NFATW: Janada from Australia
Janada relaxed on her wedding day
Byron Bay, Australia
Where are you from?
J: I am originally from Canada. But we now call The Gold Coast in Australia my home away from home. I am completing my masters degree and my husband is doing his law degree. We had heard about the positive opportunities for graduate study in Australia and we decided to jump on board and apply to study ‘down under’.
Tell us about Australia.
J: Many times I wake up in the morning, take a glance out my window, and I can see green mountains to the West, and the Gold Coast shore line to the East. The Gold Coast is absolutely gorgeous. Great beaches, rainforests, shopping and weather.
The Gold Coast is the beach-party and entertainment mecca for Australia so people tend to be easy going, and always ready to hit the beach and or party. The Aussie slang is super colorful and I’m trying to use bits and pieces in my daily speech.
E.g. “im hungry as, lets go to Macca’s and get brekkie.
(I’m so hungry, lets go to McDonalds and get breakfast)
I’m not a very good surfer, but I really like boogie boarding. So that’s my new beach hobby.
What is the natural hair culture like in Australia?
J: It’s as sparse as the number of black people in Australia. There are not so many black people here on the coast, so if you can find some that knows how to do black hair, you keep them close and at arms reach.
There are a few black hairdressers but having your hair braided will cost hundreds of dollars. The cost of maintaining relaxed hair was the big push that made be take the steps to going natural. I have seen some locals (Samoan, Fijian, Melanesian, aboriginal people) with curlier natural hair, but over all the natural hair scene for black people is very small. But I get compliments on my hair at least once a week, which makes me feel good.
What would you like to see in your country in terms of natural hair?
J: I would like to see more black hair care products in regular drug stores. But honestly, I don’t think that will happen, because of the small black population. This situation doesn’t really bother me, because everything I use on my hair comes from the organic store; coconut oil and conditioner.
Do you prefer natural hair to relaxed?
J: 200% I prefer my hair natural. I like being able to go swimming, get sweaty and travel with out having to lug my flat iron, blow dryer, serum, heat protectant spray, clips, etc… My husband is much happier with my natural hair too. He was my biggest supporter for going and STAYING natural. He loves my non-relaxed hair so much more, and doesn’t miss we whining about breakage and relaxer damage.
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BGLH now has a forum! Check it out HERE.
Love that second picture! Really cute hairdo!
I want to know more about what inspired her to go to Australia. Is it just a lot cheaper there to go school? If so, we need to broadcast that info so more people know they have options…:)
I love this series! Wow, this young lady is on a pretty interesting adventure. I always wondered about the local Black people in Australia and what they do to their hair. From the few pics I’ve seen, it seems they mostly wear their hair out, not in cornrows, twists, etc.
you have beautiful skin. thanks for sharing your story!
yea for a super-cute Canuck! Your natural hair looks a lot more golden than in the relaxed pic – are you colouring it, if so what do you use to lighten?
Beautiful hair, skin, and eyes! Gorgeous!
She really does have beautiful skin!
Hi guys, thanks for the wonerdul comments. I think i must have taken pictures on good skin days, because i always seem to think i have zitty skin
its pretty browny naturally.
1) We decided to study in oz because there are far more uni’s in oz than in canada. I was having trouble re applying to finish my post graduate work in canada, so my husband and I decided to look outside of Canada.One main benifit to syudying at our uni, is the option to ‘fast track your degree”. So you can complete your masters in 1 year. Which is amazing! It is relativly easy to apply to study in australia, we went through an agent named “Oztrekk”. Some programs are cheaper here in oz, but most are the same. Over all look into it. Studying in warm weather is much nicer than studying in the cold.
2) i haven’ dyed my har in years
thanks for sharing your pics and your story. you look so happy and seem to glow from within. you definitely sound like a modern nomad, u should check out this site http://www.casadiculture.com.
Again cheers, for your story and the info tidbits!!
Hey Janada!
Your makeup and your style is fierce!!!! Loved the pics and your story! =)
Congrats! She looks great!
http://operationosaka.blogspot.com
this is one of my travel blogs, check it out
jan
This was a awesome entry! Janada is my older sister and I am on the GO-NATURAL Team as well! As jan said in the interview it’s just so much easier to rock it natural and not have to worry about sweating, wetting, blow drying or relaxer breakage.
I can’t wait to visit Oz so i can up the black girl quota for a little while!
Excellent job on the article!
and high 5’s all around!
Yay! Another natural that lives in Australia. I’m melanesian and live further up north and it’s true that with such a small black population, it’s extremely hard to find someone that will do your hair. Hunting for products is also a task and a half, but coconut and EVOO save the day. Great post. I love this site by the way.
Tia, you should DEFINITELY submit a profile for the NFATW series!!! We’ve never profiled a Melanisian woman before!!!
The email is blackgirllonghair@gmail.com
My old roomie did a study abroad in Australia. She had relaxed hair as well and I told her “Laura, there aren’t any black people in Australia. So what are you going to do? Take a years supply of relaxer with you?” She said that she was going to maintain it but she couldn’t and didn’t. Sure enough she shaved her head for a charity event and has been natural ever since. She has been back in the states for about a year now and still maintains her natural hair. I send her links and tips on how to maintain her hair because we no longer live in the same state. She seems to really like it.
MissyD, thats a good story. I think other students that are coming to oz (especially if they are not studying in a big city) should be ready to spend alot of money to get your hair relaxed or braided. There are some black hair salons, but they are pricey