The June Birmingham Natural Beauties meetup event at Rogue Tavern. Pictured are Katrina Watson (bottom row, sixth from left) and Javacia Bowser (bottom row, far right). Credit: Katrina Watson
This article, which is about Birmingham-based women reaching out to others concerning natural hair and hair care, can be seen as a tie in to other entertainment covered on Moniqueblog that deals with natural hair, such as The Princess and the Frog and What’s the Ado about Valerie, since both Tiana and Valerie have natural hair.
Right now in ethnic hair care trends, natural hair is in. But for many women in Birmingham, having natural hair is more than just a passing fad.
Katrina Watson and Javacia Harris Bowser are behind the group Birmingham Natural Beauties. The group, whose mission statement is to “provide a space for women to connect, support, and encourage each other on their natural hair journeys as we embrace our God-given beauty,” converses over Facebook about Twitter about natural hair care, and meet in person at locations discussed in their regularly-sent newsletter.
Birmingham Natural Beauties allows for women to come together to learn more about hair care from each other. “Through the happy hour gatherings and the Facebook group we are able to connect and share tips on products, the best local salons, and styling techniques,” said Bowser. “We’re also there to encourage one another, especially the women who have just recently gone natural and are having second thoughts. We occasionally discuss the social and political issues surrounding natural hair as well.”
“[Birmingham Natural Beauties] was originally an after-work gathering,” said Watson. “A woman I knew wanted to meet other natural people,” she said, also saying that the woman’s questions mirrored her own need to meet others with natural hair in Birmingham. “There was a need for an organization…a great place for people to ask questions.”
Watson said that wearing her hair natural shows that she is proud of how she was created. “To quote Psalm 139:14. ‘I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made,’” she said. “It’s a reflection of acknowledging that God designed us to be a certain way. Now, the reverse is not true—there’s nothing wrong with wearing your hair chemically relaxed ; being confident in your hair is a sign of being confident and comfortable in all aspects.”
Watson also addressed that the change in how people view natural hair has to deal with media perception. “There is a positive perception in advertisements; quite a few commercials and shows feature actresses wearing natural hair.”
Former local news anchor Keisa Sharpe also helps women learn about natural hair care through her site, The Natural Hair Diva.
Her site helps women learn more about natural hair care as well as the social issues surrounding natural hair. “I wanted to provide more women with the opportunity to get help on their natural hair journey through positive stories and hair care tips,” she said. “Plus my site…gives more women ownership and a voice on their natural hair journey through features like ‘Ask the Diva,’ ‘Diva of the Week’ and stories from guest bloggers.”
Pictured: Keisa Sharpe
For all three women, the fact that natural hair has caught on in a city like Birmingham is a testament to the changing times. “I do think that so many women who have gone natural in recent years are doing so because they’re coming to a point in their lives where they are accepting themselves for how God made them and they no longer have this narrow minded view of what beauty is,” said Bowser. “And the fact that those women can find so much support for this journey here in Birmingham speaks volumes as to how far our city has come. We even have a natural hair care store in Birmingham now!”
Bowser also said natural hair has helped women create a sense of community. “The thing I love most about the growing natural hair trend is that it’s building community among black women. We’re connecting through groups such as Birmingham Natural Beauties, but also through blogs and online forums. And women will stop me in the grocery store and at the mall to ask about the products I use and we’ll end up exchanging email addresses,” she said. “[T]he beauty of this is that while we may initially come together because of natural hair we begin to form genuine friendships as we find we have even more in common. Just this weekend I had a girls’ night with some of the ladies I’ve met through Birmingham Natural Beauties. This is why I really hope the current popularity of natural hair is not just a fad.”
“I think it’s great to see women embrace their natural roots in Birmingham and beyond,” said Sharpe. “My hope is that something beautiful comes out of this natural hair movement. It is a city that has a less than favorable past, but I believe the future is looking much brighter. I believe anytime a culture embraces what is genuinely their own and produces positive images of their heritage, that’s not only a victory for their culture, but the community as a whole.
Sharpe also said that one reason behind the natural hair boom is the better education many African American women are receiving about their hair. “Some African American women have bought into a negative image of their hair texture, but that is rapidly changing due to information and exposure,” she said. “Women are being inspired to accept, embrace and care for their natural roots. Yes, that is positive for Birmingham, but for our nation as a whole.”
Birmingham Natural Beauties meets every other month. To learn more about Birmingham Natural Beauties as well as the exact location and meet-up times, sign up for the newsletter and follow the group on Twitter @BhamNaturals and on Facebook . Keisa Sharpe can be found through her website, thenaturalhairdiva.com. Also, if you are in the Birmingham area and interested in joining more than one natural hair group, also check out Birmingham Naturalistas, organized by Marliceia Chavers.
———————————————————–
NATURAL HAIR CARE TIPS:
Katrina Watson– She recommends Lisa Akbari products, flat-twisting (two-strand cornrows) for people working with natural hair. She also gives these recommendations:
“Make sure to find a good stylist. They’ll help you go natural, give ideas for hairstyles. Also keep experimenting. I prefer to do my experimenting on the weekends instead of during the week; just in case something doesn’t work out, I have the weekend to get my hair fixed instead of having to worry about going to work the next day.”
Javacia Bowser–”Two of my favorite products are Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, which can be found at Target and Walgreens, and Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Lite, which can be found at LeVia’s Hair & Body Essentials, 421 Valley Ave. [Birmingham, AL]“
