Life and Work with Nyna Harris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nyna Harris.

Nyna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Like millions of other chubby dark-skinned girls, I was bullied for having physical features that weren’t considered “normal”. I had crooked glasses, was extremely shy, and my thick-kinky hair was often ridiculed because kids didn’t understand why it looked and felt different from theirs.

For years, I struggled with embracing my true self until one day I woke up. It was as if something came over me. One of the main physical features I was often ridiculed over gave me confidence! The power my natural hair has given me has taken over me; now, I am building my brand around it. It’s time for ALL women of color to embrace what makes us unique and stop hiding behind it.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My plan is to use my growing platform to connect with young women with troubling pasts like mine to help them find inner confidence in their beautiful kinky hair!

Like everything in life, nothing is ever “smooth”. It took years before I could even walk out of the house with my natural fro. Between the stares and the “Can I touch your hair??” questions; I always felt ashamed of my natural appearance. Fast forward to now. I am actively documenting my natural hair journey via blog and Instagram to show people how to properly care for our kinky tresses.

Everything is digital now so the whole “Instagram Algorithm” movement can be difficult to maneuver through. Since Natural is now the new norm, my focus is to remain as authentic as possible during my journey all the while producing quality content.

Stay consistent and remain authentic; that is the best advice I can give to any young woman building a brand behind something they love. Love who you are and showcase it to the world in any way you see fit!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Nynalovee – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I have been natural since 2011, but I drifted through the years hiding my hair to conform to typical beauty standards. It wasn’t until I received encouragement from my loved ones that I should document how I take care of my natural hair.

My brand started as a way for me to monitor my hair growth while I followed strict regimens and used store-bought and homemade products. Now, three months into it, I am realizing I have been slowly reinventing myself and my life through this process! My goal still remains the same. I want to spread this new enlightenment via Social Media in hopes to encourage women to embrace what makes us different and yet connects us.

I want to build solid genuine relationships with the movers and doers of Atlanta through Instagram and beyond. I don’t care about the followers; that will come. What matters is building a strong dynamic of Black Women encouraging each other to just be great!

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Networking can be tough. It was hard for me because I am such an introvert. You definitely have to step outside of yourself when it comes to networking and I had to learn the hard way. My nerves used to get in the way of everything! What works for me is I walk into any situation as if I have already been through it.

See everyone you meet as someone that already likes you and you are speaking to them to make them like you even more. That builds confidence as well as eliminates any networking insecurities you may have.

Contact Info:

• Website: 4nynalovee.blogspot.com
• Phone: 770-367-6847
• Email: 4nynalovee@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/nynalovee

Image Credit:
KaydenMade

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.