Naturally Fierce Feature: Journee

 “I WAS NATURAL BEFORE THE HYPE!”

My name is Gail, but everyone calls me Journee because I love to travel and I am always on the move. I have been like that since I was a child. My dad was in the Air Force, so I have lived a little bit of everywhere. I presently reside in Macon, GA, about an hour from Atlanta.

My hair journey has probably included every bad style possible from the Farrah Fawcett wings, to the mushroom, to a short do with finger waves.

How long have you been natural?
​I have been natural for 14 years and I have been growing my locs for 12 years.

What motivated you to transition? Were you a transistioner or a Big Chopper and why?
My transition was for several reasons. I was dating someone that introduced me to a different culture than what I was used to. Growing up on military bases I was around more white people than black. All through elementary school and some of my junior high years, I was the only black person in the class. He introduced me to Spoken Word, Egyptology and the African Culture. I was so taken with how beautiful these sisters were with their afros, dreadlocks and plaits; I wanted to have them too. I never was someone that was so obsessed with having long, flowing straight hair or that I had to have long straight hair to be considered beautiful. The other reasons were the amount of time I had to sit in the salon on the weekends to get a relaxer and style, and how soon my hair returned back to its natural state once I walked outside in the heat. I have very thick, coarse hair and it took a lot to maintain it even with a relaxer. The last time I was in the salon, I was there from 9:00 am – 11:00 p.m. that night. I have not had a relaxer since. I was a Big Chopper. I wanted to start fresh, and have it all transition at the same time instead of having curly roots and straight ends.

What has been the most memorable part of your journey? Has it been easy or difficult or both?
I think the most memorable part of my journey would be watching my hair lock. I know everyone’s hair is not able to lock and when mine begin to change, I felt like heyyyyy… I am a special type of chick! My journey has been nothing but easy. I cannot recall ever thinking that I wanted to go back to getting relaxers and that the in between stage was too much for me to handle. I relished in how beautiful my locs were becoming. It has been a very spiritual journey for me as well. Some people go natural or lock their hair for the “look” of it. For others like me, it is much deeper than that. It was not a fashion statement or a political statement for me. Instead it was a serious spiritual commitment that was not to be taken lightly. It was about representing who I was, not being afraid to represent my culture, keeping my culture and wearing my natural hair with pride and having respect for myself. The only difficult part of this journey was that the person who introduced me to this culture, my soul mate, died in a car accident in 2003, and was not able to see how I evolved.

What are some of your favorite transitioning hairstyles or current dos?
After I cut my hair off, I started using a texturizer cream called Black and Sassy to add some curl and definition. I could either wear it curly or spike it up with clear gel. I also wore double strand twists that were twisted with afro kinky hair or corn rows. I refused to wear any weave that did not look like natural hair as I felt it would diminish my mission and goal. If I wanted straight, long hair, I would have kept my hair and continued to get relaxers.

My current dos consist of a big bun on the top of my head, braided styles, spiraled telephone cord curls and faux Mohawks.

What have your experiences been as a “natural”? Any memorable reactions from family or others?
My experiences have been very memorable! So many to name! I get compliments everywhere I go on my hair and how some people wish they had the discipline to do the same. One of my favorite memories is when I went to Jamaica for vacation and the Jamaicans actually thought I was one of them because of my hair, knowledge and spirit. That made me feel really good.

My family has been very accepting of my hair except my dad. He did not understand what I was trying to do. He didn’t like the fact I would have to cut all my hair off if I decided to change my style. Every now and then he makes little comments, but I pay him no attention. Funny thing is we were not allowed to relax our hair until we were in Junior High because of him. He did not want any chemicals in our hair. Now, he wants me to get a relaxer. Funny how times change.

How has dating while natural been for you?
I don’t know if my dating horror stories were because of my locs or just horrific because I always choose the wrong men. Lol… What I can say though is I have had different reactions from men. Some tell me they prefer women to have perms because they have encountered women before that had dreadlocks and they smelled funny or were dirty, or they like to run their fingers through their hair. I have had some men tell me they were intimidated by me because of my hair. They felt like I would be “Sister Souljah” too independent and not know when or how to be submissive. And then I have the men in my life that love and prefer natural women with knowledge and substance…and tattoos. I have 13 tattoos to go along with this head full of dreadlocks, so they better be just as strong as me.

What is your hair regimen (including fav products)?
My hair regimen is very simple, I wash my hair 3 maybe 4 times a month with Taliah Waajid black shampoo and I use the Taliah Waajid healing oil as a hot oil treatment. My locs are palm rolled or interlocked once a month. I don’t like to get them maintained too often as I don’t want my locs to be thin and pop, and I don’t like them to be too neat. I like to get them interlocked because it lasts so much longer for me than palm rolling. I work out 5 or 6 days a week and it is hard to keep my roots neat. I am also very particular about who maintains my locs. I have only had 5 locticians to maintain my locs in 12 years, but I still go to the same person that started my locs when she is available. I was told by some of my African sisters that you do not want to have a lot of people’s hands in your locs as it can generate negative energy and I sure didn’t want that!
 
What are some of your favorite natural hair websites, You Tuber’s or blogs?
My favorite natural hair bloggers are Francesca Ramsey, Longhairdontcare2011, Hair Crush and BeautifulBrwnBabyDol. On You Tube I look at Natural Up do videos, Dreadlock Journeys and Watch Me Style My Natural.

Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?
Going back to my natural was the best thing I could have done. I love my natural hair, I love my blackness, and I love the spiritual nature and the culture of men and women that embrace it. I attend the World Natural Hair shows twice a year and it warms my heart to see all of the beautiful sisters and brothers in their different stages of natural. I know being natural is not for everyone. But if there is ever a remote thought in the back of your mind, you need to explore it. There is so much information out there in blogs and You Tube videos to make a uniformed, educated decision on the pros of being natural.

I would also like your readers to know that I make oversized shower caps for people with locs, afros or braids. It is not your normal oversized shower cap at all. It is a very unique cap that I acquired a trademark and patent for, and they took off bigger than I thought, which was a blessing. I am sold out at the moment, but I am taking orders.

Where can people find you for more information?
Instagram – gailboo_is_journee,
Email – journeezion@yahoo.com, Mobile phone 478) 461-6148

Peace and blessings!


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