1.  How long have you been natural?

I’ve been joyfully natural for almost 5 years.

 2.  Why did you go natural?

 Honestly, going natural was the surprisingly beneficial result of  experiencing a major life challenge, leading me into a ”waiting to exhale” moment,  the bathroom mirror, a pair of scissors and hair on the floor. lol!

 3. Do you have any favorite hair care products?

 My absolute favorite hair care products are carrier oils (extra virgen olive oil, tea tree oil), butters (shea, cocoa) and creams (hair moisturizing lotion). They’re heavier so they define, minimize frizz and really seal in the moisture on my extremely porous hair. My trusted product brands are Shea Moisture, Koils by Nature and Coco Curls. They  each allow me to achieve a different look depending on my desire style.

 4. Do you have any favorite natural styles you want to share?

My FAVORITE hair dos are natural braided and twisted styles.  My stylist Melanie Rosemin of Lucian Locs keeps me looking fun, sophisticated, and eclectic and my hair remains protected in a versatile style for weeks.

 5. Did you do the Big Chop? if so, what was that like?

 Well, you read the story. YES! I Big Chopped (BC) and I loved every minute of it. Sometimes I get urges to BC again…but I probably won’t; at least not anytime soon anyway. BC-ing allowed me to really discover my beauty and exude my confidence from within.  As women, we tend to hide behind the glory of our hair. But when I didn’t have any hair, I could “hide” no longer. I step out the door with a “what do I have to lose” attitude and I didn’t look back. I’ve held my head higher than I ever have before and when I walk into a room my presence speaks before I ever say a word. Transitioning into a woman with natural hair helped me to evolve into a woman of tenacity.

 6. Is there anything that you do that you want to share with your fans? (skills, business, hobby, etc)

 Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to share with you my labor of love…Carisma Designs, LLC, It’s handcrafted jewelry and accessories. It’s not just jewelry and accessories. It’s a mood! Much of our outer appearance is a reflection of how we feel inside. That’s the same philosophy I live by when conceptualizing and executing apparel for the Carisma Designs collection. I draw from a wide variety of influences and styles. I don’t like to keep myself limited to a particular design paradigm because different people are going to have different needs, tastes, and budgets.  My goal in designing handcrafted jewelry has always been to make it as affordable and long-lasting as possible, while making it beautiful and appealing to the people who will be wearing it. Every design I undertake is a new and exciting adventure and pushes me to see what barriers I can break down in terms of how people see their sense of style.

My most favorite elements of jewelry design are shopping for the materials and working on custom orders. The joy that comes from making someone else’s vision come to life is intangible. The feeling breathes life into my designs and thus the mood through which the design was inspired.  Happy accessorizing!

1. How long have you been natural? I started my Natural hair Journey in September 2009…Big Chopped September 2010. So I count from my BC to now and that would be 21 months.

Nikki Moorehead, CLMT

Cert./Lic. Massage Therapist

KnottiKneads, L.L.C.

knottikneads@yahoo.com

#770-354-0069

Mickie Lewis of Mosaic Movement

How long have you been natural?

I honestly have no idea.  I want to say 2-3 years ago…I’m thinking 2008 was my last relaxer.

2.    Why did you go natural?

Umm, it was something that I thought about doing, so I just did it.  That’s usually the way things happen with me.  I have an idea, and I just go with it.  Besides, the cost for a relaxer & “doobie” in Georgia was more than I am used to paying J.

Mickie lewis of Mosaic Movement

3.    Do you have any favorite hair care products?

No favorites…I just wash, condition and use grease from the Dollar Tree (castor oil, coconut, or indian hemp).  Nothing special.  I am very low maintenance J.

4.    Do you have any favorite natural styles you want to share?

Favorite styles?  Hmmm…I like alot of styles.  I love the two-strand twist.  Ater a week or two of the twists, I take it out and set it free J.  I like cornrows (not exensions), but it takes too long to do.  Anyone who does my hair always start out with these tiny little braids, and I tell them don’t braid too small.  By the time they get to the middle, it never fails, they say “Your hair is thicker than I thought.”  My favorite braided do right now is the braids into a mohawk with twists on the end.  I also like to rock it straight (well not bone straight…it has to have the bounce J).  I do my own hair,  kinky, curly, twists, and straight …sometimes I do my own braids…it just takes too long.

Mickie lewis of Mosaic Movement

5.    Did you do the Big Chop? if so, what was that like?

No big chop for me.

6.    Tell us about your dance classes.

I teach Hip-Hop Fusion classes to kids, teens, and adults @ Global Athletic Complex in Stone Mountain, GA.  Each group gets their own time to work it out and have fun in my class.  There is a nice mix of Hip-Hop, Jazz, African, Latin, Caribbean, and House steps all blended within each combination learned during the class.  People always say ”It looks hard,” but once they participate in the class they realize it’s not as hard as it looks.  All levels are welcome.  Since I break the steps down for anyone to understand, everyone finishes the class feeling confident that they have learned the routine.  I LOVE it!

Mickie lewis of Mosaic Movement

7. When did you get in to dance and who were your influences?

I’ve always liked to move.  I remember watching the T.V. Shows ”Hot Tracks” and ”Puttin’ On the Hits,” with my sister when I was little.  We would come up with dance routines in hopes of going on the show when we got older.  It wasn’t until Junior High School that I actually performed onstage.  It was actually the only time that I wasn’t shy around crowds of people.  From that point on, I have been a part of or started dance groups that made up routines for talent shows and other events.  In college, I started a not-for-profit kids dance program as a community service project.  We met every Saturday morning on my college campus for several weeks per session.  At that point, I knew that I wanted to do this until the wheels fell off .

As far as influences, there are quite a few.  Of course there’s Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson (her videos were always on point), the Fly Girls from In Living Color, I saw the Broadway play “Sarafina” when I was in elementary school, and I loooooved the energy and movement.  I can go on for days…Debbie Allen, Fatima Robinson….oh, I loooove dancehall music and the way it makes you move.  So you see my influences aren’t only individuals, it’s music, events, cultures, etc.

Mickie lewis of Mosaic Movement photographed by Leon Dale Photographer at LDP Studios.

8. How can people get in contact with you and your company about dance classes and/or performances?

Like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MosaicMovement)!  Mosaic Movement is the name of the company that I have just started.  It is a cultural arts and recreation program that embraces diversity and fitness. The goal of this program is to increase physical fitness, celebrate cultural diversity, and instill confidence in ALL participants. Throughout the year, performance and appearance opportunities will be offered. At the end of this program, dancers will also have the opportunity to participate in the end of year showcase.  I have always wanted to have a community center that focused on creative arts, recreation, and culture.  At this stage of my life, I am ready to live…my pen in one hand, and my bucket list in the other.  Instead of waiting the right time to go for the ultimate goal, I am starting from where I am now.  One day the community center will exist, but for right now I am enjoying Hip Hop Fusion with Mosaic Movement.

For more information email: MosaicMove@hotmail.com

Follow us on Twitter: @MosaicMovement

Like us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MosaicMovement

Jen Farris of ZDennis Media Group

Jen Farris is a public relations strategist and project manager for ZDennis Media Group. Founded in 2005, ZDennis Media Group’s mission is to be the ultimate resource; exposing positive messages about arts, culture, & entertainment to the “culture curious”.

Employing the creative arts as a powerful vehicle for social change is next on the list of professional accomplishments and running a public relations business with no boundaries is Farris’ ultimate goal. “I want our audiences to experience the arts in every language,” says Farris. “The worst thing ever done to someone is to keep them underexposed and undereducated.”

Prior to founding ZDennis Media Group, Farris was a radio promotions and marketing professional with MCA Records and later worked for the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) whose constituency encompasses the world’s largest repertory of music publishers and songwriters.

She is a former Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Miss Bennett College ‘queen’ who earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bennett College in Greensboro, NC and her Master’s Degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. She is a member of The Recording Academy, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and a Charter Member of Toastmasters International Legacy Builders in Atlanta, GA.

Jen Farris of ZDennis Media Group

There were many Natural Hair vendors happy to show off their wares, make up artists beatin faces, manicurists, DJ’s, poets, superstars and paparazzi in force!

have a look at these photos and find the slideshow at the bottom!

Hosting the first Naturally pretty event, Mae of Natural Chica was stunning in this designer dress!

Make up Artist and Mentor Mimi J

Natural Chica and Mimi J online host the first ever Naturally Pretty event.

Naturally Pretty Event 2011 – Images by leon dale
Naturally Pretty Event 2011 – Images by leon dale