Style: Deb from Ghana

Introduce yourself!
D: hello, hola, bonjour!! debbie, deb, Deborah is the name. Whichever one goes! Originally and proud to be from the Motherland — Ghana, West Africa. Resident of the United States for 8 years now — Land of opportunity. I am in Sterling, Virginia as of now, but you can always find me within some part of the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia). I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Richmond (Go Spiders!) and work within the management team of a company as of now. I model as a hobby, and am a stylist to myself. 😛

What is your style philosophy?
D: Style never fades, fashion does! Having style is personal, individual, unique I think. Whether society accepts it or not you have to stand behind it because it defines you! At least that’s the way I see my style.

How would you describe your sense of style?
D: I am very particular when it comes to the way I put things together. I do a lot of black and white for some reason. I like to use things differently, like a skirt turned into a cover up, or cutting up a shirt to make it my own. I like to be different. I get bored with normal style.

African print is something I absolutely love. It describes me and it’s different.

I also subscribe to “looking good on a budget”. I did not grow up with much. I have had to split a dollar from scratch. So believe it or not I do the same with my style. I thrift most of the time. Give me 10 dollars and I will still look a million bucks! haha! It’s all about putting things together and having the confidence to make it your own. When I shop in department stores I never buy anything full price. I just refuse.

What is the process of deciding what to wear in the morning?
D: It depends on my mood mostly. I stare at my closet and put things together, usually going for the weirdest combination possible. And yes I try on about 3 outfits before I decide. After I dress up I ask my sister how I look and her response most times is “well you can wear that, looks good on you because it’s you”. Ha! Exactly what I wanted to wear. It’s my style.

What are the three favorite things in your closet?
D: Jean overalls — Thrift store
African / crazy print pants — African store
Lace up booties — Charlotte Russe

What are some of your favorite shops/websites for clothes, shoes and accessories?
D: All thrift stores!
Macy’s
DSW
Aldo
Charlotte Russe
H&M
Burlington Coat Factory has some cool stuff sometimes

How long have you been natural?
D: Been natural going on five years now and still loving it.

How and why did you transition into natural hair?
D: Well I got tired of women being defined by the length of their hair. So I wanted to take it to the extreme, hence going bald the first time I cut my hair. I figured it would save me some money as well lol. It was also a self-love experience for me, loving myself and building my confidence regardless of how I looked.

What is your signature hairstyle?
D: low cut, fade

Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
D: During the summer I get a haircut every two weeks. I hate not having a fresh haircut. I usually get a fade. I have however grown my hair to a little bush, and a mohawk before. My barber was amazing (I moved and am trying to find a new barber now). He was very careful not to push my hairline back. I also like my pointers. I dislike a round shape up. When I grew my hair out I used Doo Gro. It’s very good for the hair, but when I wear it short I just use shea butter.

One of my obsessions is coloring my hair. I have been blonde, golden brown, red and some other colors I don’t even remember. I color my hair myself. The blonde was challenging, but after the first time it was easy. My favorite color was the blonde. Maybe because a lot of people were opposed to it. At the end of the day it’s just hair. It will grow back.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
D: Instagram: africanbornlady