Naturally Professional: Melissa

I am so excited to introduce our next natural professional: Melissa.  Melissa is an entrepreneur who owns a financial planning firm, www.melissalgeorge.com .

Please join me in welcoming Melissa to Crown and Temple as our next Naturally Professional Feature. 

CT

How long have you been natural?

Melissa

My journey began in February 2010. I loc’d my hair in May 2010.

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What made you decide to wear your hair in a natural style?

Melissa

I had been thinking about it for a year or 2, but needed to educate myself as to all the options for wearing natural hair, upkeep, costs, etc.. I was tired of putting a chemical on my skin, my hairdresser informed me e was moving out of the country and I didn’t want to go through the process of trying to find someone who could do my hair.

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How do you wear your hair?

Melissa

Locs. In fact, I have extensions called Bornu locs. I know many women with long hair are concerned about having to do the ‘BIG chop & start from scratch, but Bornu (my loctician) has developed a shortcut for those who don’t want to start from scratch. Visit www.bornu.com and schedule a consultation.

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What kind of work do you do?

Melissa

I own & operate a financial planning firm.

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What kinds of feedback do you receive about your hair while working?

Melissa

Not a day has gone by that I have not gotten a glowing compliment about my locked hair. I have been well received.

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Have you encountered any negative experiences working with natural hair? If so, please share your experience?

Melissa

Recently on Facebook, one of my Caucasian high school classmates commented on how beautiful one of my pictures was and my hair is loc’d in the photo. Shortly thereafter, she made a negative comment about loc’d hair and why would anyone want to have their hair like that or something. Before I could even reply, several of my friends ‘educated’ her why people choose to loc their hair, etc. My bff also shared with her how politically incorrect her comment was and by the time I got to her page, everything was deleted. I realize many people are just ignorant, but in the 6 months I have now been loc’d, this was the only negative comment I’ve heard and it wasn’t directed at me personally. I continue to receive GLOWING comments about my hair. It’s real esteem booster!

CT

How do you deal with any negative comments about natural hair?

Melissa

I haven’t had any yet. I will say that I have had a lot of people to inquire about why I transitioned to locs and the process in general. I suppose based on my long, flowing curls in the past, most people would’ve bet money that I would NEVER go natural. Now I find that more of my friends who are also in the corporate arena are looking to me for information and education as they, too, contemplate going natural or locking their hair.

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What advice would you give to women who wish to transition to natural hair while maintaining a professional career?

Melissa

Well, India Arie said it best. “I am not my hair”; however, my hair IS an extension of who I am and, to a large extent, my values. I would advise other women to do your homework first. There are many misconceptions about natural hair and the care/maintenance of it. When doing my research, I read a lot in books and on the web and then I talked to sisters with natural hair, locs, Sisterlocks, etc. until I figured out what I wanted and then I went for a consult with my current loctician. I saw his work and then spent an hour discussing my hair (grade/texture, style options, maintenance, etc.). Going natural is about appreciating the hair that God has given you and yourself as a whole. It is a liberating experience that I wish I had done years ago. I absolutely LOVE my hair.

CT

Please feel free to add additional comments.

Melissa

Melissa L. George & Associates is a state registered investment advisory firm specializing in tax-free retirement planning, executive compensation and estate/trust funding. Please visit us at www.melissalgeorge.com