“Patience, health before length and do what works for you”, says
Aevin
Dugas. Many people might ask the
question who is Aevin Dugas; the answer is, the beautiful woman who holds the
world record for the largest afro. This
is a title that Aevin has held since 2011 after Guinness World Record measured her
afro at an amazing 4 ft. 4in. It was by chance
that Aevin acquired this title and made history as the first person to ever do
so. Aevin became the record holder after one of her sister’s Facebook friends
suggested she enter the contest in 2010.
Four years later, rest is literally history.
Today being natural is popular; it wasn’t 14 years ago when
Aevin made the conscious decision to transition her hair back to its natural
state. With the help of her friend; who
made sure she kept fresh cornrows, her journey began. Aevin admits that it did take her a while to
become comfortable with her hair; now that she has, she said she “never even
considers” creamy crack. Her thoughts are, “why relaxer your hair when you can
get the same effects with natural hair?”
“Relaxed hair restricted me but being natural give me a whole lot of
options.” Aevin is so pleased with her
kinky hair that she rarely even blows it out and almost never straightens
it. I thought that maybe that was
because of the time it takes to accomplish a silk out. However, she says that she can wash/
condition (35 minutes), dry (45 minutes) and press (30 minutes) her hair in
less than 2 hours. Now that really
shocked me!! The reason that Aevin shy’s
away from blow drying and pressing is the simple reality, heat causes damage to
hair. She says that normally after her
weekly wash, she braids her hair and allows it to air dry. During the course of
the week Aevin executes a variety of style including twists that take 2 hours
to install.
In talking to Aevin I learned that she is not at all a
product obsessed natural diva that has to use or try every product and
technique that bloggers and vloggers suggest.
Maybe that is because many of the techniques that we are just becoming
familiar with, she mastered long ago. Aevin
said when she made the transition; “Lusters Pink Oil Moisturizer” was her best
friend. Even now she says that she uses
a variety of products that “aren’t regularly used by African American women
like Suave shampoo.” Another shocker
because I was told that regular shampoo was natural hair’s worst enemy. She does admit that over time she has
incorporated hair butters for sealing and oils (grapeseed, almond and avocado) for
moisture into her hair care routine.
My conversation with this Louisiana native left me enlightened
by her knowledge and inspired by her dedication. Because I spend so much time obsessing over
the do’s and don’ts of natural hair. Now
I know that all of that isn’t necessary and I need to do what makes my hair
happy. She also educated me on some
things about my daughter’s hair, like the fact that children’s hair change
until puberty. With all of that hair, years of experience and
knowledge, you would think that she would be the face of some brand but she is
not. She hasn’t been presented with an
offer that she felt was right for her. Nevertheless,
she is committed to informing other woman about the benefits of embracing their
natural hair. She may be small in size
but she is in a sense the godmother of a big movement. Aevin
Dugas, a petite woman with hair that stretches half her height; Passion, Happy,
Appreciative & True……P.H.A.T. Girl Fresh!!! #PHATGIRLFRESH
I received a
call from one of my customers on New Year’s Eve asking if I had any knowledge
of a new plus size boutique in town (Albany, Georgia), my answer was “nope.” She and I both were thinking the same thing,
surely if there was a new plus size boutique in town I would know. Wrong!!!!!
Yes, Albany does have a new plus size boutique and its name is
Honeysuckle Hill. 
"Genuine
relationships, over monetary gain, is what I consider to be TRUE success.” The words of an amazing woman who I admire
more and more every day, Melinda Santiago.
I met Melinda a little less than a year ago while preparing for a
fashion show that her artist Michael Keith (of 112) was putting together. It didn’t take long for her to gain my
respect both professionally and personally.
Everyone knows that I am all about girl power. It does my heart good to see my sisters doing
big things, living their best lives and helping others. All of the things that I stated are the
things that Melinda’s entire life is centered around, which is why she is truly
a success. To continue reading, click the link 
