Maneandchic.com was one of the first blogs that introduced me to this online, natural hair community. From her humble beginnings in 2007 as a natural hair novice with nothing but a blog and a dream, I have watched Mane & Chic founder, Kai, attain 3 years of amazing growth with both her hair and the blog. With her formally relaxed, shoulder-length hair now natural and grazing waist-length, and her once unknown blog now reaching thousands of readers per month, Kai is a very real example of what can happen when you make a goal and stick with it.Although Mane & Chic is a behemoth in the natural hair space, one thing that separates the site from all of the others is Kai's very mysterious nature. For the 3 years that the blog has been in cyberspace, Kai has never published so much as a full-view picture of her face, let alone divulged many details about her personal life.

Today, Think & Grow Chick readers and Mane & Chic fans alike get a better glimpse at one of the natural hair communities most popular yet elusive bloggers. Everyone, prepare to meet Kai, founder and publisher of maneandchic.com.

*The Hair*

Courtney: Can you describe your "hair-story" and talk a little bit about what your hair was like before Mane & Chic?

Kai: My hair was always long, full and healthy. I got my first relaxer in junior high. After that, my scissor happy stylist kept my hair at shoulder length. I thought I had to get my hair cut every 6-8 weeks, so that's what I did. After the newness of having short hair wore off, I began wanting to grow my hair out. I tried this through high school and college, but I would always get bored after my hair reached a certain length so I would eventually cut it to a long bob. I tried a weave. It was far too tight and I ended up cutting it out of my hair the same night that I got it. I met a girl who had hip length hair. She said going to Dominican salons is what helped her retain so much length. I began to go to Dominican salons and they did an amazing job with my hair, but then I decided I wanted to go natural and I started doing my own hair.

Courtney: What were the things happening in your life and going on around you that prompted you to make a change with your hair?

Kai: Nothing in my life prompted me to want to change my hair. I just always wanted to do it and I decided to stop putting it off.

Courtney: What were your original goals when you started out on your hair journey? Did you expect to see the results you have now?

Kai: I just wanted to grow my hair longer and faster. Yes, I expected to see the results that I've seen because I was disciplined and focused.

Courtney: How did family and friends handle your hair journey when you first got started?

Kai: It wasn't a big deal to anyone in my life. I picked up a couple of converts. I inspired a few people that are close to me to go natural.

Courtney: How do your friends and family feel about your hair where it is now?

Kai: Honestly, no one really cares. My hair is almost never a topic of conversation. They compliment it or the jealous ones say it's frizzy or too big. That's about as far as it goes.

Courtney: What is your definition of natural hair?

Kai: I don't know how I feel about the term 'natural hair' anymore. I think using words like "curly", "coily" or "highly textured" are better words. More and more I am beginning to identify more with the later.

Courtney: How did you feel about some of the criticism you got when you first did the BKT a while back?

Kai: I was just sharing an experiment/experience with my readers and I got a lot of positive feedback for doing that, the other stuff I don't care about.

Courtney: Are you interested in doing any chemical alterations (texture or color) in the future?

Kai: Texture, no. Color, maybe but not anytime soon.

Courtney: Can you describe your current regimen?

Kai: I wash and deep condition once or twice a week. I do braid-outs and roller set the ends on flexi rods. I re-set every night. I straighten my hair 4 times per year. That's pretty much it.

Courtney: What are some of the most notable things you learned on your hair journey?

Kai: Low manipulation, deep conditioning and re-conditioning and the search and destroy method.

Courtney: Who are your personal hair inspirations?

Kai: Tracee Ellis Ross' voluminosity, Sabina Karlsson's length, Sarah Jessica Parker's inventive easy curly styles and Amel Larrieux's effortlessness.

Courtney: How has your hair journey affected other aspects of your life?

Kai: It really hasn't other than Mane and Chic becoming a source of income.

Courtney: If you had to start all over again, would you do anything differently?

Kai: No.

Courtney: What is the main message that you wish you could impart on other women interested in going natural and/or growing their hair long?

Kai: Just make up your mind to do it and stick to it.

*The Blog*

Courtney: When did you start your blog and what inspired you to start it?

Kai: I started Mane and Chic in April 2007. I started it just to document my hair journey and interest in fashion styling.

Courtney: Are you a full-time blogger?

Kai: I am.

Courtney: What were some of the goals you had for your blog in the beginning?

Kai: I wanted it to grow into a viable business.

Courtney: What do you like best about blogging?

Kai: Blogging is a creative outlet for me and I love the creative freedom I have. It's also amazing to know that I'm actually helping people. Positive comments and e-mails from Mane and Chic readers are the best!

Courtney: How has it been managing the blog and your privacy at the same time?

Kai: It's been fine for me. I don't really delve into anything too personal. It's not about me, it's about hair and fashion.

Courtney: How has the blog affected your personal life (if at all)?

Kai: I don't think it has.

Courtney: You at one time had a blog dedicated to home design/organization. Do you plan on venturing out into other topics with your blog any time soon?

Kai: Perhaps.

Courtney: How do you feel about the Natural Hair blogging space since Mane & Chic's inception?

Kai: I didn't know of any blogs about transitioning when I was going through it. I think it's cool that readers have more sources for information and inspiration.

Courtney: What specifically do you feel were the main reasons behind your blog's success?

Kai: I would hope it would be because of all the time and work I put into it. Maybe people get that and that's why they read the blog.

Courtney: What advice can you give to others who are blogging about natural hair, or just want to write a successful blog in general?

Kai: Passion is key. Just love what you do. Everything else will easily fall into place.

Courtney: What has been your experience in making Mane & Chic profitable?

Kai: It's not profitable. Time is money. I put in a lot of time and hardly come close to breaking even.

Courtney: What would you ultimately like to see the blog become?

Kai: I have ideas, you'll just have to stay tuned.

Courtney: What are some other bloggers that you follow and who inspire you personally?

Kai: I love Chictopia and LookBook for fashion inspiration. I browse a lot of fashion blogs, there are a lot of great ones out there.

*Personal/Professional Life*

Courtney: Can you talk a little bit about your background?

Kai: I majored in Communications, dumbest major ever! I also minored in Business. I dabbled with law school, later decided it wasn't for me and went to a portfolio school to work on editorial design and photography. The goal was always to be an editor of a women's lifestyle publication. I interned at magazines and top tier modeling agencies to get my feet wet.

Courtney: What was your profession before Mane & Chic? Do you still maintain the same profession now?

Kai: I was in school when I started Mane and Chic. I was also working for a major international modeling agency. I do Mane and Chic and I freelance for magazines, so it is very similar.

Courtney: Can you talk about your work as a freelance market editor?

Kai: I research the fashion and beauty markets and choose products to write about and feature in publications.

Courtney: You spoke in a few post about your entrepreneurial desires. Are you involved in any entrepreneurial projects now?

Kai: Mane and Chic is my sole focus, but under that umbrella, I have tons of ideas and a couple of digital prototypes for hair-related inventions.

Courtney: How would you describe your personal style?

Kai: I am Urban Casual Chic. I like classically feminine silhouettes with funky and/or trendy shoes. I live for pencil dresses, black/brown/cream/nude maxi dresses, boyfriend jeans, v-neck tees, comfy pants and statement rings and necklaces.

Courtney: How does your natural hair and fashion sense play in to your career or professional work?

Kai: It doesn't. I do whatever I want: wear my hair like I want, dress like I want.

Courtney: What are some of your interest/activities outside of hair and fashion?

Kai: I'm open-minded so I'm into a lot of different things. You name it and I've probably been into it: turntabalism, furniture design/interior design, professional organizing, painting, poetry, rebounding (jumping on trampoline), being on the board of a non-profit organization, political campaigning, reading, watching indie films, photography, I could really go on and on here.

Courtney: Are your friends or family aware that you are "Mane & Chic"?

Kai: Sure, everyone that knows me knows about Mane and Chic.

Courtney: Would you consider your life "your dream life"?

Kai: I wouldn't say all of that. I am thankful for what I have achieved and I'm happy to live in the moment. Where I am now may have been my dream life at some point, but now that I'm here... I'm dreaming about what's next.

Courtney: What advice do you have for young women who want to accomplish their goals or do something entrepreneurial?

Kai: Persistence is key. You also have to have a clear vision and put in work everyday to make things happen.

Courtney: What would readers be surprised to know about you?

Kai: I'm sure a lot of stuff I've written here would surprise people.

***

Many thanks to Kai for taking time out of her schedule to answer these questions for Thinkandgrowchick.com. As someone who has personally followed Mane and Chic for a few years, I was quite intrigued by some of her responses. What do you think? If you had a chance to ask Kai a question, what would you have wanted to know? Leave your comments below.