Confessions of a Naturalista: "Natural in Corporate America"

The author of this feature has chosen to leave her name anonymous as she shares her experience being natural in corporate America. She is an Associate Vice President at a Public Relations firm in New York City. She handles entertainment accounts -- primarily theatrical film campaigns and film festivals.  

My story:

I’ve worn my hair straight and permed since the second grade -- I still stand by the fact that my hair was too overwhelming for my multiracial mother whose hair is not quite like mine! (although she’d hate me for saying that). Unlike a lot of transition accounts, I never had any traumatizing experiences with relaxers. In fact my long, straight hair always looked pretty awesome. Nevertheless, I made the decision to let go of my perm at 25 -- which was an overall identity-exploring year for me in several aspects.

With permed hair I felt like a fraud and I hated myself for being disgusted with the hair that grew in when my perm grew out, partly because I recognized that that meant I hated a piece of me – so dramatic, right? Who am I? With a perm I actually felt more different than my fine-haired colleagues in having to wrap my hair at night on business trips in the occasional shared room, or in getting caught in the snow at Sundance where my co-workers would watch the texture of my hair change before their eyes. I felt like I was trying to hide something and convince everyone around me -- including myself -- that my hair was like theirs.

I wanted to be in a place where I didn’t need to run from the rain or the pool, or spend $70 upwards for a perm every six weeks. Most importantly I wanted to somehow find solace with/embrace my hair’s natural texture.

As an introverted person, I had a million fears of standing out in a negative way, but working in the entertainment industry was certainly on my side in that regard. I’ve been lucky in that my natural hair was wholly embraced at the office – ugly phase and all -- probably because it seemed different and edgy. After years at the firm of always being the baby in my department, I also think my new short hair came off a bit more mature vs. my long straight hair pulled back into a ponytail. Overall my colleagues were very supportive and I received a ton of compliments, even when I was sure I didn’t deserve them! My experience may have been very different somewhere more corporate.

I’ve managed to get promoted twice throughout my transition so it can’t be but so off putting. At times I feel pre-judged or treated differently because of it, but some (read: most) of that is my own insecurities as I continue to adjust, gradually loving my hair more and more overtime and as it takes on a life of its own.

My advice to those apprehensive about going natural in corporate America: Know that once you embrace it and are confident, most everyone else around you will. Confidence and professionalism trumps everything, and if for some reason it doesn’t you’ll never be comfortable where you are. Corporate America exists on a spectrum so there are certainly more open-minded, corporate cultures with employees who will focus on your merit and work ethic rather than your hair, and are enthusiastically waiting to embrace you with open arms – ‘fro and all.

What has your experience been like having natural hair and working in corporate America?

Girls who ROCK: "How to be GorJess"

by Jessica of  "Hey GorJess" 

    

A lot of these tips literally start from within and then radiate to the outside! So its like getting two in one! I hope you find them helpful -J

Have Faith
The first and most important way to be beautiful inside and out is to keep God first. 
Keeping Him in the center of your life will give you joy, peace, and love that will give you a glow and light to share with others. 

Be Educated
An educated woman is so attractive! So if you are in school, work hard to get the best grades you can! And if not—never stop learning! My new years resolution is to read one book a month! There is sooo much wisdom out there and we are just letting it go to waste if we don’t use it! There are also so many awesome informative blogs out there. So read as much as possible.

Eat Healthy
This is super important. If you want to be beautiful on the inside, it is important to eat your greens and drink plenty of water. One of the best ways to get your greens is to drink green smoothies. (I have a recipe for my green smoothies here.) It helps to get greens into your body easily and quickly. Plus it makes a huge difference on your skin, hair and body. It is full of “beauty” foods such as spinach, and celery. And then when it comes to water—drink half of your body weight in ounces. So if you weight 120 lbs, drink at least 60 ounces of water a day! This will help with maintaining a healthy weight and getting clear, glowing skin.

Travel
I absolutely love to travel. It is truly one of my passions. I don’t do it enough, but I try to as much as possible. Traveling is not only tons of fun, but it helps you become a well-rounded person. You get to learn about different cultures and apply them to your life. And if you can travel alone—even better! One time I went to Costa Rica on a mission trip with a group of people I didn’t know at all. It was terrifying, but it taught me so much about myself and helped me to be more independent. 

Spend time with friends and family
These days we are all so busy with work, school, and whatever else. But don’t forget to spend time with the people you love. It brings so much joy when I spend time with my friends and family and it makes me a happier and more fun person. 

Be thankful for what you have 
It so easy to compare your life to other’s. Especially with social media—everyone else’s life seems better than our own. But by the being thankful for what you have, you will be more appreciative and content. 

Exercise
Exercise is essential for everyone! It keeps you healthy, gives you more energy, and of course keeps you in shape. If you can workout even just 3 times a week, that’ll make a difference. And if you can’t make it to a gym, work out a home! Buy some dumbbells, a wheel, and ankle weights and you’re set! I worked out with those three things two days ago and I am still so sore! Lol I had a great workout with them. 

Take care of your skin 
This can be a little difficult to do because so many of us struggle to have clear skin. I personally had a tough time getting clear skin until recently. But I’ve finally found a regimen that works for me. I use African Black Soap to wash my face, Apple Cider Vinegar as my toner, an acne cream I got from my dermatologist for whenever I get breakouts, and Coconut Oil as my moisturizer! So it is mostly natural and super healthy for your skin! I also use Bentonite Clay with apple cider vinegar about once or twice a week as a mask to help prevent breakouts as well. (You can read more details about my skincare regimen here.)

Take care of your hair
These might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many women neglect their 
skin and hair at times. So make sure you are deep conditioning it, trimming your ends, and styling it the healthiest way for your hair type. 

Shop on a budget 
You don’t have to spend a whole lot of money to dress nice! You can shop at outlets, get things on sale, or even shop at places like Forever21 and H&M! They both have great clothes that are super cute! 

And that’s all! If you have any other questions or ideas you’d like to share you can email me at Jessica@heygorjess.com and/or check me out on YouTube and social media!

Blog: www.heygorjess.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/heygorjess1

Instagram: www.instagram.com/heygorjess

Facebook. www.facebook.com/heygorjess

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/heygorjess

Thank you Forever Natural for featuring me! -J

Hair Care: "Beer Soap Review"

For Christmas, my mom ordered these awesome beer soaps from "Good Clean Soaps" on Etsy for me. I'm not sure how I found these because in the shop they're called "shaving soaps" and I don't shave (I wax). Random, I know. LOL However, I thought they would be awesome to try on my hair because they're all natural and contain beer in them. 

Occasionally, I like to do beer rinses as a hair treatment. The protein from the molt and hops are awesome for natural curls because they coat, rebuild and repair hair. (Read more about beer rinses on Naturally Curly.com) So, I thought it would be really cool to try a soap with beer in it. After reading the ingredients, I was nervous when I saw "sodium hydroxide" because I didn't know exactly what it was. However, once I researched it, I felt more at ease. I found this post on Curly Nicky that shed some light on the topic: 

"While NaOH (sodium hydroxide) is damaging to hair when used at high concentrations and at high pH, when used at low levels at neutral pH, it doesn't cause any problem at all. That’s because sodium hydroxide is basic (hi pH) and it will react with other ingredients that are acidic (low pH.) This reaction neutralizes the hydroxide so it’s not harmful to hair."

I also spoke with Shawn, the owner of Good Clean Soaps and she basically told me the same exact thing. Therefore, I felt comfortable and decided that I still wanted them. Don't believe me? Here is another source that states that its harmless: Natural Haven. 

She has a nice variety of scents to chose from and I picked:  BLACK RASPBERRY - Handcrafted with Abita Purple Haze, MANGO CILANTRO - Handcrafted with Summer Shandy and VANILLA BEAN - Handcrafted with Leinenkugel Snowdrift Vanilla Porter. I got a set of 3 scents for $24.45 including shipping. 

I love the packaging for these and each bar is a pretty good size. Shawn also recommends that you don't use the whole bar, but cut pieces off as needed to make it last longer. I can see these bars lasting me about 6 months (I typically wash my hair once a week.)


                 

Photo from Good Clean Soap Shop

Here is a picture of the beer soaps and my hair when I washed them! 

I have a combo of 4A, B and C hair. 

Hair with shampoo

I dried my hair with a t-shirt

Rinsed and somewhat dry (This is from a different wash day, but same soap).

After I shampooed my hair, it felt soft, smelled great and didn't feel stripped at all. I would definitely recommend these soaps to any one interested in trying beer in their hair! 

Purchase your soap here: Good Clean Soaps

Follow on Instagram: @goodcleansoap

Confessions of a Naturalista: Mae; "Brains and Beauty"

Mae aka "Natural Chica" is no stranger to any of us in the natural hair community. She's the creator and editor of NaturalChica.com and corresponding YouTube channel (Nikkimae2003). BUT did you know that Mae is also a Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science & Engineering?! Raise your hand if you know what that is! lol

Not only is she gorgeous, personable, friendly and stylish, but she’s super intelligent! (Anyone who studies any type of Science and Engineering is nothing short of a genius in my mind.) She received her B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Maryland – College Park (my alma mater, Go Terps!)

Mae is an amazing example not only to the natural hair community, but to women in general of what it means to have brains and beauty (especially inward) and that anything is possible with dedication and determination. Continue to read to learn more about her experience in this field.

Materials Science & Engineering, “investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties.”-Wikipedia

 In Lamens Terms: "Materials science and engineering is a discipline that enables the creation and application of materials in society.  Materials engineers modify and design materials to perform better than they otherwise would. They develop new materials and create uses for them that benefit humans." (http://www.matse.psu.edu/whatismatse)

What inspired you to pursue a degree and career in this industry?

I had a wonderful guidance counselor in high school that recommended I attend a summer program geared towards females interested in engineering because of my expressed interest in math and science. The program was held at the University of Maryland and I really enjoyed learning about the different fields of engineering and their real world applications. It was there that I was introduced to the field of Materials Science and decided I wanted to major in that field when I went to college. I thought it was really interesting to be able to understand at the atomic level why materials behave the way they do and how you can tailor their properties for various applications. 

There aren’t many women or women of color in the field of Engineering, what’s your experience like?

It's true that there aren't many women or women of color in engineering, but those numbers have actually been increasing! It wasn't rare for me to be the only female on the team for a group project or to be the only person of color in an entire class, however I was well supported throughout my engineering studies through participation and leadership in groups like the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. It's always great to be able to relate to others with similar circumstances, and being involved in those groups definitely enhanced my undergraduate journey in engineering.

Why do you think not many women of color are in this field?

There have been many national studies that have tried to address this question and it’s certainly a number of different factors. I personally think exposure at a young age is an important factor as you can't pursue something you don't even know exists or how it relates to society. I had never heard of Materials Science until a year before I graduated and it was thanks to my guidance counselor's recommendation that I participate in the engineering summer program. During my involvement with the National Society of Black Engineers and Society of Women Engineers, we would actually put on engineering programs for elementary and high school students in underrepresented areas, which was exciting as we saw many students develop an interest in science and engineering that hadn't before. 

Was it and is it ever difficult for you to acclimate or relate to your peers/colleagues?

In undergrad, the environment could be a bit intimidating at times since some students were extremely competitive. Once I made up my mind that all that mattered was me doing my best, I released those fears and have carried that attitude into my graduate studies as well. 

Where do you see yourself in this industry and what is your ultimate career goal?

My current Ph.D. research is in the area of biomaterials design, which is essentially researching the next generation of materials for devices that interact with the body. I do enjoy the research environment and want to work with research and development teams in engineering biomedical solutions that will enhance the quality of life. Ultimately, I want to have a positive impact on society in whatever role I am in. 

Engineering is no walk-in-the-park, have you ever wanted to give up or questioned why you’re on this path?

I certainly have become frustrated at various points throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies as probably any student of any field will tell you. My dad gave me great advice when I was younger about thinking of the end goal when frustration would hit. That helped remind me of why I was doing what I was doing and helped me develop some serious faith, persistence and patience as I progressed through my studies.

What keeps you motivated?I believe that I'm at this point in my life because of God and it's by His strength that I continue to do what I do. I also have the most incredible support from my husband, family and friends. 

What do you like the most and least about your field?

Since I was a kid, I've always had questions about how things work, and being in the field of engineering has given me the tool set to understand existing answers and discover the answers to the questions not answered yet. As a graduate student conducting research in Materials Science, it can be frustrating when you set up experiments to try and answer scientific questions and they don't turn out the way you hypothesized. However, even in those "failures", I've realized that there is much to be learned from those experiences as well. 

My husband is an Industrial and Systems Management Engineer and I remember him not sleeping for days (lol). How in the world do you manage balancing being a wife and student while having a successful blog/vlog?

For me, it's all about keeping my priorities straight. My relationship with God and family is first, followed by my studies then running my blog/vlog. I live by my planner and it helps me keep track of what's on my plate and when I can allot time for lower priority items. It's not easy and frequently means late nights/early mornings, but it helps when you're doing what you love!

Who inspires you?

People who are passionate about what they do and have a positive influence in their community. I'm inspired by people that go after their dreams, even if its one small step a time. Those small steps turn into major progress! 

What advice would you give someone looking to become an engineer?

I would encourage them to explore the different fields of engineering and look at how these different fields play a role in society. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to engineers working in a field that you're interested in and having an in-depth conversation with them about what they do. If there are pre-college engineering programs at your local institutions, I would definitely recommend enrolling in those as well. 

My hat goes off to all the Scientists and Engineers out there in the natural hair community! If that's you shout out your field in the comments section below! 

Girls who ROCK: Amanda "Model Citizen"

Meet Amanda, from Elkridge, MD. I met her when I was in undergrad at the University of Maryland and have been following her modeling career for a while now. She is gorgeous, talented and has an amazing portfolio. Continue reading to learn more about her experience as a model and how you can break into the industry.

Why do you rock?

I rock because I stay true to myself, I reach for my dreams, and I always try to live life to the fullest! I don’t compromise my personality for anybody and I’m not afraid to stand out in a crowd. Everyone can be wearing plain black outfits and I would be the one wearing a full sequin outfit (I’ve done it before, so I know how it is lol). I’m a dreamer; I have aspirations and every day I make sure I’m working towards fulfilling those dreams. I live a busy, hectic life, full of events, castings, outings, etc. and yes I may be tired sometimes, but at least I can say that I’m really making the best out of my life. I would never want to look back on my life and be sad because I never did anything. In my journey to accomplishing my dreams I also take time to reach out and help others. I was once in their place, so I know what’s like to just start out. Remember that life is not a competition; instead we should all help each other out, and in turn, the world may be a happier place.

Do you think college helped you with modeling in any way?

I definitely think that college helped me with modeling. I joined a fashion related organization when I was in college which is where I got the idea to start modeling.

Why and when did you decide you wanted to be a model?

I decided that I wanted to model my sophomore year of college. I was first inspired by the models I saw at the fashion club in school, how they walked with so much confidence and grace, and how everyone cheered for them on the runway. Back then I didn’t have that much self confidence and I saw modeling as a way to help me gain confidence and build my self esteem. Modeling made me feel really good about myself.

How did you get into the industry and how did you start getting actual modeling jobs?

I started off with a few casual photoshoots here and there, and I actually didn’t take it seriously when I started. After several photographers prompted me to look into being more serious, then I decided to put more effort into breaking into the industry. I started with going to networking events and fashion industry events, where I met photographers, makeup artists, designers, etc. When you put yourself out there, people might start contacting you about certain jobs, so networking is a very important part of breaking into the industry.

I made business cards for myself with my photo and measurements on them and went to fashion events in the area and passed them out. I went to websites like yelp.com, eventbrite.com, or gregslistdc.com to find out when and where there were fashion events in my area. Another way that I started getting jobs was from a website called Model Mayhem, which gets a bad reputation sometimes but it can be very helpful in finding local photographers to work with to get your portfolio started. I still use the site from time to time to find new people to work with, and I’ve found that it’s been a very useful website for me.

Who’s your favorite model and why?

My favorite model is Alek Wek because she was someone I could look up to when I was growing up. I was always teased for my dark skin, and to see a beautiful successful dark skin woman on the runway let me know that my dark skin is beautiful and many other people think so too.

Where do you want to take your modeling career/what are your plans for your future in modeling?

At first my only goal was to be signed to an agency, but at this point I realize that for me, being agency signed isn’t the most important thing for me. It would be nice to be signed, but there are also successful models who do a lot of freelance work. I would just like to be able to work with top companies, be featured in a few ads, get my fair share of print work, and ultimately just make a name for myself within the fashion industry.

What do you like most about modeling?

I love the feeling of empowerment and the boost of confidence it gives me. When I’m modeling, I feel like I’m in another world and I turn into my alter ego, Amanda Finesse. I love doing photo shoots but when I’m on the runway, I get an adrenaline rush, and all eyes are on me. I feel so awesome coming off the runway or seeing photos from a shoot I did. 

Modeling is a mood-booster and a way to release any negative energy I have.

What do you dislike about modeling?

I really don’t like the discrimination in modeling; how you don’t see too many black models on the runway whereas designers pick mostly white models. I’ve been in shows where designers will choose a white model who can’t walk over a black model with a better walk, and I feel as though its simply because the model is white. To me as a consumer I would rather see more diverse models so that I can feel as though the clothes are meant to be worn by everybody.  This world consists of all types of people, all different ethnicities, and even though we are in a predominantly white country, I think it’s time for the fashion world to be more diverse. Its way overdue.

What’s your favorite job you’ve done so far?

My favorite job has to be when I was on NBC4 in December of 2012 modeling New Year’s fashions for Carine’s Bridal. It was my first time being on TV and I was so nervous but excited at the same time. I was wearing this gorgeous beaded cocktail dress by Theia which the stylist had to pin because it was a little too big on me. Backstage she told me not to turn around under any circumstances because she didn’t want anyone to see the pins, which I understood. However on air it was a different story. The stylist didn’t relay the same message to the news anchor, so after the news anchor described my dress she asked me to show the back. I was so nervous and didn’t know what to do, so I started backing out off camera, and the news anchor was like “You don’t have to back out!” I knew if I had turned around the stylist would’ve been mad though, so I did what I thought was right. After the cameras stopped rolling, everyone burst out laughing on set and started teasing me about how I was “moonwalking” on live TV. To this day, that experience is very memorable and such a great story for me to remember. If you want to see the footage from that TV segment, watch this episode of my web show, The Finesse Life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1ZogyQG8nU

Any advice or tips for aspiring models?

There a few really important things to remember when it comes to modeling.

1.      Don’t give up. You’re going to hear no a lot more than you’ll hear yes. Don’t let that discourage you; your look isn’t for everyone, and every job is not meant for you. When somebody tells you no, use it as fuel to work harder and improve your skills.

2.      Network, network, network! In this industry, it’s all about who you know. Go to fashion shows and networking events whenever you can. Make sure to carry business cards or modeling comp cards on you at all times because you never know who you’re going to meet and when. Some of the jobs you get will be from the people you meet because some jobs only cast models by word of mouth or they ask people they know for referrals. As a matter of fact, I got to be on TV because of a PR agent I met at a networking event who referred me to her client. Networking can get you in where you can’t by yourself.

3.      Stay true to yourself. In this industry its easy to get caught up in what you think a model is supposed to look like, as opposed to embracing your own look. Don’t starve yourself because you think you need to look anorexic to book jobs. No matter how bad you want a job, don’t lose yourself trying to become someone you’re not. Its better to be yourself and be different.

4.      Know your market. There’s all kinds of modeling, not just the high fashion modeling you see in the magazines or on the runway. Do your research on the different areas of modeling: high fashion, editorial, runway, commercial, glamour, swimsuit, fitness, etc. and find out which area you’re best suited for. You’ll save yourself a lot of headache and energy if you figure this out first.

5.      Don’t be a diva! You’re a model and you’re beautiful but that doesn’t give you the right to have an attitude like you’re better than everyone else. Be nice to EVERYBODY. Nothing is worse than a model with a great walk, great look, and a nasty attitude. Trust me, nobody likes to work with divas and you can guarantee that you will not be booked again. Also people talk and one person you may be nasty to may be the one to let everyone know not to work with you. Again, be nice to everybody!

6.      Have fun! No, modeling is not easy, and you may reach some pitfalls, but you should always remember to have fun no matter what happens. Modeling is a great way to boost your confidence and feel good about yourself. No matter what obstacles you may face on your journey, remember why you started enjoy the process.

What is your favorite item in your closet?

It’s so hard to choose just one item! I have a lot of different things that I like, but one of my favorite items has to be this really cool black Torn by Ronny Kobo jacket that I have. It has a peplum shape, but its sort of abstract, and looks really architectural and avant garde. It also has a quilted texture to the fabric of the jacket which makes it look even more interesting. I always get compliments when I wear it, and no matter what I’m wearing, the jacket always upgrades the whole outfit. Everyone needs a piece like that in their closet!

How long have you been natural?

I’ve been natural for about 2 and a half years. I started a few months after I graduated from college.

Check out her online portfolio here: http://www.amandafinesse.com and http://www.thefinesselife.com to watch her Web show, which features fashion shows and backstage access.

Girls who ROCK: Samara Pierce

Introduce yourself: 

I'm Samara Taylor, I'm 29 years old and I am a Fashion, Natural Hair, and Beauty Blogger.  I'm originally from California but have spent the last 9 years residing in the state of Virginia.  I recently just got married to the love of my life and I couldn't be happier! When I'm not working I love to involve myself with things that I enjoy. Besides blogging I love to try new cuisines, travel, and have new experiences.  I collect fashion magazines and often find myself admiring fashion from all over the world.  I love to see what other cultures are wearing.

Why do you ROCK?

I rock because I am a woman who knows who she is and where she is going in life. Since I was young I've had goals and aspirations to achieve my dreams and I must say that some of those dreams have been realized. I am very self motivated and achieve most of anything I set my mind to.

About your post: 

This post is based on the fact that I am totally in love with leather this winter.  Being the frugal naturalista that I am I like to get  the most wear out of my wardrobe so I wanted to showcase how I can wear this A line skirt in more ways than one.

Outfit 1:

Animal print blouse-F21

Leather Skirt-F21
Black Suede booties- Nine West

Bag: F21

Outfit 2:
Stripped Sweater-H&M 
Leather Skirt-F21
Black Nylons-H&M
Black Ankle Boots-Target

Bag- F21

Earrings-F21

Outfit 3: 

Jacket- F21
Heather Grey shirt- F21
Leather Skirt-F21
Nylons- H&M
Ankle Boots-Target

Earrings-F21

Outfit 4:

Blazer-F21

 Shirt-F21

Leather skirt-F21

Strap Heels- Khols