Introduce yourself!
S: My name is Scheena Donia. I’m an Image Consultant and Personal Shopper from Paris, France.
What is your style philosophy?
S: Dress for a purpose, but keep in mind who you truly are.
How would you describe your sense of style?
S: Style is something very personal that can say a lot about a person and his/her personality. As a mixed woman, I grew up in Africa and always wore lots of colors and patterns. During my college years in France and USA, I wanted to fit in and dressed as I thought I should in order to be accepted. Today, I’m not afraid of mixing genres and I would try anything as long as it compliments me.
What is the process of deciding what to wear in the morning?
S: I try to decide a day ahead in order to avoid any kind of stress in the morning. It could ruin my mood for the day. According to what I have to do and who I’m going to meet, I’ll pick clothes and match them with the right accessories.
What are the three favorite things in your closet?
S: My perfect black jacket from Barbara Bui, my Rolex, and my shoe collection (that I count as one thing).
What are some of your favorite shops/websites for clothes, shoes and accessories?
S: I’ve recently started shopping online and particularly love spending hours (without necessarily buying anything) on:
• www.colette.fr
• www.netaporter.com
• www.colorofblack.com
• www.asos.com
When it comes to shopping, I love mixing designer brands with more affordable ones like Zara, H&M, Topshop or Forever 21. Doesn’t matter how much it cost, but how good I look in it. I also have a crush on African designers like Imane Ayissi, Elie Kuame, Adama Paris, Alphadi, Tina Lobondi, Angèle Epouta, and Smaïl Akdim… I wish people knew them more.
How long have you been natural?
S: Since mid September 2013, which isn’t that long.
How and why did you transition into natural hair?
S: I’ve been relaxing my hair since I was nine and had no memories of what my natural hair looked like. For whatever reason, I skipped my 4 month relaxing appointment with my hair dresser, and after shampooing one day I saw a few centimeters of my natural hair very clearly for the first time in years. I happened to like it and decided just like that, to let it grow a little more. But after 8 months, it was a mess with all that volume on the bottom and that thin hair on top. I woke up one day and called my hair stylist to make an appointment and cut my hair. I asked him to cut it in case I changed my mind by the time I got there because I have to be honest, I was scared. It has only been a month and a half since I cut my hair, but I love the new me. I am finally accepting the hair my parents gave me and I’m learning how to live with it. To be honest, there are moments I ask myself “What have you done?” because I was not taught how to take care of my natural hair, but I’m learning via YouTube and numerous blogs, thanks to the internet.
What is your signature hairstyle?
S: My Emeli Sandè / Mary J Blige hairstyle.
Describe your styling regimen over the course of the month.
S: My hair is so short that I have very little things to do: I wash it every 4 to 5 days with a Shampoo and Conditioner + Mask from Activilong. On a daily basis I try to create curls using gel on my wet hair. Every Sunday I go for a homemade hot oil treatment. If I need to professionally style my hair, my stylist will blow it out and slightly use a flat iron. For the bad hair days, I’ve invested in numerous hats and scarfs.
Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
S: www.lesconseilsdescheena.blogspot.fr
