A few days ago, I posted about this cool new phone app called GoNappturale. Well, one of the creators, Danesha, agreed to be interviewed for Newly Natural! Let’s find out more about the mind behind one of the few phone applications out there that cater to African American women!
The Lady
Kcurly: How long have you been natural?
Danesha: I have been natural for 6 months. I didn’t get a relaxer until I joined the military, which was around age 19. I am from California and I had always gotten my hair pressed..right into adulthood. When I was stationed in VA I went to get a press and the stylist pulled out a flat iron. I was like “What in the world are you going to do with that?” She told me they didn’t press hair in VA. She would flat iron it and try to get it as straight as she could.
Pressed hair in a chinese bob during high school graduation
I already knew that was not going to work and because I lived in barracks there was no way that I would be able to use the pressing comb that I had. So the following week after walking around with a huge mushroom, I let her relax it. I hated my hair after that. My hair had always been shiny, bouncy, and seemed like the relaxer had stripped all of that away and then to add insult to injury I started slowly watching my hair break off, which was devastating. This was hair I had grown for close to 20 years.
Kcurly: What is your regimen at this time?
Danesha: I co-wash only. Its funny, I have always Co-washed because shampoos were always to harsh on my hair. I clarify my hair with vinegar to remove residue. I use a coconut oil or minute amount of shea butter as a leave in.
"Accidental" asymmetrical bob due to breakage
Kcurly: Do you ever face any opposition to your natural hair? If so, how do you handle it?
Danesha: Hmmm not sure if I have faced anything blatant. I honestly don’t pay attention to what others feel when it comes to my appearance. As long as I am comfy thats all that matters. That is something that was ingrained as a child, succumbing to peer pressure was never an option. My mother has always told us, “Peer pressure is non-existent, you did it because you wanted to”. So I have always kept that in the back of my mind. I do it, because I want to.
Kcurly: What do you love most about your hair?
Danesha: The thing I love most about my hair is being free. No more sleeping with a crook in my neck to preserve a hairstyle.
Natural hair-micros "I have been wearing braids to protect my hair, and during the summer because me and my daughter love the pool"
Kcurly: What has been the hardest part of being natural?
Danesha: Its actually been really easy for me. One day, I was just over it. Went to my moms house and I let her take clippers to my head and just shaved it all off. I think my daughter was more in shock than anybody. LoL She cried because she thought that I looked like a boy. I explained to her that “mommy wants healthy long hair like you” and that made her feel batter. She immediately asked if we were going to be twins and I told her yes.
Kcurly: Do you have any advice for the newly natural ladies out there?
Danesha: Do it when you’re absolutely ready, that way it will not matter what anybody says to convince you otherwise. I feel like this, should you decide to go natural, hair is like that man that you are finally fed up with and you are just SO done and he can do all of the begging and pleading that he wants but nothing is going to change your mind…thats how it should be. When you are beyond the point of feeling bad about making a decision thats right for you, thats when you need to take that step. If you do it before, you will question your decision and might be convinced to back peddle. You have to be strong willed in order to go against the grain of societies idea of beauty.
The “Bidness”
Kcurly: So, you’re an African American female developer. I know that can be rare in some places. How did you get started in this field?
Danesha: As I mentioned earlier I was in the military, the navy to be exact and about a year before getting out I enrolled in school in a C.I.S (Computer and Information Science) program and have been going ever since. Even at that time, I was the only African-american female in all of my classes. I loved technology and the endless opportunity. I have always loved math and science, so technology was a natural progression for me.
Kcurly: What, if any, other apps have you developed besides GoNappturale?
Danesha: We currently have 3 apps in the making. With another geared towards the ladies but also the gentlemen. We have an entertainment site coming out as well, that I think people will love. I cant give too much away because we have NDA’s floating around and we are still in development. All of these products will be out before the end of the year. I will keep everyone informed via twitter ((@matriarcmedia)) and my website www.matriarcmedia.com. As we update products we will add them to the site display. I will continue to create resources that compliment our lives and make our day to day, more convenient.
Kcurly: What prompted you to start developing apps for African American women?
Danesha: Wow, it just seems like when it comes to the Tech industry we aren’t well represented. Just perusing the app stores and products in general it was weird to see how other demos are targeted with black women not being one of their main focuses. We spend money and a lot of it and they need to earn our dollar just as they work hard for anyone else’s.
Maybe they don’t know how to do it, but I think its more about not wanting to put the effort in. They want a guaranteed formula for how to capture the interest of the woman of color, well its not that easy, you have to pay attention and take notes. We are dynamic, changing everyday. I know this and I am a black woman, so I looked at the products that I wanted to see and I asked girlfriends and relatives. We want what everybody else wants: convenience, reliability and quality. I feel as women, regardless of ethnicity, there are things that we like and enjoy. As women of color, you can take it a step further. Culturally, there are things that we gravitate towards and beauty (more specifically our hair) is one of them. So it was a no brainer for me that GoNappturale would be the first app to drop.
Kcurly: What has been the response to GoNapptural?
Danesha: The response has been overwhelming, but thats a good thing. I think this is something that we need. We need products made for us, by us. I have even had non African-american websites review the app and I think that is great! The larger the response the better because it allows us to keep creating. When it comes to technology you can get with it or get left behind. Its constantly changing and improving and we need to stay ahead of the curve.
Kcurly: Are there any upgrades or changes you have planned for GoNappturale?
Danesha: Yes, yes and yes! One of the main components of putting out a product or service is that you will receive reviews and suggestions to make the product better. The one consensus was a rating system. Customer service is imperative to guarantee the success of a business and reviews bring in new business and help it flourish while allowing the customer to make an educated and informed decision on whether or not to spend their money there. It is extremely important to give women these tools. It will weed out those not providing quality service.
