Hi, I’m Carlisa. I run the blog Girl On The Go With a Fro which focuses on being a natural, plus-sized fashionista. I am a classically trained opera singer who just so happens to also work on film sets. I like to stay busy and I am very big on entrepreneurship, so I also own a photography and makeup company, MaeBell HJ Photography, as well as a consulting firm with my mother, C.R. Johnson Consulting. As you can tell, I really am a girl on the go.
How long have you been natural?
I have been natural since my first year in college back in 2009.
What motivated you to transition? Were you a transitioner or a Big Chopper& why?
It was hard trying to keep up with relaxing my hair while away at school. I don’t have much trust in stylists because too often, they have gotten scissor happy while styling my hair, so finding one I trusted to actually use such a strong chemical in my hair was next to impossible. Once I decided to go natural I never actually cut my hair, I just let it grow out. I was lucky in this department because even though I had semi relaxed hair, because I’m bi-racial, my hair still remained fairly curly through treatment.
How would you describe your hair?
I think words cannot begin to describe the beast that is my hair, but I will try– massive, unruly, hot, thick, beautiful, beastly, fierce, the love of my life, fabulous.
What do you love most about your hair?
I am absolutely obsessed with the versatility of my hair. From Pompadours to twists to larger than life blow outs, natural hair in general can be your greatest accessory.
What has been the most memorable part of your journey? Has it been easy or difficult or both?!
The most memorable part of my hair journey happened last year at the Bruno Mar’s Moonshine Jungle Tour in Atlanta. I had won tickets to sit front row center for the concert and knew I needed to look my best so a great blow out was in order. During the show Bruno did his R&B breakdown where he picked a girl from the audience to serenade and spit some game with. Well in all my afrotastic glory he picked me. At one point he said my hair made him want to be my Mufasa! At the moment I’m pretty sure my afro grew wings and raised me to the heavens.
My transition to natural hair has been fairly easy once I began to understand that my hair needs its nutrients. When my hair is hydrated it is happy and treats me well.
What are some of your favorite transitioning hairstyles or current dos?’
When I was transitioning I lived by 2 strand twists that I would rod up after I washed my hair. It created the cutest curls ever! As I progressed I begin to love my personal take on the French twist and pompadour style. Now because of the length of my hair I love my blow outs but have to be careful not to do them too often in order to preserve my hair’s health.
What have your experiences been as a ‘natural.’ Any memorable reactions from family or others?
I have had great and not so great experiences. Most of my family loves the natural look and so does my main man Mr. Bruno himself. However, I have run into several occasions where I have been stereotyped or rather commodified by my hair, almost as though my hair and my experience as a natural black woman was a novelty. These experiences have become few and far between as the movement progresses.
What is your hair regimen (including fav products”>?
I wash and condition my hair weekly. After washing my hair I use a small amount of conditioner mixed with water as my leave in. It moisturizes my hair fabulously. I am obsessed with the As I Am products especially their co-wash cream.
What are some of your favorite natural hair websites,YouTubers, or blogs?
I am obsessed with Tumblr. I basically go onto the natural hair tag and scroll for days. I really enjoy NaturalBlkgirlsrock which features different naturalistas as well as girls with kinks on instagram and slew of others!
Anything you want the readers to know? Inspirational words?
I truly believe the natural hair movement, whether realized or not, is politically charged and opens up a great deal of conversation in the black community about beauty standards, westernization, and black womanhood. I am very grateful for this movement and how it redefines and questions beauty. I think natural hair is a step closer to black women accepting that their beauty is God sent and is truly immeasurable against these so called beauty standards.
Where can people find you for more information?
My main blog is www.girlonthegowithafro.com it has a link to all my other social media accounts including Tumblr, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook!
