Natural hair chronicles: Danielle Hall

 

Danielle Hall interviewed by Briana Whiteside

How long have you been natural?

I am entering my 6th year of being natural.

What prompted you to go natural?

I can't say that, consciously, there was anything profound that prompted me to return to my natural hair texture. Maybe on a subconscious level because I was a part of black consciousness circles within the spoken word community and many of them were natural or had locs. I just know that at a certain point I wanted something different for my hair, which was thin and I didn't know it's true texture. I didn't discuss it, it was something I wanted to do and I just did it.

In one word, how would you describe your journey?

Liberating

If you could talk to our younger sisters who are natural, what would you tell them?

For younger sisters who are natural, transitioning, or thinking about it I would encourage them to go within and make the decision from a pure place. There's a lot of trial and error as well as exploration involved-meaning you can try a million products and styles, but confidence is key. Whether you rock a fade or have a Taren Guy afro doesn't, it's about how you feel about yourself and your hair. The natural hair journey is one that will force you to deal with the person in front of the mirror, be present and enjoy the journey, it's really as easy or as difficult as we choose to make it. There will be critics, but there will also be people who support you and you'll be surprised how many people you'll inspire along the way.

Related:  
• The natural hair chronicles