Ever since discovering this Zambian born YouTuber, we have been looking forward to putting Luyando under the ZedHair Natural Spotlight.

Luyando wearing a Bantu Knot Updo

Where in Africa are you from?

Zambia

Where are you currently based?

Georgia, USA

When did you decide to go natural?

I decided to go natural in August of 2010 and had my last relaxer on November 22, 2010.

What has been your experience having natural hair so far?

I’ve had my ups and downs, but it’s not that much different from a relaxer. African Hair Threading has saved my life and made my hair more manageable.

What is your hair regimen?

1.     I try to moisturize and seal daily, but will go up to three days without using any product on my hair. If my hair is flat ironed, I just use any oil or serum that I have. If my hair is in extensions, I dilute the moisturizer in water using a 1:5 volume ratio then use a spray bottle or squeeze bottle to apply the mixture between my wefts in an attempt to avoid touching the extensions. My aim is to go directly to the scalp. If I don’t feel like using a moisturizer, I just use water. The key when moisturizing is to use very little product.

2.     I wash my hair anywhere from once weekly to once a month and I usually wash it when it’s braided. I know many people would frown on me washing my hair after a month or longer, but I have to be honest. I don’t have the best hair practices because I’ve always been lazy with my hair.

3.     I usually wear extensions for 6 weeks on average and take a one month break in between to enjoy my hair and let it rest.

4.     I flat iron my hair 3 times a year and I trim then. I trim every 4 months because I wear protective styling often, but every 10 to 12 weeks is ideal for someone who wears their hair out often. I trim anywhere from .5 to 2 cm.

How did you achieve the hairstyle in these pictures/videos?

Any future plans/dreams for your hair? 

I want to reproduce my curly Mohawk style without the use of heat. I loved wearing my hair this way when I was relaxed.

Any advice to those considering going natural?

I was not 100% sure that I would go natural until I cut my relaxed ends off. My transition lasted 17 months. I encourage anyone who is considering going natural to just stretch their relaxer like I did until they are sure. If you can deal with two textures, then you can deal with it when it’s fully natural. Do not spend too much money on hair products. The only products that you really need are oil and water.

About PureEstrogen:

What prompted you to start vlogging and blogging?

I decided to do it because I had a few unique ideas that I wanted to share. I love do it yourself projects and I encourage people to save their money by skipping costs. I also think it’s a fun way to interact with people who have similar interests.

What has the response been like so far?

It’s been good. I really think the response is directly proportional to the effort I put in. Sometimes the response is more than what I expect. It really depends on what people want to see and how much time I have.

What are the plans for the future of your channel and blog?

More tutorials and fewer reviews will mark the future of my channel and blog. I have several tutorials that I’ve never seen done and I’d like to share them. Some of them are about hair and others are about crafts. I’m planning on shifting the focus off extensions and show just how diverse I am. I will be doing more on natural hair, crafts, food, general health and possibly makeup.

Do you have any advice for aspiring vloggers and bloggers?

1.     Do what you love even if you’re not doing what others seem to care about.

2.     Not everyone will like you. Appreciate those who do.

3.     Try to produce quality content. People appreciate someone who puts forth effort.

4.     There are benefits from vlogging and blogging which include free expensive products, an opportunity to generate revenue, and having your content shown on company sites but these perks should not fuel your desire to do this. I’ve blogged for hair companies, had my videos shared on their facebook pages and even been paid money for promoting a product, but think of it as an added bonus as opposed to a reason to blog/vlog.

5.     Try to balance what your target audience loves with what you love. This is really the most important thing that I can tell you. Even if you share content once every month, it’s better to share what you love. My most popular video has almost 18,000 hits and was a request on how I make a closure on a full sew-in weave.

I encourage you to upload requested videos because the people who follow you will appreciate it and they can help you come up with good topics when you run out of ideas.

Luyando wearing a curly faux-hawk

You can follow Luyando online here:

YouTube Channel, Vashtikk11

Facebook Page, PUREEstrogen

Twitter @vashtikk11