Meet our guest
My name is MALAIKA.
How did your natural hair journey start?
I have always had natural hair my entire life. I tried chemicals once while in University, my hair did not thrive because its naturally thin and soft. My grand-mother was mixed race so I inherited her hair, so it looked really bad with chemicals, then I had to cut it all off again and restarted the journey. I have always had my natural hair. It is very easy for me to maintain.
Have you always embraced your natural hair? (If not, what sparked this!)
Yes! Definitely! I have been blessed to have good (insert shy laughter) hair, okay everybody has good hair, that’s the truth, but what I mean is I have texture that is easy to comb and maintain. I do wish it was a bit more coarse sometimes for styling but, I am not complaining. I have always embraced my Natural Hair my entire life, love it, love, love my hair.
Have you encountered conflict between the way you wear your natural hair and your profession?
Ummm…., No! What I do for a living, thank God, is that, the more unique you are and out there, the better for you. I guess that’s a great part of being in the creative industry. I do remember a TV show I used to host and was meant to, “tame it a bit” and not just leave it out “wild” just for the guests I would host at the time. But for radio, TV no problem.
For acting, I have had many directors tell me that they want me to have my Natural Hair on set. With emceeing, obviously it’s easier to have the weaves and extensions, no one has had a problem with me having my Natural Hair.
What have the expectations been of how you should present your hair and what challenges have you faced?
This is more of a personal situation, because for a very long time I held my hair back for school and I got really used to that. I felt that if I left it out, it would shrink and I would look unkempt, and that I wouldn’t look pretty. So, I always thought it better to hold a ponytail and keep it organized, but that was personal.
In terms of expectations of other people, hmmm, thank God I have been in Africa. No, none at all.
Has any profession among others affected the health of your hair,if yes, in what way?
Yes….. Modelling. A lot of heat was used on my hair and that was not good because of the different shows or photo shoots, you know, that’s what affected my hair and also having different stylists using different hair chemicals from what I usually use. By then, I was too shy to be strict, now I am. I’m always like, “don’t use this”, “don’t use that, I will do it myself”. But yes, modelling did affect the health of my hair.
Any advise to women with natural hair in the professional world!
This is the day and age of ‘Team Natural’ , so, I would advise any woman that is in a profession to set the standard . It is you to make them accept the hair, if you don’t accept it your Natural Hair, why would you expected the rest of the world to. So, you love your hair first then set your standard, but also take good care of it. I don’t support people just leaving their hair without taking good care of it.. Moisturize, oil , wash and protect it. Just because it is out and natural, doesn’t mean it should be unkempt.
What would you have done differently knowing what you know now?
I would NEVER have put any form of relaxer in my hair the time I did, never ever. Also, I would have used less heat by letting my hair air dry, avoided hot combs/flat irons and driers all the time. Yeah, that is what I would have done differently. And also (insert crying and laughing emoji), I wouldn’t have cut it off.
*Remember, you are marked by flawless craftsmanship*
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