Soraya Mathias Blog

As I quickly approach my one year anniversary as a natural, I can't even count the number of women that have approached me with a genuine desire to forsake the relaxers and rock their natural tresses. Although it's easier now to find natural hair products and plenty of support and tutorials at the hands of fabulous bloggers, there are plenty of sisters who aren't giving in because of fear. And it's not fear of social rejection or the fear of maintaining self confidence; it is the fear of the comb. But when it comes to being natural, a comb is just a small part of the equation.

Here's what you need to know about being natural and combing those relaxer free tresses:

1. You won't comb your hair as often as you did with a relaxer.

When you're rocking your natural hair, there won't be a need to comb your hair everyday. I found out early in my journey that once a week was suffice for me, and I only detangled my hair after washing. I am sure this is true for most naturals considering that our hair is kinky/curly, so combing often pretty much defeats the purpose.

2. Combing isn't painful, if you're detangling properly.

One of the biggest rules in combing natural hair is to only do it when you have conditioner on your hair. This is to help prevent breakage and to make detangling an easier and painless process.

3. Comb from the bottom up.

I'm one of the most tender headed women you'll ever meet, but believe me when I say there is a way to comb natural hair, and that's from ends to roots.

Begin at the end of your tresses, and comb upwards until you reach the roots. This eliminates breakage, pain, and any discomfort in combing through thicker, and curlier tresses.

4. Get the right comb.

Wide tooth combs were made for thicker and curlier hair. These are ideal for decreasing breakage and keeping curls uniformed. The thicker the comb, the better.





By applying all of these tips, most naturals begin to realize that going natural wasn't as difficult as they originally expected. As natural hair continues to become a more realistic option for black women, we are discovering more ways to make natural hair more manageable, one method and one product at a time.

The world of hair care is held close to the hearts of women of all colors. But it is most definitely familiar territory for those of African American descent. And it continues to be a source of income for many sisters out here in the working world. The creativity and style that we bring can make a simple bob look like a masterpiece. Perfecting cuts and trying to please an array of customers are jobs in themselves. Owning and managing your own salon though takes hard work and dedication, not to mention an incredible amount of talent. Combine that with a passion for helping the community and taking part in the development of aspiring beauticians, and you have Rochelle Mosley. In an interview with our magazine, Mrs. Mosley talks about her journey from the runway to the salon and the many business ventures that she has taken on.



Urban Belle: Initially, you were pursuing a modeling career which took you from your hometown of Richmond, Virginia to New York City. What led you to the world of hair design?



Rochelle Mosley: Well when I graduated from high school I got my license in cosmetology as well. Hair is my first love, so it was inevitable that I would go back to making people feel and look beautiful.



Urban Belle: Salon 804 has truly made a name for itself, judging from the elite clientele that you have. What makes your salon stand out amongst the rest?



Rochelle Mosley: Salon 804's motto is serving just your style. Making everyone feel special is our passion.



Urban Belle: Seeing the success that Salon 804 has had thus far, are you thinking about opening more locations in other states in the U.S. or other cities in New York? How about international locations?



Rochelle Mosley: I would love to open more locations internationally. I know Salon 804 has a lot of knowledge and style to offer women internationally.



Urban Belle: In addition to running your salon, you also work diligently with the organization StyleWorks. Tell us more about StyleWorks. When did it start and how did the concept come about? Do you feel like the organization is making continuous progress?



Rochelle Mosley: StyleWorks started 10 years ago by Malaak Rock. This program helps women go from welfare to work. The program provides women with clothes, shoes, hair and up-keep products. They are always so appreciative! And they often bring tears to my eyes.



Urban Belle: Receiving the Golden Scissors Award and being featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show was I’m sure one of the proudest moments of your career. Are there any other moments throughout your career that you would deem as priceless, things that you could never have imagined happening?



Rochelle Mosley: Being on the Oprah show is everyone's dream. I don't know what could beat that, however I wrote a book and who knew, I did that too. I guess the sky has no limits.



Urban Belle: Hair design and modeling seem to be two things that you are most passionate about. Are there any other areas of interest that you have?



Rochelle Mosley: Well I never thought that I could be a good mother; however they say that I am! Who would have thought that! Not me at all! So never say never (Justin Bieber) and now I'm an author, I love it!



Urban Belle: Running a successful business requires a lot of time and effort on behalf of the owner(s). As a wife and mother of two children, is it ever difficult for you to balance work time with family time?



Rochelle Mosley: It is very hard! I have to be very careful in managing my time. My family is always my priority.



Urban Belle: There are so many young women out here who have the desire to start their own businesses but don’t have the knowledge about the steps to do so. What advice would you give them from your personal experience?



Rochelle Mosley: I'm happy you asked this question! I am writing a new book called Life After Beauty School, Preparing for Your Exit! This book will help answer all the questions you have about the business and life in general.



Urban Belle: If there was one quote that you would live by, something that has inspired you throughout your journey as a stylist, model or simply an African American woman striving to reach her goals, what would it be?



Rochelle Mosley: “Have a plan, have a tomorrow. If you have a tomorrow, you have a future!”



To learn more about Rochelle and her books, click here.

Natural hair newbies will be the first to tell anybody that one of the main reasons they recently ditched the relaxer is due to how fabulous natural hair tends to look on everyone else. While finding the beauty in someone else's texture, many have not been able to find the same kind of splendor in their own hair. Is this simply because only a certain type of natural hair is deemed fabulous? No, it's just that many have just not mastered how to style their own natural hair.

And this is when the question of rather a stylist is essential or not comes into the conversation.

I'm quite candid when the debate comes into a conversation in my own social circle, and my opinion of it does strike a chord in some. But it's not because I'm insensitive to the new journey of the natural hair newbie, it's just that after ruining my relaxed hair and having several hair stylists in the process, I finally get it:

It's better to learn how to care for and maintain your own hair.

Trust me when I say your hair will love you for it.

Truth is you don't need to pay someone else to care for your hair. Natural hair isn't the kind of lifestyle change that warrants the dependency on anyone else's knowledge of our own tresses. You, yes you, must learn to style your own hair. If you refuse, you won't stay natural for very long, considering that natural hair styles on average just don't last as long as relaxed ones.

Is that a reason to shudder? Hell no, just a reason to get on Youtube and embark on a little independence.

When we were relaxed, we needed a stylist. And that's because most of us didn't have the knowledge of how to properly administer all those terrible chemicals without ripping our scalps off. And despite that, our hair still suffered in the long run. So if that's the case, just maybe we should be a whole lot more tender with our natural hair, and make the commitment to learning how to finally learn the tactics needed to make our own hair look good.

I'm not knocking hair stylists, I do understand that they must make a living. And it doesn't hurt to get a professional trim or a little break from time to time, but the era of hair salon dependency ends (well should end) when you become natural.

I was never a hair genius, but I figured I'd better learn some things if I planned to make this lifestyle change long term. It hasn't been easy, but definitely not difficult enough for me to have given up. I'm proud to say I've learned to do my own stylin' and yeah, I feel pretty fabulous about it.

The good news is that I'm not a special case, and it's belles like myself that have encouraged some newbie somewhere to forsake the creamy crack, and work with what she has.

You too can be someone else's inspiration. You just a need a little Youtube, a good bit of patience, and a whole lot of fearlessness.