any big fears about going back to your natural texture?
A:  Going natural was a great accomplishment for me and I have had more joys than fears. I have had chemical in my hair since I was 10 years old and hardly ever knew what my natural hair looked like. Even though I did not transition to my natural hair in its loose state, I was still overjoyed that I made the step.

Q:  What are three products you can't live without for nurturing/styling your hair?
A:  Lock and twist gel, mango and lime Catcus oil, Dr Bonners Tea Tree Shampoo.

Q:  What would you say to someone who's thinking about embracing their natural hair, but scared about being rejected in various parts of their lives?
A:  I would say if you believe in your natural hair, confident about it then go for it. I have been rejected many times and because I believe that my hair in its natural state is beautiful, I have won over many into realizing that. Most times these people are unaware and need a little education and guidance. Don't crumble just be confident and strong.

Q:  How long have you had a natural hair blog? What has been the most rewarding part of your blogging experience.
A:  Jungle Barbie is 8mths and 11 days old. The most rewarding parts of my blogging experience are dispelling the myth that locks are not stylist, inspiring other locked sisters and brothers and sharing my knowledge whether it be hairstyles and or hair care tips.

Q:  How can we keep up with you and your journey i.e. blog, twitter, facebook, fotki, tumblr, personal or professional website? (Optional)
A: Blog: http://junglebarbie.blogspot.com
     Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JungleBarbie1
     Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jungle-Barbie/155643014486925
     Tumblr: http://junglebarbie.tumblr.com/

     YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pecadora99

Natural Beauty of the Week - Nola Henry

 Gorgeous loc hawk from Barbados beauty - Nola Henry.

More about Nola:

Where? I'm located in Barbados

What im passionate about?  I'm passionate about beauty, style, fashion and natural hair. I also love to encourage and educate people about natural hair also help them to find more ways to feel beautiful and alive with it just as they would with relaxed hair.

What inspires your style?  My style........pretty much I like to do my own thing. I call it living la vida nola lol.. I create new styles, to set new trends and sometimes when I see some relaxed hair styles that everyone's rockin, because its the ish.  I try to deliver that same type of stye for my clients or myself, so we are not left out the loop...natural hair can be fierce n beautiful we just need to embrace it.

What is your advice for women looking to find a way to express who they are?  We have one life to live and sometimes we just need to do what we want and quit holding back , its ok admiring others but let someone admire u for a change ....live alittle and make the change u've always wanted .....the feeling is great

Website: BEAUTIFUL U

Nola Henry on Facebook

Natural Beauty of the Week - Avia

Name: Avia

Q: What is your hair story? What kind of hair styles have you rocked, before embracing your natural hair?
A: I’ve been natural all my life, but before loc’ing I wore two-strand twists, afro puffs, braids, wigs, and occasional press.

Q: When and why did you decide to start wearing your hair naturally?
A: I loc’d my hair Father’s Day weekend 2005. I’ve always admired locs because I knew they were a commitment, especially for someone like me that changed their hairstyle often. One day I decided to make the commitment and loc my hair.

Q: Did you have any big fears about going back to your natural texture?

A: My biggest fear about loc’ing was if I was going to be “stuck” with the same style, however I soon found out that would never happen. Natural hair has a mind of its own, really! Locs are as versatile as you make them; they’re like a style within a style.

Q: What are three products you can't live without for nurturing/styling your hair?
A: The number one thing I cannot live without and no Black woman should be able to live without is a long silk scarf! Seriously, permed, loc’d, natural, weave, whatever, a silk scarf can do wonders! I’m a colorful person, so I cannot live without Clairol Tones & Textures or Kiss Xpress (right now this is what I use, until I find something better). I also need some oil (tea tree, olive, coconut, jojoba, etc.).

Q: What would you say to someone who's thinking about embracing their natural hair, but scared about being rejected in various parts of their lives?
A: Never be afraid to reveal who you are naturally. You are whole and perfect just as you were created.