Keepers Of The Krown Update: Shop 'til You Drop!

Hi Everybody!

The products page of the Keepers Of The Krown website is up and running! So if you want to try us out or are a long time customer, come on by and stock up on all your hair care needs.

I'm Free

"I'm free and I'm waiting for you to follow me." - "I'm Free" by The Who

One morning, since my transition, I looked in the mirror and for the first time in my entire life I liked what I saw. I've always had a pretty high self esteem, my body image was healthy, I've never thought of myself as gorgeous; but I am certainly not ugly. The only thing about myself I ever really hated was my hair. Once I started going natural and seeing my hair react to the proper care and products I fell in love. I couldn't believe that this thick, beautiful, healthy looking hair was mine. Each day I find something new to marvel at: a wave in the middle of curls, the true color of my hair, humidity is an afro's best friend. At first, I couldn't keep my hands out of it; my hair has NEVER felt so soft or looked this shiny and healthy.

More than this, I felt something deep within. I was finally whole. I was finally able to accept myself for who I truly was. I was finally free. It wasn't just my victory, it felt like I was breaking my link in our collective and ongoing struggle for freedom and self expression. I know it sounds grand; but black people have been held hostage by Eurocentric standards of beauty. For centuries we are told women with fair skin, long straight hair and light colored eyes are the most desirable (thus most worthy of protection) and black women have been placed on the opposite end of that spectrum. Through technology and ingenuity, black women and other women of color, are able to mimic these sought after traits; yet are still vastly under represented in the mainstream conversation of what beautiful is. To accept one's natural hair, to me, sends the message that I am beautiful despite your constraints and definitions. I can truthfully say I don't give a damn what you think of me or what you think I should be.

My Hair Story, Pt. 2-The Decision to Go Natural

Shortly after my marriage, my husband and I moved to Ohio. It was the first time I didn't have constant criticism about what I should be doing to my hair, so I just let it be. I had no clue how to take care of it; but figured that doing nothing had to be better than getting it relaxed. This is when I became acquainted with scarves. I also wore my hair in two afro-puffs below my ears almost constantly. I was not completely "clean of my creamy crack addiction"; I still got my hair relaxed for weddings and funerals. This went on for about four years, and then I had my moment.

My sister, niece and I went out to California to visit our Mom. I don't know if it is California or the fact that I was born there; but when I visit I am filled with a feeling that I can do anything, be anything (and "Estimated Prophet" plays in my head). Anyhoo, my mom has always wanted locks and while she was living in California, she found a loctician any realized one of her dreams. She also wanted to learn how to create and maintain locks and enrolled in classes to do so. By the time of our visit, she was locking hair in her house with a growing clientele. Mom had been thinking of opening a shop of her own, but as these decisions are hard to make, she asked for the advice of her daughters. Both my sister and I knew that Mom was serious about natural haircare (as she always has) and is very focused and driven, so we told her to go for it. The rest is, as they say, history.