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!

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.

Sarah, the owner of Sarenzo’s Beads, granted me an interview about her business and her ideas about her hair. Thanks for letting us get to know you and Sarenzo’s Beads a little bit better.

The Lady:

When did you go natural and what inspired you to do so?

I have always want to have a TWA as a child people want to be a lawyer & a Doctor I wanted a TWA lol.  I went nautral for the first time in 1998 and was natural most of the past ten year except for the last year before i bc again in june.

Have you faced opposition from your peers and/or family about your hair?

I had very long hair I could sit on my hair at one point so when I started cutting my Family really didn’t understand….They would tell me everyone wants long hair lol I would say except for me lol. As far as my friends, they were happy when I cut my hair because they said it was always done lol.
If so, what has been your method of handling it?

I knew my family would get over it because they are very supportive

What is your current regimen to keep your tresses healthy?

I really do believe less is more so I don’t do much to my hair I wash it maybe 2x per month and cowash maybe 2x per week

What do you love most about your hair?

It is short and beautiful.

What has been the hardest part of your natural hair journey?

I do think that permed or natural people don’t understand my love for short hair.

What advice do you have for the newly natural ladies?

Have fun & find what works for you

The “bidness”:

What prompted you to start your own online business?

It really did start out as my husband & I being really bored in a small town in VA. Then when I went natural in June I added hair accessories as  a request from a customer .

What kind of items do you have available at “Sarezo Beads”?

Sarenzo Beads Started out as a Handmade Jewelry Store ….We then ventured into Hair Accessories & Now we are about to offer Handmade & retail items that we love.

What is your favorite item from your store?

I love color & designs so I really do love all of my items lol. In picking items I really do try to pick items that i like…..I do get alot of custom request that end up being new & great Sarenzo Beads items but I try to put a Sarenzo Beads touch on all of them.

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

I would love to grow & be able to have a few people who love what I do work with me to continue to provide great products.

What advice do you have for ladies out there that would like to start their own online business?

Start small & work your way up give yourself a budget & “try” lol to stick to it sometimes it may take time to grow but I think that everyone has the potential of being great.

Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know about “Sarenzo Beads”?

I love working with people to create items that they can’t find in the stores but would really like to own ….I really do try to keep my prices down but stay in line with the other vendors ……

We all love those natural hair tees! Here is a lady with some big beautiful hair that also makes some beautiful tees…about big beautiful hair! Thanks so much, Chime, for letting us see your hair and your great designs. You can visit Chime’s online store here. Not only does she have natural hair shirts, but also sorority and Obama related items.

She also has a fotki with a ton of inspirational hair pictures.

I just love to see you natural ladies getting out there and being businesswomen. Keep it up!!

The Lady:

The “bidness”:

Kcurly: What prompted you to start your own online business?

Kcurly: What is your favorite t-shirt design and why?

Kcurly: Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know about “Sunkissed”?

Chime: If you are proud of your natural hair and you want an original design to express your love for your hair, you will love the site! It’s all about embracing our Black beauty!

Dionne, the owner of Nature’s Indulgence, granted me an interview about her hair and her line of natural hair care products and other goodies. I have tried her Knuckle Butter and will have a review up tomorrow. I’ve also placed an order to try more of her selections and  I can’t wait.

Thanks for sharing your hair and your “bidness” with us, Dionne!

The Lady:

Kcurly: When did you go natural and what inspired you to do so?
I began transitioning in February of 2005 and Big Chopped in February of 2006.   While I was relaxed my hair would grow long in the back but it never made it too far past my chin on either side.  I tried everything to make my hair grow longer on the sides, but nothing seemed to help.  I reflected back to when I didn’t have a perm and how healthy and long my hair was.  So I decided to grow out my hair and go natural.  I actually tried to go natural in 2003, but after 8 months of transitioning I permed again.

KCurly: Have you faced opposition from your peers and/or family about your hair?
I have faced opposition from both my family and my peers.  Most of the opposition has come from my family.

Relaxed

Kcurly: If so, what has been your method of handling it?
I made sure that I was prepared mentally for whatever opposition that would come my way.  I had to make sure that I was going natural for me and that I really was going to stick with it.  I became educated on caring for natural hair.  I also prayed for strength while going through the process of transitioning as well as the strength to handle any opposition that came my  way.  Once I made it up in my mind that no one could deter me, I let it be known that wearing my hair in its natural state was my decision.

Kcurly: What is your current regimen to keep your tresses healthy?
My current hair regimen includes co-washing once or twice a week (depending on the style that I am wearing).  I deep condition my tresses once a week.  I am now wearing more updos and twist outs once the updo/twists are about 3 days old. After co-washing and/or deep conditioning, I apply a leave-in conditioner and hair lotion ( my new product I have been testing for about 2 months) to my hair.  I then style it and seal it with my Knuckle Butter or Soothing Foot Butter.

Big Chop

KCurly: What do you love most about your hair?
I love that my hair makes me unique.  No one else has hair like mine.  I have learned  how to care for it and love it unconditionally.  The learning process never ends.

Kcurly: What has been the hardest part of your natural hair journey?
The hardest part of my hair journey was figuring out what to do with my hair and learning which products work best for my hair.  Once I learned what to do with it, I began experimenting.  Trial and error are what makes the journey worthwhile.  I am still experimenting.

Kcurly: What advice do you have for the newly natural ladies?
Keep a positive mindset and don’t give up.  There are many avenues available today for natural hair care that wasn’t available in the past.  You have to love your hair.  Your hair will not be exactly like the next natural head of hair.  Educate yourself about natural hair and most importantly wear your natural tresses with pride and joy.  God blessed you with it.

The bidness:
Kcurly: What prompted you to start your own online business?
I have always wanted to be and entrepreneur.  In 2005, I began by making candles.  I have a love for aromatic candles.  I was also transitioning at the time.  during the latter part of 2006, I began experimenting with oils and butters.  I wanted to make something for my hair, since I was natural.  Once I experimented with a couple of recipes, I began giving them out as test samples to my friends.  They liked the recipes, and wanted me to make them in larger quantities.  Once I started doing this, it wasn’t long before I added my first cream/butter to my line of candles.

Kcurly: What makes products from Nature’s Indulgence special?
Everything is handmade and people tested.  There is also versatility with my products.  Most of my product can be used on your hair as well as

Kcurly: I noticed when browsing your website that you have more than just hair products available. Please tell us more about your other products available. Those teddy bears look very interesting!
Thanks! I have skin care products that range from massage/bath oils to my Whipped Body Souffle.  There is something available for every part of your body.  Nature’s Indulgence believes in pampering your Mind, Body, and Spirit.  We have products for your Hair, Lips (a lip balm as well as a lip gloss), Body, and even a treat for your feet.  In addition to the hair and body products, we have candles, scented sachets, and scented bears.  The bears are a sure way to go for individuals who aren’t candle lovers.  The bears are stuffed with aroma beads of your fragrance of choice.

Kcurly: What plans do you have for your company in the future?
In the near future I plan on adding 2 more hair products to my line.  These products are going to include a hair lotion and conditioner.  I will also be making the option to choose your fragrance available for a few of my products.  Last but not least,  I am in the process of finding a distributor for my customers in Canada.

Kcurly: Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know about “Nature’s indulgence?
Yes!  I really appreciate you and your readers for taking the time to learn about my natural hair journey as well as Nature’s Indulgence by Dionne.   Newly Natural Readers are going to receive 15% off any online order at Nature’s Indulgence by Dionne!  The coupon code is

newly_natural_09

which will expire on October 31, 2009. Thanks again!

Here’s another online entrepreneur to provide you with some awesome natural hair inspired gear. Visit her Etsy Store to see more of her great merchandise! These designs are unique and oh-so-cute.  You can also visit her fotki and blog for more pictures and info!

The Lady:

Kcurly: When did you go natural and what inspired you to do so?

I was actually natural for most of my life. I only wore a perm for about 2 and a half years of my whole life. I am 31 now so I guess I can say I have been natural for 28 and a half years!

My mother never allowed me to get a perm when I was young. I just HAD to get a perm when I graduated high school. I wanted to fit in with all of the kids on campus. Wrong move! My hair thinned out really bad as well as left my scalp damaged from degree burns from the lye. I had eczema really bad at the time and I was getting perms on my irritated scalp, so you can imagine what that was like. The final straw, as if that wasn’t enough, was when I got a haircut that I hated. After that and the urging of one of my natural friends to come back home to the natural side, I decided to stop perming my hair.

Kcurly: Have you faced opposition from your peers and/or family about your hair?

In high school, I had one high school boyfriend ask me why I wouldn’t get a perm and cut like Halle Berry. I think that planted the seed of doubt in my mind about my natural hair and look. All of this time before my family was (and still is) cool with natural hair. My brother wore locs and my mom rocked a press and curl and twa since I can remember.

The summer before I started college I worked in a daycare center. I decided to gel my natural hair back into a pony tail and not do the press-n-curl thing for a little while. One of my coworkers stayed on my case all day about my hair. She kept jeering me and saying, “Girl you need to stop tryin’ to slick that nappy stuff back and get a perm!.” After a whole day of that, I decided finally to get a perm because I didn’t want the people in college to see me in a ‘negative light.’ I am sorry I listened to that ignorant girl!

Kcurly: If so, what has been your method of handling it?

Since going back natural, I still get the, “you should get a texturizer from time to time, but I ignore them or sometimes I will say, “you should go natural” and after they get defensive, they shut up! Ha ha

Kcurly: What is your current regimen to keep your tresses healthy?

I am wearing my hair really short right now, so I basically wash it with Adiva Coconut cream and Avocado hair smoothie and moisturize with a mixture of shea butter and coconut oil. Daily I use Almond oil and JoJoba oil. That’s it. I really don’t comb my hair because it is really short. I do brush it from time to time.

Kcurly: What do you love most about your hair?

It is really short and soft so it does really cool things like coil up on its own or when I add some gel to it. That gives it a cool look

Kcurly: What has been the hardest part of your natural hair journey?

Styling my own hair (when it was longer). Once I came up from under the micro braids umbrella, I was forced to style my own hair. Wow what a task! I at first tried to find stylists in my area to style my hair, but that quickly got costly, it didn’t last, and they didn’t do a good job so I started trying to do my own hair. I looked on different Fotki sites and other online sources for tips. Finding the right style for longer hair that lasted for more than a day and that was not twists was quite the task. Also finding a product that did not leave residue on my hair or dry out my scalp was pretty hard.

Kcurly: What advice do you have for the newly natural ladies?

Hang in there! There will be rough patches on your journey, but it will pay off in the end health wise, emotionally, and socially. Remember to use as many natural products as you can. Those ingredients will benefit you most. Oh and eat a well balanced diet and drink plenty of water. Healthy hair starts from the inside!

The “Bidness”:

Kcurly: What prompted you to start your own online business?

I have wanted to start a business of some sort for the longest time. I sold products for other companies that ranged from beauty products to educational toys for children. I took a look at how much I was pushing other people’s ideas and I sat back and said I can do this myself! At that point I came up with a concept, brainstormed with a friend and let my dreams fly from there!

S–ophisticated
W–itty
A–rtsy
R–eal
T–rue
H–onest
Y–oung at heart

Swarthy Daisy is an online company that basically focuses on empowering women (and men who love women) on a real organic/casual level. I wanted to have a brand that focused back on people like me, a little bit of urban flavor, with a pinch of country, thus the Swarthy Daisy woman was formed. The word swarthy is taken from a Bible translation in the Song of Solomon 1: 5, 6 where a Black female is addressed. To explain exactly what I mean, look the word Swarthy up in a dictionary. Also The word Swarthy is found in some translations of the Bible such as here in The Song of Solomon 1:5, 6 which says: “I am black, but comely, Oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, Because the sun hath scorched me…”

From there I added the daisy because it made it even more personal because I like Daises. They are such a beautiful flower, thus comes the concept for Swarthy Daisy. The sun gives humans and flowers energy, so I wanted to create an image of a woman that is natural and organic looking that is energized and ready to take on the world!

My blog is informative and entertaining. It has various topics to help people, not only women. It really has topics that I find interesting, yet that helps people learn something new.
Kcurly: What plans do you have for your site in the future?

Adding men’s and children’s clothing. Also doing some more cool things for the hair. Stay tuned!

Kcurly: Your designs are very unique. What inspired you?

Piggybacking off of my answer above, Nature and life inspires me!

Kcurly: Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know about “SwarthyDaisy”?

That I am a really fun person that enjoys life and the blessings that God has given me! I enjoy learning and sharing gifts of knowledge and entertainment with others!

This is a bit of a combo post. Candace  has been kind enough to be featured and introduce us to her site, Goddess Zuri, a place full of wonderful accessories and natural hair t-shirts. Her accessories range from chic to funky and the t-shirts are to die for. Thanks for sharing with us Candace!

The Lady:

Kcurly: When did you go natural and what inspired you to do so?

Candace: I’ve always have beautiful long hair, and I loved it…up until I was about a junior in college. Around this time, I developed strong feelings that a short natural crop would express the sassiness and flyness in me so much accurately. I thought about it for quite some time, but I messed up when I started sharing this idea with friends and family members. After talking to many of them, I was convinced to keep my long hair. Then my senior year hit and I was about to turn 21. Natural hair was still on my mind, so I decided that as a present to myself for my 21^st birthday, I would chop all of my hair off. And I did!

Kcurly: Have you faced opposition from your peers and/or family about your hair?

Candace:Before I even cut it, I had a bunch of people in my ear telling me not to do it. My friends told me I would surely miss my hair. My brother told me I would look like a boy and my parents’ feared that I wouldn’t be able to get a good job after college. I went along with them for a little while but made a decision about two years later to cut it off. A short time after I did, the very people who told me not to do it ended up digging it.

Kcurly: If so, what has been your method of handling it?

Candace: After cutting my hair, my sassiness and confidence grew. It didn’t matter what people thought about my hair because I loved it. And after people started seeing that I loved it and didn’t care about what anyone else thought, they started to love it on me too.

Kcurly: Your hair is beautiful! What is your current regimen to keep your tresses healthy?

Candace: Thanks lady! I use Cantu products (shampoo, conditioner and oil moisturizer). I’ve tried a million products, as most natural bellas do, and this is the product that works well with my hair. I wear my hair wild and free, so I braid it at night and take the braids out in the morning to give it a free, crinkly look. I wash my hair once a week and moisturize it every other day.

Kcurly: What do you love most about your hair?

Candace: Everything! I love that my hair gives me a unique look. I love that nobody can ever tell when I’m having a bad hair day. And I love the versatility of my hair. I can wear it wild and sassy or tamed and elegant.

Kcurly: What has been the hardest part of your natural hair journey?

Candace: Deciding whether I wanted to keep it short or grow it out. I absolutely loved my short crop because it looked great in the summer time with big hoop earrings and a tank top. I loved it because it was easy to maintain. But I have a friend who went natural around the same time I did, and she never cut her hair. Now hers is long and beautiful. I got a little jealous, so I decided to grow mine out.

Kcurly: What advice do you have for the newly natural ladies?

Candace: Love it and embrace it. People can sense when you’re not satisfied with yourself; any part of yourself. So, if you’re not 100% confident in your new do and you ask yourself daily, “why did I do this?” fake your confidence until you develop it. Or find a little bit of confidence from somewhere. The number 1 accessory that you MUST have with natural hair is confidence.

The Website:

Kcurly: What prompted you to start your own online business?

Candace: I had just gone natural, and I was confident about my natural hairdo, but still had a few reservations in the beginning. So, I wanted to outwardly express the confidence that I was building in the inside. I wanted a few tees that glorified natural hair. I diligently searched online to find some unique, funky tees that matched my new natural beauty identity, but couldn’t find one that I wanted to wear. So, I decided to design my own.

Now, the number 2 accessory that you MUST have with natural hair, in my opinion, is a pair of bold earrings. So, I decide to design some of those too.

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

Candace: I want to expand the site offerings to long sleeve tees and hoodies. I’ve also had numerous requests to make the tees in bigger sizes.

Kcurly: Where did the name “Goddess Zuri” originate?

Candace: I’ve been referring to myself as a goddess for a while, and I think all women are goddesses. So, I definitely wanted that word to be included in the name of my business. Zuri means beautiful in Swahili. So, I decided to create Goddess Zuri, goddess of natural beauty, to be the ambassador of my site. The woman in my logo is Goddess Zuri.

Kcurly: Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know about “Goddess Zuri”?

Candace: Of course I want them to check out www.goddesszuri.com and tell ten friends about the site. I also recently started a blog www.freethegoddess.com that (hopefully) encourages women to release their inner goddess.

And the last thing I want to share is, when you decided to go natural and cut your hair, you instantaneously became fly. Embrace the flyness.