After transitioning for 5 months in 2008, I did a big chop, cutting off 9 inches of relaxed hair and leaving me with a 3 inch TWA (teeny weeny afro). As a child, I had natural hair, but now I had to take care of finding the right products myself. At first, I used only mass produced commercial products but soon started also using a few products that I created myself for my own 4A type hair. Early during my natural hair journey, I gave myself the name JDNatlady (my real name is Aquannette Chinnery). I immersed myself in learning all about what my hair needed and how to take care of it. I had a FOTKI (photo site showing my natural hair journey), was on Nappturality (a natural hair discussion board but I used a different name) and was enjoying my natural hair journey.
In 2011, my company (JDNatlady's Creations, LLC) of which I am a sole member was formed to be able to make and sell products here in the USVI. My background in chemistry and biochemistry influenced me to continue experimenting and creating, so that I expanded the types of products that I was making. In 2011 and 2012, I started making many more products and product development is always continuing. My manufacturing is not done at home but at my physical (brick and mortar) workshop/store.
Last year, I found out about Etsy. Etsy provided the perfect opportunity to reach out beyond just my little island. This new shop is a specialty hair shop that I created because the original Etsy shop I opened last year grew so much that I wanted to make it easier for my hair products customers to find what they need without having to look through the large number of soaps, lotions, body creams, etc. that are in that other Etsy shop. In addition to my store here on St. Thomas and local shows in which I participate, I love being able to reach new people and returning customers here on Etsy and to expand my Etsy shop offerings by adding to them my ever expanding types of products designed for mostly types 3 and 4 hair. Many of the products also work on all hair types from highly textured to transitioning to relaxed to naturally straight. Some of them are also dual use and may be used on the hair or body.
I love working with all sorts of butters and oils and have started working with some of the more unusual or exotic ones. Some of the products that I make have chemicals such as cetyl alcohol, BTMS-50, etc, but I try to formulate in a way that allows me to limit the chemicals to only those that are necessary, and lots of them are from plant sources. I enjoy using the products that I make and enjoy hearing about how much others enjoy using them. Let me help you along your hair journey by letting my shop be one of your sources for your natural hair care needs.