"I've Seen Accelerated Growth With My Natural Hair While Pregnant" - Meet Bee Quammie of 83 to Infinity

Bee!

This week's interview features an expectant mother who is trying to juggle life, work, and family while she awaits the arrival of her first child, nicknamed "Little Magician". I stumbled upon Bee's blog last year during my relentless search for other Canadian natural hair care blogs, and it was through Bee's blog that I got to find out about other hair blogs and events in the city, which I always seemed to miss! Bee's blog covers a variety of topics (non hair related) which are relevant to everyone. In addition to her blog, Bee also organizes/hosts several events across the city of Toronto. An example of such event is the annual Black History Month Festival at the Harbour Front Centre called Kumba, where she was the presenter at the Big Chop Hair Show which she and Safiya of Kinky Kreations organized. 

With hair that long and big, I knew I had to find out about her secret and so I asked Bee for an Interview, before things get hectic for her. And so for this week's interview, I'd like to introduce you to a Toronto Natural, Bridget (Bee) Quammie. 

Bee on the right

Please tell us a little bit about yourself including your occupation and place of residence

 Some interesting tidbits about me are:

- I was born and raised in London, ON to Jamaican parents where I attended an arts school to study Drama, Vocal, Orchestra, Visual Arts, and Dance. I currently work as a supervisor at a non-profit healthcare agency, and I'm in the process of starting my own digital media business. I currently live in Toronto, ON 

How long have you had your natural hair for?
This August will mark my 6 years natural!

How did you go natural? Did you do the big chop or a mini chop after transitioning for a while?
I chopped after a year-long transition. From 2007-2008 I wore my hair in twists to grow out the processed hair, then in August 2008 I cut off all the relaxed ends. I did the first cut myself, but because it wasn't even (at all...lol), I went to a salon to have them help me with the rest. 

 Who or what motivated you to go natural?

Before 

I've always been blessed with thick and healthy hair, even through chemical treatments like relaxing and colouring. I think I started taking my hair's strength for granted, and eventually noticed that my hair just wasn't the same as it used to be - it had gotten severely damaged. I started looking at childhood pictures of myself and saw how gorgeous my natural hair was. I then started doing some research online and I decided to make a change to go back to my natural hair and relearn what that aspect of my beauty was all about. 

Finger detangle or comb detangle?
Both. I currently like to finger detangle and then run through with a Denman brush.

How would you describe your hair texture?

My natural hair is very thick, and I have a lot of different curl patterns. The front and very back are generally loose - almost wavy - and the mid section is tight and kinky. The side temple areas are a mix of the two.  

How would you describe your attitude towards your hair after you went completely natural? Would you say you love it more or you feel indifferent?

I definitely fell in love with my hair in a new way after I started wearing it naturally. I loved seeing all of the different things it could do, how it felt, and how it reacted to air, water, and various products. Overall, wearing my hair naturally gave me a new kind of confidence that I wasn't expecting, and I think it's really played a hand in the way I view and carry myself. 

What are some of the remarks and/or compliments that you've received about your hair?

After

I've been lucky to receive mainly positive remarks about my hair. Though I was confident in my decision to grow out my relaxer, I was still a bit concerned by what some of the reactions would be. Most of the comments I get are about the versatility of my hair and how I can do so many different things with it. I'm often stopped out in public and asked about my regimen and what products I use, especially by parents who are struggling with their children's hair. I have had negative remarks - mainly from older Black women - who tell me that my hair looks "crazy" or that I'll have work/relationship issues because of how I wear it, but it has never hampered either aspect of my life.  

Are you a Mane Captain? If not or if partially, how often do you go to a salon?
I think I've grown to be a Mane Captain - returning to my natural texture showed me how to be self-dependent with my hair care and styling, but there's nothing like the knowledge of a good professional. I go to Toronto's Curl Bar Beauty Salon every couple of months for a trim, deep treatment, or special style that needs a pro's touch.

How often do you wear a protective style? Which styles do you enjoy doing?

P.S

I'm wearing protective styles 90% of the time now, which is a drastic change from my hair practices prior to getting pregnant. I love my hair big, kinky, and curly, so I would only do protective styles every few months or so. My favourite protective style is Marley twists - and though I've never been a fan of wearing weave or wigs myself, I've been loving big, curly half wigs that blend in with my own hair texture.

What would you say about the natural hair community in Toronto or Canada in general?

I think it's definitely grown in the time since I've been here. I see so many more women rocking a variety of natural styles, and find more hair supply stores and salons catering to natural hair options. I think what we lack compared to other major cities in the US are quality events, but I've seen a positive shift in that arena over the last couple of years as well. I'd love to travel and potentially do events in other cities in the country to see what the various natural hair communities are like across Canada.  

What is your hair regimen like as a pregnant woman? What are some of the changes you've noticed with your hair during this period?
I'm 6.5 months pregnant, and I'm really seeing the accelerated hair growth, which is awesome. Over the past couple of months, I've gotten overwhelmed with my hair and the management of it, so I've been doing a lot of protective styling such as Marley twists, buns, and half wigs. I do a deep treatment every 2-3 weeks and I treat my scalp with castor oil and I apply coconut oil and shea butter when my hair needs it. I also make sure I take my multivitamin and drink a lot of water daily. I'm concerned about post-partum shedding and breakage with the shift in hormones after I give birth, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there!

Bee Now :)

Many women are afraid to wear their natural hair out because they feel it won’t suit them or it’s too much work or some other reasons. What advice would you give such ladies?
I hear this ALL THE TIME. Women will compliment my hair then proclaim that they could never wear theirs in its natural state. I usually ask them how they know that if they haven't seen their natural texture since early childhood, and at the very least, it makes them reconsider making such a definitive statement. When it comes to the "too much work" statement, I can only offer my perspective and be honest. In many ways, my hair is less of a chore, but truly caring for natural hair on my own requires a level of effort. That's something every woman has to judge for themselves, and I'm not one to force natural hair on anyone. Concerns about being attractive or maintaining a professional look are things that I can speak to from my perspective, but other than that, I simply ask "How do you know if you haven't tried?" when a woman judges a part of herself that she hasn't been acquainted with in decades.

Thank you so much for doing this interview, is there a website where readers can visit to learn more about you?

Yes! Readers can visit my blog at www.83toinfinity.com, my Facebook at www.facebook.com/83toinfinity, and on Twitter and Instagram at @BeeSince83. Thanks for this opportunity!  

Are you an expectant mother? Have a similar story to share? Please send me a message today.