Embracing Natural Hair Ft. The Savvy Natural.

Tell the world who you are!

Hey there, world! I'm Shequera Grace, a former high school educator turned digital nomad. On top of that, I proudly wear the hats of a dedicated wife and mom to two amazing little ones. I hail from the stunning islands of The Bahamas; however, my family and I now reside in beautiful Canada. But let me tell you about my passion in the social space—I'm a content creator and a true enthusiast when it comes to natural hair. My mission is simple yet powerful: to empower women to fully embrace their natural hair and beauty.

Who/what inspired you to start a brand encouraging women to embrace their natural hair?

The inspiration behind The Savvy Natural stems from my personal natural hair journey and the obstacles I faced along the way. While I always enjoyed caring for my natural hair, I also experienced frustrations and challenges with my hair. I also knew that I wasn’t alone in this struggle. There were, and still are, so many other naturals who have this love/hate relationship with their hair.

However, everything changed when I stumbled upon a Twitter thread that completely challenged all that I knew about natural hair care. It was there that I discovered invaluable advice from tight curl specialists like Anita, the owner of Monarch Curl Studio, and Jennifer-Rose, the owner of The Fro Haus.

Later, I took a course with Anita, and extremely motivated by the results I achieved after implementing her teachings, I realized that I needed to share this knowledge and empower other women on their natural hair journeys. Thus, The Savvy Natural was born—a platform dedicated to providing women with the tools, guidance, and support to embrace their natural hair and discover their hair’s true potential.

How long have you been natural?

So I’ve been natural now for about 6 years now. I returned natural in 2017. However, that wasn’t the first time I did the big chop! I actually returned natural for the first time in 2008 but I got tired of feeling my way through the dark essentially when it came properly caring for my hair and not achieving the results I wanted. On top of that my insecurities set in so I went back to what was comfortable for me - relaxed hair.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced with caring for your hair?

I’ve experienced several challenges. Everything from tangling to postpartum shedding. In 2017, the year I went natural, the postpartum shedding was real and my hair texture became ROUGH. I didn’t even feel like my hair was worth saving and I had a deep desire to return natural anyway so I asked my sister-in-law to cut it all off! It was really liberating and eventually, my curls started to pop and I was loving it! However, as it got longer, I started to have a lot of challenges with detangling. I couldn’t understand why my hair was always so tangled. Little did I know my hair was suffering from dehydration, even in spite of feeling soft. As a result, I encountered quite a bit of breakage. Thankfully, I learned a better way to care for my hair from the professionals and I no longer have these challenges!

Favorite products?

Shampoo - Still looking for a shampoo I love.

Conditioner - AG Boost Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioner

Styling Foam - The Doux’s Mousse Def and Paul Mitchell’s Soft Hold Styling Pomade

Styling Gel - Uncle Funky’s Curl Magic Stimulator and Innersense I Create Hold.

Favorite natural style?

The wash and go of course with perm rod sets running a close second!

Current goals for your hair?

My number 1 priority is maintaining my hair’s health. My second goal is to grow my hair to shoulder length in its curly state. I’ve kept my hair in a short tapered cut for about 2 years now so I’m ready to enjoy having more length and versatility with styling again.

What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with caring for their natural hair?

My advice to someone who is struggling with caring for their natural hair is to skip the guesswork and partner with a tight curl specialist for personalized care. Black Girl Curls has a stylists directory of more than 200 Cut It Kinky certified, tight curl specialists across the US (a few overseas as well), and their directory is always growing. The stylist does not have to be Cut It Kinky certified, however. Just ensure that before you go to anyone, 1) they are certified, 2) they work with your type of curls and the results on their socials are what you’re looking for, and 3) their reviews are good.

If there are no tight curl specialists in your area, consider paying for a virtual consultation or a virtual course. You really learn a lot during these sessions and I promise you, you and your hair will be so glad you made the investment!

Also, connect with natural hair enthusiasts (like myself - and as you can see I don’t gatekeep haha) on social media platforms whose content aligns with what the pros have taught you for that added support, motivation, and encouragement.

My final words, trust the process. You may not get your results right away but with guidance and consistency, you’ll get there. And please do not make the mistake of comparing your hair to anyone else’s because it is uniquely your own and it is beautiful!

How can we connect with you?

You can connect with me on Instagram @thesavvynatural. I’ll also have a blog launching this summer so stay tuned!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cq2moBhOT1Q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==