Beauty Exclusive: Leela James
Beauty Exclusive: BET Beauty Lounge with Leela James
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Leela's Hair Story - Premier soulstress, Leela James, not only captivates audiences with her raspy, timeless vocals, but fans also can’t get enough of her signature ’fro. As big and brazen as it may be, even James confesses that she doesn’t understand the fascination with her larger-than-life coif. Check out her personal hair story and the woman behind it.<br><br>(Photo Credit: Devin Dehaven)
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Easy Does It - I’m actually really lazy when it comes to my hair. I don’t like fussing over it. I’m real big on ‘easy’ and ‘natural.’ I keep it braided up when I’m not really working. Sometimes I get it stretched out. Most of the time, it’s in braids. I don’t really use any particular products on it. Mama takes care of my hair – let me put it like that.
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In the Beginning - I’ve never cut my hair, so I’ve been wearing it like this since I was a little girl. I just get it pressed occasionally. I’ve never had a relaxer or anything like that. On my hair, I use a little bit of everything. Whatever is around at the house at the time. Me and my sister use mayonnaise, eggs and beer as conditioner sometimes.
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Hands Off - Yes. [People asking to touch her hair] is so annoying, to be honest. I think it’s kind of rude to walk up to someone that you don’t know like that. It’s like putting your hand in my shirt!
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Curly Cues - Sometimes I feel like a happy, nappy ’fro. Sometimes I feel like a little curly ’fro. Other times I feel like braids and just being chilled out. It just depends on whatever my mood is. People should be comfortable doing their own thing and not what society tells them they should do.
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Shop Talk - If you want to cut your hair off and be bald-headed, you rock that and be fly with it. Do you. I just like to do me and be comfortable. Really, the reason why my hair is so wild and untamed is because I’m lazy. I hate going to the beauty shop. I don’t like to get my hair done. I hate sitting in that chair all day. I hate the whole concept.
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Face Forward - I drink a lot of water, and vitamin E really helps me with my skin. I really prefer a lot of natural products. I use pure shea butter and shea butter soap. I combine that with Vitamin E oil.
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Mama's Essentials - I’m old school, so along with the shea butter, I like baby oil; and like my mama says, there’s nothing better for your heels than Vaseline.
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Soulful Scents - I’m a perfume and scent girl all the way! I’m big on oils because they tend to have a pure, lasting scent. I love fruity scents, so I mix apricot, mango and peach oils together. I go to the street markets to get them. I put it on and I smell edible. People probably want to eat me up!
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Leela's Threads - I like to shop everywhere from the thrift stores to Bloomingdale’s. I’m definitely not one of those broads that are like, ‘Oh, I can only shop here on Rodeo Drive.’
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Just Leela - I get asked a lot of questions about my hair and I don’t know…I guess it’s fascinating. I never really thought about it, because for me, I just consider it to be a part of myself. It’s just me doing me.