Please introduce yourself.
Hello all! My name is Jasmine LeAnn, a 24 year old, government employee, who is currently pursuing a masters in Procurement and Acquisitions Management. I like to identify myself with the Donny Hathaway song, “Young, gifted, and black!” I’m from St. Louis, but have been all over the world due to my father being in the Army! I’m a family and goal oriented individual who is all about spreading good vibes!
How long have you been natural?
The last time I received a relaxer was on August 7, 2008. I’ve been noticing my length was decreasing and shedding seemed to be happening on the regular! Upon doing my research, which seemed to be very limited at that time, I found a few YouTube channels and CurlyNikki. I then decided to transition and try this natural thing on out by doing rod sets once a week. After 11 months of transitioning, I was encouraged by friends and family to finally separate the two textures and big chop. On July 13, 2009, I said goodbye to my straight, lifeless, relaxed ends and hello to my new curly tresses! I never regretted my decision and never once thought about LYE-ing to myself again!
What is your current regimen?
Once a week I wash my hair with Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus shampoo. I find this shampoo to be not only affordable, but non-drying as well. It leaves my hair feeling soft and manageable before I put any conditioner on it. After washing, I immediately follow up with either Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle conditioner, which contains peppermint and eucalyptus, or Aussie’s Moist conditioner. The Trader Joe brand conditioner is A-MAZ-ING and penetrates the scalp very well. Plus, it’s $3.00 price tag cannot be beat! Aussie’s Moist is equally as good and leaves my hair feeling luxurious and soft. When conditioning, I find finger detangling to work best on my hair. Using this method, I can precisely pin-point knots and problem areas and gently work them out with little to no damage being done. I’ve recently added an Ouidad shower comb to the mix which helps evenly distribute the conditioner from root to ends. I try to deep condition as often as possible using Aussie’s 3 Minute Miracle and adding coconut oil to it. I’m telling ya, my hair adores this stuff!
Did you ever struggle with curly girl insecurities? If so, what helped you adjust to your naturally curly hair over the years?
Indeed I have! I decided to go natural before many of my peers around me have even thought about doing so. I was in college at the time and was surrounded by women with weaves down their backs. My hair was extremely short when I first BC’d, and because of this I did have to get adjusted to my hair rather quickly, but all in all, I loved it! People were inspired and interested in why I cut my hair and were even more amazed at how fast and healthy it grew back to its original length, and even past that. Getting over those insecurities allowed me to not only help myself, but others who were fearful about cutting their hair because “they wouldn’t look right,” or “their face was too big to BC.” Motivating others is a passion of mine, and it took for me to go through my own insecurities to help other women out along the way.
What makes you love your kinks, curls and coils?
Hands down, the versatility! I can do everything to my hair plus more with its natural state versus when I had a relaxer. I also found it quite intriguing that this journey allowed me to rediscover myself, patience, and face fears that many black women hold onto when it comes to their hair. My kinks, curls, and coils have introduced me to a world of people and experiences that I may have never encountered if I never took that brave step towards freedom. In one word, my hair allows me to feel LIBERATED!
How do you maintain length? Moisture?
I am a big fan of low manipulation! The less I mess with my hair, the better it does. I am also becoming quite the fan of protective styling. Bunning is not only a simplistic, sophisticated style that can be worn to the work place or a night on the town, but it allows me to keep my hands out of my hair. I also visit my stylist often to ensure my ends are trimmed and healthy. This helps my hair out tremendously. To maintain moisture, I often use shea butter to re-twist my hair at night and re-apply extra virgin olive oil, macadamia oil, or argon oil to my hair each morning. This is especially a staple of mine in the harsh winter months.
Where can we find you on the web?
I LOVE pictures! To keep up with my latest adventures and hair chronicles, you can find me at:
Instagram: jasmineleann
Twitter: @jasmineleann
Tumblr: http://jasmineleann.tumblr.com/
I am also currently working on an inspirational weight loss blog, Faith Over Flesh, which can be found at:
Instagram: faithoverflesh
Twitter: @faithoverflesh
Is there anything else you want to share?
Yes! I just want to leave you all with a scripture that is hidden in my heart. “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30. I love my hair, beauty, and charismatic personality, but I am truly Blessed and favored due to my relationship with God.
I also want to thank Nikki for featuring me and want to congratulate her on her victory and success in the natural hair community! You are awesome and an inspiration to us all, especially black women with an entrepreneurial spirit! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Nikki on a number of occasions, and Nikki is the same in person as she is on the couch of curlynikki.com! LOL Thank you so much for sharing your world, family, and experiences with us on this World Wide Web!
Stay encouraged, be Blessed, and be a Blessing to someone!
