(Blooming Entrepreneurs) “We as black women go through so much stuff when it comes to our hair. Most of us didn’t learn about the true and glorious potential of our hair growing up…”
Blooming Entrepreneurs, Washington, DC, Women, Women Owned Businesses

Kia Marie has an amazing YouTube Channel (Hairitage93) that focuses on natural care, beauty and wellness. To learn more AND support, visit her channel here! “I straightened my hair for the first time in two years. The last time I straightened it, I had to cut off so much damage which was disappointing because I had been natural for almost four years. A lot of people knew me for having...

“I started running and lost 10 lbs, but I had a relaxer. I wanted to figure something out because exercising and having a relaxer wasn’t going to work…”
Arkansas, Little Rock, Women

“I was a nutrition major in college, so I did a dietetic internship with a local medical school one summer. There were 12 of us and only two people of color. The other women in the program women were runners and really focused on exercise which inspired me to get into running as well. I started running and lost 10 lbs, but I had a relaxer. I wanted to figure something out because exercising and having a relaxer wasn’t going to work. I’d gotten to the point where I would work and look good body wise, but my hair always looked a mess. At that point, I realized that I wanted to go natural and did a ton of research on the process of transitioning. I expected to literally just wake up, shake my hair and go. To be honest, I thought that it was going to be easier but it was nothing like that at all.”

(Blooming Entrepreneurs) “I have hypothyroidism, so my hair continues to get thin. At the time, it was getting hard to manage because I work out almost everyday…”
Baltimore, Blooming Entrepreneurs, Maryland, Women, Women Owned Businesses

Dawn is doing some amazing work in the Baltimore, MD area via her business, Compassionately Creative. Definitely make sure to check out her work and (of course) support if you’re in the Baltimore, MD (DMV) area! “I cut my hair around my birthday in April 2016. I’ve had it short before, but never this short. I have hypothyroidism, so my hair continues to get thin. At the time, it was getting...

(Blooming Entrepreneurs) “The hair change and the weight change made me feel like I wanted to be a dance fitness instructor, specifically a Zumba instructor….”
Blooming Entrepreneurs, Washington, DC, Women, Women Owned Businesses

Chandra Hampton is a ball of inspirational energy!  A friend recently introduced us during the Athleta Presents: Style Evolution Fall Fashion Show. Chandra is  Zumba Fitness instructor who currently serves as a brand ambassador for Athleta and is the founder of Champion Lifestyle Fitness. This year she was awarded Best Dance Class 2017 by the Washington City Paper. Her story is truly inspirational and I thank her for taking out time to chat...

“I cut my hair two weeks ago and it’s growing back already. My sister is battling Stage IV lung cancer, so she lost all of her hair…”
Washington, DC, Women

Sending strength, love and healing energy to the sister of this beautiful lady. Thank you for sharing your story.

“I cut my hair two weeks ago and it’s growing back already. My sister is battling Stage IV lung cancer, so she lost all of her hair due to the radiation treatments on her brain. She’s only 27 and we’re both natural hair enthusiasts, so losing all of her hair was really hard. Essentially, some of her identity was lost because she’s really into beauty and fashion. She’s a makeup artist, so I could tell that her soul wasn’t fully ready for the change although hair loss is a side effect of the radiation. Losing her hair made the sickness real which made her feel sick. She’s been going through a lot this year, so I shaved my hair too.

My hair was bright pink prior to shaving it. One day my sister said, ‘you should dye your hair pink’ and I was like ‘okay, whatever makes you happy’ so we both had pink hair. After a while, the radiation treatments made her hair bone straight which was an adjustment because she always had really curly, thick full hair. It’s been a hair journey since she was diagnosed in December, so that’s why I shaved it all off. I surprised her and went to Richmond, VA where she lives. I went down there to shave what was left of her hair and then we took pictures together.”
Blooming Entrepreneurs, Women, Women Owned Businesses

It’s Friday (TGIF!) and as I prepare wind down for the weekend, what better way to do so then with a podcast?  Back in 2013, I wasn’t aware of the impact that transitioning to natural hair would have on my personal development, self-care and wellness routines. Needless to say, I became engrossed with learning about the best hair care products and routines from my fellow naturalistas on the Internet via...

“Both of my parents are health nuts, so I’ve been natural all my life…”
Washington, DC, Women

“You caught me while I was sitting here with my eyes closed in the park enjoying the warmth of the sun before the weather gets too cold.

Both of my parents are health nuts, so I’ve been natural all my life. Being natural hasn’t really impacted the way that I live because it’s really the only lifestyle that I know. If having natural hair inspires more women of color to live a healthy and organic lifestyle then that’s definitely a good thing.”