Naturally Fierce Feature: Shera

My name is Shera (long e sound), and I’m from Pennsylvania. I am currently a Health Coach living in Chicago. I help woman to unleash their inner sun power to achieve overall health and wellness physically, mentally, and spiritually. I eat mostly vegan foods, but I do eat dairy and meat from time to time. I enjoy various genres of music, running, yoga, meditation, and cooking. My favorite color is gray and my favorite book is “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. I’m addicted to tea with honey and coconut milk.

How long have you been natural?

I will hit my two year mark on July 1 of this year.

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

When I BC’d, I didn’t even know there was a term for it.  I knew nothing about the natural hair community.  I truly cut off all of my hair because I wanted to know who I was without it.  I wanted to find the sun within myself without feeling like I had to look a certain way.  I realized that I was too wrapped up in my hair and how it made me look, and I knew that wasn’t who I was or who I wanted to be.  When I was in the 11^thgrade, I cut off all of my hair to prove to other people that hair didn’t make the person, but no one understood the message.   This time, I cut my hair because I wanted to prove to myself that I was more than my hair, and I got the message.  It no longer matters who else does.

 

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

 

 

What are some of your favorite hairstyles?
It’s odd because I don’t have a favorite style!  Sometimes I like twists, other times I want it pinned up, and other times I just WNG.  I think I do WNG’s more than any other style.

 

What have your experiences been as a “natural?” Any memorable reactions from family or others?

What is your hair regimen (including fav products)?

My regimen seems to always change as my hair grows out.  Right now I like to pre-poo with a blend of oils (coconut, castor, apricot, oxygenated olive oil), detangle with Blensblend 3-1 Conditioner, and then I wash with either ACV and Indian Clay (Bentonite clay), Dadu-Osum, or Clear Scalp Therapy shampoos. I next condition with the Blensblend 3-1 Conditioner, then deep condition with Shea Moisture’s Anti-Breakage Masque.  Next, I wring the water from my hair and saturate with aloe vera juice, seal with coconut oil, and then add a mixture of the Blendsblend 3-1 Conditioner and aloe vera juice to seal.  I know sealing with a leave-in sounds weird, but this is working for me right now.  Sealing with the coconut oil last wasn’t as awesome.  My favorites right now are aloe vera juice and the Blensblend, although I like the Blensblend better as a leave-in mixed with the aloe vera juice versus a detangler and rinse-out.  I’m on the hunt for a better detangling conditioner.

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

Of course I like CurlyNikki’s site.  My fav YouTubers are MahoganyKnots because she is hilarious, Ballerina1 (the creator of the Blensblend line), Naptural85, NappilyEvaAfta, DenimPixie, and Shameless Maya, even though she just recently shaved all her hair off.

Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?

Although cutting off my hair has been a part of my self-discovery, it doesn’t mean that it’s the way for everyone.  With going “natural” being such a trend these days, I urge women to really and truly understand that going natural doesn’t necessarily mean mental elevation and reaching a deeper connection to self.  Cutting off all of your hair just to get curls like so-and-so is the same as wanting to get the 12” Velvet Virgin Indian Remy because so-and-so had it in.  There is nothing wrong with following trends, but for those looking to gain a higher sense of self, it’s important to understand that it is much more than the hair or lack thereof.   Also, for those wanting to chop off all of their hair to show people that you can still be you and that you are more than your hair, I wouldn’t suggest it.  In essence, that is not really cutting your hair off for you, it’s to prove things that you already know about yourself to other people, and enlightenment doesn’t come from proving anything to outsiders, but from proving things to yourself.  Going natural for me was about stripping my mentality of the materialistic values that I had imposed on myself. I am still learning and growing, liberating myself through nourishing my inner sun power every day.

How does your husband feel about you going natural?

He absolutely loves it.  He has been a major part of my hair journey and has made it a point to be included.   He knows what some of the popular hairstyles and brands, makes it a point to recognize if I’ve done something new, which is really cute, and he’s washed and conditioned it for me too.  In many ways it has brought us closer together.

Where can people find you for more information?
I have a blog on my Health Coaching website, where I post tons of health related information.  I also have a bomb ass group on Facebook called She’s Lively Running Group (SLRG), where women are coming together to inspire and motivate.  The group isn’t just for runners, but supports all physical activities.  We have monthly food, health, and spiritual challenges.  I have a Youtube channel that docs my natural hair journey.  I’m also on IG: shes-lively, FB: ShesLivelyChicago, and Twitter: @shes_lively.