Naturally Fierce Feature: India

September 18, 2015

1. Tell me a little about yourself and your hair journey. (Name, where you’re from, etc)

My name is India Favorite, and I’m originally from Harvey, Louisiana, but I’ve resided in New Orleans for the majority of my life. I am 26 years old. My hair journey has definitely been life changing. My mom must have really known the struggle with maintaining all of this hair on my head, because as soon as I turned 5 and had the chance, she slapped that Just for Me Relaxer in my hair with a quickness! Lol. Now that I’m older and do my own hair of course, it is probably one of the best unintentional decisions I’ve ever made in my life. I feel it has changed my experience completely as a black woman. For example, getting caught in the rain with no umbrella, can turn into the highlight of my day, as I run to my car with a huge smile on my face. Am I too old to play in the rain at 26? Who cares. 😀

2. How long have you been natural? Have you always embraced your curls?

I have been natural for almost five years now. I always wanted curls, because my mom and brother have soft curly hair, the real wet-it-and-go kind. I’d gone all my life thinking I’d gotten the short end of the stick when it came to having pretty curls. I was soooo wrong.

3. What motivated you to transition? Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper& why?

My story is a little different from other naturals, I find. I never thought I could or would go natural, as I recall saying his to my friends. However, I was in college at the time, and would go to the hairdresser every few months to get a relaxer. I was always a roller-wrap kind of girl. Where I was living, I wasn’t really satisfied with how they did my hair. I would either sit in the shop for HOURS waiting for my roller wrap, or would go to another place where they would just flatiron my hair to get me out of the chair quicker instead of roll it. I didn’t like that, because I could whip my hair with a flatiron myself, and do it the way I liked it. At one point, I even asked if she could just relax it for me, and I could finish the rest at home (for a cheaper price, of course lol) Surely, she said it would still be $65, so that didn’t work out.

Eventually, I decided to buy some Hawaiian Silky Relaxer and let my friend do it for me. I’d probably gone about three months without it, and I had plenty new growth. Not knowing it would be my last relaxer, she put it in on December 10, 2010. When I took my hair down the next morning, we realized it did not take all the way, because my roots were still wavy.

From that point on, I was doing my regular wash and flat iron once a week, or had my girl roll it for me. I was able to maintain the new growth, to where it was not really an issue not having a relaxer, and I was saving money just doing my hair myself. The next thing I knew, about 4 months had gone by, and I could see a really nice curl pattern in my hair, so that’s when I decided to hold off on the Hawaiian Silky and try to grow it out. It was November when I decided I had gone long enough, and I cut my hair into a bob.

I still had about 2 inches of relaxed hair, but I was wearing my hair in a fro, doing wash and gos. I thought it was cute at the time, but when I look back now, my hair was looking crazy with those straight pieces on the ends, lol. Once I cut the last few inches off, it was a total game changer and a whole new head of hair. From then on, the rest is history.

4. How would you describe your hair?

My curls are spirally and my hair is EXTREMELY thick, so I hear. I don’t really go by the chart, but if someone asked, I would say between 3c-4a hair.

5. What do you love most about your hair?

I love how huge my hair is and how defined my curls are without much manipulation. It’s like my mane, and truly my crown. I really should be careful, though. I’d always felt like my hair was my security blanket when it was long and straight. Now that it’s so huge and curly, it’s a total game changer. I have to keep in my what my soulmate, India Arie, said, that I am not my hair.

6. What has been the most memorable part of your journey?Has it been easy or difficult or both?!

I think the most memorable thing that I will always hold on to is the fact that I had no idea that my hair would do this and be this beautiful. It’s like a gift from God. We spend so much time trying to fit society’s standards of beauty, that I went almost 20 years, chemically treating my hair to get rid of something so naturally beautiful and had no clue. It made me question what else do I try to fix or hide or treat? Realizing that I can be just me, without fake hair or chemically treated hair or fake nails or enhanced anything, I am fearfully and wonderfully made is His image and likeness. Wow! Definitely life changing and something I will always remember as I grow more into who I am and my purpose on this earth.

7. What are (or were) some of your favorite transitioning hairstyles or current dos’ ?

I have always been a wash and go kind of girl. I’m blessed, because I don’t have to manipulate my hair that much to get a good curl. This is awesome, because I have so much hair, and I don’t think I would have the patience to have to twist it or braid it or Bantu knot ALL of this hair on a daily/weekly basis. More power to the people that do it and do a good job. Out of the 5 years that I’ve been natural, I’ve only had one successful twist- out with tons of failed attempts. With my hair being so thick, the twists take FOREVER to dry. I’m talking: sit under the dryer for an hour, go to sleep, go to work the next day with the twists still in my hair and my hair tied up in a pretty scarf but people calling me Aunt Jemima (insert side eye), back under the dryer for another hour, go to sleep, then wake up the next morning and take them out, and THEY ARE STILL WET. (Insert side eye again) That’s two whole days!! It’s really a shame. Lol.

8. What have your experiences been as a ‘natural.’ Any memorable reactions from family or others?

Besides my Uncle yelling, “Go comb you hair, guh!”, my family and friends have been pretty supportive of it. One thing that did get to me in the beginning was getting more looks or stares. I was self-conscious and was wondering why everyone was looking at me. I would fix my clothes or wipe my nose and would need to check myself in the mirror. I really used to be all in my head. I had to realize that I have this beast on my head that’s a brand new thing, and is a statement piece or conversation starter and people are interested.

9. How is dating while natural?

I definitely get way more attention since I’ve gone natural. It’s definitely a conversation starter to say the least, whether they are pursuing me or not. It’s good for me though, because I can get more practice not being so awkward when I talk to guys, lol. But now that I think about it, my entire look has done a complete 180 degree turn. Since I cut my hair in November, 2011, I’ve also lost about 30lbs., so with the weight loss and new hair, it’s been a total game changer. My cousin/spiritual advisor/ life coach always said me, “It’s better to be a hot girl at 25 yrs. old, than 15!” That is my truth and she was not lying! I love seeing people who knew me before the hair and weight loss and their reactions to me now. It’s a cool feeling, especially with the guys who weren’t interested, but are now. Haa!!

10. What is your hair regimen (including fav products)?

Wash and gos are my go to hair regimen. I shampoo with a moisture rich shampoo. I’ve been using Tresemme Naturals Conditioner for a long time because of the good slip it gives, but now I am trying conditioners that are better for my hair. If they don’t have the slip I need to detangle my hair, I use gobs of coconut oil, and I find that REALLY helps to detangle my hair. I detangle in about seven sections: 2 at the bottom, 3 in the middle, and 2 at the top. I then rinse the conditioner and oil out, keeping the sections twisted. When done, I spray cold Aloe Vera juice and apply Cantu Leave In Conditioner and Cantu Curl Cream. I am definitely a Cantu girl to the max!

11. What are some of your favorite natural hair websites,YouTuber’s, or blogs?

When I first went natural, I went to Curly Nicki a lot. Over the years though, I’ve mainly looked to @naptural85 the most for my hair care. I love how she comes up with the different concoctions to treat her hair. Plus she has a ton of it, so watching how she maintains it and her progress has been really inspiring.

12. Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?

I want the readers to know that we are all beautiful just being ourselves and owning who and how God made us. We are all perfectly imperfect!! Try not to look at others and envy what they have, whether it’s hair, or style, or relationship, or career, because first off, you never know what others are going through, the path that they’re walking, and what it took to get there; and secondly, they are probably looking at you, wishing they had what you have. Be the best you, accept it, and own it!! And use it to your advantage! No one can do you better than you, boo!

13. Where can people find you for more information?

You can follow me on Instagram at @thenolanaturalista for my hair page, and @inny5hunned for my personal page. My site is under construction, but will be coming soon.