Natural Hair & Official Representation

[libralove83]

Glad I found your channel! Loving your hair girl! Anywho...it's great to hear that naturals are representing in higher/corporate places, we need more of that! :)

[acestarone]

wow good for you.i am glad you did that. too bad bill did not win. ay yi yi bloomberg. i am hoping for not too many layoffs in the near future

[omari1226]

we use that same jingle at the beginning of your video for my school announcements! lol

and congrats for being chosen to sing the national anthem!

[AyannaNaeela]

such a great jingle LOL. Sounds like CNN or something really official and credible LOL THanks for the congrats! =)

[leeeeeeeeeeeez]

better somehow. Even at uni, where I am right now, I don't know one black girl without a weave. I'm glad it only took me a year to come to my senses, and I can't wait until my hair grows back out to its full length do i can do a lot of beautiful and amazing stuff with it! luv ur vids by the way!

[leeeeeeeeeeeez]

you know what I realize, I don't know why we as black people want our hair to be straight. I mean I don't feel like I get pressure from white people to have my hair straight, I feel like the negativity comes from my fellow blacks, u know. I recently cut all my relaxer off and now I'm all natural and I can't tell you how many people (non-black) that said to me, why were u wearing your hair straight? You look so beautiful with your natural hair. And I knew this but yet I felt like straight was

[arajamz]

ooh I dream of, when I can attend an event and my stistah s rocking there 'fro!! keep up the good work sis, one!

[limzprettythang]

Just posted my transition vid!!! Check it out!.....plz...lol

[Nicewarmandcozee]

Amen to the Natural in the workplace thing you mentioned..let's keep it going.

[tymesava]

Hey Ayanna, thanx for sharing your vlog with me. It really made me smile when you discussed how many naturals were attending this gala event. I am so proud to be a natural and am loving every minute of it. My hair is growing well and it is so much easier to manage. I will never forget seeing one of your videos that helped give me the courage to big chop at 15 mths. Going natural was one of the best decisions of my life. You and your hair are beautiful! Stay blessed.

[arrebiy]

I have noticed that majority of black women on TV ads are natural...just wondering if anyboby else has noticed it? if not, start to observe....you will be suprised, it is a REVOLUTION!

[R05emary]

Yes alot of models that are black or do ads have natural hair thats because people in that kind of insutry actually really like black girls or boys with natural hair

[bibliophreak]

Women w/ natural hair are considered educated, healthy etc. That is the audience they are trying to reach. The higher wage earners. I think that AyannaNeela's experience is proof of that.

[bebegurl31291]

@arrebiy- I have been saying this for awhile:) it's so funny how I am starting to see relaxer commercials now:)

[oulove935]

I could see the excitement still on your face. On my campus (UMD College Park) the naturals are on the uprise! Then I go home to TX and it's so opposite BUT this Christmas I'm rocking my naps and LoViNg the mess out of them. My mother will NOT make me press (synch) my hair like she did 2yrs ago!

[Giggra]

That is great! I wonder if this is simular to what the pioneers of the afto felt in the late 60s. I love to see other naturals!

BTW good to see you back making videos.

[AyannaNaeela]

I'm sure it felt something like this! I love it! It's so inspiring and uplifting! =)

It's good to be back. Been really busy lately! The videos will keep coming but I'll have to prioritize a bit LOL

[ayamejoy]

That's really good to hear, about the event you got to do and the hair {:o)

[fadiliscious]

Wow that is truly amazing. Although I had my negative comments about my natural hair while being in my military uniform about a month ago..since my hair has grown I am able to kinda of pull it back into a nice puff and now I get a lot of positive feedback from both men and women in uniform. I was tempted to revert back to a perm but I'm staying true to myself and what I believe in.

2 months natural and counting...

[AyannaNaeela]

yo go girl!!!!! Stay true to what you want to do for yourself. Follow your heart =) If you do perm - let it because you choose to ... not because someone else's ignorance and/or intolerance forces you.

[RacquelNM]

Thanks for sharing this!!

[libbymarshae]

AWESOME

[brwnbarbie24]

I'm excited about your experience!

[rosered1585]

thanks for sharing! its nice to know so many people are going back to being natural :)

[SJANELJ]

that is awsome.

[forreal2011]

how do u get your hair to lay down like that?

[AyannaNaeela]

When I do a curly fro with big pieces (about 9-10) it stretches out easily. I smooth the front by unwinding the big pieces being careful not to disturb the strands and I pull each piece into the hand that is holding to hair to be put into a ponytail. Sometimes I use a spritz or two of water to help the hair to cooperate a little better

[tjbmom123]

WOW that is great, u must have felt like u were dreaming, seeing all of those naturals in one place. Your hair is AMAZING, I hope my hair is like that when it grows up, and out, and down.

[AyannaNaeela]

GIrrrrrl -- I was in HEAVEN!!!

[shany9988]

That's cool. I live in NYC too seeing & seeing naturals is pretty scattered. But I see it more everyday. Even at school :o.

80% is a lot in just one setting. Must've been great!

Hey, do you think Thompson's gonna win?

[AyannaNaeela]

I'm seeing more and more naturals too. I love it! Makes me feel proud!

THompson... Hmmm dunno. People may be ready for a change. Too bad we can't have them both LOL

[ciara844]

wow that's good....great video

[Jojoleesmity]

ur bun is beautiful

[Speng876]

great vid!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ntrlbttrfly22]

That is w0nderful! Im s0 happy!

[ShoeAficionada]

love your tresses!

[Tauries81]

I think 09 has definitly been the year of putting naturals in the spot light, especially with Tyra's talk show topics and the movie good hair. At the end of the day, its really about what makes you feel good and being confident with what God gave you. Everything else is just superficial.

[tracyata]

We just need stop being so insecure before something negative even happens. Sadly, many (not all) of us set ourselves up to hear negatively b/c we walk around with an aura telling the world that although we rock natural WE don't even think it's okay.

[tracyata]

I think that b/c people don't see many movie stars & news anchor women with natural hair they mistakenly make the assumption that its not accepted in other professions as well. Though in the majority of corporate america at the level many of will find ourselves working in, it is accepted. Maybe not LIKED/APPRECIATED it but at least ACCEPTED and not ridiculed.

[AyannaNaeela]

Yes.. You're right -- we defnitely need some anchorwomen with natural hair. But...I am seeing more and more natural hair in TV commercials and on models in stores like Target, H&M etc.

[MzCJA]

One of the main things I miss so much about NY (I'm a native) is the natural hair scene. It is so encouraged and the access to salons that specialize in natural hair care is abundant. Gosh I'm homesick now. *sigh* I'm glad you had a great time. :)

[ShauntelAmpton]

Just to hear that natural hair is become more accepted in a business atmosphere makes me feel confident. Right now I'm rocking the twa and at first I did not feel confortable wearing out so I wore my hair in braids. Then I took the braids out and wore it too work one day and a young black man walk up to me and said "Miss I love your hair." Just that jesture right there gave me the confidence too not hide what God has given me... I love the natural hair movement!!!

[AyannaNaeela]

I'm soo glad you got the compliment from that guy... makes you glow!  But do you girl - I'm sure you look cute with your TWA and cool accessories and your sharp clothes -- you go girl! =)

[boirocr]

YEA I'M FROM NYC THE BX BABY AND NAtURAL!!

[pinkpuma1213]

YAY!!

[quintnaturalhair]

nice polished video

[AyannaNaeela]

thanks so much! =)

[butterfli78]

NY definitely has alot of natural sisters, especially when i go downtown brooklyn. it's so nice to see that

[reinventingthenorm]

Oooooh! That is too cool. Ayanna, where can we hear you sing? I mean, do you have videos that you sing in ? :)

[Dkjames5]

that's wonderful!! great video!!! I'm so glad I made the decision to become natural =)

Blessings & Love,Nakeisha

[ChicagoCoils]

80% - Really? That is wonderful.

[AyannaNaeela]

Yessss girl! I was on cloud 9! I felt like I died and went to natural hair heaven LOL

[dbrunsonsr]

I am underwhelmed by politics but I am overwhelmed and touched by our women expressing themselves. So that's y I watch this vid.

Congrats to u.

[Yophiful]

I love your vids, they're great. Good to know so many officials are loving their natural hair :-)

[Nikkimae2003]

Love the vid and that's awesome that you were able to sing at an event like that! Congrats! : )

[wamj68]

Thanks for sharing! Being TRUE to ourselves is key... We are not our hair... it's the soul that lives within.... India Irie!!! lol... Peace.. :-)

[lit26]

thank you

[jgee19]

Great video. I'm gonna show it to my mom. She doesn't think you can be natural and get a job, or look professional. I keep saying "my texture is not unprofessional, but certain STYLES can be.". Thanks for this, I've only been completely natural for a month and a half.

[tracyata]

Good luck to you. Please educate your mother as you said. I think what is difficult for our parents generation is to understand that though in our grandparents generation you literally could not get a good job with kinks/coils because it showed you hadn't assimilated and in our parents it was just plain militant because it showed you didn't want to assimilate. NOW it can mean all of those things and nothing at all. Myself and friends are examples are very professional women who rock it natural

[epoladee]

awesome encouraging vid!

[allthingshair]

very official video! You're creative! Congrats on the opportunity!!!