and the winner is…
Email me STAT (nikki@curlynikki.com) with your address!
Hola Chicas!
Yesterday I met with a few members of #TeamNatural here in Western Cape. We descended upon Jamaica Me Crazy at 1:30pm, for lunch. But why was it after dinner time when we left, tho? This movement is really and truly a sisterhood… never have I ever, EVER met a curly-headed stranger. #NeverNotNever
Most of the ladies that attended the lunch didn’t know one another and plan to keep in touch and hopefully reconvene in the near future. We’re bringing folks together, y’all!
I promise to #TurnTheHellUp later, but first I want to share the stories of these gorgeous curlies!
What I Wore-
#WeTight
‘Better Than Good Hair’ on Deck! #TeamEdges #HarperCollins #BestSeller #ThanksYall
the weather was warm and sunny and the view was everything!
Meet (some) of #TheCrew
Meryl is a South African diplomat working for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Originally from Cape Town, she is currently living and working in Pretoria, Gauteng. She’s been natural since the age of 16. She shares, ‘always having had crazy, curly hair, and a mom with the straightest, ‘easiest’ hair, it’s been a battle getting control of my hair. Once I got old enough I started wearing it natural and eventually did the big chop in 2009 and I’ve been natural ever since.’ She said her friends and family absolutely loved it and that her only difficulty has been finding products locally in Cape Town.
Cindy is a Financial Analyst in Cape Town where she was born and bred. Natural for 6 years she shares, ‘I can thank my sister for getting me on the natural path. So I chopped off all the “unnatural, treated” hair and haven’t looked back since. About three years ago I went very short, yet pretty curly’. When asked how her family and friends and responded to her new situation, she responded, ‘well I’m generally known for doing weird things, so chopping my hair off and keeping it natural really didn’t come as too much of a surprise. And truth be told, it looks real good on me!’. She shared that over the last 3 years in Cape Town the natural scene has increased in numbers but it’s still pretty small compared to other cities in South Africa. Like Meryl, she said the product choices are limited and mostly come from Johannesburg or even over seas.
Yasmin is in finance in the non-profit sector. Originally from Ghana, she moved here from New York after her husband found a job in Cape Town. She Big Chopped and has been natural for 4 years. When asked how she was received by fam and friends she said, ‘still not happy with my hair. I’m in braids when I go back home to Ghana’. I later learned from her and others that your hair isn’t deemed appropriate in Ghana unless it’s neat and tidy in braids. She shared that the natural scene in Cape Town is difficult because she hasn’t found a salon or a credentialed stylist, which is devastating because she’s a lazy natural. She too can’t find products. She shared that while she sees lots of locs and even quite a few loose naturals, 4c afros are quite uncommon.
Melissa is a masters student in chemical engineer. Originally from Zimbabwe, she’s in Cape Town for her studies. Melissa has been natural for two years and seven months after a transition in which she micro trimmed every month. She currently uses anything that works right now… Vo5 for co-washing and lots of finger detangling. She shares, ‘I love applying henna to my hair. My mother is from Zanzibar and my grandmother grows henna in her backyard! My hair loves all natural, homemade henna.’ She said her mother was happy when she went natural and her only complaint is the dry Cape Town weather. She shared that it can result in dryness and breakage so she’s looking for the right product to remedy that situation. She’s excited to see so many women in Cape Town embracing their natural hair.
Kayla is a student and originally from Cape Town. She’s been natural all of her life and likes to wear a curly bob. When asked how folks in Cape Town view her curly hair she shared, ‘some love it. And others just don’t understand it. But it’s me and I ain’t changing’.
Nozuko Poni is a Customer Services Consultant, Freelance Stylist and Columnist. Originally from Cape Town, she has been natural for four years. She did the big chop after the relaxers thinned her hair. She loves huge Afro Extensions (pictured here) and box braids. She said that while her family are fans of straight hair they supported her during her transition. She shared, ‘while natural hair is more popular now, it’s still stigmatized. People still associate it with poor grooming. And it’s seen as backward (result of colonization).’
Pfungwa Nyamukachi is a Business Development Manager. Originally from Zimbabwe, her father was a diplomat posted in Cape Town. When her family left, she stayed and 15 years later and she still considers SA her second home. She Big Chopped four years ago and rocked a bald/shaven head for a couple of years and LOVED it! Her family and friends loved her new look immediately. When asked what it’s like being natural in Cape Town, she responded, ‘it’s becoming more and more the in thing. However it’s still rare-ish. It’s hard to find good hair salons that cater to black, natural hair. So I do my own hair. What’s interesting though is the different type of guys I ‘attract’ when I wear my hair ‘au naturalle’ vs. when my hair is braided, lol!’
After the lunch turned dinner, Hubby and I headed back to the Foundry Road Swag Factory to re-group. I blogged and probably cat napped for 30 minutes and ladies…
#IWokeUpLikeThis
#IWokeUpLikeThis #Flawless
Kavuli and Melissa scooped us up and we arrived at this very classy bar & restaurant. There was house music, chandeliers and hors d’oeuvres #andish.
Several Patron shots later and I was all, ‘This is cool. We wanna turn up, tho’. So the ladies reluctantly took us to the ‘other club’, which they originally thought might be too hood for us. After explaining to them where we from #SoSaintLouis we showed up at CLUB SHADES on our #WorstBehavior.
peep Hubby’s grin when 1980’s Michael Jackson showed up!
So how ’bout the DJs helped me get my entire life by playing Headlines not once, but twice. TWICE! #TheyKnowTheyKnowTheyKnow I posted up by their booth to harass them (y’all know I’m that chick) and they played Wayne’s Go Dj for me too. Then Bey happened and I was done.
At some point we realized it was 4am and we found ourselves at the only open restaurant… McDonalds. It was #Turnt too with a wait of about 25 minutes.
Hubby #MandelaShuffling when he found out we could eat!
We made it home just in time for the sun to rise at 5 am. Yes. Five, in the a.m. The sun rises early and doesn’t set til 9 pm. Very disorienting.
I’m off to bed and hope to be up and moving in a few hours. Love y’all!
Nik
GIVEAWAY!!!
Up for grabs today is another basket full of some of my staple hair products (to include Oyin, Aubrey, and Curl Junkie!)!
For your chance to win, below, please share your favorite homemade recipes that give you your best hair! (cleansing, conditioning and styling recipes all welcome). Without access to commercial products, these ladies need alternatives!
One winner will be randomly selected to receive the goods! Good luck!
*This contest closes tomorrow, Dec 30th at 5pm EST. *
WHERE IN CAPE TOWN CAN I FND THIS LOVELY GIRLS TO DO MY CURLS