"Your hair looks weird..."

I work at a daycare with amazingly smart and sweet children, between the ages of 1 to 4 years old right outside of Stockholm. I haven't seen many black people in that area, I'm almost positive that I'm the first black person the kids encountered on a daily basis and formed a relationship with.

Fast forward to about 2 weeks ago, I decided to rock my Afro to work. It's the complete opposite from long, straight hair, and, completely different from what the kids (and even some of my colleagues) have seen up close. I was definitely met with curious  stares that day and comments like "why is your hair like that?" and "it looks weird". (LOL)

Now I've already explained to kids why I have dark skin and that I'm from Africa but the hair was something they couldn't quite figure out. I tried to explain to them that just like people have different skin-, eye- and hair color, people also have different hair textures but, in essence, we are all the same. (Cliché maybe but it worked!)

Once they understood that it's just hair, they couldn't keep their little hands off of it. (Oh boy..) 

Stay tuned for more

Love Always,

Yaya

How I styled: Box Braids

I did waist length box braids on myself in August and just loved them! Well, not so much in the beginning because they were super heavy and I got a tiny head. (Bad combo!) 

Oh well, here is a style I did when I went to naming ceremony. I braided it into one snake like braid. I loved it and it just became my go-to-style.

Stay tuned for more!

Love Always,

Yaya

Protective styles

Whenever I change my hairstyle, I'm like "shoot, can't nobody tell me nothin'" and I walk like the world is my runway! *insert Usher- Bad Girl* I  believe a change of hairstyle can really revamp someone's style and boost confidence. Don't believe me? Just look at Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé for instance. One thing I have in common with these ladies is that I like to re-invent my look every now and then. Hair is really just an accessory to me. It's like getting a new winter coat or some nice boots and I think a lot ladies would agree. It's just something about a fresh weave, wig or braids that just gives you some that extra umph! 

Don't get me wrong though. I truly believe that natural hair is equally as diverse. 

I'm one of those naturalistas that wear braids, wigs and weaves on a regular basis. The reasons why I do that is, first off, to protect my own hair from manipulation. My hair likes to be nurtured with oils, leave-in conditioners and co-washes. It's so coily and breaks easily with too much combing, therefore it grows longer when it's braided. Second, the Swedish climate literally strips all the moisture in my hair so it's better for me to wear protective styles.

Here are some styles I've worn over the years

I wonder what my next hairstyle will be...

Stay tuned for more!

Love Always,

Yaya