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“I’m an open minded, free spirited being who was born and raised in South Central, Los Angeles and always takes chances. I do what I want when I want because I believe that unadulterated physiological and spiritual liberation equates to pure bliss. I actually have the word bliss tattooed on my hand. But It’s in Greek.

I’m such a morning person. I’m usually up and 5am and I feel like my day will be ruined if I don’t work out for at least 30 mins. I like going out for breakfast. It’s usually during breakfast when a grandiose idea will arise and I’ll get super anxious to get home and get started on it. I love being productive. If I’m not with clients styling hair, I’m creating, I’m building and I’m brainstorming. I enjoy panting and writing but most of all I love indulging in thought provoking conversations. So I often hunt for people to have those with. Sometimes in the morning, I’ll smoke hookah. I love hookah and I love the smell of the smoke. It’s a very sweet and sexy smell. I usually prep the coal before I hop in the shower to wash my hair that way it’s ready for me when I get out.

I have a simple skin care and makeup routine even though I don’t really wear makeup. I wash my face twice a day. In the morning I use dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash followed up with Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer and at night I use Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser. If I’m having a small breakout I’ll apply Mario Badescu Anti Acne Serum. Works wonders.

When I do buy makeup I buy a lot of lip colors. I’ll buy eyeshadow to try but I always fail with application. I’ll use concealer to hide some hyper pigmentation and a bit of mascara. But that’s it. I own a hell of a lot of lip balms. I’m the lip balm master.

I’ve been natural my entire life. I’ve worn weaves but I’ve never relaxed my hair. Growing up, my mother never put a relaxer in my hair. Sure, I endured the much dreaded kitchen press and was anointed with the much anticipated Easter Sunday ‘Shirley Temple Curl’ that only made it to the end of church service but a perm was never apart of my sister’s and my hair regimen. My mother would give me small plaits every summer and larger ones in the winter. She would sit me between her legs once and week, grease my scalp, pop in eight ponytails and send me off to school. And not once did I ever feel ‘unpretty.’ My mother made it a point to make sure we knew we were beautiful just the way we were. She’s passed on and I really miss her.

I’m a pretty low maintenance chick, especially when it comes to my hair. I shampoo and deep condition on a bi-weekly basis using Matrix Biolage Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. I hate combing my hair just because there is so much of it and its so thick. But when I do, I saturate it with water and Miss Jessie Super Sweetback Treatment before I take a wide tooth comb to it. I do this once every 2 weeks as well. On a daily basis I use The Roots Naturelle Braid Sheen & Conditioner. Its an awesome daily leave-in conditioner thats vegetable protein based so its really gentle on my hair and keeps it soft and moisturized. As a natural hair stylist, its not only my duty to keep a healthy head of hair but to also make sure my clients are maintaining one as well. My clients are always astounded by how quickly my hair grows. And people often ask what do I do to keep it healthy. I always stress how important moisture is. For women with highly textured, type 4 natural hair, using water based products on a daily basis is key to preventing excess dryness which leads to breakage. Less breakage equals more length.

When my hair is colored, I use Paul Mitchell Color Protect Daily Shampoo and Conditioner, my braid sheen to moisturize it on a daily basis and I use Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion to set it when I want to do a braid out. I’ll braid set my hair once a month and either air dry my hair or sit under a dryer – but I don’t do that too often. I did the blonde patch in the front because I wanted a true pop of color. I originally wanted to go white but I knew that would have taken a lot of stripping.

As a stylist, I advise a woman to wear her hair in a style that makes her feel beautiful. Not all women are comfortable wearing their natural hair. And that is ok. We are all different. Do what you want. A lot of chicks want ‘her curls’ or ‘that hair.’ And I come across a lot of women that want to go natural and often say how they desire ‘wash-n-go’ hair, which usually refers to the Tracy Ellis Ross hair types. But keeping it real, we all have ‘wash-n-go’ hair. We can all wash our hair and just bounce if we want. But some women aren’t ready to take that leap. The word ‘nappy’ still scares some women. I don’t think that will ever change. I try to urge women to not see hair products as magic potions. There is no product out there that’s going to change your curl pattern. Products only enhance it. Major difference. Just know what works for you. My sister and I actually wrote a children’s book together titled “My Hair Grows Up” which illustrates just how beautiful the many versatile textures of hair actually are.

I think a lot of women have the ‘pretty girl complex.’ They want to be the prettiest girl in the room or the world even. And the truth of the matter is, there is no such thing. There will always be someone out there with something you don’t have or even something you do. But that doesn’t make you less beautiful. It just makes you different.

For instance, I really like my eyes. I love their shape and they are one of my favorite physical features. I love my collar bones and hands. I like a lot of stuff. I like how pronounced and statuesque my features are. What makes me beautiful is the fact that I don’t compete with other beautiful women. Instead, I celebrate being one of them.

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder and self love is the key to making wise decisions. When you love yourself you make decisions that are best for you. It also allows you to be kind to other people and spread love. There will always be someone with a smaller, bigger, longer, smoother something. But it does not make them better, just different. Your spirit that dwells within the body God has assigned for you is what makes you beautiful. The body is just a shell. Just a shell. Just a shell. Decorate it the way you want. Whatever makes you happy.

I think a woman can have ‘it all.’ But really ‘all’ is relative and really a matter of personal perspective. For instance, I don’t think that having it ‘all’ is having a house, a husband or even kids. It’s just having a lot of stuff or things that have the potential to make you happy if you know what you’re doing and if you allow it to. I know people that regret having children, would prefer living on an island with no running water and don’t believe in marriage. We have to think outside the box sometimes.

Whenever I think about where I see myself ending up, as far as my professional life goes, I tend to draw blanks or I get overwhelmed with so many ideas! The truth is, I very rarely make plans. I tend to act on impulse and passion. And I never find myself pursuing just one particular career or going down one particular path. Now don’t get it twisted, I know how to stay focused. I just don’t know how to do one thing, if you catch my drift. Whatever I do, I make sure it has purpose, that it inspires and that it makes me and those around me, happy.

This may be a bit aggressive and can make people uncomfortable but when people tell me how they are afraid to pursue a dream I say to them ‘Look; you’re going to die one day. Ok? You have nothing to lose.’ These bodies are temporary but our spirits are eternal. So while your occupying this shell, take advantage! Don’t just exist but live! Indulge in what makes you laugh, what tastes good and what frees your mind. Spread love. Play. Be you. Drink lots of water and go out on a limb because that, my friend, is where the fruit is. We get so caught up in the physical realm which causes us to doubt ourselves. Ya gotta step outside of that. See yourself as a Supreme being. One that makes the impossible, possible.

I am happy to say that I am the woman today that I thought I’d be. This is the life I imagined myself a living. I’ve found that I’m an artist and I love painting and just need to travel some more. I’m the same girl with bigger ideas. My mothers passing in late 2006 propelled me into womanhood. I was 18 when she went. And when she went, the inevitability of death became so real to me. I never cared about what other people thought of me. The only difference now is I really don’t care about what other people think of me and I have bills to pay. In 10 years you guys will see me traveling. Eating and traveling. No kids. Just me, my man, and our two dogs. Bliss.” – Carole

Find Carole on her website and Instagram.

Carole Adele Williams Photographed by Angel Jordan.

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