Hair Talk With Jessie

Diposting oleh good reading on Jumat, 04 Mei 2012

Firstly introduce yourself? Where are you from and what do you do?

Jessie Adore, the Harlemite. I'm a Creative Consultant and Art Director.

How long have you been natural?

Majority of my life. I had a brief relaxer stint in High School, but that didn't last very long.

If all your life what kept you from relaxing your hair?

It just wasn't necessary. When I did get relaxers, my hair would curl when wet anyway though. Kind of made the growing out process easier.

Flat Ironed Hair

If you have transitioned to natural what prompted you more from processed to natural hair?

I realized relaxers were stupid. It was also at a time in life where I think I was fed up with society wanting to pressure young women into fitting some crazy mold in general. It would make more sense that hair is stronger in its natural state, I decided to stop fighting against it.

How did you transition, did you big chop?

No big chop, I just let it grow out and trimmed regularly.

What are your earliest hair memories? How did these memories influence your hair journey today?

Painful! Ha! My earliest hair memories were the battles and stand-offs between my mother and I just for her to comb it, let alone wash it.

What does having natural hair mean to you?

Honestly, I'm not one to look at it that deeply. My hair is my hair. I like it, I appreciate it, I care for it, but I don't think it means anything other than I have curly hair and am comfortable with it as is. If anything, when women who have experienced their own hair liberation say I played a part in them reaching it, THAT is an absolute honour.

How do you keep your hair looking so good?

I cleanse and I moisturise. Seriously. I know natural hair as a culture is relatively new and naturalistas have a tendency to go insane looking for the next great thing, but I kind of feel like hair is still just hair and requires the same basic needs. I also think too much hair fuss is counter-productive and harms hair health and limits growth. Everyone has different strengths and deficiencies that they must cater to. For me, I cleanse once a week and deep condition after. I moisturise with ingredients such as Aloe, Olive/Vitamin E/Castor oils (depending on the concoction) throughout the week, and trim my ends twice a year... that’s what works for me.