Business Owner Interviews

Thanks to Jessica of  Jessica’s Jewels for sharing her hair journey and beautiful creations with us!

The Lady

How long did you transition and what styles did you use to do so?

I transitioned twice. The first time, I had been wearing my hair in a curly style for about 10 years using what I thought of as a ‘texturizer’. I decided I wanted a change so I went to a new hairdresser for a blowout and trim so that I could wear my hair straight. While I was relating my history and current regime, she asked me, “Have you ever considered going natural, and just letting it grow out?” I can still remember the shock I felt, it was like, “I can do that?” In my family, you have to ‘do something’ to your hair (My mom still struggles with how I chose to wear my hair)!

My hair had never been very healthy and never got past my shoulders. In part because I didn’t know how to care for it and had just resigned myself to having “bad hair”.

So, with the encouragement of my new hairdresser (I still love Michelle at Body & Soul in Chicago), I stopped relaxing and began using heat to straighten my locks. I grew out my hair for about 8 months, but gave myself some serious heat damage. I didn’t know about wrapping my hair at night or any techniques on extending a blowout. So I started to get a lot of breakage. A LOT of breakage. So it broke off from just about shoulder length to ear length.

I thought at the time, my hair was so fried and lifeless, I had better return to what I was doing before because my hair was healthier then! So I relaxed again twice over a period of 4 months. But I wasn’t happy with my hair and missed the thick fullness I has experienced earlier.

So in August 2008, I decided, there has to be a better way and just decided to see how being natural would be in a curly state, instead of heat straightened (and damaged)!

What is your current regimen to keep your tresses healthy?

I experimented a lot with different products, but have finally found a routine that works for me. I wash with a few drops of Dr. Bronner’s unscented castile soap about once a week. Then I do a moisturizing deep condition or a strengthening deep condition. I do this every week. It’s like a little spa in my living room.

For moisturizing, I use about half a 12oz can of coconut milk (just the solid part), olive oil and honey. For strengthening, I’ve used Cassia in the past, but now I love Lush’s Caca Brun Henna treatments. I used the leftover coconut milk to mix the Henna, which keeps it from being too drying. I’ll sit with either mixture for 4-6 hours, depending on how my day shapes up.

Then, I usually divide my hair in 2 halves. I put a small palm-full of aloe vera gel into each half. I separate my hair into rows for my flat twists, and detangle with a Denman knock-off. I use a LOT of shea butter then flat twist my hair into 4-6 braids on each side.

Every night I mist my hair with a blend of Rose Water and Glycerin and might re-twist, depending on how I’m feeling.

What do you love most about your hair?

The only word to describe my hair is lush. It’s still short, not quite shoulder length (stretched) but I’ve got volume! It feels strong and I have a hard time keeping my hands out of my hair.

What has been the hardest part of your natural hair journey?
Split ends! I’m still struggling with my hair splitting if I look at it wrong. It’s a struggle to keep my ends healthy, recent pics remind me that I need a trim.

What is your go to style these days?

A flat twist out. I’ll put in 8-10 flat-twists at night and in the morning I’ll have beautiful, full coils that last 2-3 days.

Any favorite products/ingredients you just can’t live without?

Shea butter and Aloe Vera gel for my styling.
Coconut oil for my scalp
Coconut milk, honey and olive oil for deep treatments

What advice do you have for the newly natural ladies?

Have fun. The most amazing thing about our hair is that it can be different everyday. Sometimes it different will be totally whether we want it to be or not! Work with your accessories, wear some pretty jewelry and hold your head high.

The business

How long have you been making jewelry?

I started making jewelry with a small group of girlfriends in 2002. I had never worn much jewelry until I started making my own pieces that were customized to fit me and work with my outfits.

What prompted you to start your own business?

I had sold a couple of bracelets or necklaces here and there but nothing systematic. I was getting so many compliments on jewelry that I wore daily. Last year (2009) was very difficult for me, spiritually and emotionally. As the year ended, I learned that my employment contract wouldn’t be renewed and I immediately started celebrating in my head. With any transition like this you have to think very clearly and I spent a lot of time deciding the kind of work I was going to pursue, the kind of companies I’d be willing to work for and the career I wanted to build for myself.

Now, call me crazy, but I figured there was no better time to start a business. The market and economy can only go up and the quickest way to re-employment is self-employment! So, I’m invest my time and making my expensive jewelry habit a lucrative jewelry business!
You have a lot of unique designs. What inspires you in your creations?

Thank you! I wrote a post on this to remind myself! The one thing I love about jewelry making is you have something tangible at the end of your work. Sometimes it’s breathtakingly beautiful, sometimes it’s not, but it’s always a journey. And I love jewelry because it always fits, even if my diet has gotten out of control! It’s a fun way to polish your look and show your personality.

What plans do you have for your site in the future?

Good question! I just released my Spring/Summer collection and recently begun selling items on Etsy.

I plan to continue blogging, I’ve got a couple of interviews with other designers lined up. I’ll also release a wedding line in the near future. And I want to start doing trunk shows and craft events too!

Do you have any advice for the ladies out there who are thinking of starting their own online business?

I am far from an expert, but I’m constantly reminding myself that it is okay to try and okay to fail. More people want to see you succeed and are willing to help you than you believe. And haters only mean you are headed in the right direction!

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CurlyZebra is an up and coming business that makes satin lined hats for cold weather. They were kind enough to do an interview with Newly Natural. To learn more about this company, please check out their website, facebook, or this recent NC.com article.

What prompted you to start making these wonderful hats for children?

We live in Minnesota, so hats are not an optional accessory for children in daycare or school settings since they go outside to play almost every day. With my daughters wearing hats several times a day, there hair would get so dried out and frizzy. I started thinking that my daughters sleep on satin pillowcases to not dry out their hair, so maybe a satin lined hat wouldn’t dry out their hair.

I looked every where to try to purchase one, but I could not find anything for them anywhere. I then asked my Mom to help me design and sew a hat for my girls with a satin lining. As soon as my girls started wearing them, I was amazed at the change in the condition of their hair. It was no longer dry and frizzy. My husband even noticed how much better the condition of their hair was. The hat worked so wonderfully last winter, I thought others could benefit from them as well, so this past summer I asked my sister to partner with me and we launched Curly Zebra.

What are the advantages of wearing a satin lined hat for kids? Does it help preserve their hairstyle?

It does help preserve their hairstyle, but the biggest benefit is it does not dry out their hair like a normal fleece or acrylic winter hat would.

You have so many beautiful designs available. Do you take custom orders if a customer has a specific hat in mind?

Yes, we do take custom orders. If you email us and let us know what you are interested in, we will let you know if it is something that we can create for you.

I see you also have some hats available in adult sizes. Any plans for more adult hats for those of us who are, um, well endowed in head size?

Most of our hats are offered in sizes that range from a child small to an adult large. We do use a stretch satin to line the hats, which does help with the fit and sizing. We have had a few people mention to us that they have a hard time finding hats that fit. However, when we have been at craft shows with our hats, we haven’t had anyone try on our hats and find that one of our sizes, including the large did not fit. We are definitely open to feedback about the sizing and would start making an extra large size, but we have yet to find someone that would need it.

Do you have advice to ladies out there who would like to start their own business?

Be sure it is something that you love and are passionate about as there is so much work involved in getting it set up and to keep it running. If you are not excited and passionate about your business it might be hard to find the time and energy that is needed to put into it and make it successful.

Does Curly Zebra have a physical location where customers can purchase hats?

We do not have a store front. We have been at several craft shows in the Mpls/St. Paul area this past winter and plan to continue to attend craft shows each winter season. Shows that we plan to or have attended are listed on our website.

Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know about Curly Zebra?

We are a very new business as this is our first season. We are very open to any suggestions or ideas that people have about what types of hats they would like to see or how we can improve any current product. My business partner and I have a list of ideas as to how we want to grow and the new styles of hats we want to create. This means that next and subsequent seasons we hope to offer new and more innovative styles or lines.

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