Today we’d like to introduce you to Azziza Robinson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Azziza. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Well, I began my journey of self-care, love, and discovery in 2012. At the age of 16, during my first year of college, I entered into a new world of independence and autonomy. For the first time in my educational career, I had the opportunity to control pretty much everything in my life – my dress, my whip, and my appearance. I was tired of wearing the same old uniform, riding the same ol’ MARTA bus and wearing the same old flat ponytails. So I switched my beige high-school uniform to rainbow-printed sweaters, I traded in my bus pass for a seafoam green bicycle (though I TOTALLY still ride the bus today), and I cut off ALL of my relaxed hair. I realized that my thin breaking hair, like my bland uniform and crinkly bus pass, was holding me back. I had had relaxed hair most of life – my mother relaxed it when I was only six-years-old. I never truly knew what my real hair looked like. All my life, I had been used to have limp, dull, dry, chemically smelling hair. I didn’t know my hair any other way. And I never questioned it… until I turned 16. That’s when I discovered natural hair channels on YouTube. Dozens of channels that showcased beautiful women rejecting the status-quo “acceptable hair” and instead, returning to their natural roots. I realized then that that was what I wanted, what I NEEDED to do. I needed to go natural.
So I cut my hair. From nine inches to eight. Then six, four. Until I completely chopped it all off. I was almost entirely bald. And for the first time in years, and as cliche as it may sound, I felt beautiful. I was finally embracing the natural me without worrying about what anybody would think. And I’ve been on my growth journey for six years now. After I became natural, though, I quickly realized could no longer use the drying shampoos and simple conditioners I was accustomed to. I had to change my regimen! I used some of the most popular “natural” products on the market aimed towards natural women. I liked some of them, thought some were okay, and really didn’t care for many. I spent hundreds of dollars I didn’t have trying to buy products I didn’t need that I thought would make my hair flourish, but none of them truly did. So I chose to make some myself.
I tinkered with different oils, sugars, syrups and powders for years, until last year. I finally perfected a menu of shampoos, conditioners, tonics, scrubs and henna pops – all using minimalistic, easy to pronounce, great for you and your hair ingredients.
I am motivated by helping other women discover and embrace their natural beauty. To show them that they don’t need dry, toxic chemicals to fit in or “fix” their hair. They can use natural, holistic practices to stand out. That’s why I’ve created my business, 4Z. Real Hair Love: From A to Zee. I want to share the creations that I have used on myself to help other women’s hair thrive. I want to show coily-haired beauties around the globe that there is a company that is interested in them. I want women all over to start their journey of self-love and discovery.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One of the biggest challenges for me building my business has been reaching out to a wider audience. I share my hair advice and product ideas with my friends and sometimes (but not often enough) on social media, but I’ve not been able to spread my advice and encouragement to as many people as I’d like. I’m hoping that the rest of this year and the beginning of 2020 will allow me the opportunity to increase my social engagement and share 4Z Hair with thousands – maybe millions! – of women.
Please tell us about 4Z Hair.
My company is specifically geared toward women with 4a-4c hair textures (and even women past that kinky range, hence 4Z). My products have been tested by individuals with kinky/coily hair to see what our hair responds best to. The products are created for kinky-haired women BY a kinky-haired woman – in a world where may products are not shown to be for our hair type and texture.
4Z Hair specializes in custom, handmade truly natural hair products. We’re unique because our products are made to order, so we can effectively cater to those who have specific allergies or sensitivities. Many of our products are customizable – we recognize that not all hair is one size fits all and we know people aren’t either. Some people want to grow their hair quicker, some want to grow it thicker, some may just want to keep it manageable. We recognize this -so our clients have options that they can pick from to best suit their needs. Our products are also minimilistically-made: no hard-to-pronounce additives, no 50-point list of ingredients. Just wholesome products made with real herbs, oils, and butters – 10 ingredients or less.
4Z succeeds because we actually listen to our customers. Prior to starting this business, I took polls in several natural hair groups asking women what they desire most in a new natural hair product. Many of the larger companies can’t or don’t take time to talk to women about what they truly desire. Maybe because they are too large and can’t change their ingredients readily, maybe because they don’t have the time. But the fact that we ask, we implore, and we listen to what these women desire to use is what sets us apart.
Our impact will be that women with kinky/coily/not-media-friendly hair realize that their hair is beautiful and manageable and worth it. They will know that someone has created a business specifically for them and mind and that will lead to them embracing their hair.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over… I would probably quit my job and devote 100% of my time to my business. I feel that if I had more time, I can devote all of my effort and resources into 4Z Hair rather than my current 9-5. It’s definitely a change I hope for in the future…
Contact Info:
- Website: 4zhair.com
- Phone: (920) 345-6134
- Email: clientsupport@4zhair.com
Image Credit:
Yovany Torres-Duran, Kaira Mellix
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