QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH AFRIKINKYDIVAS
MEET GRACE THADEI
We had the wonderful opportunity to interview a few of our AFRIKINKY DIVAS, who won the #AfrikinkyRepYourCountry Awards recently, an annual contest held by @AfricansGoneNatural via Instagram, giving divas the opportunity to show off their beautiful features while representing their native African countries or African country of choice.
Grace Thadei (@Sleep_of_beauty) was one of our five finalist winners, who won the crown for one of Africa’s amazing nations; here’s more about her.
AfricansGoneNatural Interview:
Q. Tell us about yourself, where are you from, where are you based and what do you do?
A. My name is Grace Thadei and I from Tanzania, my professional background is in Procurement and logistics management. I am a businesswoman.
Q. Tell us about your natural hair story.
A. I started my natural hair journey when I met two ladies on Instagram via their pages at @Leylat2 and a page called Naturalhair_Tanzania (Addiah) whom inspired me a lot. The whole journey had a lot of challenges because a lot of the components in natural hair were new to me and unfamiliar, but I thank Leylat2 and Addiah, who gave me the support and taught me about the hair treatment.
Q. What do you love most about your natural hair and/or about being natural? What is the one aspect you love about being natural?
A. I love being natural because it’s a reflection of my soul, it’s kinky, it’s soft, it’s textured, it’s easy and it’s fun. I love my natural hair when it’s a twist out.
Q. What is your current hair regimen?
A. My current hair regimen
Sunday: pre-poo, shampoo, condition, deep condition
Monday: daily moisturizer
Tuesday: daily moisturizer
Wednesday: co-wash, moisturizer
Thursday: moisturizer
Friday: moisturizer
Saturday: moisturizer
In every month protein treatment for my hair.
And my nightly protection is satin pillowcases or satin cap
Q. What is your “go to” style (share a picture of it, if you have one!)? Do you wear protective and/or low manipulation styles? If so, how often and why?
A. My ‘go to’ style is Bun
Yes I wear protective style like twists because is much easier and faster to do.
Q. What are your Holy Grail and staple products?
A. For Shampoo – Shea moisture, Deep conditioner- Shea Moisture, Leave in conditioner- shea moisture
Gel ECO Styler, Hair cream/ curl – shea moisture. As far as oils, I love using castor oil, lavender, tea tree, avocado and coconut oils.
Q. What is/was your biggest hair challenge/obstacle? How did you overcome it or what are you doing now to try to address the problem?
A. My biggest challenge of hair was identifying the best product for me. I didn’t understand what was good and bad for my hair, like shampoo, deep conditioner, leave in conditioner. It took some time for me to learn what works for me and to learn what works for my hair. It took patience and practice to learn what works and now I am content.
Q. Has going natural impacted other areas of your life (i.e. health & fitness, style, environmental consciousness, etc.?) If so, how and in what ways?
A. Going natural has had an impact on my environment consciousness. Previously I wouldn’t mind walking on a sunny day only to get my hair dry and well I didn’t care at all but since I have known the importance of having moistured hair. I think it is even harder to walk around on sunny days without thinking about my mane. In regards to Health and Fitness, well this is another sector, I have to eat healthy; because if you eat right your hair will look good, not only products can make good hair but also healthy food plays a good role in hair maintenance.
Q. Do you have a “hair crush?” If so, who?
A. I have a couple on Instagram, they are @cravingyellow and @Sheilandinda. I am inspired by their natural hair journeys.
Q. Where can we find you online?
A.You can follow me on Instagram via @Sleep_of_beauty
Q. What advice would you give someone who is contemplating going natural and/or becoming discouraged with their natural journey?
A. If I had to give advice to someone thinking about going natural, I would tell them that going natural is not easy, it’s just like having a baby; you have to feed and nurture your baby and develop a level of tolerance for it. Our African hair is not easy to grow, it takes time and it can be hard to wait. They should avoid heat, deep condition once a week, eat healthy, take hair vitamins, drink water, massage scalp with natural oils, moisturize and seal ends, cleanse with sulfate free shampoo or cleansing conditioner, do protective styles. Most importantly above all of this is to be patient.
Q. Anything else that you’d like to add?
A. I want to say that “the fact that black women have to be taught/learn to wear our natural hair. The hair that naturally and organically grows from our head. And furthermore, have to learn to be comfortable with it.