Vixens: Get Elevated with Ashli

“By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.” –Edwin Elliot

Namase Loves! Todays Vixen feature is a special one because it is one of my fellow Rattlers and an exceptionally talented woman who is using her brand to help enlighten and uplift the world around us. Check out the feature and enjoy!

- What’s your name or company name and where are you from?

My name is Ashli Hennington, the creator and owner of i-Elevate. I am originally from Queens, New York but I currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia.

- How has being natural affected your life? How do you feel about this natural hair “movement”?

Being natural has helped me to fall in love with myself all over again! It has also played a major part in my entirely new perspective on life. People say so often that “nobody is perfect.” I disagree. Who is to say what perfect is and what it isn’t? Webster? “Perfect” is perception. I believe we are perfectly who we’re meant to be, how we’re meant to be, exactly when we’re meant to be. That’s something we should all accept about ourselves and others. Life produces constant change. If there is something you dislike about yourself, change it! And I say that in the most humble way possible. Change only if you believe that is what will be best for you. The more in tune you become with yourself spiritually, your natural state will be enhanced. You will be elevated.

This natural hair movement in genius! It’s a brilliant way to say to women all over, “Hey beautiful, Be YOU!”

- Do you have staple hair products? If so what are they?

I’m always trying new products on my hair! Recently I’ve been using “As I am” Coconut cowash and leave in conditioner. Depending on my mood, I’ll switch over to devacurl.

- Hard as it may seem how would you describe your hair and the regime you use to maintain it?

My hair is typically easy to maintain. Most days when I wear it curly, I just I wet it, throw some leave in conditioner in and I’m out of the door. I’m still experimenting with some new styles and ways to “work it”!

- I absolutely adore I-Elevate and the philosophy behind it! Can you talk some more about it?

Thank you! I’m often asked how I came up with the name and slogan for my business. My answer always begins with “I just followed my heart, dedicated it to my purpose, and that’s the name that fit best.” Naturally, the next question is “What is your purpose?” Elevate, by definition, means to move to a higher place. In the metaphysical, to me, this means an elevation from where you once were intellectually and spiritually. I believe my purpose here is to encourage spiritual connections, but also teach unconditional love and understanding. “For the things we have to learn before we can do, we learn by doing.” – Aristotle. This is what will ultimately lead to a balanced state of peace. The more we seek to understand, the more clear things will become. Our hearts and minds will be open to new ideas and we will learn that everything is perspective.

- Where can Vixens purchase I-Elevate from?

i-Elevate earrings can be purchased at i-Elevate under the “elevate” tab. However, I encourage everyone who visits and shops on the site to check out “the seed” page to be enlightened on the inspiration behind the jewelry.

- From our point of view it looks like “Big Tings A Gwan” are in the works for you…. Care to talk about any new products?

All of my products are fairly new. However, I will be constantly adding new languages and styles to my collection. I-Elevate encourages unity in diversity so we’d like market to every culture. Right now, each earring represents a saying or word in the West African language, Adinkra. I’m not sure which language I’ll do next, we’ll just have to see where my heart, mind, and hands guide me!

- There is such an abundance of endless hair tips for Naturals, what is one tip or piece of advice you would give to natural who is having a hard time with “dealing” with her hair?

I’m actually looking for tips to keep my hair healthy and growing myself! Overall, I would just suggest trying multiple products! Why not? See what works best for your texture of hair. I’ll never say find what works for you and stick to it. Explore! Try different scents, different minerals, and different oils. Switch it up!

-Special words of encouragement.

I believe it is imperative that we seek balance in our lives. We must find the positives in every negative situation. My grandmother, who played an extremely important role in my life, has taught me that the world is very simple. It is our emotions that complicate things. If we can begin to start applying more logic into situations that our emotions usually control, everything will be okay.

To “remain one with the universe and balanced”, as I like to say, I often practice yoga and meditate. I highly recommend meditation to anyone who needs to clear their mind and purify their soul. The first few attempts won’t be so easy. Naturally, we have thousands of thoughts floating around in our heads, but like anything worth the wild, a successful meditation takes time and patience.

Lastly, I’d just love to tell you to laugh, love, be silly, and enjoy life the way you want to! You have your desires for a reason!

Namaste.