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A couple of weeks ago, YBPGuide was approached by an up-and-coming YBP, Ms. Erin S. Anthony. She is a recent FAMU MBA grad, owner of a natural hair salon, and author of a book on natural hair care for professional women of color. We were able to ask her a few questions about her venture and thought it would be a great follow-up to our previous popular post, Natural Black Hair not Glamorous?

Ms. Erin S. Anthony

Tell our audience a little more about who you are, how you came to writing this book, and what your message is.

After graduating from FAMU with a MBA and working in Corporate America, I would get stopped daily in the hallways fielding questions from other professional women of color regarding my natural hair. These women’s questions and frustrations reminded me of the struggle that I had finding information and understanding my natural hair options. Two years later, I founded Adaru Natural Hair Salon in Indianapolis, which focused on providing excellent natural hair care in a supportive and encouraging environment.

The seminars I would hold would be packed, so I decided to write a how-to book for women of color – Nappturosity: How To Create Fabulous Natural Hair and Locs – containing every resource I could think of! So far, it’s been so much fun, we’ve sold hundreds of books, and hold giveaways on my social network, www.naturalsuccessnetwork.com!

I’ve also had the opportunity to make myself available for speaking engagements, and enjoy helping others discover the joy of being natural! The purpose of Nappturosity is to affirm women of color by providing extraordinary information on how to create fabulous natural hair and locs.

How important is a woman’s hair to her sense of image and self-esteem?

The phenomenon that the natural hair movement has created is just beginning. When I see the number of new products being created for natural hair, and see the number of emails and questions that myself and colleagues are answering on a daily basis, it confirms that a woman’s hair is more than just a style to her. It’s a symbol of the process that she’s decided to go through. I corresponded with a reader one day, who cut off her long, 8 year old locs after her mother died from cancer. For this reader, her hair was symbolic of surrendering. Other women email me about how changes in their hair affect those at their workplace. For them, their hair is symbolic of a power-play. As women of color, it is essential that we are informed about our options, because the relationship our hair has to our image and self-esteem is so monumental.

What are common misconceptions about natural hair and natural hair styles, in general?

Nappturosity

In Nappturosity, I discuss the negative reinforcement that many women have, that manifest in the form of thoughts or opinions. These include statements like:

• “Locs are dirty. It must be hard to keep them clean.”
• “Natural hair requires too much work.”
• “I could never attract a relationship with that kind of hair.”
• “My job just wouldn’t accept me with my hair like that.”

It is absolutely possible to overcome these thoughts and develop a beautiful natural head of hair, but only if that is what the wearer desires. Natural hair is not for everyone, but for those who have been searching for the latest information on how to create fabulous natural hair and locs, they will find the answers to overcoming these issues and developing their own unique system of care in Nappturosity!

Readers may find more information at www.naturalhairbook.com.