Our Inspiration for this week is the lovely Justmargie, we at GAHL just love your hair and we are so honored to be able to share your journey with our readers. Thank you :)
- Have you always been natural? If not what made you go natural?
I had natural hair since I was a kid but relaxed it when I joined high
school because relaxed hair was then easier to maintain in school. However, my fear
was always going to the salon for the process of relaxing and I used to cry a
lot because it felt like my hair was on fire!! After high school, I continued
relaxing my hair twice a year and when I joined campus, I kept starting the
transitioning journey but would always relapse. Finally, in 2013, I decided to
chop of my hair completely and start a fresh. I didn’t like how my relaxed hair
looked and I also saw it as a mark of a new beginning since around the same
time, I had made very critical resolutions for myself. And that is how my
natural hair journey began.
- Your hair always looks so healthy, are you on a healthy hair journey? What inspired you to start one?
One of the main reasons I cut my hair was because it was unhealthy. So
healthy hair has always been my goal. Health over length anytime.
- Do you have a hair routine? How easy was it getting into a regimen, knowing the right products etc?
When I did the BC, I
stuck to a very easy routine where I only washed my hair with conditioner, then
a deep conditioned every week and I would apply a mixture of coconut oil, olive
oil and castor oil every day. I kept it very simple and it worked. As my hair
grew, I became open to adding more products into my regimen. The longer your
hair grows, the more you must care for it. So, my washdays reduced to once a
fortnight and I fell in love with Tres Semme products so I used them as shampoo
and conditioner and they worked. Till today, they are the constant products
(plus the three oils) in my regimen though I experiment occasionally with other
products as well.
- How do you fit hair care into your busy lifestyle?
I have one free day
in a week and that day has become my self-care day. On this day, I make time
for my hair and prep it for the week.
- Do you believe in such a thing as bad hair? Do you believe that African/ black women have good hair?
There is no such
thing as bad hair. I believe that when women understand their hair type they
will understand their hair needs and that will lead to flourishing hair. All-natural
hair, no matter the type, is beautiful.
- What have you learnt about healthy hair care that you would love to share with African women, especially those who want to start a natural hair journey?
The most important
thing I would tell a new natural is that they should start by understanding
their hair type. This will enable them find simple products that work for their
hair. They should also keep it simple.
- What goals do you have for your hair?
I didn’t know how
versatile natural hair is until I began this journey. So, I want to challenge
myself to experiment new hairstyles every day with my natural hair.
- Do you do your own hair? What is your favourite natural hairstyle and why?
Yes, I do my own hair
most of the times and my favourite style is twist outs because they are just
simple to do.
- Do you have a hair idol? Who and why?
Hair idol? Not quite
;-)
- Did you always believe that you could grow a huge Afro? What changed your mind?
I didn’t know I would
grow a huge afro. In fact, when I did the big chop, I was absolutely clueless
on what the natural hair journey entailed and I did a lot of box braids
instead. However, I have learnt something new every day and my boyfriend, who
has been my big support system throughout, has always encouraged me to leave my
natural hair open and flaunt it.
- Is there a product you can’t live without?
Water and Coconut oil
- Do you think natural hair is expensive to keep?
No; if you understand
what your hair needs, then you will not be swayed to be a product junkie. You
will only buy what you need.
- Do you have hair goals?
Yes, to have a head with big healthy afro
(like we see on magazine covers).
Follow just margie on Instagram @justmargie
Blog Justmargie.com
Follow just margie on Instagram @justmargie
Blog Justmargie.com
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