Meet Nika…

Going natural….
I’ve been natural now for six months. This is actually my second big chop. I did the big chop for the first time in October 2007 and was natural until February 2009 when I texturized then relaxed. I lasted six months with relaxed hair before doing the big chop again on October 1, 2009. It’s funny, but most people I know who go natural and then relax end up going natural again. There’s something about seeing your hair in its healthiest state that keeps you coming back.

Hair care regimen…
I co-wash my hair about every other day, I only use shampoo 1-2x per month. I deep condition about twice per month. I am slowly working towards every week since I recently colored my hair. I haven’t gotten a trim since my big chop six months ago. I haven’t straightened, but I will for my one year anniversary. I don’t see myself straightening very often, because I’m a huge fan of big curly/kinky hair. Right now, my favorite styles are the wash and go and mini faux hawk.

On hair color…
I love color! I’ll probably color 1-2x per year.

Favorite hair products…
I love raw shea butter and KBB hair milk as moisturizers. Tigi Bedhead Moisture Maniac is my all around conditioner as I use it for cowashes and deep conditioning. It’s awesome. Sebastian Wet gel is excellent for wash and gos and castor oil always makes my hair soft and shiny.

On stylists…
I found an excellent stylist at Bubbles salon in DC who knows a lot about caring for natural hair.

Nika wants you to know…
Going natural really taught me a lot about the subjectivity of beauty. I remember a time when I didn’t see natural hair as beautiful. It’s not because it wasn’t beautiful, it’s because I was viewing natural hair out of a completely different lens back then. Going natural and seeing beautiful heads of natural hair around me, on Fotki, on blogs and on YouTube really changed my outlook on natural hair. That has been the most enriching part of my journey, my mental transition. I mean natural is fabulous, and there are so many women who are showcasing that flyness in many different forms. Feel free to check out my style blog at www.iriechic.blogspot.com.

Sophie Theallet is a Brooklyn-based French designer whose designs have been seen on first lady Michelle Obama. Theallet has always made history on the runway beginning in 2008 when she cast an all-black runway for her first show. Her Spring/Summer 2010 collection was no exception, though it was not an all-black cast it featured amazing models like Kinée Diouf, Ajak Deng, Nana Keita, Ataui Deng, Anais Mali and a few more. Click here to see the entire collection.

Meet Karen Karen Tappin Saunderson creator of Karen’s Body Beautiful, in her own words…

On going natural…
I transitioned and was anxious to wear a TWA, so I wore braids for 2 or three months and then went for the BC. I’ve been natural for approximately 10 years. I decided to do it after my husband suggested I go for it.

Karen’s hair care regimen…
I alternate every week between shampooing and co-washing. This regimen keeps my scalp clean and my hair moisturized. I deep condition every time I co-wash, which is every other week. I steam my hair for 15 minutes, then use my Luscious Locks Hair Mask, leave that in for a half hour and gently rinse. I trim my hair once a year. As for heat styling, my stylist does a quick blow dry to stretch my kinks before she braids it every week. I don’t color or highlight my hair. I basically only wear my hair in two styles that I love. A super huge ‘fro or my signature cornrows with an Afro bang style.

Favorite Products…
Karen’s Body Beautiful Luscious Locks Hair Mask and Hair Milk.

Favorite Stylist…
My favorite stylist is Mishon Mishon in Brooklyn, New York.

Look out for…
Karen’s Body Beautiful is in the process of undergoing a complete makeover in 2010. We’ve already remodeled the store and built the spa. We’re also redesigning our packaging and website. The new Karen’s Body Beautiful will have a very modern, sexy, sleek style that will wow our customers!

For more on Karen and her beauty brand, visit www.karensbodybeautiful.com.
Click here to see which KBB products made Mane & Chic’s Dopest Products of 2009 list.

A reader wrote:

Next monday, I have an interview at a very conservative law school. My 4b hair is not at the point that it hangs nor is it so short that it looks like a TWA. I don’t want to straighten my hair because I’m afraid of the damage it might do to my curls. Do you have any suggestions?

Mane and Chic says:

Whatever you do, just make sure it’s neat and well done. I’m actually a law school drop out, but back then I was relaxed. Be careful of hair accessories. I had a professor tell me a girl got turned away for wearing a plastic clip in her hair during an interview. The author of Thank God I’m Natural, Chris-Tia Donaldson is a lawyer. You should read the post she did about her experience: Your Hair vs. Your Job. Click here to read options for setting/styling your hair: HAIR 101 (scroll down to “Curly Hair Sets”). You might also browse YouTube. Here are some popular Type 4a and 4b ladies… http://www.youtube.com/user/curlychronicles http://www.youtube.com/user/RusticBeauty http://www.youtube.com/user/Sera2544 http://www.youtube.com/user/AFRICANEXPORT

Readers, do you have any suggestions for this 4B law school prospect? Leave them in the comments.

You’ve seen her before, she’s a super model. Tomiko Fraser is represented by Models1 in London. See www.models1.co.uk.

Sheena Moulton is a new face at Models1 in London. www.models1.co.uk