Introduce yourself!
M: My name is Maya Penn. I’m from Atlanta, GA and I’m a 14 year old eco-designer, artist, animator, and CEO of my company Maya’s Ideas.
Why did you make the decision to go natural?
M: I’ve been natural all my life. My mother has always instilled in me that my hair is beautiful naturally and she made me comfortable with the hair that I have. Because of her, I have always loved my hair.
How would you describe your texture?
M: My hair is multi textured, but mainly 4b. My strands are medium/coarse and my hair is very dense. Keeping it hydrated is essential. It is also very sensitive to humidity.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
M: I use 100% Pure Yuzu and Pomelo Shampoo and Conditioner. I alternate between that and SixThirteen Cleansing Treatment by Chaz Dean. Twice a week I make my own mixture of Jamaican black castor oil, coconut oil, and avocado and rosemary oil, to use as a hot oil treatment on my hair. I also use argan oil and amla oil. All of the oils I use are organic and I don’t use anything synthetic. I stay way from sodium lauryl sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and mineral oils as they can damage your hair. A really good product is KENZA International Beauty’s Pure Argan Oil with Prickly Pear. Great for anti-frizz and conditioning.
What does wash day look like for you?
M: It takes lots of care and time! I prepare for wash day by hot oiling my hair the day before. Some times I apply Shea Moisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Soufflé. Then on wash day I wash my hair with SixThirteen Daily Cleansing Treatment by Chaz Dean along with the Styling Creme. Afterwards most times I moisturize it with John Masters Organics Shine On and then I braid it. The next day when I unbraid it, I must say my hair looks very majestic! 😉
Describe your favorite go-to hairstyle for days when you don’t have a lot of time to style.
M: A full on fro or braided. Occasionally I’ll put my hair up with a hair band while in “fro-mode”.
How do you combat shrinkage?
M: I don’t have that much shrinkage because I try my best to keep my hair conditioned often. I also use heavy hair creams and conditioners.
What are 2 do’s for your texture?
M: I make sure that I keep the scalp and ends conditioned, otherwise my hair breaks and gets brittle. Nooo! 🙁 I always have to have some moisture in my hair. I try to keep a healthy food diet as well. I eat organic and I juice. I also take Andrew Lessman’s Healthy Hair, Skin & Nails supplement. Healthy hair comes from the inside out and a healthy diet is essential to keeping it long and strong!
What are 2 don’ts for your texture?
M: I don’t over wash my hair. It’s too much wear and tear on my hair and it causes the natural oils to be stripped away. On the other side of that, I can’t let my hair get “packed down” for too long or else it will get very tangled.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
M: My website mayasideas.com and my blog mayasideasshop.blogspot.com.
🙂
gorgeous!!!
we are both 14, we are both have natural hair and we both like to design. I think the only major difference would be that I’m from Ghana 🙂
That’s some of the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen. I much enjoy the style of our natural frizzy texture rather then defined curls. To each their own.
Maya: You are beautiful, smart, and industrious. Keep being you!!
I saw your TED presentation and you are awesome.
LOVE HER!!!! SUCH AN INSPIRATION!!!
What a fashionista!! Her mom has done an exceptional job! Just beautiful. Wish I saw more young girls embrace their true selves.
Young, Cute and a CEO with a sweet fro 🙂
Beautiful!
14 and fabulous!
Wow. Look at Black Excellence.
“I’m a 14 year old eco-designer, artist, animator, and CEO of my company Maya’s Ideas”
Raise your hand if you’re an adult who read that and thought, ‘I hate my life’.
looool
Good for her though.…
We all have different lives
I was sitting here thinking, “Well dang, what have I been doing with MY life?!” LOL!
You go, babygirl!
Awww so beautiful! I thought she was an adult until i saw the pics scanned the top and thought damn.
Lovely attitude, well-spoken and beautiful hair.
Love the hair..Love the personnality
Tysh
http://blossomcotton.blogspot.co.uk/
I love the brand 100% Pure, as well! 🙂
Wow!! What an inspiration she is! Beautiful young lady with hair to match. 🙂
Not only a hair style icon, but an all around icon! And she is just 14 too! I have a feeling we will read more about her in the future!
But wait this girl is only 14!! and she has her own company. No I really commend her and her parents. That is a type of determination, and ambition that had to be instilled in you when you do something that young.You go girl!!!!!
Check Out http://www.curlskinksfashion.com Today A lot of great stuff is over there
you go girl!
Have you guys seen her TED Talk? She’s so inspiring to be so young. She’s going to only grow as a lovely woman and business powerhouse as she gets older. So proud of you Maya 🙂 Oh, and lovely hair haha.
You are a beautiful role model for people of all ages. Keep being an inspiration and your mom is so wonderful as a role model as well:)
She is stunning and inspiring. It’s so wonderful that she has the confidence that she does at such a young age. I love seeing young girls like her and Willow being comfortable in their own skin. I hope they maintain it.
14 years old?! *slow clap*
OMG,cuteness overload!!! Beauty and brains, her parents must be super proud of her! And what a great role model for little queens everywhere, bravo sis.
WOOOW! at first i was impressed by her hair and then I read the description. 14?! wow. and doing what?! wow
She’s just 14???? Just think of what she will do when she matures into a grown woman! I know her parents must be proud, if she was my daughter, I would be!
This girl is already doing more than most college graduates! Well done! And look how proud she is of her hair! She’s not just and inspiration for kids, but adults as well!
WOW… we need more girls like her.…speechless
Beautiful girl, beautiful hair, beautiful mind. I actually had to do a double take when I saw she was 14. Just fantastic!
Beautiful…inside and out! What an inspiration for everyone ????
What an excellent, brilliant young lady. I wish I was this self aware (especially considering health) at fourteen. She’s such an inspiration! I have to say, she may be my favourite natural featured on here.
*Bookmarking this page
I don’t think that I have ever seen such a mature 14 year old he is so sure of who she is!!! What an inspiration, and she is absolutely beautiful with gorgeous hair!!
I had to reread the age 14 portion three times. There are grown arse women who do not have the “hair sense” that this young lady has.
She’s 14? I thought she meant she’s been doing what she does for 14 years. I was looking at her pictures and thinking,“She has a baby face and she looks so young.” but she’s 14 and is already accomplishing more things at her age than some people wait their whole lives for. She will go so many places when she gets older and she has so much purposes to fulfill. I am 18 and was stunned that she’s 14 making it big. She is one of my favorite features. She is a much better role model than what some entertainers… Read more »
There’s plenty of room for different representations of black women; it’s not a competition and one black female creator isn’t any worse/better than another.
So adorable! I want to be just like you when I grow up Maya.
You have beautiful hair Maya. You are an inspiration to girls of all ages.
This girl is my hero…and she’s more than half my age. Inspirational.
全部手作業だそうです プラダ バッグ。革が通してあるチェーンもひとつひとつ手作業だそうです 2014 プラダ 新作！繊細な革ですから、長持ち
WOWWW you’re 14!!! I thought you were waaaayyy older!! Wow I’m so excited because I’m 14 too, and I love my kinky-curly-totally-awesome hair. You’re an inspiration!! Like, we need to get together. And talk about boys. And SheaMoisture too, of course. Love your hair and your style!! Yeahhh, we’re gonna be besties. Lol 🙂 I hope to be a style icon on here too, so you can hopefully check me out 🙂
This girl gives me tons of hope and inspiration. I’ve had some ideas for several things lately (novels, TV shows, albums, organisations etc) and being 16 years old, it’s difficult to cultivate any idea into others’ minds and be taken seriously by older individuals. The usual responses are giggles and plain ‘ol ignorance. Sometimes they just think it’s a phase I’m going through or just crazy. Lol. But Maya tells me to be a fearless teenager not afraid to break free from the stereotypes of people my age. We are capable, too!
I’m 18 my mouth was left wide open when I read she was 14 I couldn’t believe it she does have a young baby face but her hair is so big and gorgeous and she is so mature and sure about herself . I use to live in the ATL I did for a year . Wow her kinky curly hair is gorgeous . Wow she is a CEO , designer , artist , etc already ! Dang I hope she keeps up the good work she is an inspiration to young black girls all over the world .
Go head baby doll!! You make me do proud…rock that gorgeous hair and dream!!!!