Name: Kenyada Jones
Location: Virginia, USA
Blog/website: www.alltressedup.net
Profession: Mommy, Computer Trainer, Professor, Hairstylist
When, why and how did you go natural?
My natural journey began in undergrad with many unsuccessful attempts. It was only until the discovery of my pregnancy in 2002 that I decided to end my relationship with relaxers. I was aware that relaxers were in fact chemicals and so I chose not to use them for the sake of my unborn child. Knowing full well that the chemicals would seep into my skin, I could not rightfully expose my unborn child to those chemicals not knowing the true side effects. It was my time.
What was the hardest part of your journey?
The most difficult part of the natural journey is acceptance and resisting the relaxer. I had no idea how my God-given texture would feel or how it would look. Once it began to coil from my scalp, it was a pleasant surprise. The process of accepting my natural beauty began.
I admittedly rekindled my relationship with relaxers after noticing the extreme amount of length I had gained. I opted to relax it to ‘see how long it was’. I loved it for a week and then I despised it. One thing about natural hair – you wake up not knowing how it will behave or what it is going to do. With my relaxed tresses, I simply got bored. After some time playing with my wispy and boring (personal opinion) relaxed hair, I chopped it off (BC-style) and here I am.
And the best part?
As I alluded to earlier, natural hair is spontaneous. You never know what you’re going to get. I walk with pride knowing that I am adorning a crown that my Creator gave to me. I acknowledge that my hair was no mistake. I work with it, I rock it, I love it!
What did your hair journey teach you?
This hair journey taught me (similar to many lessons in life) that everything happens for a reason. I failed to ‘go natural’ multiple times throughout college. It was only until I was blessed with bringing forth life that I was able to succeed in this journey. My decision to love my natural tresses has taught me lessons of patience and gratitude and has also enabled me to embrace the natural woman that I am.
I walk with pride, confidence and no remorse for who I am.
Describe your worse hairdo and your best hairdo and please include a picture if you can.
Worse hairdo –
WOW! Okay, I was big on highlight kits and always wanted to go blonde. I applied the highlight kit to my entire head. Yes, I achieved blonde, but not the color I wanted. I then decided to cover it up with…DARK BROWN. The things we forget when in a time crunch. My hair was GREEN. Fortunately, I was never afraid to cut my hair. So, I cut it and had to die it RED. I liked it for awhile and at the time Eve was doing the same thing so it appeared as if I was fashion forward…LOL! (Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of this style.)
Best hairdo –
I cannot choose. Since going natural, I have not been an official client of a salon. I primarily do my own hair and try to change it up regularly. I just love my hair and the versatility it brings.
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