The Powerful Reason This Model Decided to Return to Her Natural Hair

By Allie Merriam
MC2
MC2

Things have been going pretty well for model Ebonee Davis when it comes to work. After a stint on America's Next Top Model, Ebonee landed a coveted space in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue — and now she's booking new jobs left and right with brands including Teen Vogue and VS Pink.

The high-profile assigments came Ebonee's way as she made a personal decision to stop processing her locks and return to her natural hair. Ebonee and many other models are leading the movement to bring much-needed diversity to beauty and fashion industries in 2016.

Ebonee describes her decision, in her own words:

"I got a Keratin treatment last year. My last one was April, 2015. I only got two, about 6 weeks apart. It was fine the first time and for the grow out — but then my hair started getting thin and damaged.

I was working out more, so I was sweating. And when I would sweat my hair would be dead — puffy, wavy, and I'd have to go over it with heat again.

I knew if I wanted to work out, I'd have to put more heat on my hair. For me, working out is more important than trying to maintain a hairstyle that my hair doesn't naturally fall into.

So I decided with that in mind and the condition of my hair deteriorating that it was the right choice for me. And it happened to be at a time when curly hair and natural hair were becoming more accepted in the industry, or in beauty nationwide.

It was a combination of things that happened at the right time that came together and helped me make that decision . . .

I've had a really great response — like, I've booked more stuff with my hair curly and natural. Well, maybe I won't say 'more' but clients have opened the door to work with curly and natural hair, and some of my previous clients have allowed me to make the transition as well without complaint — and with encouragement, actually. . .

It was a really great decision for me. And it took me a while to bolster the support of some people working my agency because they had known me for three years while I'd been wearing my hair in a particular style — straight with extensions or straight with clip ins — so they were used to seeing and marketing me a certain way.

So making the decision and gaining their support, I had to be very sure and consistent and push forward . . .

I really just love being in front of the camera and taking on whatever type of character I feel like taking on in that moment. For me, modeling is like my form of meditation. When I'm in front of the camera, I don't really think about anything. I just feel what I'm doing and try to embody whatever emotion I'm trying to portray. It feels really great to me. I just love it.