Thobi

Origins and current location?

Born and bred in Jhb

What are you currently up to?

I’m a marketing assistant.

How long have you been natural? Briefly take us through your natural hair journey.

I’ve always been natural. My mom is a hairdresser and she’s always taken good care of my hair until I was 16 and decided to take charge of my hair and relaxed it. She just let me be and I struggled with it since I wasn’t clued up about relaxed hair and it started to break . It was so lovely and super long and I regreted what I had done to it,so in the year 2006 I decided to BC and always had it in braids or just a funky fro,in the year 2010 I cut it short again but its grown now.

Why did you decide to go natural? Did you transition or you simply did the big-chop from the get-go?

I’ve always been natural; it’s all I know. I was raised to embrace it, the relaxer was just an experiment out of curiousity and I just had it for 2 years and promised my head to NEVER EVER do it again.lol!

What do you love about your hair since you’ve gone natural?

I can do WHATEVER i want with it; I can rock it in different styles and still look beautiful and unique.

What are some of the challenges and advantages you’ve experienced?  

I used to struggle with breakage and I realised that I was quite rough with my hair. I would just comb it with no care at all and would be left with a huge ball of hair in my hands to throw away. I didn’t moisturise it much and it was always dry but I understand it better now and its thriving. I would say the advantages are just being able to wear it in all the different styles that I love. I can wear braids or a weave and still be able to take them off and look great in my God-given crown. People stare or even stick their fingers in it just to check if its all mine and some always ask “how did u do that” whenever I wear it in a way that they never thought its possible with natural hair.

What does your hair care regimen look like?

Once a month I deep condition with my home-made deep conditioner mix. I mix 1 avocado,1 banana, 2 spoons of 2 of my favourite oils each; Almond oil and Extra virgin Olive oil; add a cup of coconut milk and a spoon of honey and whip it. I have it on for about 20 to 25 min and then rinse it out. It leaves my hair soft and glossy. After that I put on some coconut oil and avocado oil while its still damp and do my protective style, usually in flat twists and leave it to air dry. There are times when I wash it once a week with conditioner only and detangle with it as well and then have it twists.

What hair products do you use and where do you buy them?

I use natural oils such as Almond oil, Coconut oil (i buy both at Checkers Hyper), Avocado oil and olive oil at Pick n Pay. I also use the Tresemme moisture rich conditioner and shampoo. I also love the one with the sweet orange extract; it smells fresh and yummy (I buy these at Clicks). I also love and use the Clicks Hair Rescue products, I use the restoring hair mask and their water based detangling leave in conditioner. I also love Soft ‘n free moisture reviving cream and the Soft ‘n free mixed oils; they both smell fresh. I usually add some almond oil to all my creams and hair butters for extra moisture.

Do you struggle finding products that work for your hair or are you happy with the ones you’re currently using?

I’m happy with the ones im currently using.

Do you have a favourite natural hair salon where you treat your hair?

Nope, I prefer to do it myself.

Which type of natural hairstyle (s) do you like to rock?

Oh there’s plenty but my go to styles are a bantu knot-out when i want to rock a ‘fro, small styled twists and flat twists on the sides and back with a flat twist out on the front.

Planning on locking in the future?

Nope

Any tips you’d like to share with our readers?

Don’t fuss over length; just focus on keeping your hair healthy and strong; growth will follow when that’s done and LEAVE IT ALONE!! I realised that my hair thrives when its left to do its own thing so I always keep it in protective styles.