'I love my Natural hair' Mane Matters with Ifueko

Hi Naturalistas,
It's another Wednesday on Mane matters. Meet Ifueko Jemima as she tells us about her hair journey.

Can you tell us who you are and what you do?

My name Is Ifueko Jemima Uhunmwangho, I am a student of University of Benin.

What are your thoughts about natural hair?

I absolutely love my natural hair, it's beautiful, full, and black , I will never change it again.

What are your reasons for going natural?

I suddenly realised it was self-hate to change what God created me with , I learnt my Hair wasn't unruly or Ugly, I found out the beauty in African hair.

When/why did you decide to go natural?

I decided to go natural November 2013, but I relaxed again, March 2014 I decided that would be my last relaxer and it was.

Did you do a BC or you transitioned?

I transitioned for about 4 months and then I Big Chopped , (LOL) the barber cut a lot of hair.

What was the experience like?

I felt so free, the day I did my big chop,I didn't plan it, I was so frustrated, my hair was breaking in clumps, I was almost crying, I got tired, went to the barber and told him to chop off my relaxed ends and he chopped off my relaxed ends and my natural hair too, but it was okay ,as long as I was free of my dead relaxed hair.

What was/is your biggest fear about going Natural?

Through out my secondary school days, I always had low cut, I was scared, I would look too young, (LOL) ,I actually looked young, I remember trying to register for a sport and the coach said he needed my parents consent because he thought I was in my fourth year in the secondary school, when I was actually going to my third year in the university.

Do you have a regimen you stick to? What is it like?

Well yes I have a regimen. I wash my hair once a week with black soap shampoo, I deep condition with a DIY deep conditioner e.g Olive oil and Honey, I do protein treatment before I install a protective-do, I tea rinse and then condition with VO5 moisture Milks peach conditioner.

I spritz my hair at night, apply oil and seal in with shea butter, then I put my hair in plaits, cover with my satin bonnet, then the next morning I undo the plaits, style and go for classes. I hardly spritz in the morning, because I don't like the dripping.

What emotional struggles, if any, have you faced since going natural?

I felt my hair wasn't growing once and I was almost jealous of my friend's hair, because it grew faster than mine and I started before her, but I learnt to appreciate my hair and stop comparing with others.

Do you think you are in it for the long haul or is it just a phase?

Long haul oh, this ain't no phase.

There are people that definitely have negative comments about you hair, how do you deal with that?

Ignore them, but when am naughty I tease them back, and trust me, they wished they didn't comment on my hair.

What's your must have product and accessory?

I love head bands a lot and bows when my hair was shorter, I mostly DIY my hair products, my must have products are my oils and Honey , It's in all my hair product, my hair loves honey.

What is your go-to style?

Afro puffs, I love them so much.