1 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: Hey, Hey, Hey, we're back. We're black Crown Ambition Ambition, Ambition, Ambition, Ambition, 2 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: were real quick. I'm super excited because this episode is 3 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: sponsored by Doves Haircare Crown Collections. Hey, manager, how are 4 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: you girl? 5 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 2: I am ironically having a bad hair day, but I 6 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 2: am so excited. I know, but I was upstairs, well 7 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: you know how you're like. I don't know if you know, 8 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 2: but I was like standing in the mirror with the scissors, 9 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 2: like do I trim the bangs or do I just 10 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:51,919 Speaker 2: walk away? I chose non violence today. But yeah, so 11 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 2: excited to have this show sponsored by not just Duve, 12 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: but Dove's Haircare Crown Collection, which is all about the curly, 13 00:00:57,760 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 2: the coily, the kinky. 14 00:00:59,160 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: The way. 15 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 2: Yes, and we're gonna definitely get into, i don't know, 16 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 2: like an in depth, like sister girl conversation about our hair, 17 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 2: because you can't separate. I feel like black women and 18 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: their hair in their careers, money, business, personal life. It's 19 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: just it infuses everything. So I'm gonna get a little 20 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 2: candid with y'all. But I haven't seen you in a while. 21 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: We had like the best beautiful brown ambition. We'll call 22 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:27,839 Speaker 2: it a summit a self care summit. Yes, a couple 23 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 2: of weeks ago, and then my life fell apart, like 24 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 2: the day after, but I feel like you saw me 25 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: on a high and then the next day just yeah, 26 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 2: everything kind of went downhill. But that was so nice. 27 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 2: I just wasn't acknowledge that. 28 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: Yes, I just so what happened was like Mandy and 29 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 1: I were like, you know, I told you this is 30 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: my year of connectedness, well just in general my life 31 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: of connectedness, but this year I'm really leaning into it. 32 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: And I was like, I'm gonna come to wood Chester. 33 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: Maddy was like, it's actually. 34 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 2: Stop calling it Worchester. Are you talking that purpose at 35 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 2: this point? 36 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: No know that time I did, I just say, and 37 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: Mandy corrected it said like it's west Chester. Ill, So 38 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: I said, okay, I've never been here. Yes, you always crazy. 39 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: You said a whole baby where I've never met, I know, 40 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: and like a whole house. I mean, it's just a 41 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 1: lot has happened not I haven't seen Mandy since then, 42 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: but I have not come to where she is. And 43 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 1: I was like, you know what, and then she texted 44 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: me was like, let's make it. I was like, how 45 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: about Saturday? She was like how about Friday, and I 46 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: was just going to come to the house and Mandy 47 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: was like, let's actually go to a spot. I was like, girl, 48 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: say less, so went since what one? I met her 49 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: at her beautiful home. It's so crazy because Mandy's home 50 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: and my home. The decor could be cousins, right, because 51 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: it's like similar colors. Back I was like, Oh, I 52 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: can't live hea, it's so key. Her house is beautiful 53 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: and so literally like similar wall color, similar tower color. 54 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,799 Speaker 1: It's just super comfy, super cozy. And so we met 55 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: up and then we went to I guess it used 56 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: to be a rich Carlton or it is still like 57 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: a they've kind of like reframed, right, like a Chancy. 58 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 2: Hotel downtown is what it is. And they have a 59 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 2: Larry Night and I got a little because my cousin 60 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 2: does work there, so we him King Olmes. That's count 61 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 2: you know. I'm not gonna we can be transparent about that. 62 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 2: But I started to go there because I sneak in 63 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 2: and I can use the pool because this has been 64 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 2: a tough pregnancy and I haven't been able to walk 65 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: as much as I used to, so anyway, and then 66 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,119 Speaker 2: I was like, oh, you do massages too, and it's 67 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: really nice. So that's my little home away from home now. 68 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: And it felt really special because I'm like, come, I don't. 69 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: Remember people's names, but I remember I said, Linda gird 70 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 1: we go together. What size were you were, Linda? But 71 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: Linda massides me down, hoodie. I was like, wait a 72 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: minute now it was so I got a pool together. 73 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: I know, no, it was like warmish, but that was 74 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: just so nice to just like way through the pool, 75 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: me and Manny just talking. It was just awesome. And 76 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: then we went to pick up the baby, the big baby. 77 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: Well, we had our fancy lunch ladies. Yeah, so that's right, 78 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 2: very delic We had lunch in a nicely beautiful Mediterranean 79 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: place in the middle of the day on a Friday. Yes, 80 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 2: I just feel it feels better to me when I 81 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 2: do those types of things during the work week, because 82 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 2: I'm like, this is because you can when you have 83 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 2: your own you know, you can manage your own schedule. 84 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: But I love going to an empty restaurant in between, 85 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 2: you know, like when there's on any people there. Yeah, 86 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 2: it was lovely. And then you finally got to meet 87 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: my baby. 88 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: I know. We went to pick him up from daycare? 89 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: Is it daycare or school? Now? Is a season? We 90 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 1: call it? Well, he calls it cool and okay, okay, 91 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: well he can win wait to cool to pick him up. 92 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:24,920 Speaker 1: At first, I could tell he was like, who this lady? 93 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: It took him a little while to warm up, but 94 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: what do you tell you something about me and my bestie? Yo? 95 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:31,839 Speaker 1: Just so you know, when you say a little while, 96 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: you mean like thirty seconds. Right now. We got to 97 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: the house and I could tell he was like, Okay, 98 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: this lady's in my house. Her name is Tiffy obviously, 99 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: and then just out of the blue, he was like, 100 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: I've decided I like her. He climbed over the cap 101 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: and just wrapped his arms on my neck. Was like, 102 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: I live with her now. 103 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 2: My mama never seen him do that with someone he 104 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 2: just met. Honestly, I think that kids feed off of 105 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: our energy. And he's like, Mama clearly loves this lady, 106 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 2: so I love her like we are related now. So 107 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 2: I was so cute, and instantly I was like, a trick. 108 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 2: Do you know how it is? Mom's by trick Tiffany 109 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 2: into babysitting. I was like, so he's cool. You guys 110 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: are snuggling. I'm gonna go get husband and I'll be 111 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: right by. And I came back and y'all were in 112 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 2: the exact same snuggling position. Yes, we have left. 113 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: We were. 114 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 2: You can't ever tell my mother in law that because 115 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 2: she would be so jealous. 116 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: Oh but it was. He was just like, so we're 117 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: friends now, actually best friends, and Molly's a friend too. 118 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: Molly was like, girl, what about me? 119 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 2: Oh my god, yeah you saw my Listen Molly. Molly 120 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 2: surprises everyone with her her girth? Is that the right word? 121 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 1: She think? 122 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 2: She photographs her face is like little, but it hides 123 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: the body. The body, YadA, YadA, yadda. 124 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: Legs and hips and body. Molly's giving a body, but 125 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: beautiful body. Okay, because we love all bodies here. 126 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 2: But yeah, she's a natural girl. 127 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: Yeah she's she's a duels. 128 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 2: So special that really, I was like, so cause it's 129 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: different when you It really meant something to me that 130 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 2: you got to see, like how I live. I'm not 131 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 2: that you know, but just like where I live in 132 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: my home and stuff. It made sense and I was like, 133 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 2: of course you should be here, and I wish you 134 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 2: lived next door. You know. 135 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: My favorite part was was like, and this was like 136 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: I was telling us to doctor Greens. I had like 137 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: therapy on Saturday, and I was like, oh, I went 138 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: to visit. Mandy was so great. I said, one of 139 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 1: my favorite parts is that I pulled up and you 140 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: were like, you know, you asked me something to the 141 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: effect of like you know, what time do you have 142 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: to leave? Or like do you have a timeframe? And 143 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: I said, this is the only thing I planned today 144 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: and it felt so good to say it, and your 145 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: face lit up, like and I'm like, that's how I 146 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: want to go. But that's where I want life to go, 147 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: right that, like you connect with friends in a way 148 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: that's like, no, you are important to me. And as 149 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: a result, like this is it? Like I didn't have 150 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: anything else, It was just this. So I was going 151 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 1: to stay as long or short as Mandy would have me. 152 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 2: And so so it was awesome time you can I 153 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 2: spend the night would end up leaving to be like 154 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 2: I'm gonna go to the store. So I'm gonna go 155 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 2: walk around Target for a two hours. You're like, I 156 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 2: got enough sisters who do that to me? 157 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: No, I don't want I love it. Oh love. 158 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 2: Wait, Well we got to make that. I don't want 159 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 2: to put pressure on it, but we gotta make it. Wait, 160 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: we're gonna well, I know for sure, I'm gonna see 161 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 2: you this summer because where are we going? 162 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: Where we are to see babe. Mandy blessed me with 163 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: be all tickets. I mean, I gotta paid for them. 164 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: But the fact that I even have access to be 165 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: on tickets yes, many was like awesome. Cash, Hey girl, 166 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: got some tickets. They're awesome. I want to go. 167 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: I'm like, is he is this cracksy smoking Yes, well 168 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 2: it's in Jersey. I had been trying to get tickets 169 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 2: to her show in Atlanta, but it did not I 170 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: didn't get any codes. I signed up for the Beehive, 171 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 2: the the City thing. But my bestie Baron, who you 172 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 2: met at my wedding, he got a code and it 173 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 2: was so funny because he got he wasn't expecting he 174 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: got it at work. He happened to have forgotten the 175 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 2: city credit cards. 176 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: So he called me. 177 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 2: He's like, Mandy, I got the code, go get your 178 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: city card. I'm gonna put it on your card. And 179 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 2: like we were fighting over what seats to get because 180 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 2: barn was being a little cheapy cheap, and I said, Baron, 181 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 2: we agreed, the budget is fifteen hundred. I want to 182 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 2: drop a washer dryer on this show because I don't 183 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 2: cause I went to Formation the Formation tour, and I 184 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 2: tried to get good seats, but I did, I got 185 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: the nosebleeds, and I was like, I owe this to myself. 186 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,239 Speaker 2: Plus I ain't been nowhere in three years. I haven't 187 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 2: even seen a show like the theater, like it's been 188 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 2: so long, so I deserve okay. Yeah, And so Baron 189 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 2: got four tickets and he said, okay, so you can 190 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: bring a date and I can bring a date. And 191 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 2: I was like, who the hell am I gonna get 192 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 2: pay that much money for? 193 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: You know me? I was like mmmm yeah, I love 194 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: it because both of us are typically very very very frugal, 195 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: like we're we're like legendary like b and Nady are 196 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,079 Speaker 1: legendarily frugal. But what she was like, it's fourteen hundred. 197 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: I said, done, done. But that's what I love, Like, 198 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 1: I mean, if we're going to bring it back to 199 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: like Brian ambition and personal finance, that's what I love 200 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: about this journe is because you know, I don't spend 201 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: money on things that really don't enhance my life. So 202 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: when it comes to something like this, I have it 203 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 1: readily available and I'm like, you know, right now I'm 204 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: wearing my my my target sweatshirt and swetpants and I'm like, okay, yeah, 205 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,559 Speaker 1: look at us. But then when it was like fourteen tickets, 206 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 1: I was like, girls a less, yeah, pair of shoes. 207 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 2: Some people drop that on a pair of shoes, like no, 208 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 2: But for I just know this is going to be 209 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 2: so fun. Baron's got to pick out who's Poo's bringing. 210 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 2: And I was like, the vibe has to be right. 211 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 2: I need approvals. I had to get you pre approved 212 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 2: by Baron because like b like like Beehive, I renaissance 213 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 2: vibes only like we need it has to be lit 214 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,199 Speaker 2: like but I'm so excited and that's something to look 215 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 2: forward to this summer too. So I'll be two months postpartum. 216 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 2: Should I bring the baby and like ask her to 217 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 2: maybe we'll be close enough that like some of her 218 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 2: sweat and baptop. 219 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: Or I'll just like lift the baby up. We gotta 220 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 1: figureut how we go do our hair? 221 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 2: Speaking of hair, Oh my gosh, yeah, well my hair 222 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 2: is yeah, should we should we should we segue into 223 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 2: the hair convo? 224 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: Because should we take a break real quick first? 225 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, let's do that. That's what professionals would do. 226 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 2: Let's take a break and be right back when more 227 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:26,719 Speaker 2: Brown Ambition again sponsored by Doves Crown Hair Care Collections. 228 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 2: So excited we're gonna come back and have a juicy 229 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 2: convo about our locks, our luscious locks. 230 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: And we're back in fabulous. So yeah, speaking of hair, 231 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: because I'm just like, Oh, I'm gonna wear my hair. 232 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: I was just thinking that. But you know it's crazy 233 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: because I'm like, I feel like, as a black woman, 234 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: that's what we're always thinking, Like, how we gonna wear 235 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: our hair? 236 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, how's the hair gonna wear us today? 237 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: Yes? Exactly, because sometimes the hair just be decided for us. 238 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 1: What about you, Mandy? Like so like I would like, 239 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,319 Speaker 1: I'm curious because our hair is so well, I mean 240 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 1: it's similar but different, Like lots of curls like mine 241 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: are extra tightly coirl. Like the girls would say, I 242 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: have four c do you know what You're like? What 243 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: your curl pattern? What would they say? 244 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 2: I have all of them? It is like a hodge. 245 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: I have so many different curl patterns. My hair is 246 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 2: so confused, and it took me a long time because 247 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 2: I let's talk about like from baby, like from early 248 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 2: childhood to now, like what the journey has been because 249 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 2: I part of me feeling as comfortable as I do 250 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 2: now and my skin and my career and myself has 251 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 2: coincided with me finally embracing and letting my hair do 252 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 2: its thing. But yeah, the curl patterns, like I have 253 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 2: tried to diagnose and there's just there's a million different 254 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 2: you know, curl patterns in there, and it really obviously 255 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 2: I'm multiracial. My mom is white, she's super dup white European, 256 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 2: European and English. I got the twenty three and me 257 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 2: I know exactly my percentages. And then my dad is 258 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 2: black and the black black black, Yes he is. Yeah, 259 00:11:57,960 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 2: So I am like a lot of like, you know, 260 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 2: I think like a lot of mixed kids, especially mixed 261 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 2: kids raised by a mom who doesn't have textured hair. 262 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 2: My earliest hair memories, I don't even know what my 263 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: texture was because I got my first relaxer maybe four 264 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 2: or five years old. I do see there are some 265 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 2: pictures in my archive of me with like really cute 266 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 2: my mom would like put it in pick like these 267 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:22,079 Speaker 2: poofy ponytails and stuff cute curly hair. But then it 268 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,439 Speaker 2: just stopped and then I had these like long straight 269 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 2: you know, pin straight. And I asked her, I was like, 270 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 2: who suggested that? And she said, I thought it was 271 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 2: my aunt's like on my dad's side, but apparently she 272 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 2: was walking through the mall and women would like comment 273 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 2: on my hair. Black women would comment on my hair 274 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 2: and be like you need to take that baby and 275 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 2: get her perm and you know, a relaxer and so yeah, 276 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 2: it started out with that. I don't remember my first 277 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 2: relaxer experience, but when I tell you, I remember the 278 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 2: ones after that, like from burning my scalp and in 279 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 2: my mom doing the just for me kids at home. 280 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 2: Was there ever a time when you were getting like, 281 00:12:58,320 --> 00:12:59,839 Speaker 2: what was your hair growing up? When you were like 282 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 2: young young and you had all these sisters too, alse 283 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 2: hold the understand hair? 284 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: Yeah? Yeah, well yes, because so my hair is like 285 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: really really little, like the tightly curls that you can 286 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: get like you know, afro texture hair, like if I 287 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: didn't have like locks, now my hair you know, be 288 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,079 Speaker 1: like Michael Jack the afro like you know, it grows 289 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:24,079 Speaker 1: out not down. And so I've been natural like almost 290 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: my whole life. I want to say I had a 291 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: part maybe two years out of my life. So literally 292 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: I'm forty three, so for forty one years I have 293 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: worn my hair naturally, just different natural styles like braidsen things. 294 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: But when I was really little, like my mom, like 295 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: she wasn't like this super braider. Some of my earliest 296 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: memories are like of like other black women braiding my hair. 297 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: Like I remember there's this little girl, well now I 298 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: call her little girl, but she probably was a teenager 299 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:50,439 Speaker 1: that would come and like braid my like my my, 300 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: my mom would we would visit one of my cousins, 301 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 1: like and I think they lived in Irvington or whatever, 302 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: and she must have been like fourteen, and we kind 303 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: of would just line up and get our hair braided 304 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: by this young girl. We were little, I remember I 305 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: did used to especially for Easter Sunday and things. We 306 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: would get our hair pressed. That's on some of my 307 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: earliest memories, which is the worst because hooch like that 308 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: grease you know, like you know, hold your ear down, 309 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: and sometimes it's too much grease, so we would literally 310 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: burn your scalp. And then I don't know why, but 311 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: maybe I just was really stubborn about getting my hair done. 312 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: But around like fourth or fifth grade, my mom gave 313 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: me a Jerry curl. Jesus be a fence. It wasn't 314 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: even in then. Like I look back and I'm like, 315 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: why would you give me a Jerry curl? No, none 316 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: of my sisters had it. Just Tiffany, I almost like, 317 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: did you have hand. 318 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 2: Done created Jerry curl? How do you create that? Is 319 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: it product or is it like a So. 320 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: It's basically like a curly it's a relaxer basically that 321 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: you put like that instead of like straight. You put 322 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: like rods in it so it'll be curly, but you 323 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: have to keep it moist, so you're you're literally walking 324 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: around with a wethead. Twenty Oh my god, we gotta 325 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: see pictures, girl, Yes you do. I have a picture 326 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: of me in sixth grade where like this Easter Sunday 327 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: outfit and my first my first foray into public school. 328 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: I did not know they did not dress up for 329 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: public school, but I learned that day, and so I 330 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: have a purple headband in this purple Easter Sunday outfit 331 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: and my jeriker on full display. So I just remember, 332 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: I don't know, like I was such a tomboy, but 333 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: I hated the notion of like getting my hair done. 334 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: You know. It just seemed like the world was telling me, 335 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: something's wrong with your hair, you have to do something 336 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: with it. And I just remember being like I wish 337 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: it was like I remember distinctly being like in like 338 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 1: second grade, that I loved the Brady bunch and I 339 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: always saw myself as jam because she was the second 340 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: girl and I was the second girl. So I would 341 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: put on turtleneck like so imagine a turtle, like the 342 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: neck part goes here, but I would put it like 343 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: almost like a headband, the neck part on my head 344 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: and then let the rest fall, and we would walk 345 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: around the house and be like, that's our hair. Like 346 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: I must have been like a first and second grade 347 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: and literally I just would have it swinging and say, 348 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: I wish my hair swung like this, because something must 349 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: be wrong with mine because it doesn't do this. And 350 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: so my first memories of my hair were that it 351 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: was like a nuisance and that something was wrong with 352 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: it because it didn't look like Dan Brady. 353 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I can so relate to that. I mean 354 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 2: my mom sitting there trying. I remember crying, thinking and 355 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 2: my is my mom going to live with me for 356 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 2: the rest of my life? Am I ever going to 357 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 2: be able to detangle my own hair? Because detangled like 358 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 2: the pain of get you know her washing my hair 359 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 2: in the sink and then doing the relaxer in the 360 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 2: you know her fighting with the like the pink like 361 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 2: should we do the pink grease? Was it called the pink? 362 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 2: What's the pink moisturizer? Literally the pink bottle? And like 363 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 2: the or the or the blue there was like some 364 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 2: kind of blue gel I don't. 365 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: Know, yes, blue magic. 366 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 2: And then and then I like rebelled in my teenage 367 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 2: years just wanted to like at least be able to 368 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 2: do my own hair, but then of course I couldn't. 369 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 2: So there are some there are some tragic, tragic yearbook 370 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: photos of me and for me, like it was I 371 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 2: went to I think we both went to like I 372 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 2: don't know, majority white schools. 373 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: I did, right, I. 374 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 2: Went to like several different high schools somewhere more like 375 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 2: less diverse than others, but certainly like really white middle school. 376 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:09,640 Speaker 2: And then later my senior year really like non diverse, 377 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 2: and I would get picked on so bad, especially by 378 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 2: other black girls, for my hair, like you need and 379 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 2: we were like struggling financially. Relaxers cost money. We all 380 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 2: know that, right, Like fifty dollars to get a you know, 381 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 2: and if you weren't able to keep touch ups, it'd 382 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 2: be more expensive. They want like eighty dollars. But yeah, 383 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 2: I would get I would get picked on, and I 384 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 2: never loved my hair. I always felt like it was 385 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 2: something to hold me back. I couldn't get it wet. 386 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 2: Everyone had pool parties and I'd be worried about getting 387 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:41,439 Speaker 2: it wet. And my mom, Like my mom loved me, 388 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 2: but I could tell she didn't love my hair. And 389 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 2: that had an impact. And we've talked about it since, 390 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 2: but it really and I feel like more women go 391 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 2: through that too, like to feel that your mom or 392 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 2: you're the women in your life or whoever you're with, 393 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 2: like look at your hair as a burden. It does 394 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 2: not make you love anything. You know, it doesn't make 395 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:04,400 Speaker 2: it doesn't it doesn't make you feel good about it. 396 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 1: I will say I was at least fortunate to grow 397 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 1: up in a house like everybody's hair was like my hair, 398 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: So I didn't feel although I went to white Westfield 399 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: High School and it was largely white, like nine to 400 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 1: nine point nine to nine percent, you know. In the 401 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: house there were four other little girls who had hair 402 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 1: like mine and my mom although she had like a 403 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: perm and she used to wear wigs. Sorry, Mom, I 404 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 1: know it's like, don't play tell peop about these weeks. 405 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: But like still like everything right now, you know, but 406 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: like under it all, like her hair was like much. 407 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: I didn't feel weird. I one thing I did I 408 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: will remember is that like I, you know, after the 409 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: Jerry Coro grew up, I was like mm hm, and 410 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: I just started to get braids because braids started to 411 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: be really popular, so we would get braids. And I 412 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: played sports, and so that was like because I played 413 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 1: like sports, like I used to run track, I played tennis. 414 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: It was just easier, especially when Brandy came out when 415 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: I was around fifteen. Brandy and I are the same age, 416 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: so she came out she was about fourteen fifteen, and 417 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: I was like, oh my gosh. She really popularized natural 418 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 1: hair via braids until all of us had braids. I 419 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: remember microbraides, which took forever to do and put in, 420 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,639 Speaker 1: but it gave me this sense of like, Okay, I 421 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: don't have to do my hair daily, but they can 422 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: still look really nice. And I really like I loved 423 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: that period of like of braids other than like you know, 424 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,159 Speaker 1: the because it was very low maintenance, other than the 425 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 1: taking it out and putting it in. And then for 426 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: some reason, I it was like because I wasn't gonna 427 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: play sports in college, and so I decided my I 428 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: think I wanted to be like grown and sophisticated. That's 429 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: what I thought it would look like. I got a 430 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: palm freshman year right before college. My freshman year in college, 431 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 1: and you know, like it just my hair was like, girl, 432 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: what are you doing? At one point, I was like, 433 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be one of those monks that only has 434 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:45,120 Speaker 1: like a little piece of ponenty out in the middle 435 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: because it was eating up all of my sides the back. 436 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: I went to this It was this West Indian woman. 437 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: She was making a lowist I'll never forget. And I 438 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 1: used to go to her to get my perm and 439 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: I was like, and she was the one that told me, 440 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: She's like, honestly, tiffany texture here is so opposed to 441 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 1: the straight texture of the permit you're trying to achieve 442 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: that you would either have to get perms so frequently 443 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: that it's dangerous, or you know, like when your hair 444 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,439 Speaker 1: grows in, which is like this tight curl and the 445 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: permit is this really straight where they're meeting. It's breaking 446 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: no matter what we're doing. So she was like, girl, honestly, 447 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: and this is before the natural movement, and I remember thinking, 448 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: what am I going to do? I took scissors. I 449 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: wasn't thinking, and I just cut off all of like 450 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 1: it was just breakage everywhere. I would comb it and 451 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: here it would just be on my shoulders. Hair was 452 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: always everywhere, and it was devastating, Like I felt like 453 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 1: I was going bald, and I was just like, so 454 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: I just cut it. And I started this kind of 455 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 1: like teeny weeny afro that everybody was horrified by. I mean, 456 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: black women would stop me in the street and say, 457 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: why would I do this to myself because it's not 458 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: like now, nobody was natural, you know, like maybe with 459 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: braids or whatever, but like a fro. And so I 460 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: rocked a fro for years when I was I rocked 461 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,920 Speaker 1: a fro like I want to say, the last maybe 462 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: like year in college and then beyond. That's why I 463 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: met Jerreal. He used to love my little fro. He's like, 464 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 1: I ain't never seen nobody with a frow you look. 465 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: And so I love my fro. Although the fro because 466 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: every hairstyle requires different products. So with braids sometimes it's itchy, 467 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: so you have like these itchy hair spray things, and 468 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: then you want to like, you know, you keep your 469 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: like they would have you grease your scalp, you know, 470 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: like the parts right, and then with a fro, like 471 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: for my hair, it's so thirsty. So I was putting 472 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,199 Speaker 1: so much product in it just for it to not 473 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: be super dry because with afro texture here, you cannot 474 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: typically comb it just dry out there like you will 475 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 1: just be yes, it's painful and you're going to see 476 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:49,719 Speaker 1: hair all over the place. So it has to be 477 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:51,919 Speaker 1: in a state of moisturization, like you have to have 478 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: just least washed it. Maybe it has conditioner in it. 479 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: But I used a lot of product when I had 480 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: a fro, and it was a lot of work. People 481 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:02,120 Speaker 1: think that natural hair is not a lot of work. 482 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 1: That compared it to like per so much work and 483 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: so but I love that fro. I used to get 484 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: twisted outs. With it, I learned all these different things 485 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: to do. I would get like twist outs, I would 486 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 1: get braid outs, I would get all these fun things. 487 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: And then I want to say, maybe like four or 488 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: five years into having a FRO, I really contemplated getting locks, 489 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: you know, and I was just like, I think, I 490 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: want to not I want the freedom of like the 491 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: braids without the takedown and put in of the braids, 492 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: you know. And I considered, I did a lot of 493 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 1: research on like what kind of locks to get. And 494 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:40,359 Speaker 1: one of the things I always hated about a parm 495 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: is the dryer time. Oh my gosh, the drier time. 496 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: If you get a PARM, I. 497 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:47,199 Speaker 2: Can't even always wonder like, why can't you just use 498 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:48,400 Speaker 2: a blow dryer, because. 499 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,239 Speaker 1: Regular locks are like you twist them, like you use 500 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: whatever palmade or whatever jel or whatever, and you twist 501 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 1: them and you sit on the dryer for hours. I said, 502 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 1: not me. And something called sister locks was just starting 503 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: to gain popularity. And it's basically this inter this ancient 504 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,960 Speaker 1: interlocking system that was born in Africa, where you don't 505 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:09,479 Speaker 1: twist them. It's almost like backward braiding. You take the 506 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 1: end of the lock and then you loop it through 507 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:14,239 Speaker 1: like the gap in your root, and you pull it 508 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 1: through and so when doing that a number of times, 509 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: it actually begins to braid the root, and so you 510 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 1: never have to sit under the dryer. And they were 511 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 1: really expensive back that I don't know or like if 512 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 1: they're super expensive now, but to start them you anywhere 513 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: from like two three hundred dollars to like five six 514 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: hundred dollars to start them. And so I started my 515 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: sister locked journey I want to say my mid twenties, 516 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: maybe I was twenty five, twenty six something like that, 517 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: and I have had them ever since. Like now have 518 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:39,159 Speaker 1: you had to see me? 519 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 2: Now? 520 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: What'd you say? Mid back? My hair's kind of mid back, 521 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: but it was longer before and I cut them to 522 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: my chin and now they're back again. So I've had 523 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 1: them like what twenty years now, maybe not twenty, maybe 524 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: like fifteen, But either way, I love them, Like you know, 525 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 1: I consider cutting them all off one day like the 526 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: other day, but not the other day. But I just 527 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: the other day, but I meaning like maybe a few 528 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 1: years ago with the scissors, just because I was like, oh, 529 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,880 Speaker 1: may we do something different, But honestly, I really I 530 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: love them because I'm kind of a tombois so I'm 531 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: not someone who is going to do my hair a ton, 532 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: so it's like it's done. And what I love about 533 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: them is locks, especially anything past ten years, you get 534 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 1: what they call mature locks. So in the beginning, your 535 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 1: locks are like just like basically like a braided fro, 536 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: and then they start to bud, which when they get 537 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: like these like they look like these fat, chunky caterpillars. 538 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,439 Speaker 1: You ever see people with that? And then the bud 539 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: there's an awkward stage or teenage stage to locks, where 540 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 1: like the top part is tighter, but then there are 541 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: bud's at the bottom and people typically don't like that stage. 542 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: You stay there for a few years and then they 543 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 1: start to fully almost look like a braid all throughout. 544 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: So I am fully mature locked. It's over ten years 545 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: and as a result of them being so tightly compacted 546 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 1: in these necks, I when I tell you, Landy, I 547 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: don't put anything in my hair. I wash my hair 548 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 1: like with shampoo. I use like a little bit of 549 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 1: like really conditioner and that's it. Like day to day, 550 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: I don't put anything because there's no space for them. 551 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 1: It will just like kind of sit on top and I, yeah, 552 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: this is the easiest and like my favorite style. Yeah, 553 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: I mean I likely will ride off into the sunset 554 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 1: with this style. But I'm in a space now where 555 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:14,679 Speaker 1: I can honestly say that I love my hair. I 556 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 1: think it's I think it's beautiful, and I think it's strong, 557 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 1: and it reminds me of my great grandmother that I 558 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 1: met one time in Nigeria, which I wish I took 559 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: a picture because I remember staring at her curl pattern 560 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,360 Speaker 1: and thinking it looked exactly like mine. And so, yeah, 561 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: I love my hair. 562 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 2: Now, well, I love it too. 563 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: It's just you. 564 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 2: I mean, it really becomes and it's so versatile and beautiful. 565 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 2: It's beautiful. I when you mentioned Brandy, I was like 566 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 2: my hair icons when I was little were the sister 567 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 2: sister twins Tia and to Mayow because I was like, wait, 568 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:47,639 Speaker 2: they have curly hair until the later years when they 569 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:49,920 Speaker 2: got them they all had relaxers, and then I wanted 570 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:52,120 Speaker 2: the relaxer even more when Ta and Sa Mary got 571 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 2: it done when they straightened their curls. But that was 572 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 2: my first inkling that maybe there could be a different 573 00:25:57,800 --> 00:25:59,800 Speaker 2: life for me. But no one would ever, let me 574 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 2: get to that point, because as soon as it grew out, 575 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 2: it was a mess. It was nappy, it was we 576 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 2: had it had to be. It was a problem that 577 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 2: needed to be taken care of. Right. I wonder for 578 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 2: you because this is called like the Dove Crown Collection. 579 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 2: It reminds me of the Crown Act. Actually, I'm Dove 580 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 2: co sponsored the Crown Act, which is not federal law yet, 581 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 2: but it is in some several states, which basically says 582 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:22,439 Speaker 2: in the workplace because black women like we have. I mean, 583 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 2: there's so many examples of people who have been and 584 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,399 Speaker 2: even it's written into dress codes and like schools and 585 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 2: even some workplaces where braids locks are not considered appropriate 586 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 2: for the workplace or for you know, in a school setting, 587 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 2: and it's anyway. So I'm I'm so happy now that 588 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 2: there's actual and it needs to be like written into 589 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 2: the law. You cannot discriminate against us for our hair. 590 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 2: And I know for me, as my career shifted from 591 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 2: writer Mandy like I was behind the scenes writing the 592 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 2: minute I got on camera, like when I was at 593 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 2: Yahoo Finance in my early twenties, that that's when my 594 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 2: confidence would just be like knocked every time I sat 595 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 2: down in the hair and makeup room because and it 596 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 2: would come from stylists of all different backgrounds, but they 597 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 2: didn't really want to touch my hair. It was like 598 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 2: can you And when I when I started to transition, 599 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 2: which was around that time I was maybe twenty twenty six, 600 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:26,639 Speaker 2: twenty five twenty six, it was, well, the curls don't 601 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:31,320 Speaker 2: look good on camera. It's fuzzy. It's like, can you 602 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 2: get them smooth? Could they be the perfect ringlets? You know? 603 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 2: Like cause I feel like in pop culture, if there 604 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 2: were natural curlies, they'd be like they would be natural, 605 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 2: but they'd be all like they would have used a 606 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 2: curling iron or a mini curl or something to get 607 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:48,679 Speaker 2: the perfect coils, and I don't have that. Look at this, 608 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 2: there's like a million different textures. 609 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: They are the perfect coil. 610 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 2: Some of the gurlies want to be European and have 611 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 2: my mom's blonde straight hairs, and some of the girlies 612 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 2: are like, we are from the western coast of Africa 613 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,119 Speaker 2: and we are proud of it. Like there's just a 614 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:04,640 Speaker 2: million different textures. But I'm so glad I stuck with 615 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 2: it because it was a falling in love process. For me, 616 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 2: it started at my temples. I could see, well, really 617 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 2: what it started was I became too broke for New 618 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:16,359 Speaker 2: York City relaxer prices. Okay, they were like hundreds of 619 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,959 Speaker 2: dollars to get, you know, a relaxer from a good salon, 620 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 2: and I just was like, I don't want to pay 621 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:23,400 Speaker 2: for that. So I would go longer and longer in between, 622 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:25,399 Speaker 2: and then I could start to see at my temple 623 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 2: the curls, and I just stopped. I just stopped getting relaxers. 624 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 2: And then thank God for YouTube cause you mentioned like 625 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 2: doing the research about locks. I was researching like and 626 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 2: I learned about protective styles band two knots. I could 627 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 2: get a natural curl, you know, from learning how to 628 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 2: do band two knots. And just so for all the 629 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 2: YouTubers out there who do hair content, I'm like, thank 630 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 2: you for providing the guidance that those of us who 631 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:53,880 Speaker 2: don't have family or loved ones who understand our hair 632 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 2: culture or styles like that was really my education. And 633 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 2: I rocked a little baby fro because for me, I 634 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 2: transitioned and I would do the same. I would cut 635 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:06,200 Speaker 2: like where the because eventually it breaks. You have the 636 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 2: curly hair and then you have the relaxed parts, and 637 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 2: I would just cut more and more, and finally I 638 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 2: ended up trimming it all. I think I had like 639 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 2: three or four inches of curls at that point and 640 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 2: that was it. I just it just was like, Oh, 641 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 2: this is what it's supposed to be, and there's no 642 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 2: looking back ever since. It just feels like part of me. 643 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 2: And of course I think back to those years at 644 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 2: Yahoo and I didn't I hadn't yet found my own 645 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 2: confidence in it. I definitely would have stuck up for 646 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 2: myself more and not have been using flat and irons. 647 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 2: And there's nothing wrong with flat irons and all that, 648 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 2: but you know, for a lot longer. But I don't 649 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:49,880 Speaker 2: have to worry about it anymore. So, Yeah, it's. 650 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 1: Funny because I had celebrity style is like I don't know. 651 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: I mean, I always come with my hair done because 652 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 1: I'm like, what you're not gonna do is play me? Yeah. Same, 653 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: But every once in a while they'll be like when 654 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: I went to the Jennifer Hudson's show out to their 655 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 1: style was there, I want to say, he's Latino and 656 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:04,320 Speaker 1: at first he was like, I'm gonna do your hair. 657 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 1: I was like it's okay, it's done, and he was like, no, no, 658 00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 1: but he did this beautiful braid that was so I 659 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: was really impressed and he actually had some So sometimes 660 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 1: the really kinky, curly girls, they have to decide if 661 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 1: they're going to like lay their edges down with Jael. 662 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 1: Like if you are watching on YouTube what you want 663 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: to be, you can see that I typically don't lay 664 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 1: my edges down with y'all. I'm my girl, this is 665 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: this is my edge, get into it. But sometimes for 666 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 1: like TV or whatever, I will give it a little smoother, slicker, 667 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,520 Speaker 1: you know, more quote unquote professional, just because you know 668 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 1: that's what the people be asking for. But he so 669 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: he actually put me onto like a new jeil that 670 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 1: I had not, so I was really surprised that not 671 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 1: only did he know about like my hair, but also 672 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: products that worked, because oftentimes, because my hair is so 673 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,760 Speaker 1: tightly curled that most jails are like my hair laughs 674 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 1: at are like, girl, we've bested better than you. But yeah, 675 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 1: so you know, we put this gel in it. It was great. 676 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 1: But I just yeah, like, now where I am now 677 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,880 Speaker 1: is that like I come with this assumption that you 678 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 1: don't know how to do my hair, and that's fine. 679 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 1: I will come my hair done. We just pray that 680 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: the makeup artist knows how to do my browskin at 681 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: this point thankfully. If I'm being candid, one of the 682 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:21,120 Speaker 1: reasons why I also like sister locks is because traditional 683 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: locks are typically bigger and thicker, and they're usually when 684 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 1: people say locks are unprofessional, that's what they mean. So 685 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 1: if I'm being candid, sister locks was like a safer 686 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: lock option, you know, meaning that like it's like it's 687 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 1: more palatable yes to like to the you know, to 688 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:42,600 Speaker 1: to you know to in the professional space. Yeah, you know. 689 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,960 Speaker 1: So I've never felt that my hair was you know, unprofessional, 690 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 1: but because I chose these kind of like with this 691 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: underlying like, ugh, let me get these skinnier locks, so 692 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: it doesn't feel like, oh she got locks, you don't. 693 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,080 Speaker 1: We had black power, even though I am Black power. 694 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:00,720 Speaker 1: But even like being on the cover of my book, 695 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:03,719 Speaker 1: it good with money, you know, like to be like 696 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:05,959 Speaker 1: this sister Lot girl. You should have seen when they 697 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: did the cover. So Tanta Bell, who's an amazing photographer, 698 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: she did like all of me and Mandy's pictures from 699 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,160 Speaker 1: Brown Ambition. She's done all my head shots. So Tanda 700 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:16,880 Speaker 1: took the picture and at first when the cover came back, 701 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 1: you know, because that's not the background of the book 702 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: is green, but I think like the actual background of 703 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: the picture was like brown or white or whatever. So 704 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 1: they had to cut me out, you know, like you know, 705 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 1: like cut me out so they could put me on 706 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 1: this green background. You should have seen how they cut 707 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: my hair out. It was just like it looked like, 708 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:35,440 Speaker 1: you know, just the smooth circles have a bun on 709 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:38,000 Speaker 1: my blace. Yeah, So Tanetta came in was like, no, 710 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:41,960 Speaker 1: absolutely not. She made them zoom in and cut around 711 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 1: my small little So that's why, like the book looked 712 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: so great because they kept the texture of what my 713 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:51,480 Speaker 1: hair actually looks like. But that's what I mean about 714 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:55,680 Speaker 1: taking the extra step, because when you it looked, the 715 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 1: book looked didn't look as good because the initial care 716 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: was not taken to ensure that the way my hair 717 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 1: is actually shaped shows up, you know. And I'm just 718 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:07,840 Speaker 1: so grateful to that Assistan. Hey girl, you know, like 719 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:10,400 Speaker 1: stepped in and was like, no, we're not doing that. 720 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:12,760 Speaker 1: Like I took this beautiful picture and part of the 721 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:16,320 Speaker 1: beauty is Tiffany's kinky curly, beautiful hair. We're going to 722 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 1: honor that on the book cover. And so yeah, professionally, 723 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:21,560 Speaker 1: sometimes I do think about it, but you know, I'm 724 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 1: at a point now where I'm like, girl, take it 725 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,000 Speaker 1: or leave it, and you know, but I'm grateful that 726 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 1: many times the places that I've been invited, people know 727 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:30,760 Speaker 1: something about my hair, or at least I know how 728 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 1: to do it enough myself. Well, I just come like 729 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 1: I know how to do enough myself, where like I 730 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: come ready because you know, you just never know, and 731 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 1: I don't want to take the risk. 732 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:40,800 Speaker 2: When was the first time someone tried to touch your hair? 733 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 2: Do you remember? 734 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 1: I remember in high school, like probably middle school, but 735 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,400 Speaker 1: I distinctly remember in high school that like someone came 736 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:50,800 Speaker 1: up behind me, you know. It was I had gotten 737 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 1: braids over the weekend, and one of the girls, and 738 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: I'm melanated, was like, oh my god, your hair grew 739 00:33:55,600 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 1: so fast. And I was like, at your your own 740 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 1: age or fourteen, I'm just gonna use it, like just 741 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:04,720 Speaker 1: a little common sense. And I was like, I didn't 742 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: know what to say because I honest say, I was 743 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 1: embarrassed because back then it was like you have fake hair. 744 00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:12,120 Speaker 2: You know, and I just something to be ashamed of. 745 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I just said yeah, because no one was 746 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:16,920 Speaker 1: wearing extensions then, you know, like as far as like 747 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:18,959 Speaker 1: you know, as far as I knew, like I knew, 748 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 1: like all the black girls knew, like oh you get 749 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:21,920 Speaker 1: your you know, you get your braids or whatever. But 750 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:25,040 Speaker 1: like now like everyone black, white, Asian, everyone gets like 751 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,319 Speaker 1: hair extensions, but it wasn't as common. And so I 752 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:31,200 Speaker 1: remember like people always wanted to touch my braids, and 753 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:33,920 Speaker 1: I didn't have kind of like the language to tell 754 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 1: people no. I would just be kind of like the 755 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:40,120 Speaker 1: petting zoo animal, like okay, And so like I'm all 756 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:43,480 Speaker 1: for curiosity because I too sometimes curious about somebody's hair, 757 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 1: but to reach out and touch someone without their consent, 758 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:50,200 Speaker 1: whether it's their fuzzy sweater or their hair, is absolutely 759 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 1: a no no. And you know, when you would think 760 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:54,799 Speaker 1: that people would have enough common sense to know you 761 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:57,799 Speaker 1: don't touch anyone for whatever reason without their consent, like 762 00:34:57,840 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 1: you know, you just just don't. And so it's crazy 763 00:35:01,239 --> 00:35:03,360 Speaker 1: now because I have my niece a Milliam and just 764 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:05,160 Speaker 1: saw them yesterday. So I called Roman and a million 765 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:07,440 Speaker 1: the crazy. So I want to go visit the crazies 766 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 1: yesterday and Amelia had the little band two knots which 767 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 1: were like indicative of she must have just got her 768 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 1: hair washed yesterday, you know, and I was like, oh me, me, 769 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:17,920 Speaker 1: you got your hair wash. You could tell she was like. 770 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:20,560 Speaker 2: My life cause she won't stay on tee. 771 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 1: I know she could tell that. She was just like 772 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:27,160 Speaker 1: she's just so she's all natural. My sister Carol, who 773 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:30,239 Speaker 1: those are her kids, they're all natural. And we tried 774 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:32,440 Speaker 1: with braids with Amelia. She just can't sit like she's 775 00:35:32,440 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 1: still so little. She's only five, so like getting like 776 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: a whole intricate braided style. She's kind of well what 777 00:35:37,719 --> 00:35:40,759 Speaker 1: black folks call tenderheaded, and so like Carol does like 778 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:43,319 Speaker 1: more like afro puffs for her, so it's like not 779 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:45,839 Speaker 1: as much time sitting down. And so you know, I'm 780 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:48,399 Speaker 1: curious to see like what Amelia's like hair journey will 781 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:50,560 Speaker 1: be because her texture. I was looking at it and 782 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:52,160 Speaker 1: I was like, oh my gosh, it looks just like 783 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 1: my great grandmother's looks just like mine, like tightly curled. 784 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:58,399 Speaker 1: It's beautiful, you know, And I just was like, so, yeah, 785 00:35:58,400 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 1: she's an afropuff girl. 786 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:01,960 Speaker 2: For now though, But now Mimi and all the other 787 00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 2: little girls. You got a whole aisle almost at the 788 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 2: grocery store now of options for yourself. Like Rio, I 789 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:11,000 Speaker 2: use Shay moisture in his hair, and like Canto conditioner 790 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 2: he's got really he's got loose curls. But I am 791 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:16,919 Speaker 2: like hyper vigilant of how I talk about my hair 792 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:19,799 Speaker 2: and his hair because I want him to love it. 793 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 2: And I finally got him now, he says, and he 794 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:24,840 Speaker 2: loves playing in my hair. And I remember when I 795 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:26,520 Speaker 2: was little it used to hurt me because my little 796 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:28,880 Speaker 2: brother loved my mom's and my sister's hair. My sister's 797 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:31,399 Speaker 2: full white, my mom is full white, but my brother 798 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:33,919 Speaker 2: and I are both biracial. And he would just love 799 00:36:33,960 --> 00:36:36,560 Speaker 2: the silky strands of my sisters and my mom's hair, 800 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:38,400 Speaker 2: and he would play, and then I would kind of feel, 801 00:36:38,719 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 2: you know, I would be like, no one wants to play. 802 00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:43,279 Speaker 2: You can't run your comb your fingers through this, like 803 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:47,279 Speaker 2: not even like you know, you would need some heavy 804 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:51,759 Speaker 2: duty equipment to do that. But Rio loves playing with 805 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:54,160 Speaker 2: my hair. He says, Mommy, you'll have flu fee. And 806 00:36:54,200 --> 00:36:55,880 Speaker 2: I said, your hair is because I call it flufy, 807 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:57,880 Speaker 2: And he's like my hair flufee too, and he kind 808 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:01,080 Speaker 2: of like pats his little poof Yeah, I just want 809 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:04,319 Speaker 2: him to. I'm happy for kids today because they there. 810 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:07,680 Speaker 2: I hope anyway that they can grow up loving it 811 00:37:07,719 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 2: and really embracing the uniqueness of it. And no one's 812 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 2: going to try to Although people do try to touch 813 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:17,360 Speaker 2: Rio's hair, I mean, I don't necessarily blame them because 814 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,279 Speaker 2: it's so freaking cute. No one tried to touch my 815 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:22,279 Speaker 2: hair until I started going natural, and then in the 816 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:25,440 Speaker 2: workplace it would happen, usually in the bathroom. Can I 817 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:28,400 Speaker 2: just I'm just this is so cool, Like this is great, 818 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:32,160 Speaker 2: and like I feel like as I was transitioning, that 819 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:34,279 Speaker 2: was something I had to get used to. Was now 820 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:37,040 Speaker 2: my hair. People comments on it even more, but I 821 00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:40,359 Speaker 2: get so much love. It's healing to me from being 822 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:41,920 Speaker 2: and I might get a little emotional, but like it's 823 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 2: healing from me from being. Like in middle school, dreading, 824 00:37:45,239 --> 00:37:48,959 Speaker 2: like picking alternative routes. If I saw, you know, black 825 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:50,799 Speaker 2: girls walking down the hall, the same the ones who 826 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 2: would bully me, cause I mean and black girls, like 827 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:55,920 Speaker 2: I have some of my best friends in school, I 828 00:37:55,960 --> 00:38:01,080 Speaker 2: was usually you know, I gravitated toward well I gratificated 829 00:38:01,120 --> 00:38:03,440 Speaker 2: Toortum in band class like all the sax players. They 830 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:06,239 Speaker 2: were like dope, Like all my friends were black. But 831 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:09,200 Speaker 2: I would still get picked on in the hallway. But 832 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:11,640 Speaker 2: now women stop me and they'll be like, I love 833 00:38:11,680 --> 00:38:14,000 Speaker 2: your hair at TJ Max or at Target or whatever. 834 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:17,359 Speaker 2: And I try to do the same, because you know, 835 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:19,319 Speaker 2: I think we're all healing, We're at some I feel 836 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:21,960 Speaker 2: like every black woman you see, every woman with textured hair, 837 00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 2: you see, black, brown, whatever, there's a healing little girl 838 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:30,359 Speaker 2: inside them who's learned to love their curls. And it's 839 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:33,120 Speaker 2: because of products like Dove, of course, that make it 840 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:36,040 Speaker 2: possible that we can actually take good care of our 841 00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:37,840 Speaker 2: hair and embrace it. Finally. 842 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:40,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, And what I love too is that, like I 843 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:42,360 Speaker 1: use Dob products and not just for my hair, but 844 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:45,400 Speaker 1: for my body too, because there's there's options for sensitivity. 845 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:48,759 Speaker 1: Because I am really I've got super sensitive skin. I 846 00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:51,439 Speaker 1: just can't put just anything, any product in my hair. 847 00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:53,560 Speaker 1: Like I'm very product light when it comes to my 848 00:38:54,080 --> 00:38:57,200 Speaker 1: you know, hair, because it's locked now. And so I 849 00:38:57,239 --> 00:38:59,640 Speaker 1: love the option to be able to use products that 850 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:02,080 Speaker 1: because when you're putting products in your hair, it's not 851 00:39:02,120 --> 00:39:04,120 Speaker 1: just your hair. It rolls down into your face and 852 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:07,000 Speaker 1: your body and your back. So I'm like hyper vigilant 853 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:10,080 Speaker 1: about like I just can't use just anything. And so yeah, 854 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:13,280 Speaker 1: we're super happy that they've decided to create a space 855 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:15,280 Speaker 1: for us to talk about our hair and our journey. 856 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:17,680 Speaker 1: So we will say that we both agree that like 857 00:39:17,719 --> 00:39:19,640 Speaker 1: we're in a space with our hair. Were like girl, 858 00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:23,239 Speaker 1: ten out of ten I would recommend yes. 859 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:26,000 Speaker 2: And hey, if y'all have ever, yeah, ten out of ten. 860 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:28,319 Speaker 2: I mean, it's not an easy life, this life, this 861 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:31,759 Speaker 2: natural hair, this maintenance is not the easiest. But I 862 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:33,600 Speaker 2: have my go to style. This is my version of 863 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:35,520 Speaker 2: sister locks. Now it is like a pony and a 864 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:37,680 Speaker 2: big bang and just all like to do is trim 865 00:39:37,719 --> 00:39:39,760 Speaker 2: it like a hedge. I haven't had a proper haircut, 866 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:42,719 Speaker 2: as you can probably tell in a long time. Yeah, 867 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:46,399 Speaker 2: I'm really proud, and I feel like for anyone out there, 868 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:48,839 Speaker 2: I mean I do know it still happens, like even 869 00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:52,560 Speaker 2: especially if you have a public facing, like you're in 870 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:55,480 Speaker 2: front of people, the comments will come through. And like 871 00:39:55,520 --> 00:39:58,239 Speaker 2: if there's anyone who wants to share if you've had 872 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:00,839 Speaker 2: experiences like that and how you've handled it, because even 873 00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:02,600 Speaker 2: though it's written in law now that you can't be 874 00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:05,399 Speaker 2: discriminated against because of your hair and how you wear it, 875 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:09,160 Speaker 2: that doesn't mean it's it's also you know, illegal to 876 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:11,439 Speaker 2: pay women less than men for the same work. But yeah, 877 00:40:11,560 --> 00:40:14,680 Speaker 2: hear me have the wage gap, So it's still happening, 878 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:16,520 Speaker 2: and I want to live in that place of reality. 879 00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:20,360 Speaker 2: So yeah, I feel like if you've ever had that issue, 880 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:22,880 Speaker 2: or even when you're interviewing, it's like, how do I 881 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:25,480 Speaker 2: wear my hair for an interview? Should I straighten it? 882 00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:27,799 Speaker 2: You know? Should I tame it? You know for the 883 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:31,239 Speaker 2: first interview, for the first impression, that still happens. And 884 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:35,080 Speaker 2: I totally get why you have that, why you have 885 00:40:35,120 --> 00:40:36,719 Speaker 2: to like go back and forth like that, And it's 886 00:40:36,719 --> 00:40:40,560 Speaker 2: just like this mental burden that like other people just 887 00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:41,480 Speaker 2: don't understand. 888 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:44,560 Speaker 1: You know. We'd love to hear you guys though, well, 889 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:46,000 Speaker 1: like when have you fallen? When did you fall in 890 00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:48,320 Speaker 1: love with your hair? If you have, and yeah, you know, 891 00:40:48,440 --> 00:40:51,120 Speaker 1: you can tweet us dm us. We'd love some beautiful 892 00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:53,920 Speaker 1: heartwarming or we have a heartwarming hair story so we 893 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:56,920 Speaker 1: can share because I think, you know, maybe this is 894 00:40:56,920 --> 00:40:58,719 Speaker 1: a great episode. You got a little girly, a little 895 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:02,560 Speaker 1: curly girly for sit next to you and listen, or 896 00:41:02,680 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 1: curly boy yeah, curly boyly. I forgot that's true. Oh thanks, y'all. 897 00:41:08,840 --> 00:41:11,720 Speaker 1: I think that's our brown boost too, Like right. 898 00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:14,719 Speaker 2: Love your hair, yeah, loving your hair and letting that 899 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:16,960 Speaker 2: and just falling in love with it, that relationship that 900 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:18,640 Speaker 2: you have. I'm really happy that I've gotten to a 901 00:41:18,640 --> 00:41:21,600 Speaker 2: place now in my thirties where Okay, I feel like, 902 00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:24,960 Speaker 2: no more hating it, just embrace it. I'm not gonna lie. 903 00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:30,120 Speaker 2: Sometimes I do hate it because a detangling process is special. 904 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:34,520 Speaker 2: But yeah, yeay hair, yay. Thank you to for sponsoring 905 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:35,160 Speaker 2: this episode. 906 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:37,279 Speaker 1: Yes, we will see you guys, and next week well 907 00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:40,279 Speaker 1: we'll see you hopefully on Friday for b AQA. You've 908 00:41:40,280 --> 00:41:44,920 Speaker 1: got questions, We've got answers until next week slash Friday. 909 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:46,360 Speaker 1: Bye y'all, Bye ba. 910 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:49,560 Speaker 2: Fam, Hey ba fam. We could not do this show 911 00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:51,880 Speaker 2: without your support or the support of our. 912 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:52,960 Speaker 1: Team behind the scenes. 913 00:41:53,239 --> 00:41:56,880 Speaker 2: The Brown Ambission podcast is produced by Cumulus Podcast Network. 914 00:41:56,920 --> 00:42:00,440 Speaker 2: It's edited by the wonderful Emani Crosby and produced by 915 00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:04,680 Speaker 2: Tanya Bustos. Dennistimplinsky is our in house tech curu and 916 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:07,760 Speaker 2: I am Bandy Wichard Santos, your co host, and I 917 00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:12,040 Speaker 2: will see y'all next week.