"All of my childhood, my hair was relaxed by my mom, who is black. But my hair was fragile, and fell apart with the chemicals. Then I started living with my dad and step mom, who are white, when I was about 11. No one knew what to do with my hair. All my relatives, my neighborhood and school were pretty much all naturally straight-haired, and then there was me with my damaged, crazy-person hair. Hair dressers had no idea what to do with it either, and seemed to make it worse, or put more chemicals on me that burned. It was such a mess, and I had no idea what it wanted. I relaxed it at home, and it was short and crunchy and fell apart all over my shoulders. I had scabs on my head frequently from the chemicals. Yet when it got wet, it still frizzed up and matted. I walked around feeling freakish and ashamed because my hair just didn't seem "normal" compared with the hair of everyone around me. I spent nearly all my free time trying to figure out how to make my hair presentable.
I spent hours reading magazines that gave advice on caring for "kinky, curly, frizzy" hair, but it didn't help at all. So I began to feel more abnormal. It made me stand out when all I wanted to do at that time was blend in. So I hated my hair and I was brutal to it. I accidentally dissolved it when I was 17 with a relaxer. Through the years I tried texturizers, relaxers, had a Jheri curl, weaves, extensions, braids, and locs (which I put in wrong because there was no information on how to do them where I lived this was back in the days before the internet). Nothing seemed to work. And finally one day, completely at a loss for what else to try, I decided to take the leap and grow out my hair. I was actually really scared to see what my hair would be like natural. I mean, if it was such a constant struggle to me with chemicals, I was afraid to deal with it at full strength. But I was so unhappy with that chemical hair I was willing to try it.
So I grew out my hair. And when I finally saw my natural curls for the first time in my life, at the end of my twenties, I fell in love with it. It was so much easier to manage than the chemical hair. It still took me more time to put together all the pieces on how to care for it and grow it long and not worry about the weather, but over time I did. And then I moved on with my life. The time I spent obsessing over my hair and trying to find "miracle" products to cure it could now be used for something else. And one day, many years later, I was working in a lab, and it popped in to my head: my hair was long, longer than it had ever been before, and I loved it. But the most amazing realization was that I hardly ever thought about my hair any more. I'd grown it down to my waist, a length I once thought impossible for me to ever have, and here I was with it that long, and I hardly even thought about it anymore. And it was then I knew I wanted to let other people know what I had learned. So that was when I began writing the book."
To learn more about Teri, check out the following links:
Website - Tightly Curly
Blog - Former Mushroom Haired Child
Book - Curly Like Me
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Q: How long have you been a loctician?
A: I have been a loctician for 10 years.
Q: What has been the most satisfy part of your job?
A: The most satisfying part of my job is the relationships formed with my clients. Servicing loc clients mean your going to spend a few hours with them. You get to know a lot about their lives during that time. A few of my clients have become my dearest friends.
Q: You use to work for another salon. What was your motivation to leave and open up your own shop?
A: I left the salon I used to work at because it was time for me to move on. It was a blessing for me to work there. I blossomed and became more confident in my skills as a loctician. So when God told me to go, I left. And it's been one of the best moves I've ever made. I don't own the salon I'm at now. I manage it. Ownership is another goal on my list of things to accomplish.
Q: What sets you apart from other salons?
A: What set's me apart from other salons is time management, professionalism, a welcoming environment, and continued education for myself and my clients.
Q: How long have you been loc’d?
A: I have been loc'd for 10 years.
Q: What are the biggest mistakes people make in their loc maintenance routine?
A: The biggest mistakes people make in their loc maintenance routine is over twisting their locs (which causes breakage if you're dry twisting), using brown gel or beeswax and putting your locs in a ponytail if they are not thoroughly dry. Bound up wet locs will mildew. Not a pretty smell.
Q: How can people get in contact you to make an appointment to loc their hair?
A: I am located at BARE CANVAS NAIL SPA & STUDIO
1470 MacArthur Blvd
Oakland, CA. 94602
510-482-8211
Q: What should we remember about you?
A: I love what I do. It's not a job, it's my passion.
You can see pictures of Kem's work on the Naturally Beautiful Hair blog, where I featured some of Kem's clients.
  | Rue Mapp has created a great website called Outdoor Afro. The site is community based, and helps to reconnect "African-Americans with natural spaces and one another through recreational activities such as camping, hiking, biking, fishing, gardening, skiing — and more! Outdoor Afro uses social media to create interest communities, events, and to partner with regional and national organizations that support diverse participation in the Great Outdoors.
During her childhood, Rue Mapp split her time between urban Oakland, California and her families’ working ranch in the Northern woodlands, where she cultivated a passion for natural spaces, farming, and learned how to hunt and fish. As a youth, her participation in the Girl Scouts and Outward Bound broadened her outdoor experiences, such as camping, mountaineering, rock climbing, and road bicycling. But Rue was troubled by the consistently low numbers of African Americans participating in these activities. So for two decades, Rue has used digital media as an important and practical tool to connect with people of color who share her outdoor interests. Outdoor Afro emerged naturally from these experiences. Rue has a B.A. in the History of Art from the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied the artistic representation of the American forests. She is also a successful entrepreneur whose game and hobby store start-up (It’s Your Move) remains an important part of the Oakland community. Rue currently lives in Albany, California with her children." Because of Rue's great work with empowering the African American community to get out and enjoy outdoor recreation and Nature, she was invited to go to the White House for the "first ever America’s Great Outdoors conference. This event was designed to bring leaders from around the country to discuss ways to re-connect Americans to the Great Outdoors and and also hosted the signing of the Presidential Memorandum on the topic. To read more about Rue, check out her website - Outdoor Afro. And to read more about her trip the White House. |
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I will be lying if I said that I never felt peer pressure to fit in, just like many other young girls. My mother taught me the reason why I should be proud of wearing my hair natural. She made me feel like it was such a beautiful and strong statement I was making. As for the individuals that talked negative of my hairstyle I realized at a young age that they lacked knowledge and had a different mind set.
2. I can tell just by looking at your pictures, that you have an amazing energy and confidence that a lot of young women, should have, but don't. What did your parents/family do or tell you, to help you to be proud of who you are?
My mother always taught me to love myself first. She taught me to be very proud of my culture and heritage. My mother always told me that I was beautiful and that I can accomplish anything in this world with hard work and I think that means a lot to a little girl to hear when she is growing up from her parent(s).My mother taught me at a young age to always do what makes me happy, not what makes the world happy and that being different isn't necessarily a bad thing.
3. What do you love the most about being natural?
I love the fact that I give people that are unfamiliar with locs another reason why they should go natural. Usually when people see woman of color with natural hair, they automatically assume that they have to be very eccentric but women that wear their hair natural are very diverse. I love showing people that you can be natural and be beautiful, sexy, smart, sophisticated, fabulous and diverse all at the same time. Plus, it's my texture, it's my hair, why should I over process it and risk damaging it, when it's already beautiful from the start.
4. What are some of your favorite hair products?
I would have to say that I love all of Jane Carter’s Natural hair care solutions. It is all natural and it strengthens and softens your hair. She has a product for everyone.
5. Has having loc’s helped or limited your modeling and TV career?
I can say that it is 50/50. Yes I may not get a certain job because of my hair, but when I do get a job, I don’t blend in. There are so many models that look the same. I give a different perspective of an image that’s not seen that often in the media. So those few jobs I do get, I am noticed. If a certain director does not want to work with me due to my natural hair, I can’t allow that to stop me from progressing in this industry. Not everyone is going to like my look but there are people that love my look and those are the individuals I work with.
6. You are a role model to young girls and women, what advice would you give them if they are struggling with a decision to have natural hair?
I would say go for it! Just think about it, it’s your natural hair. First you will stand out and be unique. Change the game, show the world that your natural hair texture is just as fabulous as a person’s hair that is relaxed! Especially for women of color, our hair has so much strength, it is a symbol of who we are. It has been taboo for African American women to wear and love their natural hair texture. I say it is the 21st century and it's time for us to change that.
7. I love the thickness of your loc’s? Are they hard to maintain or style?
Thank you! Not at all. I usually only twist and curl my locs, but just like any other hair style that is complicated sometimes you have to go to a professional. My hair stylist Thando Kafele can create any mainstream style with locs and he does an outstanding job ;)
8. You have been very active with helping the community, modeling and your new TV gig. What keeps you inspired to continue to grow as a person and to continue help others?
I am very active because I feel like us as humans need to help one another. We as a whole is bringing down and destroying our species and our world. We need to make it our priority to look out and pave a better future for future generations. As for me being in the entertainment industry, I definitely want to make my mark. I want to grow and have longevity. I am definitely trying to pick every job that I am apart of wisely because I don’t want to sell myself short. I am planning on getting into acting and more hosting/presenting.
9. Please let us know where we can find you on the web?
You can check me out on:
www.Myspace.com/BlackDiamondsInc
My personal site is going to be up soon
http://www.WahidahFowler.com
and follow me on
http://twitter.com/WahidahFowler
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*What inspired you to loc?
I was in the 8th grade when Lauryn Hill's album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" was released. I just loved her overall look and style and she became my hair idol. But at the time I didn't know anyone with natural hair, or locs so I had no clue how to go about starting them. Nor did I have the maturity or self esteem to let go of my perm and rock my natural texture. So I didn't actually go natural until the summer after I graduated high school after dealing with years of breakage from perming and dying my hair. I think the final straw for me was when a large amount of my hair fell out after a bad at home dye job. I got so fed up with the expense of maintaining my chemically processed hair along with the fact that I wasn't happy with how it looked. So I cut it all off and decided to embrace my natural hair texture and eventually got locs.
*What about being natural do you love the most?
I love that my hair is completely unique to me and it doesn't look like anyone else's. I don't have to run in fear when it starts raining and driving with the top down is no longer a hair nightmare.
*You are very creative with styling your loc's. How do you think of the different styles that you come up with?
I find style inspiration all over the place! Most people don't realize how versatile locs are, but over the years I've found that almost any style is possible. So if I see a style that I like, weather it be on loose hair, permed hair, natural hair or locs I give it a try and see if I can make it work! I also browse youtube, magazines, and style blogs for hairstyle ideas. And if I see someone on the street with a style that I like, I approach them and ask for a closer look! You'd be surprised how many people are willing to offer the name of their stylist or give you tips on the style they're rocking. It's very flattering.
*You have a huge following on your tube chanel - for your loc styling video's. There are so many awesome styles posted. How do you have time for the so many parts of you life (Comedian, full time job, artist, and more)?
Good Question!! Well, I've always been overly ambitious with my time. But the way I see it, if I wasn't so busy I'd be bored. I just make sure to only take on projects that interest me and I cut out anything that isn't fun or enjoyable for me. I find the time to make youtube videos, do stand up, work 40 hours a week, exercise, spend time with my amazing boyfriend and our 2 dogs, keep a blog, run my website and do freelance graphic design work because those are things that are all very important to me. It's all about prioritizing and staying organized. I'm not sure where I'd be if I didn't have my iphone to help me keep track of all my obligations, but I've found a way to manage and have a great time doing it all.
*Any advice for others?
The best advice I can give is to love what you do and do what you love.
*Where can we find you to learn more about you and your cool styles?
I'm all over the web! You can find me on:
http://blog.franchesca.net
http://twitter.com/chescaleigh
http://youtube.com/chescaleigh
I also have a facebook fan page. Just search for Chescaleigh on facebook.
Franchesca Ramsey
designer. singer. comedian.
but not necessarily in that order.
http://www.franchesca.net
Thank you Franchesca for this great interview. I wanted to spread the word on how people can find you. You are very talented, and I always look forward to hearing or seeing something new from you.
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Omar Mornan
Omar Mornan caught my eye with his creativity, passion for fashion and because of his amazing hair. He is also a triple threat - Fashion Designer, Poet & Model all rolled up into one. Here’s a little bit about why Omar’s decided to loc his hair and what keeps him inspired:
I loc’d because:
-I initially was tired of braiding (corn rows)
-Wanted a more sophisticated and cleaner image
-When I started loc’ing, I'd just graduated from high school, and I was kinda finding myself, my own style
-The people that I'd met (who had loc’s) seemed to be so happy, eat healthy, and they expressed so much of their life to. It was so encouraging.
-Lastly, it just seemed right. Like it fit almost.
Hair Care:
It’s hard; I've yet to find products that work well with my hair type. I normally just use oil, and Loc Hold Spray. Top Brass is the perfect solution for me. I would suffer from dry scalp, and residue. Not with Top Brass...
Thank you Omar for giving us a little insight into what why you chose to loc your hair and why it works for you. I have to say that what ever you doing so far, its working. It’s all a learning process though. I think we continued to learn more and more about what works for us every day.
To learn more about Omar, visit him on Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/tahjb
Or visit him on his blog that is dedicated to Fashion & Lifestyle: http://www.runwaywonderland.blogspot.com/
