When did you go natural?
M: I went natural in 2004. I did protective styles for about 3 1/2 years and I still wear protective styles sometimes. I wasn’t really around my family when I decided to go natural. They don’t have a problem with it and they like my hair now. Now, at work it was a different story. I been called nappy head and told I need a perm. It hurt my feelings at first because I was transitioning and I didn’t know how to handle negative remarks in the beginning.
I started to learn the history and the science of my hair so when people say something negative I could handle myself alot better. Now when they something negative, I tell them I’m only expressing myself culturally and I do not follow the European or western standards of beauty. I like the freedom of being natural. My hair grows much more without the aid of chemicals.
What do you use in your hair?
M: I use mostly natural products — Burt Bee’s shampoo and conditioner, cantu shea butter, and 100% pure extra virgin coconut oil. I don’t use alot of products.
What mistakes have you made with your hair that you’ve learnt from?
M: When I was transitioning I did a big chop on my hair leaving barely 2 inches. I went to a stylist to get comb twist and she used brown stying gel to hold the curls or twist. The gel severely damaged my hair, leaving it very dry and brittle. I had to cut my hair again and at the time I didn’t know anything about maintaining natural hair. My lesson is don’t let everyone in our head and learn how to maintain your natural hair. I am very thankful for YouTube.
What is the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
M: The best thing I do for my hair is saturate it in coconut oil overnight once a week. I wash out the coconut oil in the morning. The coconut oil leaves my hair very soft and it stimulates hair growth.
If your hair had a nickname what would it be?
M: I would call it Biggie, because it’s huge especially if I blow dry it out.
73 Responses
Love ya hair
You’re hair is beautiful…don’t let anyone tell you different
She has BEAUTIFUL hair!
Most of the people who invest in diamonds almost never offer them. These days probably 80% from the diamond offered while in the United states of america and throughout the entire world do not reseller diamonds. So handful of folks really sell their diamonds..
Monique, I love love love your hair! I would love for mine to look like yours; I just don’t have that length at this point… But it is gorgeous sis!
Monique:
I have lived in the ATL for most of the last 28 years. I went dread in 1988…in fact, I was the first sistah to wait tables in the better restaurants with locks (Buckhead, Midtown, VA-HI)…yep, I sure was…made plenty of good money to…after all, it is how you present, convey and exude yourself that makes the difference…and interestingly enough it was the black ppl of the ATL that I encountered the most comments from…mind you, this was almost 25 years ago…so dreads were not as common as they are today.
We may always hear the internalized self-hatred from our own ppl…and that has to be and remain their problem…let them deal with the chains on their own minds…I liberated myself…indeed I did…continue in your individualized pursuits of defining your own Black Womanhood…you have a very beautiful head of hair.
Years ago, when I read my mother’s books from cosmetology school…the on thing that I most remember about our hair type was that (according to the book) it needs moisture…moisture…moisture…I use EVOO, lanolin, jojoba oil and vitamin E oil…aloe vera as a conditioner and a clarifying shampoo or castille soap so as to not get build up…shampoo…rinse…apply aloe…let soak in…rinse…add a mixture of the above mentioned oil combos…braid it while it is wet…viola…shiny, soft and beautiful your hair will be…and then ask them haters…how you liking me now…xooxoxo
Gosh! Beautiful, beauuutiful! It’s obvious people are just hating on her.
Anybody who says something to her is a hater, because she’s so radiant it’s incredible. I don’t believe for a second she’d look half as good with straight hair. What a beauty!
wow beautiful hair I love the length. Please provide us with where we can see more of your hair.
@ CO..There are plenty of 4a/b women out there, but you have to do your research. I have 3b hair but I open my horizon to other hair types. But to list a few on youtube…rusticbeauty,sera2544,longhairdontcare2010 and many more… I hope this helps, and remember that your hair has to do with not only you but your diet and genetics too!!
All of people New Year might be greater being aware of that!
My next year will be brighter after reading this post!
I love your hair. It is very beautiful, BIG, and vibrant. I’m natural and I love it. It’s only been 15 months now since I’ve been natural. I’m having difficulty using the right products for my hair. The only products I’m confortable using in my hair is: water, shea butter, and grape seed oil. shampoo & conditioner? I’m having a battle (lol). Can you give me some advice how to care my hair so it can grow BIG and beautiful like yours?
Hey, Right now I want to go natural. I live in Colorado so I dont have anyone to style or help with the process. I want to know did u do the big chop and then started using these products u mentioned? I currently dont have any new growth all my hair is permed. Do I need to wait until I have new growth? Also how long did it take for your hair to grow out that long?
Your hair is so beautiful. I used to be natural back in college, and my hair was as big as yours. People always thought I was wearing a wig. I miss the uniqueness of my hair from back then. It grew so much faster & healthier. I’m gonna go back natural real soon. Cause we shouldn’t be ashamed of who we are as black women, or of our hair. Much love.
Ebbie
Wow! It seems like everyone just wanted a fresh start for 2010! I also big chopped in the very beginning of the year. I love your hair, its so beautiful. You’re inspirational.
Go see my blog I have pictures there!
https://nellisadventura.blogspot.com/
Monique is a great inspiration to us all! I’m still learning I’ve just been a year into it since I transitioned and I feel “Joyful” everyday..It would be great though if you could give us a tutorial on your nightly ritual!!!!
Absolutely Beautiful!!!
Your hair is very beautiful. I BC’ed on the first day of this year. I have been tracking my hair growth, lessons, learned, etc on the blog I just created. Im gonna try the coconut oil thing because even though I have silk pillow cases, I still loose moisture somehow.
Thanks for your post! Please visit my blog
https://nellisadventura.blogspot.com/
gorgeous.. i just moved back to atl.. i need to find her lol
I would just like to thank you for posting this profile on Monique. Its becasue of her that I did my Big Chop. I figured, if she went from having “barely 2 inches” of natural to this huge, beautiful, healthy head of hair, then so can I. so thank you. 🙂
P.S. I BC’d the same day Jan. 06th and I’ve been more than content with my hair
I absolutely love that we have the same name so it’s only befitting that her hair is awesome. I love the fullness of your hair and you can tell that you do take really good care of it.
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Hair and face. That low puff is making me extremely envious, too…
Her hair is BEAUTIFUL!!
Monique,
Thanks for sharing your pictures and story. You and your hair are GORGEOUS!!! I long for the day when my hair gets to be like yours. God bless…
Oh, and @ CO,
That is most definitely NOT 3a hair (3a is probably like Chilli’s from TLC). It’s in the 4- family…no doubt. A ton of 4’s are represented on this site. That is what’s so great about this site
BEAUTIFUL (hair and face)
@Claire
I do not have a Fotki or a YouTube channel, abd my blog rarely touches on the topic of hair.
I did not think my hair’s growth to be spectacular, but I can hopefully answer any questions you have (ac*************@***il.com) My routine was simple- co-wash, moisturize, avoid heat and combs, protective styling.
My hair is mostly 4B, some 3C in the back. Frankly, I prefer the 4B… it holds styles better (more versatile like Monique said 🙂 )
wow…she has gorgeous eyes. That last pic with her hair in a low puff is wicked!! very nice
*Not the Featured Monique*
4b hair is EXTREMELY versatile, I have 4b hair. The best way for me to tell if someone’s hair is similar to mine is to see it when it’s wet. Sometimes I look at women’s hair that claim 4b, and I’m like…SOOO…does that make me a 4c/d/e??? lol
There are some women with 4b long undefined coiled hair. However, I do think it’s easier for 4b’s like myself to grow long APL hair via locs. It’s difficult to retain length with hair so tightly wound!
I’m glad I read the comment’s because I see your hair generated confusion in some. 4b hair is so versatile, it can appear to be many different textures depending on how it it styled. This prompted me to add some photos of my daughter’s and my hair in it’s shrunken and dry state to the hair album I will be sharing with bglh, so that no confusion over texture happens. People need to understand that 4b is super versatile in it’s appearance, that way people can understand that about their own 4b hair. My and my children’s hair is 4b and your hair reminds me of our after a braid-out or when it’s brushed smooth. Thanks for coming back to this post and letting everyone know your hair is 4b.
Your hair is gorgeous.
@AMarie… your hair grew from Bald to shoulder length in 9MONTHS!? wow… do you have a Fotki, blog or youtube? i would love to see your trasition..
YAAASSSSSS gorgeous woman, gorgeous hair. I love it. Monique, let’s see a blog or a Fotki, get out there! 🙂
I cut off my natural hair 9 months ago on a whim… went bald. Now it is shoulder-length (no heat) and I figure it’ll be the length of Monique’s in 2 years. 🙂 Slowly but surely. I love my natural hair 🙂
Your hair is lovely.
OhhMG! Your hair is everything I want mine to be! Big, thick, and HEALTHY!!! I can’t wait to get to this part of my hair journey! Such an inspiration! You (and your hair) are incredibly beautiful!
“tame” 😉
Adore your big hair Monique!!! simply beautiful. do you have a fotki, or blog, would love to see your other styles. i can’t believe the nerve of some people who want to tame all that fabulosity! 🙂
OMG! I know jealousy is the devil’s work but ooowee! That hair. if mine does not grow out to be that big I will go back to my relaxer days (I kid). Gorgeous hair. Gorgeous face.
i absolutely LOVE seein my happy 2 B nappy sistas wearin their hair out!!! I love how great they look,and I love seein the looks from whyt folx as they strut by!!! LOLOL
Also wanted to add that the low puff is so classy!
I am in love with Monique’s hair. I could tell she had 4a/4b texture, because that’s the way mine looks when I blow it out (texture, not length yet). Question for Monique: do you have a difficult time getting the ends to blow out as well? The two times I’ve blown out my hair, it always has tiny little curls at the end that I just can’t get out.
Do you have a Fotki page? or are you on Youtube?
@dingane00..LOL. I love this site too so much good info for naturals with all hair types!
Monique, I loooooove your hair! It’s so gorgeous and full. That is officially my goal length for my hair right now. How long is your hair in the back i.e. bra strap length?
Thanks everyone! this is why I love this site b/c people are soo helpful and willing to share their best practices and resources.
I actually think that this blog does a great job of showing texture diversity. But that’s the beauuty of natural hair, one day I had where my mini fro in it’s tight coils the next I can do a twist out or bantu knots out that give the look of looser curls. Her hair is ver similiar to mine if I blow dry is even though my coils are tight, but I get impression from all of my fellow naturals.
BEAUTIFUL!
Monique,
My name is Dingane Baruti. May take you to dinner? I live in Columbus, GA and frequently spend my weekends in ATL with my brother. I offer you good conversation and a single rose for your hair.
THIS IS MONIQUE, YES I BLOW DRY MY HAIR TO MAKE IT BIGGER. I HAVE 4A/4B HAIR. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WONDERFUL COMPLIMENTS. STAY NATURAL!
I just wanted to add some more YouTubers with 4a/4b hair:
BeautifulBrwnBabyDol
curlychronicles
AyannaNaeela
BlackOnyx77
glamazini
HoneyChild36
hopeday1
jaybby04
misskrisnew
just beautiful! and she’s stunning!
My hair wants to be like this when it grows up. Ponytail and all
CO in regards to the no girls with 4 type hair with long hair..check out BelleMuse, on this website she has GORGEOUS long hair..that i’m so jealous of, lol.
I’m in teh same bout, been natural for years ( didn’t take care of it the whole time ) and often get frustrated with growth…
we’ll get there, and if not, just hopefully to a comfortable position.
She’s so pretty! I love her hair. I was thinking about doing a big chop again because I’m in that in between stage of growing my hair out, it’s not short but it’s not long either. She just inspired me to keep growing it, I want my hair to be big and bodacious by the summer now lol.
She has great hair.
Thank you Kinreb and thanks Leila for the work you do.
@CO I have to disagree. One of the main reasons I follow this blog so closely is because it is not saturated with 3A like some other blogs I know. Instead there’s a great mix and if anything there’s overrepresentation of 4a women. Maybe the predominate and that is why. I don’t know but it’s an idea to consider. A blogger named JC who often comments here has a blog called “thenaturalhaven” at blogspot dot com. She lists a few women with 4A and 4B hair that have grown it to great lengths. In addition to the YouTuber, Sera, that was already mentioned there is RusticBeauty and a few others who document their journey on fotki.
@CO, piggybacking on kendredb’s comment – also, on youtube, check out RusticBeauty, mwedzi, marand313, and herFLYness79, just to name a few…all of these women have GORGEOUS 4A/4B hair type…
This is why I love this blog so much. Every day, pictures of beautiful women with beautiful hair keep me motivated and remind me of why I want natural hair.
@CO, Leila has featured plenty of women with tighter coils who have long hair… go through the archives, and you will see. In particular, there is Sera– I think the tag is long 4b hair and it was posted around August or September of 2008. Look up Sera’s youtube channel (Sera2544), and you will see: her hair is a 4a/4b mix (predominantly 4b, in her own words) and it is mid-back length unstretched.
Wow!! Beautiful!! Monique you have a wonderful head of hair and a beautiful face! Go girl! I’ve noticed that as my hair gets long my routine gets short, especially when it comes to products and adding this and trying that. I stick with the ones that work and keep it moving!
Thanks for the post BGLH
my breath caught in my throat when i saw this young lady, her face is so beautiful, her hair, also beautiful, was an after thought!!
so beautiful
that’s the most gorgeous hair ever
I absolutely LOVE her mane of hair! It’s awesome… big hair is beautiful to me.
Love her hair (& her name, lol)…L – could you ask her if her hair is blown out or stretched in the pics???
Lovely hair! Loves it. I too have hair envy which is quite bad because I do not know if my hair can ever be as full and as long as Monique/several of the other natural women listed on this blog despite my efforts of keeping my hair healthy. Yes, I know that healthy hair doesn’t equate to long hair, but for someone that has been natural for years (9 years this month) and keep my hair pretty maintained, I often wonder why I don’t seem to be able to grow my hair anywhere close to the above picture.
While I love this blog, I feel as though we see a lot of women with long hair whose texture is: 3A texture: Loose curls texture: Tight curls and never really women with 4A texture: Loose kinks/coils
4B texture: Tight kinks/coils
This is not a criticism of the blog because I am sure a lot of people approach BGLH and it can’t really control those that approach the blog. Also the blog strives to show natural hair in all its forms, which I truly appreciate. However, I would like to know if there is an example out there of a woman with 4b texture that has been able to achieve hair length that is close to that of Monique’s. I would love to hear from them and possibly about their hair care tips. Thank you
There are plenty of 4a/b women out there, but you have to do your research. I have 3b hair but I open my horizon to other hair types. But to list a few on youtube…rusticbeauty,sera2544,longhairdontcare2010 and many more… I hope this helps, and remember that your hair has to do with not only you but your diet and genetics too!!
My God…she’s just gorgeous!
i loove her hair and the hair nickname 🙂
Beautiful Woman, BEAUTIFUL HAIR! Love it!
I love her low puff! Her hair reminds me a lot of mine.
Beautiful Hair!
That’s some fabulous hair you’ve got there.
Gorgeous hair and beautiful girl…I have some serious hair envy going on right now!