LINDA: More than a dragon slayer interview

                                                        

Linda is 25, a Haitian American, College Student, Lover, Daughter, Friend, Retired Poet, Music Lover, Sports Lover, all great things. But, after you read about this one day in her life, I want you to remember these words as her final words and to believe them as much as she does, and as much as I do: “It was a rather emotional experience, but I did not allow any tears to fall. I did not want to feel defeated. I used it as motivation to make sure I finish school and accomplish my goals. Most importantly, to make sure I own my own company and become my own boss.”

NOW BACK TO THE HAIR JOURNEY.

I am hurt….

I went to an interview today for a supervisor position at a hotel. I won’t name the well-known corporation but at least everyone has stayed at one of their properties. The interview went well. I met with HR, a manager, and the Director of F&B. They wanted me to meet with the Manager of the hotel but he stepped out. So, I waited for a few minutes and then they hit me with this: 

We are interested in offering you the position. We all agreed you would be a great asset to our organization. BUT before we move further we wanted to read to you our policy and procedures. We don’t allow cornrows as per policy. *touches my locs.*  Oh, and dreadlocks. So, is there a possibility that you cannot have them anymore in order for us to move forward????

I have never, EVER dealt with something like that. Then, it brought me back to conversations I have had with some friends about looking the part in order to get certain jobs. I looked around the lobby and saw blond hair and blue eyes all around. I saw a few “dark faces” but they all had their permed hair pulled back in buns. This is not happening right now. I was praised for my degrees and experience but knocked all the way back down because of my locs.

My response:

This has been an ongoing spiritual process for 6 years. I don’t see myself cutting them anytime soon. I am grateful for the offer but I don’t believe we will be able to move forward. I never expected my hair to be such a setback nor trump my experience and qualifications. Thank you for the opportunity and taking the time out to see me. Have a great day.

I
am hurt and am not sure how to react right now.

The drunkenenigma Speaks Soberly In His Interview

                                                    

I've been locking for almost 6 years.
They started from the little baby gel twists to what you see now. It took a lot to get where I’m at now with my hair in its current state.

They have helped me with the women, especially in this era where everyone is attracted to natural individuals. Though, I have my locs, I'm still the same goofy individual I was before them, slightly more mature.

I haven’t had any issues with getting employed because of my hair, but more so because of my peircing. Where I’m from, DC, everyone has them so I tend to think I look like everyone else around here. I want my hair to grow to about my mid section then I’ll just keep them trimmed at that length. My friends with longer locs tend to have issues.

The issues they have with them is sitting on them and how heavy they tend to be. All in all, I love my hair and wouldn’t change it for the world.

Craig Boatwright, Natural Stylist/Self Esteem Specialist Interview

 Model: Chrisandra Wells

                                                              Photographer: Ashley Naomi,
                                                                Makeup Artist: Jewel Whinfield
                                                           Dress: Cassandra Bromfield

1. Where is your business based and how long have you been working there?

My business is based in New York City, (Locks & Chops Natural Hair Salon) and I've been a Natural Stylist /Self-Esteem Specialist for 20 years.

2. When did you realize you had a talent for working with natural hair and have you ever worked with anything other than natural hair?

My confirmation was upon entering a natural hair competition in Atlanta, Georgia. An elder bearing witness to one of my styles told me, "Today, you have made your ancestors very proud."

3. You are an expert in your field and use your talents to create 'cultural expression.' Can you explain to the readers what does that statement mean to you?

I feel that anyone that styles natural hair, sees it as a service to the community, and has an integrity around it, is forced to have cultural expression.

4. You have been featured in several magazines, books, such as "Authentic Hair" with Ademola Mendala, what was that experience like for you?

It was the first time that I knew my images were going to be published in a composite of work that I knew would be groundbreaking. For Ademola to share his vision with his students, made the relationship official.

5. In my research, I have found people dislike the term 'dreadlocks' and 'dreads.' What are your feelings on the use of these words to describe a particular hairstyle?

When it comes to African Hair, there's nothing dreadful about it.

6. Your clientelle consist of both men and women - is there a difference between the genders as to how they view their natural hair i.e. women seem to care more about products and maintenance then men or vice versa?

There will always be comparisons between the genders but the love of self, the love of healthy hair, and the honoring of one's God-given hair, usually brings forth more similarities than differences.

7. Is there a particular client or event you are particularly proud of working with or on?

TEAM BLACK. Team BLACK is a network whose time has come. I founded this brainchild, but the weight of this revolution rests on the total of five trailblazers in the hair care industry. The collective was founded in 2010 after observing the growing complacency and individualism in the industry. Propelled by the desire and talent to make a difference, these five extraordinary stylists (with home-bases in different states) decided to be the change we wanted to see. We have forged a bond with the shared commitment of providing mentorship to professionals new to the hair care industry, as well as elevating the conversation forward for the whole—with cutting edge techniques, standard curriculum, and honoring a legacy. More than just business colleagues, these teammates are family—sharing moral support, even helping each other to secure business. In a time where every stylist just for self seems to be the rule, Team BLACK is the exception.

8. Will you share a sample of your work with us and how much time and effort you put into your meticulous artistic work?

The process in creating a 'classic' for me usually starts with a dream. Being born under the zodiac sign of Pisces, I feel 'Ive always been a dreamer. When creativity doesn't come easily, I usually pray on it. Once the dream becomes a vision, I have to choose the right model, make up artist,  photographer, and music to vibe to, which is usually a recipe for a 'LOCstar'!

9. Finally, is there anything you want to tell people who wear locs that will help them to live their lives loving their locks?

Take responsibility for YOUR reality and love YOUR hair.

Angel's Interview: Second Time Around.

Angel.
 22 years young.
 Professional self-proclaimed day dreamer. Ex people pleaser.

We are the only ones standing in our own way when it comes to matters of the heart or what we really want to do and accomplish in our lifetimes. Why sit in misery, mope around and complain about something when all we have to do is put in the foot work to achieve those ambitions.

In September of 2010, I started the journey to my natural crown. Why? Ever since I was young, I’ve always secretly coveted over women with natural hair. It’s gorgeous, versatile, crazy, sexy, cool, sophisticated, and yes, it’s that serious. I love my thick fro, but having big hair just isn’t doing it for me anymore. I would blog stalk anybody who adorned a natural crown and only lusted over the people who had locs. Short, long, cut, curled; whatever the style was, I deemed it to be Jah’s greatest gift to man and only wished that my hair could twist and connect in the same way.

June 26, 2011, I started my first set of locs but it only lasted for five months. The urge to play in my loose hair overcame me since I was severely bored. I regret taking my first set down, but if you don’t succeed, try again. So here is my second set which I am so very proud of. They are perfect to me in all aspects. I can care less about the negativity that I receive for locking my hair again. My only prayer is that I don’t take them out anytime soon. ;-)

***My Commentary***
I love this interview because she gave something (locs, in this case) a second chance. So many times in life we give up on things we want because the first attempt was not what we expected or we began to long for the old; what was familiar. That is okay too. I mean, just reaching out and grasping what you want beats not doing it at all. But, there are times when we need to give things in life a second chance and that's why I like this interview so much.

I am so thankful Angel shared her story with us.

Tashymatryoshka Interview: Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

Sometimes life throws us a curveball. The unexpected can happen at any given time. There are those that will be crushed by the weight of misfortune and then there are those who can roll with the punches and come out on the other side better for the experience. This is just such a person and situation.                                                                                                                    
I have wanted dreadlocks for a while now, but the reason I decided to do them now is due to severe hair breakage due to bleaching. I had white hair for a while but one day whilst bleaching it as normal some of the hair broke off near the root.

So, I thought that if I dreaded it it would strengthen it until the short bits had grown out. Now I have done it I am totally in love with them and I want to keep them until they are really long. I have since added beads, cuffs and threads to them and I get so many compliments on them, especially from older people!

** my note: People seem to always ask the question: "Why did you do your hair like that?"
I hope the followers of this project are gaining the understanding to the above question. The reason for people deciding to wear locs/dreads is as varied and individual as the wearer themselves, but they all seem to love them no matter their reason for choosing the hairstyle.

T.J. Madd Interview: Wisdom Shared

                                                       

T.J. Madd

Bio

•19 years old

•Second Year Clinical Psychology Student

•Small village outside of Cleveland, Ohio

•Co-Owner of a small Not-For-Profit business

Love for Locs

•I wasn’t always so fond of dreadlocks; I grew up being taught that they were filthy.  Society always stressed the European style of beauty: women’s hair silky straight and men’s buzz-cut low.  I was a part of that mold; incessantly shaving my hair bi-weekly to become someone I naturally couldn’t be – to fit into a group to which I was naturally pariah.  It took me 17 years to realize that the burn of bruised hairlines and the sight of floors drowned in dead hair wasn’t how I’d wanted to spend my Sunday evenings.  That’s when I decided to lock my hair - it was the only choice that made sense. 

My uncle, also a Dreadhead, use to tell me, “A man without hair is like a tree without leaves.”  I know now that he completely stole that quote but its message still rings true to me: the strength of a man is measured in every facet of his being and by cutting his hair he is essentially severing his strength. I lock my hair to show my strength to the world: to illustrate that in this journey from awkwardness to confidence, I am a strong and proud man.

•I’ve been locking since October 9, 2010.  It was a practical decision at the expense of defying my mother.  She was always against it.  Two years later and she’s still calling them “those things”.  I think they’re cool: 203 extensions of individual personality growing from my head with no intentions of stopping.  It was 207, but my thin hair forced me to combine a few. To future Dreadheads, my only suggestion is that you know that the decision to lock is your own.  Trying to fit in with a movement or be different might be cool at the moment, but down the road when you wake up on those hair “what-the-heck” days, severing your strength will be that much easier.

You’re free to use the picture of me in the purple/lavender/whatever color shirt.  Also, if this isn’t what you were looking for I’d be happy to rewrite something or add to it.

Have no doubt, T.J. Madd, your interview is just perfect and will reach a lot of people at their core. Proud to have had the opportunity to read your story.

SoulOfPoetry Interview from my Tumblr Page

                                                                 

I had always wanted locs since I was young. My favorite artist, India Arie, was my true inspiration. Growing up I had so many complexities about my skin tone. I use to hate how dark I was because people treated me differently from my sister. I remember one night I told my mother and she told me something I’ll never forget ”You are beautiful! You are loved, in every way that you are. You are blessed to have beautiful skin.” When I accepted that, I began to truly embrace my heritage, my culture, and I wanted to go natural because that’s who I am. I didn’t want to be ashamed any longer.

Though my family didn't support my natural hair journey (this was before it became a fad) I grew so much from it because I didn’t have support. I wouldn’t trade my locs in for the world. Just loving the skin I’m in.