I: I am a high school student in Memphis, TN. I am reppin’ Memphis! I am half African American and half Somalian, most people say I get my hair from my Dad! I have not been to Somalia yet, but I will most likely be traveling there this summer with my father. Somalians’ family, religion (Islam), and work are very significant in their life. In Somalia, most women have natural hair but it is not usually seen because of their religion which requires their hair to be covered. Alot of Somalian women tend to color their hair with henna.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
I: All my life I have wanted to be different from everyone else, and going natural was one way I could be unique since almost everyone in Memphis has perms. When I was about 8 I just stopped getting my hair done and went natural.
Going natural has made me feel unique, it has also brought me more attention; when I go out I am always complimented on my hair.
What mistakes have you made with your hair that you’ve learnt from?
I: Two mistakes I have learned were cutting my hair by myself 🙁 and constantly straightening my hair which caused split ends.
What’s the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
I: The best thing I do for my hair is conditioning my scalp.
What’s your regimen?
I: I condition my hair with a Dominican Republic conditioner called Lafier and I condition my ends with DAX pomade. Every night before I go to bed I comb my hair out gently with a wide toothed comb and braid my hair into 6 braids; 3 on each side. I put a little of DAX pomade on my scalp and on the ends of my hair. This is so when I wake up my hair will not be tangled/dry. It also defines my curls and makes my hair more manageable in the morning.
How does your hair express who you are?
I: It represents my uniqueness and my Somalian heritage.
I grew up using Dax, but I only stopped recently because of the bad rep pomades with petroleum. But it does define my curls and I have been natural all 24 yrs. I really don’t see why it gets a bad rep it worked for me.
Same here, my mom used to use black Dax in my hair, and my hair was gorgeous. I too stopped because of the bad rep of mineral oils and petroleum. I think I may start back…
Imaan! You’re a beautiful young lady, and I’m proud that you rep not only your natural hair, but your awesome culture! I love seeing my African sisters embrace who they are with grace. More so, I LOVE your name. My best friend’s name is Emani, which is a derivative of your name, but nonetheless, you remind me of her. 😀
amazing. this is what i love to see young girls holding their head up high in school with a head full of hair that is all theirs. amazing i must say.
Her hair is beautiful!
What a beautiful, smart and confident young lady! Thanks for this post, I need to show it to my little cousin!
- savvy
http://savvybrown.com
Sweetie you are Beautiful! and your hair is to die for!
she is so pretty!
What a lovely girl! I’m glad she has found her confidence at such a young age.
What a beautiful and intelligent young lady. Your hair hair is gorgeous!
So pretty! She’s definitely a Hair Icon!
Oh my god! I had to do a double-take! I thought this was my friend Jojo!
Lovely young girl with lovely hair!
whoaaaa! beautiful! and i love how THICK her hair is. Dear, please keeping being you and being so confident. Most of us only find that later in life. Keep on keeping on. hair icon in the making!
She is so pretty! and so confident for her years!!! i love it. Keep it up girlie…
Wow — this kid has my hair! I’m ITALIAN, and she has my hair!
I should stop bunning the hell out and see what it does …
thankyou all for all the wonderful and encouraging comments 🙂
Wow so beautiful LOVE YOUR SOMALI PRIDE!
Heyyy imaan, I love ur hair. Its great to see u taking such pride in your culture! I loveeeee bglh and I’ve never seen a fellow somali posted so I’m happy to see u reppin! Keep it up xx
Dear Iman Ciise(Somali way of writing your name)
Your a beautiful young girl…Your hair is amazing..Maasha,alaah…Besides that I would like to remind you to get in touch with your Somali side of the family…And I hope you have maintained your father side’s religion…If you do not know where your father is..Please contact me…We will find your dad…Its simple..We just need to know his tribe…We cannot afford to lose another Somali child in this American melting pot…
Elyas, walaal, ur intentions seem gd laakin, I think website where women come to learn abt haircare/styles, is not the best place for you to be. Allahay ha inna soo wadha hidaayo. Amiin
Half African American and Half Somalian?? That’s Black! loll
Nat, Black people have the right to nationalities just like any other group. Half Japanese and Thai lol that’s Asian. Irish and Italian lol that’s white. Black is too general and broad a term for hundreds of millions of people.
Half african American half somali is Somali you call yourself Black behause you Share your Country with whites while Somali people are on a fully Black Country therefore there is no need to say Black we are somali ; and black but first somali
Aaand its called mother Language ans Fartherland ! So actually she is online Somali
Beautiful young lady!
Some of you sound uneducated and ignorant. She’s human period. What does it matter where she comes from. No other group of people in the world puts such emphasis on race and hair than those from African decent. Stop we all are one. You are beautiful young girl btw.
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Waowwww,
Not only her hair is gorgiouse, but everything about this young lady is gorgiouse .!!
The hair of ure father but the beautiful/pritty face of ure mother!
-xx- ure cousin
You are as black as they come! There’s no such thing as half-african-american half-somali, you are one heck of a beautiful BLACK AFRICAN GAL period! Anything beyond thjis is pure hogwash. Stand up as a beautiful and confident black gal and forget about too much balderdash!
James
There is no such thing??? Im sorry but just because you dont know where u originated from doesnt mean that all black people dont as well. I am NIGERIAN NOT african american, and ill be insulted if someone referred to me as the latter because it strips me of my culture. Sorry but Nigerians have different weddings, wear different attire, eat nigerian food and speak a different language, igbo, yoruba, etc. So how can I call myself an african american when u guys dont have any culture other than thinking black people history starts in the south? If I go… Read more »
You sound stupid and uneducated. Black people in America could careless about what goes in Africa. The black people who hard a long history here in America is calling America their home, why? because we were born here, why? Because AMERICA IS OUR HOME, we blacks have made history here in America that benefits many of the Lowlife losers immigrants such as yourself. Without Blacks making a difference in this country YOUR AFRICAN ASS wouldn’t be here. You can sit there in your poop hut blaming slavery for blacks not knowing where we’re from all you want but BLACKS are… Read more »
Black people have culture and its called being an American and we know where we are from and its called America. Your on a black owned website complaining about something that should be discussed in your Nigerian websites. News gosh foreigner! No one will agree with anything you say as well as care. Only Africans are jealous about the benefits and lavish lifestyles that we black’s have here in America, or you angry because our lives are better than yours in war torn hiv ridden country? Atleast blacks can play with water while you probably wish you had some. Sorry… Read more »
oh my god. you sound so sad and … pathetic. Goodness, you do know that your ancestors originate from West Africa right? AKA your blackass that’s complaining here could originally hail from Nigeria.
Black = African is the same shit. You’re in denial.
and by the way, did you know that even if you diss your fellow black folks, white people wont adopt you as their own. You’re actually stupid. I feel sorry for your mother. *Sends you virtual hug*
Amy lol Ew why do you care? Your not even Somali you some stinky gorilla face hard hair baboon lol.. shamuurto your a jareer wallahi please don’t defend Somali ladies because you are too ugly and will never look Somali
Hibo Elmi – you are disgusting and you are the only sharmuuto here. you make all of us somalis look bad with your hateful, anti-black, racist comments “you’re a jareer” “you are too ugly and will never look somali” you are the ugly one here and who said she wants to look somali? she is her beautiful self. get off your high horse and and take down your ego a couple of notches. you are not superior nor is she inferior to you. the fact that you even used the word “jareer”…smh. you are insulting God’s creation. as muslims (yes,… Read more »
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i think u’ve defined african beauty,imaan.with that pretty little face and that long cascading black hair,your my first option,ma’am.My mum is also half- somali and my dad is ugandan though am not an african american.
You are such a prettyyyy girl! Absolutely beautiful!
You look very beautiful! Thanks for sharing your hair treatments.
‑You Somali sister!
They never were shit on the continent. They come to the us and arent shit. They tried in England and the Islanders were there running tings! So they got angry with them.
AFRICANS ARE A JEALOUS HATEFUL PEOPLE.
And they are jealous of Black Americans.
At least us Africans have countries we belong to where we can walk around and not be racially discriminated, called ugly names or shot and killed because we look threatening to white people. You guys belong to a country that hates you and still treats you like slaves.
And let’s not talk about the hair envy you black Americans have especially towards us with REAL silky long hair like the young lady posted above. Why do you guys feel the need to hide your hair under someone elses but claim that everyone envies you? LOL!