Creating ways for individuals to grow naturally and beautifully–that is the mission of Shelley, founder of Naturi Beauty Concepts. Shelley is a personal chef and has her own hair product line.
Below, she shares her passion for food, beauty and life.

1. What was your inspiration to create Naturi Beauty Concepts?

My primary inspiration began out of a need to use quality natural hair products that delivered results as well as nourished and nurtured my tresses. I decided to go natural when it was relatively new to the scene (’97), and there were not a plethora of products to choose from. Thus, Naturi Tress, our hair product line, was born. As the company evolved, we expanded our services to include culinary arts, because Naturi Beauty is a not only a Brand, it’s a Lifestyle.

2. The motto of Naturi Beauty Concepts is “Nourish. Nurture. Grow.” What do these concepts mean to you and how do you incorporate them in your life?

NOURISH is the idea of feeding not only your body, but your environment, your thoughts, your desires and your spirit, revolutionary vitamins that enhance your journey and provide you ultimate fulfillment.

NURTURE is the idea of taking care of not only your physical self but your emotional, mental and spiritual selves as well. At Naturi Beauty we provide tangible ways to NOURISH.NURTURE, such as teaching our clients the art of cooking, eating and enjoying food, and how to create body enhancing products from your own kitchen.

All of these concepts translate beyond our bodies and into our higher selves, resulting in GROWTH.

3. You have an interesting mix of talents, “culinary artisan” and “tress enhancer”, to name a few. What connection do you see between healthy food and natural beauty?

Naturi Beauty understands the energetic connection between what we take in and what we put on. Our beauty is a result of both. Many spend a lot of time beautifying themselves by buying products and prepping and priming themselves, but don’t necessarily take into account the effects their multiple morning coffees and mid-day candy bar snacks take on their bodies.

Cooking and eating has become a task in our fast paced society. I encourage my clients to relish in the opportunity to indulge in food that not only satiates, but beautifies and elevates our mood. I created this paradigm called Tantric Tastes that I teach to my clients, and I guarantee you, once you’ve tried it, your beauty will magnify exponentially!

4.Making a lifestyle change–whether it’s eating healthier foods or returning to natural hair–can be intimidating for some people. What advice do you give to those making the transition?

You are right, the experience can be intimidating for some. Even more so, for those of us who are indoctrinated into a set way of thinking about natural foods and living. My aim is to help those transitioning understand that a natural lifestyle doesn’t mean eating only broccoli and barley and banning deodorant! Natural living is seeing yourself as connected to the Big Picture, instead of separate.

If you’re ready for the transition, my advice is to Nourish. Nurture. Grow. Nourish yourself with positive thoughts that assist you in making decisions to help you along the way. Nurture yourself with patience. Trust me, in this process you will need a lot of it! Lastly, make sure that you monitor your growth every step of the way. It will be those small moments of noticing just how far you’ve come, that will encourage you to stay steadfast on the path.

5. Do you have any upcoming projects that you would like to share?

Squeal! I love to share. I am busily and happily preparing my first Culinary Book scheduled to release this Fall. Additionally, during the Spring I will be filming my culinary show pilot! In March, I will feature a Naturi Beauty workshop with the Boys and Girls Club geared towards adolescent girls. I am also partnering with another Atlanta based company to launch a lifestyle event catered to Mothers/Wives/Moms to Be which will premiere in April.

Check out Naturi Beauty’s blog here, for recipes, beauty tips, life stories and details about upcoming projects. You can also e-mail Shelley at schapman@naturibeauty.com.