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Zeba // 4B/C Natural Hair Style Icon | Black Girl with Long Hair
Mariah // 3C/4A Natural Hair Style Icon | Black Girl with Long Hair
Kimberly Elise Talks Natural Hair, Acting and Vh1′s “Hit The Floor ...

Zeba // 4B/C Natural Hair Style Icon | Black Girl with Long Hair

Posted: 24 May 2014 06:28 AM PDT

Introduce yourself!
Z: Hello! My name is Zeba. I'm from Accra, Ghana and I live in Jersey City. I'm a writer and film critic.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
Z: I initially didn't set out to be natural – I didn't even really know about the concept of being "natural" when I cut my hair. Throughout high school I relaxed my hair, it grew to about APL then just became really thin and dry. I've always had thick hair, so this kind of freaked me out. During the year when I was living back in Ghana I impulsively cut my hair because I was just really annoyed with how unhealthy it was. After the cut I immediately got braids. It was only a couple months after that when it grew out a bit that it occurred to me to maybe not start relaxing again! I've been natural for six years since. I did my (first) big chop in 2009!

How would you describe your texture?
Z: If I had to guess I'd say I'm like a 4b/4c mix. My hair is dense and coarse, and my curls are more defined at the crown of my head, but usually only if I apply mad product to them (which I rarely do).

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
Z: Since I experience major shrinkage, which leads to tangling, my hair is always in a stretched state. I lose about 60% of my length when my hair is in a shrunken state. I go through phases with my styling regimen, so sometimes I will protective style by bunning, wearing puffs, loose twists, twist and box braid extensions, wigs, or scarves. I love big hair and I love to wear my hair out, so I will generally wear a twist out fro for a few weeks at a time. I sometimes use Taliah Waajid's Curly Curl Cream for my twist outs then cover my hair for a few weeks at a time, and repeat. At night I'll spritz my hair with a mixture of a cheap conditioner and coconut oil. If I'm feeling lazy I'll pineapple it, but I usually always braid or twist my hair at night to keep it stretched. I experience a lot of dryness, but ever since discovering the LOC method I haven't had to moisturize every single day, which has been amazing.

What does wash day look like for you?
Z: Wash day is a whole situation. I really dread it and I'm really bad at regulating my regimen, so sometimes I might wash my hair once a week, and other times I might go a month in between washes because I'm just feeling lazy. The night before I wash my hair, I lightly detangle and pre-poo with coconut oil. The next day I finger detangle my hair again and put it into four twists. I'll then go in the shower and wash my hair with Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo, then condition with their Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner, which I just started using recently and I LOVE. My hair tangles a lot so much of my wash day process revolves around doing lots of detangling from root to tip under the running water with a wide-tooth comb. I try to be as thorough as possible and not rush through even though I'm over it by the second section lol. Once I'm out of the shower I let my hair air dry a little bit then I go about moisturizing. My go-to moisturizers are usually shea butter, coconut oil, and castor oil as a sealant.

Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don't have a lot of time to style.
Z: If I don't have a lot of time my go to is always to tie a scarf around my head and wear my hair in a high bun/puff, but I generally make time for my hair. If I feel like I'm coming up on a busy month or something I just get braids or twists.

How do you combat shrinkage?
Z: I have been fighting shrinkage ever since I went natural and I'm actually trying to let go of it. Like, there have been times when I've woken up in the morning and I see it's raining and it's literally ruined my day because I feel like I can't wear my hair out. I'm trying to be more comfortable with how my hair looks when it's a little shrunken – of course I generally keep it stretched just to ensure it doesn't tangle, but I'm also trying to understand the difference between wanting to prevent tangling and being length-obsessed. It's a process!

What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
Z: I dyed my hair a honey-brown/reddish color a couple years ago, and since then even though I went back to black I've definitely noticed the damage that did to my ends, in terms of them just being weaker and having a lot of splits. My ends are very delicate, so I make sure to lavish a lot of attention and moisture on them whenever possible!

What are 2 do's for your texture?
Z: Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. I really used to think that moisture wasn't a factor in my hair's health, but it wasn't until I started paying more attention that my hair began to flourish. Also, I've seen that drinking lots of water (and I mean lots), exercising, and taking my vitamins has been a big help as well.

What are 2 don'ts for your texture?
Z: Too much manipulation, which I definitely am guilty of. I need to just leave my hair alone and stop doing the most. Not doing my research – I recently did a cholesterol treatment without looking up the product and it almost ruined my hair. Also, keeping braids in for too long. I used to keep braids in for months (I won't say how long, but you can guess – such a mess), and I would take them out and be all shocked when most of my ends broke off. Like, girl.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
Z: Yes!
Instagram: http://instagram.com/zebablay
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zblay
My Pop Culture Podcast: twobrowngirls.co

Meosha

Just another lover of natural hair and expression. - Style Icon Coordinator for BGLH

Mariah // 3C/4A Natural Hair Style Icon | Black Girl with Long Hair

Posted: 22 May 2014 06:00 AM PDT

Introduce yourself!
M: My name is Mariah Peart and I am from Brunswick, GA.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
M: I returned to natural because at the age of 14 years old I wasn't taking care of my hair very well. One day my mom was styling my hair and she simply told me not to put any more perms in my hair. She knew my hair better than I did! I transitioned for a year and 5 months (Sept. 2006 – Feb. 2008). I've been completely natural for 6 years and 2 months (Post Big Chop).

How would you describe your texture?
M: The texture of my hair is a mixture of 3c and 4a. My hair contains curls, coils, and kinks. It is thick, but it is not coarse.

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
M: As for my styling regimen, I usually style my hair once a week and allow that style to last for the week. I mostly style my hair in twists or twist outs (my favorite). The products I use for styling are Paul Mitchell Original The Conditioner (leave-in conditioner), Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel or the Eco Styler Moroccan Argan Oil Styling Gel.

What does wash day look like for you?
M: My typical wash day consists of: co-washing with Pantene Pro-V Truly Natural Hair Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner, a light protein treatment (when it is time for one) with Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor and a deep conditioning with Tresemmé Flawless Curls Curl Hydration Conditioner and an oil. Depending on the season, coconut oil (Spring and Summer) or African Pride Olive Miracle Growth Oil (Fall and Winter).

Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don't have a lot of time to style.
M: My favorite go-to hairstyle when I don't have much time to style is a simple, easy bun.

How do you combat shrinkage?
M: I combat shrinkage by styling my hair with oil-based products (such as twisting butters, shea butter, etc.). This allows my hair to elongate rather than shrink.

What are some of your problem areas (if any) that require special care and attention?
M: The hair on my temples tends to be my problem area because it is the most sensitive and driest of all other parts of my hair. So, I have to apply more product (conditioners, oils, moisturizers, protein treatments) on those areas of my hair for more hydration. I also have to be more gentle when I have to detangle in those areas as well.

What are 2 do's for your texture?
M: Moisture is important, so applying medium consistency products, conditioner and water are great for my texture. Also, detangling once a week is important as well!

What are 2 don'ts for your texture?
M: Applying heavy products are not good, and never allow styles such as wash and go's to go for more than 3 days, or the hair will tend to have unnecessary tangles and knots.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
M: You can find me on Instagram at: http://instagram.com/reggaeinspired and my Blog: http://www.reggaeinspirednaturalhair.blogspot.com/.

Meosha

Just another lover of natural hair and expression. - Style Icon Coordinator for BGLH

Kimberly Elise Talks Natural Hair, Acting and Vh1′s “Hit The Floor ...

Posted: 23 May 2014 06:00 AM PDT

She has portrayed complex characters who find their way through challenges in such films/shows as "Beloved," "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," "For Colored Girls," "Girlfriends," and "Hit the Floor." We got a chance to speak with critically acclaimed actress Kimberly Elise about her natural hair, acting, and her show "Hit the Floor".

Let me first say that you and your hair are gorgeous! When and why did you go natural?

KE: Thank you so much!! I've been natural since about 2000. I just wanted to be my most true self. I was so excited with the idea of my own hair. But I didn't stop using heat until 2011. I didn't big chop; I kind of mini chopped. I'd been pressing my hair, so I had heat damage and I just had to have that cut off. That was maybe 4 or 5 inches.

What is your current hair care regimen and what products do you use?

KE: I wear a lot of protective styles, usually twists, braids. Pretty much five days a week, and then I let it all hang out on the weekends. I find that keeps my hair it's happiest and works better for my lifestyle. I wash and deep condition weekly and moisturize morning and night. I love both Qhemet Biologics and Oyin Handmade lines. I like Qhemet's Burdock Root Butter Cream, Aethiopika Hydrate & Twist Butter, and Amla & Olive Oil Heavy Cream. For Oyin, I love their Hair Dew and Shine & Define.

How did you get into acting?

KE: Acting was always what I knew I was going to do. It's just the way I came wired; I knew that I would be an actor. I started in theatre. Did a lot of theatre in Minnesota, and then came out here [California], auditioned, and started booking jobs.

Are there any particular roles or projects you gravitate towards?

KE: Just good material. Things that resonate in one way or another to an audience. Good stories. I like triumphant stories. People who come over, beat the odds, and end up being inspiring. So a lot of my movies are about someone who has faced a lot of challenges and she finds her way through it.

On your website, you touch upon the topic of wearing natural hair as a celebrity. How has your natural hair been received in Hollywood?

KE: Great! People love it. They would love for me to wear my hair. I won't do that because most people don't know how to do it and my hair would end up very damaged. So I'll wear wigs usually for my characters. When I wear my hair out, they're like, "Oh, why don't you wear your hair?" I tell them, "Because … I would be bald," and my hair is my hair for me. So people love it.

I wish that there was more support within the industry in training people to style and care for natural hair though. A lot of beauty schools have not trained their students for that so many of the best natural hair technicians are self-taught and therefore not in the film/television union. Fortunately, on "Hit the Floor", I work with a talented hair crew that does an amazing job with Sloane's hair. But that is not always the case. I personally believe every licensed technician should, in addition to the traditional training, also be trained in and get many, many practice hours in natural hair care and styling before being certified. And then a concerted effort should be made to get them in the film and tv unions.

kimberlyelise2

What is the hardest thing about being natural? What is the best thing?

KE: The hardest thing is my hair is very fragile. I would like to be able to wear it out more, but I know that I'll end up with single-strand knots or it'll be very dry. It's just very fragile and sensitive, and that's challenging because I'd like to be able to just wear it out everyday and all the time. But then what's great about it is it's unique; it's me. People love it. I love it. It's different. It's just me. That's what's the best thing about it. It's soft and fluffy and cottony … yeah, love it.

Your daughters – are either of them natural as well?

KE: My younger daughter went 'natural' too. I started about six months before her. She was inspired by me and YouTube videos. She's always been natural, actually. I got her a keratin treatment because I didn't know it was a permanent, heat damage thing. So in one fell swoop, she was "keratin-ed" up. We both wanted her to just go back to her natural hair. Her natural hair was just astonishing. She's got amazing hair.

You look so fit and beautiful on your show, "Hit the Floor," that it is not hard to believe your character was once a top professional cheerleader. What are your fitness and skin care routines?

KE: Taking care of my body is important to me. It's funny because over the years it's become less about how I look and more about how I feel. I lift weights three times a week, as well as cardio, and I do yoga in between. For cardio, it's the treadmill or usually biking. I like to break it up. If I feel like going outside, I'll go hiking. I get bored so I have to change things up. I feel great and the looking great is just the icing on the cake!

For skin care, less is more. I will use a natural cleanser of some sort to clean up my makeup after work. Other than that, I try to do as little as possible. I use natural oils for moisture and keep it very simple.

What has been your most favorite scene on the show?

KE: Well, there's some really exciting stuff we've done for Season 2 that I can't tell you about, but from Season 1, everything I do with Dean Cain is a lot of fun. I think because we've both been in the industry for so long, we just know how to have fun and not take it all too seriously. So the work experience is fun. That comes through in the work I think.

Are there any upcoming projects we can expect from you?

KE: "Hit the Floor", Season 2 on May 26. Season 2 will be like Season 1 but on turbo charge! We have lots of surprises, lots of twists and turns, lots of dancing and of course lots of sexy. I literally can barely wait for our fans to see what we have been doing. It will blow your mind.

Where can viewers go to catch up on Season 1?

KE: VH1 is doing a lot of marathons right now. You can also get it On Demand with some cable providers. You can buy the DVD on Amazon, the whole first season. And I think it's on iTunes too.

If you were not an actress, what would you be doing?

KE: I'd be a musician because I love music. I have so much respect for musicians and their artistry. I would be playing music somewhere.

What instrument?

KE: The guitar!

You can keep up with Kimberly Elise at her website KimberlyElise.com, on Facebook, on Twitter @iKimberlyElise, and on Instagram. You can also follow her on Pinterest.

Chinwe

Hails from a great city in the Midwest and will forever be a Bears fan.

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