Natural Spotlight: Tabitha of Craving Yellow

It’s always lovely to have natural spotlight features of people outside Zambia. It shows that we essentially all go through the same struggles with our hair. Tabitha’s blog, Craving Yellow , documents her journey with what can only be described as vibrant imagery, it’s definitely worth a visit. 

Where in Africa are you from?

Hi, my name is Tabitha Tongoi. I was born in Nairobi, Kenya and have lived in South Africa, England and the US.

Where are you currently based?

This is a tough one! I am currently in the process of moving from the US to Australia. I have been studying here and will be moving on to pursue further studies in Melbourne.

When did you decide to go natural?

I decided to go natural in July 2011. I was getting ready to move to the United States from Kenya and had no idea how I was going to take care of my hair. I jumped online to try and glean a few tips and I discovered the natural hair community! I was elated at all the beautiful hair that I saw online. Having had thin over-processed relax hair all my life, I couldn’t help but take the plunge! I haven’t looked back since.

What has your experience been having natural hair so far?

I have loooved having my hair in its natural state. In the beginning it was difficult to get used to my new texture. I struggled to learn what my hair needed best, but with time, I was able to figure it out. Having natural hair has taught me to take better care of my body from the inside out. It has also taught me to love the skin I’m in.

What is your hair regimen?

My hair regimen is very very simple! I wash my hair once a week as follows: pre-poo overnight with coconut oil, co-wash with a shampoo/conditioner from the Shea Moisture line, deep condition with Spiral Solutions Deeply Decadent Conditioning Treatment and rinse with Apple Cider. I then do my final rinse with cool water, air dry and seal with Olive Oil. I keep my hair in two-strand twists for three weeks in a month. I also henna and clarify once a month too. Finito!

How did you achieve the hairstyles in these pictures?

This style here is a low bun with a simple hair accessory. All I did was pull my hair back and bun it. I added the pearl hair accessory to add some chic flavor to this look. Simplicity is my thing!

My other go-to style is a high bun! Notice the trend? Buns are my thing! Again, I gently finger-combed my hair up towards the center of my head. I didn’t neaten up the bun too much because I love the sultry effect of “messy” hairstyles.

When I’m not in a bun, I’m in two-strand twists. I simply apply a light oil like olive oil to the length of my hair and then twist it as above. I vary the size of my two-strand twists depending on how much time I have to twist it up.

Any future plans or dreams for your hair?

Yes! I am really eager to reach waist length..! I finally hit mid-back length this year in January. I’m hoping to get to waist length by June/July. Also, I want to keep maintaining the overall health of my hair.

Any advice for those considering going natural?

Absolutely! Natural hair is a fantastic journey! There’s so much to learn about taking care of our bodies and our health in general. There’s a wonderful community of women with natural hair online that I am always learning from. Once you take the plunge and get off relaxers, you’ll never look back! Trust me!