Naturally Obsessed

Were your friends and family supportive of your decision? If not, how were you able to move forward?
Describe your hair routine.
My hair routine is easy. I cowash every week and shampoo about once a month. Deep conditioning I only do when I feel my hair needs it so that's about every 2 weeks. I moisturize my hair every evening before bed and every morning with a leave in conditioner. I use essential oils to keep moisture in my hair during the fall/winter but not during the spring/summer.

What are some of your favorite hair products?
My favorite hair products are; Kinky Curly Knot Today; Herbal Essence Hello Hydration; Castor Oil, Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose, Jojoba Oil, Giovanni Leave-In, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Kinky Curly Custard.

Do you have any hair goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?
How has being natural changed you?
Being natural changed my confidence. When I Big Chopped for the first 5 minutes I balled my eyes out. Lol. I had never had short hair before then and thought to myself, “What the hell have I done?” Lol. After a few minutes of admiring my new curly hair and knowing there was no way to attach my chopped locks back to my hair I started to realize that my beauty was not in my hair but it was in me. When I did my Big Chop is was empowering. I was no longer tied to that mentality of the longer your hair the prettier you are.

I saw this beauty in my Twitter time line and was in awe of her GORGEOUS mane! It wasn't until I googled her name and click a few links that I found out that this chica is more than just a fabulous fro lol! She's a dancer who has booked gigs with the likes of Beyonce, Rihanna and Jill Scott. Her talent has graced campaigns for Nike, Reebok and Escada perfume. And on top of all that she can sing! So let's take a minute to get to know Columbia, Maryland born Daisha ♥

Quite an impressive resume, how did you get you start in the entertainment business?
Well, I've been been involved in the arts since the age of four...dancing, theater, piano, school choir, but I studied dance the most intensely at my local studio and in Washington DC. I went to Duke University for a summer program in high school and Alvin Ailey for another summer program. Then I continued to Hofstra University where I majored in dance( concert dance -ballet/modern)...it was in college I discovered hip hop dance. I joined Imani dance ensemble and fell in loooove! My senior year I decided I wanted to really give it a try and so that summer before my senior year I spent 3 intense months taking 3 or 4 classes a day at Broadway dance center. I became involved in choreography showcases, joined Rhapsody the Company and started auditioning. A beautiful well known dancer named Anthony Burrell direct booked me on my first professional gig which was Rihanna's European Tour of "A Girl Like Me"!! It was a great learning experience...been working ever since...and the rest is history :)

You sing, dance and model...Which of the 3 do you enjoy most and why?
I really don't have a favorite...I feel dancing/singing intertwine. I'm allllways moving when I sing :) and when I dance its inspired by the song. I've done some modeling, but I'd like to get into it more :)

What's it like sharing a stage with superstars like Rihanna and Beyonce?
Its so amazing! I love being surrounded by amazing talent and creative energy! I've also shared the stage with Jill Scott and other great talents! Each artist operates differently so I take information and learn to grow from each experience.

When and why did you decide to go natural?

I've been natural for over 20 years (I'm 37). It wasn't a big decision, I just wanted to cut my hair...shave it off actually. I wasn't trying to be natural I just liked the hairstyle.

Where do you live? How the natural hair community there?

I live in North Carolina. There are some naturals here, but it's not the norm at all!

What is your current hair routine?

I don't use shampoo at all. I co-wash with Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Conditioner 3 or 4 times a week. I also ust the same conditioner as a leave in. In my opinion, leave in conditioners are just regular conditioners marketed to make you think you need to buy a separate product...it's NOT true! I use my conditioner as a leave in and it works better than anything I've ever done in all of my natural years.

Some days I just rinse my hair with water and a bit of conditioner and let it air dry. I don't do protective styles at all and I wear my hair loose everyday. I also stopped using ouls and butters on my hair. They don't work as good as my conditioner as a styling aid and I don't believe in using 3,4,5 products a day on my hair. I think that naturals pile on products in an attempt to fight their texture. Trying to create a texture that they see on another natural instead of working on their own.

Favorite hair products... I only have 2 favorites....Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Conditioner and Aple Cider Vinegar to clarify. That's it!!

Do you have any hair goals?

I always shave my head every few years, because my favorite style is the baldie. However, I'm challenging  myself to get to at least bra strap length before I cut again.

Favorite hair style... Right now it's the wash and go. I simply co-wash, rinse add a bit more conditioner and let air dry. If a style takes more than 5 minutes to do on my hair...it's not gonna happen.

Your jewelry line is beautiful! How did you get started designing jewelry?

Last year I started making headbands and peacock feather earings to sell on my blog, Target Queen. I got a great response and figured I could really make it this a full time thing if I applied myself.

You have great style, describe the perfect look... The perfect look for me is big wild hair, simple and effortless pieces and some funky shoes. Not too trendy.

What advice can you give to those who are a bit style challenged?

I think a person that is style challenged is simply afraid to wear what she really likes. She may think she can't pull it off, but confidence is the best accessory. If you wnat to wear the opposite of what everyone else is wearing then DO IT!!!

Curly girls have more fun because... We aren't afraid of the rain :-)

Gorgeous lady!! To see of more of Rachel please visit the links below...

Jewelry Shop: http://rachelstewart.bigcartel.com/ Blog: http://targetqueenjewelry.blogspot.com/ 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rachelstewart Art Site: http://rachelstewart.net/

Photography: http://csphoto-design.com/

Model Liberation is the title of your blog and your twitter name, how did you come up with that? Originally, the blog started as a joint venture between me and another model friend. We had thrown around some ideas for names, but nothing felt right. Then right before a fashion show, my friend Sam suggested the name "Model Liberation." It was perfect. Often times, models are misrepresented as mindless mannequins. We are human beings who deserve respect. And we should be allowed to voice our opinions just like everyone else. So the blog is my chance to tell people how I really feel. And it's liberating.
Blog: Model Liberation
Agency: Grace Model Management