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It's Grand to be Natural — Hair by Nedjetti

Celebrity Natural Hair Artist Nedjetti

Star hair artist Nedjetti has traversed the continent tending to the locks of celebrities Jada Pinkett Smith, Eva Pigford and Mos Def among others. Her work has appeared in many widely read fashion and beauty magazines, including Essence, Upscale, Jewel and Brides Noir.

In 2005, Nedjetti made the leap from behind the camera to the front appearing as a contestant on the Oxygen Network's "Making It Big" — a competition-based reality series focusing on hair designers. Nedjetti placed a triumphant second place at the season's end.

An expert at working with all hair textures, Nedjetti takes particular pride devoting her skills to top styling natural African hair. COCOACHiC gets to the roots of her creative inspirations and groomed on her natural hair care recommendations and trends.

CHiC: You started styling hair at 7 years old. What drew you to hair at such a young age?

Nedjetti: As a little girl, I'd excitedly watch my mother cornrow and braid my younger sister's hair amazed by how her fingers intertwined creating intricate design with strands of hair. She bought me a mannequin and I'd go into my room and begin trying to braid over and over until satisfied; then I moved on to practice the cornrow. At age 8, I began to braid and cornrow my own hair. My mother told me I did a neat and great job. Actually, hair artistry runs in my family — my maternal grandmother was a cosmetologist and my paternal grandfather was a barber. Although I didn't teach my 9-year-old niece Breanna, she cornrows with four strands; go figure (smiling).

CHiC: What is the philosophy behind your motto "it's grand to be natural"?

Nedjetti: For so long, we Africans have been running from our au natural image by using chemicals to straighten our hair. I am driven by a purpose to celebrate our natural tresses. When I was a little girl, I didn't see our image with natural hair displayed on TV as being beautiful. This created a complex about having natural hair. Along with many other countless little black girls, I developed a hair complex of wanting it straight, flowing and blonde. Yes, sadly I too had put the towel on my head swinging it from left to right, wishing it were real hair. I had long, pressed hair and then as a teenager, I experimented with relaxers, which was a disaster. It wasn't until I had a spiritual revelation after overcoming a 3-year battle with an almost deadly illness in my early 20's that I realized how ungrateful it is when any person doesn't embrace, accept and LOVE themselves as God made us. So the term "it's grand to be natural" is my thank you to God that I am blessed to recognize His human creations are made in the right, never wrong. "It's grand to be natural" is an experience in self-acceptance and fulfillment in the journey of discovering the beauty of natural hair.

CHiC: Please share with us some tips on caring for short and medium-to-long natural hair? As well, hair care tips for different seasons.

Nedjetti: Yes, the less hair you have the 'easier' it is for maintenance, but maintenance is a must to keep your natural tresses healthy. It's important to use products that work best for your hair texture, for example, a hydrating shampoo is best for dry, tight, coily hair. Conditioner acts as a protective agent preventing the hair from snap as curly hair is known to do when it's dry. Moisturizing the hair after every shampoo is essential in reducing hair breakage. When you have more hair to work with, the cleansing maintenance is the same. The only difference is the type of method used to comb your hair. The object is to detangle your hair without causing unnecessary hair loss. If the proper method in combing your natural tresses is applied, you'll find the myth of losing 100 strands of hair just that, a myth.

	Short	Medium-to-Long
Shampoo	Shampoo once a week.	Shampoo once a week.
Conditioning	Apply cholesterol creme. Always comb through hair with conditioner in. Use wide tooth comb. Rinse thoroughly	Apply cholesterol creme. Always comb through hair with conditioner in. Use wide tooth comb. Rinse thoroughly
Deep Conditioning	Wear plastic cap with cholesterol creme applied to hair for 15 minutes. Best to sit under hood dryer as heat coats hair cuticle locking in moisture.	Wear plastic cap with cholesterol creme applied to hair for 15 minutes. Best to sit under hood dryer as heat coats hair cuticle locking in moisture. Detangle hair after. With conditioner in, start from back, take small section and proceed to comb your hair. Hold base with one hand and use wide tooth comb to gently rake the hair from end to base, using quick strokes.
Maintenance	Depending on hair growth, get a professional trim once every 2-3 months. At night sleep with a rayon or silk scarf on to keep hair moisturized and in place.	Depending on hair growth, get a professional trim once every 2-3 months. At night sleep with a rayon or silk scarf on to keep hair moisturized and in place.

Spring/Summer
Best to air-dry hair after shampoo and deep conditioning. Oil hair with natural ingredients, i.e., rosemary, olive oil, lemon grass, rosewood and vitamin E.

Fall/Winter
Sit under hood dryer for 20-30 minutes depending on hair density. Oil hair to restore moisture.

Drink lots of water. We've heard it before and it's true. Water helps to flush impurities out of the body. Condition hair daily if possible, but if your hairstyle doesn't allow, then condition when you shampoo. Use light natural oils on hair and scalp daily. Diet affects the skin and hair — eat lots of vegetables. We're all a work in progress, so take it one day at a time, ladies.

CHiC: What are some of your favorite natural hair styles, especially those that are easy to replicate at home?

Double-strand twists

Double-strand twists with rods

Afro twist out

Nedjetti: An easy and fun style to create for someone who may not have experience with styling hair would be double-strand twists.

• On damp, cleansed and conditioned hair, use your fingers starting from the back of the head, taking a small section of hair in size.
• Apply small amount of Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly to hair.
• Separate the hair in two then in a clockwise motion begin overlapping the hair creating a double twist.
• Repeat this action throughout entire head using your fingers.
• Occasionally spray hair with water as it becomes dry.

Double-strand twists works best on curly texture hair. On straighter hair to create a curl effect, after twisting the hair, use a mousse while setting hair on rods and sit under the dryer. The smaller the roller, the tighter curls you'll achieve and the longer the style will last. Twisting hair while damp contributes to the longevity and neatness of the style. After a week into your hairstyle, periodically cleanse your hair. Take a cotton cloth sprayed with witch hazel and gently rub the scalp only. This will remove built up residue. Then oil scalp and hair using natural oils. Usually hairstyles created at home don't last as long as getting it professionally done. In 2 weeks unravel the twists and sport an afro twist out for a couple of days before shampooing and conditioning.

CHiC: With the holiday season approaching, what are some formal hairstyles for natural hair?

Nedjetti: Women are going to gravitate to hairstyles with combination techniques, i.e., cornrows with double-strands, flat-twists and double-strands curled on rods. Elegance and individuality will be achieved with these hairstyles for the upcoming holiday season.

CHiC: Please recommend some of your favorite natural hair care products on the market?

Nedjetti: Biolage by Matrix Hydrating Shampoo, LeKair Natural Olive Oil Cholesterol Creme, Jane Carter Solution Nourish & Shine and the Wrap and Roll, and Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly.

CHiC: What are some common mistakes made by people with natural hair?

Nedjetti: First and foremost, the misconception that natural hair doesn't require maintenance when everything in life does. The second is having the mindset that it's hard to care for natural hair when it's totally the opposite; hair without chemicals is less stressed and more fool-proof to maintain. Many women think natural hair service should be the same price or cheaper than relaxer or chemically-treated hair service. Another common misconception is that professional care is not necessary for natural hair — NOT true! A person can receive the best product recommendations and be shown how to create a style, but it's imperative to receive regular hair maintenance including head massages and stimulation from a professional. It's the same concept as people needing a hug or a kiss from a loved one. Our glorious crowns need outside human contact from time to time; the rejuvenation by experienced hands adds vitality.

CHiC: How can these mistakes be corrected?

Nedjetti: By seeking an uplifting natural hair care specialist who offers a full salon service of shampoo, deep conditioning, trims and uses quality products. Select a person who loves working on natural hair from their soul, not because they see it as fashionable or trendy to be natural.

CHiC: What should natural hair care cost?

Nedjetti: Mostly, it depends on length of hair and hairstyle, however the experience level of the professional factors as well. My prices start at $125 and up. Hair by Nedjetti is a grand experience in which I extend a full-service, celebrity-like treatment: on average about 2 hours, in a one-on-one therapeutic, incense and soothing music filled professional home environment, hairstyles last a month (equal to $25 a week hair cut), and use of quality products.

CHiC: Who are some of your natural hair beauty icons?

Nedjetti: Although I don't view people as icons, I'm extremely fond of Pamela Ferrell owner of Cornrows & Co. in Washington, D.C. She styled my hair as a model in her book Where Beauty Touches Me: Natural Hair Care & Beauty.

CHiC: What do you think the next frontier of Black hair care will be?

Nedjetti: I believe African—American women are going to start loving the idea of styling their own hair without adding extensions because they will realize the harmful ramifications in braid extensions damaging hair after an excessive amount of time and money spent. Many women have developed tension alopecia from the use of chemicals and braid extensions. Weaves will always be around as it does give the hair a break and offer variety. But the next frontier in Black hair care will be experiencing versatile hairstyles using one's own hair. It's a weightless, pain free, and refreshing experience. My natural hairstyling DVD series showcasing my vision of styling natural hair without extensions will be available later Fall 2006. I create hairstyles for any occasion and all professions such as comb and double-strand twists, combination styles, flat-twists, loc maintenance and styling, and children hairstyles. I want to save our sistahs from going bald by showing them creative and healthy hairstyle options for self-styling and their children. I don't want women to continue to engage in unhealthy hairstyles.

Nedjetti tenderly treats and styles the tresses of Eva Pigford.

Thanks, Nedjetti! We appreciate your passion for healthy hair raising tips and advice on embracing natural hair.

By Sacha Phillip

Check out the Hair by Nedjetti website in the Hair Stylists category of CHiC Links.

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