In 2012 I interviewed YouTuber Pretty Dimples for the Afro Embrace bookazine. The contents of the interview are below:
What prompted your decision to stop
relaxing your hair?
One of the last relaxers I got I realized
how thin my hair was. This scared me so
much because I didn't want to be a thin
haired girl trying to look cute. My mom
was talking about going natural and
showed me blogs of other girls who went
natural and everyone's hair seemed to
look good. So I thought to myself either
they all so happen to have "good hair" or
maybe all black people have "good hair "
and we just don't know it so I decided to
give it a try.
For those people who are not familiar with the term “good hair” can you explain what
this means?
Well "good hair" can mean different things to different people. The definition has changed
for me since going natural. I see good hair as healthy hair.
What inspired you to want to become a hair stylist?
I always loved doing hair even as a little girl. I became a stylist almost right after high
school and by that time I had already become natural.
What inspired you to want to become a hair stylist?
I always loved doing hair even as a little girl. I became a stylist almost right after high
school and by that time I had already become natural
Did your family, friends and significant other support you in your decision to go
natural?
I was single at the time and was very worried I couldn't "get a man." (Laughs) But I didn't let
it stop me. My family was very supportive. I didn't tell friends because I was afraid they
wouldn't support me.
How long did you transition? What styles did you wear while you were transitioning?
I transitioned for 4 months and big chopped. I bought a curly pony tail and wore that A LOT
and I would do roller sets or just wrap my hair to wear it straight.
How did your friends react when they finally found out that you had gone natural?
My friends loved my hair when I finally went natural and many of them went natural
afterwards.
In your Coil Out video (uploaded on 29th April 2009), you discourage people from
comparing their hair to anyone else's. At 3:10 you say "Whatever you were born with,
whatever you got, work with it and it's gonna be beautiful no matter what." Did you
always feel this way about kinky hair? If not, what has influenced these thoughts?
No I never felt that way until I went natural and dealt with comparing my hair and always
wanting someone else's hair. But when I realized my hair is beautiful too I just accepted
what my hair will and will not do and worked with it.
Do you have any advice for ladies who are afraid to go natural because they fear that
they won’t find love?
If you want to go natural be comfortable in your own skin and love the way you look and not
what a man will like and you will find someone who loves your look.
The Afro Embrace bookazine also included examples of some Pretty Dimple's YouTube hair style tutorials.
