How Going Natural Changed My Life

I’ve been natural for the past 5 years, and let’s just say that this natural hair journey has been more like a natural hair trek. First came the realization that I had a head full of dead hair, kinda like the first step to recovery is acknowledging that you have a problem. I straightened my hair for the last 12 years, and once I turned 18, I took full reign of my locs and started dying them like crazy and bought $200-$300 straighteners hoping to achieve the ultimate bone straight hair look. Let’s just say I achieved that look, and it looked horrible. I lost all of the volume and bounce my hair once had when I was in elementary. It stopped growing, and broke off so much, I had to figure something out. I started watching natural hair tutorials on YouTube back in 2012 when the natural hair wave was still in its infant stages. My first purchase of curly products cost me well over $250, but I was determined to get my hair back. 

I then saw the big chop epidemic, and witnessed these women literally cutting off all of their hair, and fast forward a few months later, they had beautiful and long tressing strands. My first thought; “Where the f**k are some scissors?” I cut all of my hair off using children’s construction scissors (That’s all I could find at the time), and waited.  I went through straightening withdrawals; that flat iron can literally become a crack pipe for some. But I thought to myself, “I did not cut 6 inches off to not have it grow back.” I bought an array of different products without even looking at the price tag, and began combining all of these different natural products into my own concoctions. 

Some products worked better than others, while some just made my curls look worse. After about 2 years of being natural, I had fully transitioned and declared myself a natural warrior, a veteran, a victor. I had a full head of curls with not one inch of heat damage. I began receiving questions about what products do I use, how do I use them, and how long did it take for me to start seeing results? I gave out advice to so many women that saw me as hair goals, but a large number of them gave up because they didn’t get the results that I did. They followed the steps to a tee, and bought the exact same products. I really wanted everyone to feel the same sense of accomplishment that I felt when I finally reached my hair goals. 

This started my journey into the exploration of natural ingredients, and what exactly did they do for hair. I researched all of the products that had worked for me as well as their ingredients, and they were all pretty consistent. But I began to see hair type 1A-4C, and low porosity-high porosity. WTF? What does this even mean? Don’t you just need some moisturizing products, and stay away from heat for your hair to achieve maximum results? Apparently not. I guess there’s an entirely different science that is dedicated to natural hair that I didn't even know about. Every oil, butter, extract;  every ingredient has a purpose for a specific hair type. I began heavily researching products and their effectiveness in different hair types, and what ingredients they had in common. About a thousand YouTube wash n go tutorials and product reviews later, I started dabbling in creating my own products and using my friends as guinea pigs. 

Ebony & Company was born. I was able to gather an amazing group of influential and creative women that inspired me every step of the way. They promoted Ebony & Company like it was their own brand, and I will be forever thankful for the because this company would not be where it is today without any of them. After about a year and a half, I finally formulated two products that I felt the market would love. My husband put together my site, and together we were going to launch our first two products: THAT GROW THO, and MASQUE OFF! I was incredibly hesitant to hit that launch button, but it was all or nothing. I sold out of my first batch in 24 hours, and couldn’t believe that people actually wanted to buy hair products from ME. 

I began to see my products all over social media, in women’s homes that I had never met, all on the same journey; to achieve their hair goals. I was so humbled and motivated at the same time. I received so many messages on how this product has helped them obtain results they never received from any other products. I knew then that I had something amazing. It continued to inspire to create something better; TEXTURAL HEALING. I revamped my entire company to give my customers a much better, and personable experience. I want them to know that Ebony & Company will be there every step of the way on this path to becoming natural. 

From being a college Division 1 basketball player, to being a model, I can say that I’ve lived a life most will not get to experience. I was always told what I should do because of my height, or the way that I looked. But when I really began to embrace my true natural self, I started to realize what my life path was; and that was to help and influence others to do the same. I hope that this article inspires you to embrace what is naturally yours. When you are fully able to love yourself entirely, only then will your realize what is good for you. So love it, because it is yours forever.