Mixed Chicks Presents: Your Hair Story- Jodi

By Desiree Johnson

Welcome to the Your Hair Story Series presented by Mixed Chicks. This dynamic, new innovative series allows Mixed Chicks users to share their personal stories behind their hair. Hair that kinks, coils, curls, waves, and tells a story reflecting their culture, race, ethnicity, and upbringing. Like our customers, hair comes in all shades, textures and shapes unique to each individual and here at Mixed Chicks we want to celebrate that to the utmost extent. Meet our exquisite Mixed Chicks women, men, and children who exhibit beauty from the root and give us honest, bold stories that we are honored to share with you.

Jodi

What does being mixed mean to you in 2017?

To me, being mixed gives me access to two ethnic heritages – one Black South American and one White European. Growing up I didn’t always have access to my South American/Black heritage and that affected my styling, as I was taught to maintain my hair by family members that had European hair and styling knowledge. My goal in 2017 is to help other girls like me that want to embrace the full benefits of a mixed heritage, to fully understand their hair and have the opportunity to truly engage their curls. Being a young woman in 2017 means that with the availability of social media, I can share my hair care stories with others and learn new ways to care for our curls together.

Do you have a Go-To or token Mixed Chicks product you can’t go without?

For me, the ‘Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner‘ is an absolute must for my hair care arsenal. It really does work well for me by giving me great curl definition without being so heavy that it sacrifices the volume. Big and bold is what I like to go for with my hair styling and I can rely on this product to help me deliver that look consistently.

How has having a product specifically for your ethnic background impacted your beauty regime?

Before ‘Mixed Chicks’ crossed my path, I really didn’t have a beauty regime. I scraped my hair back into a ponytail or whatever style was easiest for the day.

Since discovering ‘Mixed Chicks’ I now have the foundation for my beauty regime. One that I trust in and allows me to wear my hair confidently. When I was introduced to ‘Mixed Chicks’ it honestly felt, for the first time, that the beauty industry had recognised that I existed.

Growing up, there really weren’t any products available to those of us who are mixed. When you shopped for hair products, you were met with the difficulty of choosing between products for European OR Afro hair types, neither being appropriate for those who share qualities from both backgrounds.

‘Mixed Chicks’ is the first brand I found that is specifically designed for mixed hair types. For the last six years, I have proudly recommended it as my ‘go-to’ brand to those who have hair like my own, and are seeking a product to help them put their best curls forward.

How do your curls/hair texture represent your ethnic background?

My hair type represents an ‘implied ethnic background’. The texture is more on the European side, and so it can lead to people assuming at times that I could be Portuguese or maybe even Spanish.

Being mixed does give me range, as I am gifted with hair that I can adapt in many different ways. This flexibility puts me in a position to embody styles from different cultures and eras.

For Guyanese women, curly hair is a styling staple. I am proud to be in a position where I can represent what’s true to part of my heritage.

What is one feature of the Mixed Chicks brand that empowers your hair/beauty care?

One feature I particular enjoy about the brand is that they really focus on bringing people from the Mixed community together.

Since becoming a part of this ‘Mixed Chicks’ community….my curls have never been so free. I have access to a forum of people who share a similar interest to me.

As part of that, I now feel that I can truly express myself and who I am, like I don’t have to be a prisoner of the hair that I inherited or embarrassed about my cultural differences.

Mixed Chicks’ social media platforms operate as a great medium for us to learn from each other and share experiences. So that together we become stronger.

Why is the hair revolution celebrating natural/healthy hair types vital for our generation?

It is vital for the survival of our culture. The curly/natural hair movement has really helped women, men and children to truly embrace who they are and what they were born with. 

It has encouraged people to feel less pressured to conform to society’s conventional beauty standards, and to understand that what they bring to the world is equally as beautiful.

Feeling insecure about what you look is crippling, and stifles our culture.

Becoming free of this insecurity gives our community a sense of confidence that will empower us to continue to do bigger and bolder things, to push us forward into establishing ourselves now and in the future.

What is your go-to summer style?

I love a half up, half down style. It’s so quick and easy to do. It allows me to get some of the hair off from around my face and neck when it’s warm, but without compromising on volume. I love a style that compliments my curls and how big my hair is.

Is there a mixed celebrity who empowers you?

There are so many!!! However, my biggest influencer has to be J. Cole. He uses his platform, life experiences and creative mindset to communicate the struggles of life with his audience. His lyrics are thought provoking. He inspires me to open my eyes to the struggles and realities that are going on around the world. He’s not afraid to touch on the difficult subjects that need to be addressed. His words are inspirational and challenge my thought processes, which in turn help me to develop into a better person.

Do you have any go-to beauty/hair bloggers or vloggers who inspire or help your hairstyles?

My focus for the last few years has been to focus on the condition of my hair. A lot of the bloggers I follow help me to achieve that by giving me great tips on how to improve my hair care routine.

@frogirlginny @hif3licia @ck_frias @lynnkatee are my favourites – but there are so many more.

Do you use any other Mixed Chicks products as part of your beauty routine?

I have historically used the Shampoo and Deep Conditioner. They are really great products. So great in fact that I am all out at the moment. Really need to stock up!

What new 2017 Mixed Chicks product are you interested in trying out?

If I could….I would buy the whole range! The one product that interests me the most is the Styling Cream. I would love to incorporate that into my hair routine and will definitely be trying that out soon.

Interested parties can feel free to LIKE, TWEET, or FOLLOW our social media pages for the latest posts/updates and contact our email for questions on how to get involved. We are looking to showcase anyone who uses the Mixed Chicks brand of beauty products and wants to share their story. What’s the story behind your hair? Let us know!

Gmail: yourcurlstoryseries@gmail.com