Mar. 2006 Spotlight - Caisha

1. How long have you been natural?

I have been Natural since May of 2004. I didn't transition at all. I had been feeling very frustrated with my hair for about 2 months prior and I didn't relax it at all for those couple months. Then I cut off my hair which was bra strap length at the time, to the new growth. I really liked the look but someone suggested that I get a texturizer and when I put it in my hair, no joke, 1 half of my hair was curly and the other half was BONE STRAIT! Of course I couldn't walk around looking like that, so I just went to the barber shop and told him to give me an even low cut all over. I just let it grow out from that and I have been natural ever since!

2. What was the factor(s) that made you stop relaxing your hair?

I got tired of dealing with hair, period. For those 2 months I tied my hair up in a head wrap and didn't touch it at all (imagine how it was looking!). I figured that natural hair would be easier to manage and deal with i.e. no blow drying, flat ironing, waiting all day long in a salon to get my hair done, etc. Natural hair seemed like it was easier to style, just shake and go!

3. How do you maintain and take care of your hair?

Right now I am on a no-heat, protective style challenge. I wear my hair in twists and leave it alone. I conditioner wash 2x a week using the Stocking Cap Method (washing the twists with stocking cap on to minimize frizz- that way I won't have to re-do them everytime I wash). I usually re-twist once a week using Elasta QP Mango Butter and coconut oil. I must say that the whole Elasta QP line is the bomb!! They have cured my product junkie-ism!

4. Where have you received the most support for going natural?

When I first started growing my hair out, I was just like I was when I was in the 7th grade. You know how it was when you first started learning to do you own hair, you were totally clueless. I went to the internet for some help and wouldn't you know it, motowngirl.com was the first site that I came across. Your site was so informative especially with the styling how-to's (I needed that the most!!). I came to this site every single day! It really helped me as far as how to actually care for natural hair as well because as you know, you have to change your whole mind-set when it comes to dealing with and caring for natural hair. Longhaircareforum.com is also an invaluable tool of mine that has become a site I visit everyday. I get so much love and support from that board, I love it!

5. How did you friends/family/co-workers react to your natural hair initially?

My husband was all for it. He was really upset with me when I shaved all my hair off, so he was just happy to have me with hair on my head till he didn't care if it was nappy or not!! LOL! My parents have always been supportive of what I do with my hair. They take the stance of its your hair, do with it what you will. Now grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that's a different story. They just don't understand why I would "cut off all that pretty hair" and "walk around looking like that." They used to constantly ask me when I was going to relax my hair and I would politely say never. I guess they got tired of asking because now they just leave that subject alone. I just made it a point to never argue with anybody because it was pointless. After all it's MY hair and I do with it what I want, right?

6. Do you have any plans to change your hair in the near future?

I have no plans to change my hair. I don't want any locs and I don't plan on doing another Big Chop (my husband would have a stroke!!). I am trying to grow my hair as long as it can get.

7. What made you start your hair journal and how long have had it?

I kept seeing all these hair albums with these sisters sporting all this beautiful hair at Longhaircare.com and at Nappturality.com and they all inspired me to keep track of my own hair journey. I think it will be a great thing to be able to look back and see how far I've come as far as hair growth and styling (I'm still learning!). I started my album in December 2005. Here's the link.

8. Would you like to share any advice for newbies? (Do's and don't that worked for your etc.)

If you aren't getting any support in the "real world" go to cyber space and you can get all the love and support you need to stay natural. Visit and join hair boards because you will get tons of information about hair care, especially the ones targeted specifically at natural hair i.e. motowngirl.com and nappturality.com just to name a few.
Don't let anybody's negativity get to you. Just be your own person and others will respect you more for it!

9. Any final thoughts?
I would like to thank all the ladies at Longhaircareforum.com for all their support and helpful tips and advise. You all have really helped me learn what to do with all this hair that I have been blessed to have!

I especially want to thank you, MotownGirl for having such a WONDERFUL website that really kept me inspired to stay natural. I don't think I would have been able to maintain my naturalness without your site when I was first getting started. I would look at your progress through the years and saw how beautiful it looked and you made me want to keep going! Keep on doing your thang, girl!

Peace!

Check out Caisha's hair journal and her very successful business: GrowthSpecifics.com!

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