The Big Chop, Solo Travel & Positive Affirmations Ft. Tam Watkins

Episode • Aug 7, 2018 • 1h 2m

I’m joined by Tam Watkins, founder of Loza Tam, where she’s been creating beautiful satin-lined turbans and headbands for the past two years. Before becoming the entrepreneur she is today, Tam was growing up in rural Florida or as she calls it ‘Trump Country’ and talks to me about that experience & growing up with a black Republican parent & Grandparent (rare indeed)! One of the things I love about Tam is her passion for travel and learning other cultures… she shares how the idea to create Loza Tam came to her in a yoga class & how that idea led her to Ghana where she now produces her product.

We talk about her ‘Britney Spears’ moment when she cut off all her hair because it became too matted while transitioning, feeling boyish post big-chop & how one kindergarten boy made her cry. She tells me about the positive affirmations she practices each day: “I am loved”, “I have marketable skills”, etc. and how that’s changed her outlook. We discuss social media & mental health but also have to acknowledge how much YouTube helped us in our natural journey! We also cover Botox as a preventative measure, pedicures being more mandatory than manicures, Tristian Walker and her experience working on Bevel and Form, Turkish women’s approach to beauty, traveling solo and her experience in China, the importance of reading reviews, wig life and we bond over our love of Wendy Williams.

Our Fave YouTube Channels for Natural Hair Tutorials:

Kimmay Tube https://www.youtube.com/user/kimmaytube < super thorough scientific approach

Naptural85 by Whitney (arguably the natural hair YT GOAT) https://www.youtube.com/user/Naptural85

The OG Cherry Lola Treatment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAafaJWWKUw

Products/Things Mentioned:

Watch Tam’s fave show African City (described as the African Sex & The City):

Acure- natural skincare products with proven results

https://www.acure.com

R+CO Cleansing Conditioner for a product that never dries out hair but it still feels cleansed https://bit.ly/2AQqeAV

— Fenty Beauty Everything Really but these are Standouts —

Universal Gloss Bomb - best lipgloss of all time & looks great on everyone

https://seph.me/2Oc2FnG