1. What's your name and where are you from?

I'm Jennifer a.k.a Akushika GoneNatural, originally from Ghana, West Africa but currently live in New York (US).

2. What is your hair type?

Proud 4C ;)

3. When did you go natural and what made you do it?

December 1st, 2011. I was curious to come to terms with the real me, au naturelle, kinks, coils and all. I was also tired of the constant breakage I experienced with my relaxed strands.

4. What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Learning to embrace my TWA (teeny-weeny-afro), especially after my Big Chop...it was a drastic change to what I was used to.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

My schedule is pretty busy, so I wash/shampoo my hair every week and a half to two weeks with either my Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo or Black Soap Purification Masque. I sometimes do a pre-poo with Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner and oils. After shampooing, I do Deep condition with a DIY Avocado, olive oil, mayonnaise mask, or use my Jane Carter deep conditioner. For a leave in conditioner, I use the KimmayTube leave-in or  Aloe vera gel mixed with oils. For moisturizer and sealant, I use my Shea-Aloe butter mix or my Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque. I keep my hair in two strand twists most of the time, and wear my FingerComber unit as a protective style especially during the old winter weather.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

I moisturize and seal my two strand twists with the Shea Moisture Curl and Style milk and avocado or emu oil.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

I spritz my hair with my Shea Moisture Curl and Style hair mist, and seal in the moisture with it's Curl and Style Milk and an oil.

8. Do you use heat on your hair at all?

I try to stay away from heat styling most of the time. I do use a Huetiful hair steamer and Laila Ali Bonnet Hair Dryer to infuse heat to enhance penetration during my deep conditioning and hot oil treatments.

9. Do you braid your hair? If so, how often do you do so in a year?

I do braid my hair in senegalese twists, kinky twists, puffy/fluffy twists from time to time. I still haven't perfected the technique for flat twists, but when I do, that will be a handy protective styling option.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

Both, depending on what exactly I'm trying to achieve during my regimen. I first use my fingers to detangle before using any combs or brushes though.

11. Is your hair normally loose or in a protective-do?

I love to keep my hair in protective do's especially two strand twists because it prevents excess manipulation and breakage.

12. Have you ever had a hair tragedy? What was it? How did you recover from it?

How did you recover from it? : Yes, once when I got my hair blown out and braided for a weave for a friends wedding. It was a horrible experience, they were not gentle at all with my natural strands, and I did loose a little hair off my edges because of the tension from the tight cornrows. I vowed never to go get my hair done in the salon, unless it's a natural hair salon.

13. What's your biggest tip for maintaining healthy or long hair?

Moisturize everyday, or every other day, and protective style, whether it's roll, tuck and pins, braids, buns, etc...it helps retain length.

14. Where can we find you online? (blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc)
My Youtube channel is AkushikaGoneNatural: 

• youtube.com/jnavarrete87                            
  

I can also be found on: 

• twitter.com/AkushikaGoneNat 
  
• facebook.com/AkushikaGoneNatural                                    
  
• instagram.com/akushikagonenatural                            

One of your most viewed YouTube is STYLING Senegalese Twists / Braids (15 OPTIONS) :
Scroll down to watch it.

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1. What's your name and where are you from?

I'm Dominique, from NC residing in Maryland.

2. What is your hair type?

3c/4a although I do not classify my hair in type. My curl pattern fits one category but texture fits another 3a

3. When did you go natural and what made you do it?

I received my first perm at age 13/14 because my older cousin was getting one. I went natural at age 16 until about 18/19 in college then returned at 24. When receiving perms my hair looked the same natural so I went natural.

4. What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

Finding the best products and creating a consistent hair regimen.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

Wash/condition on Saturday or Sunday with a style. Lightly oil throughout the week.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

Normally take bonnet off, use a light deep condition and gloss.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

Night time consist of pin curls, foam satin rollers or bantu knots.

8. Do you use heat on your hair at all?

I used to blow dry and flat iron every 3 weeks. I have cut out flat ironing; now I only blow dry.

9. Do you braid your hair? If so, how often do you do so in a year?

Last year I wore weaves And protective styles such as marley twist or big braids. They are my in between styles I wear only for a month.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

Wide tooth comb and a soft brush for edges.

11. Is your hair normally loose or in a protective-do?

Mostly protective styles but in 2014 I want to wear my hair loose much more.

12. Have you ever had a hair tragedy? What was it? How did you recover from it?

I had a hair tragedy once in college, 2005. I bleached blonde my hair. Eeekkkkk

13. What's your biggest tip for maintaining healthy or long hair?

Hmm consistency is key, you have to create a hair regimen that works for you and maintain it over.

14. Where can we find you online? (blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc)

Not at the moment.

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1. What's your name and where are you from?

My name is Sola, also known online as DiscoveringNatural. I am from Houston, Texas, but originally from Nigeria.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair is kinky, curly, and coily. Ranging from type 4a, 4b to 4c.

3. When did you go natural and what made you do it?

After transitioning for a year, I decided to cut my relaxed ends. I went back to being natural after having a relaxer since I was 13 years old. I have 2 girls, ages 9 and 5 years old, and taking care of their hair, I grew to love their natural texture. My oldest had a texturizer in her hair and I transitioned her. I wanted them to be proud of their hair, and how could I teach them when I was relaxed. So, I decided to go natural.

4. What was the most challenging thing about going natural?

The most challenging aspect of going natural is understanding my hair. Sometimes, my hair is really finicky. Knowing that I have to treat it well and even when I do, it might be unruly. LOL!

5. What is your weekly regimen?

Weekly, I cowash my hair and also follow-up with a deep conditioning session. At the end of the month, I always do a Bentonite Clay treatment to clarify my hair. I love doing Bentonite Clay treatments.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

Every morning and evening after washing my face, I always moisturize my edges because I have very fragile edges. At least every other day, I moisturize my entire hair using the LOCS method. I have a video on my channel showing how I do this. I spritz a mixture of water and aloe vera juice and then apply some oil, then a moisturizing cream and end with putting my DIY shea aloe butter on my ends.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

At night, I moisturize my edges. If my hair is in a twist out, I either pineapple it or I do a multiple roll and tuck. (Video also on my channel). I always cover my hair with a silk scarf or satin bonnet. I also sleep on a satin pillowcase.

8. Do you use heat on your hair at all?

I do not directly apply heat to my hair. Occasionally, I use a hooded dryer for my curlformers set or for a more intense deep conditioning or hot oil treatment.

9. Do you braid your hair? If so, how often do you do so in a year?

I do not braid my hair with extensions.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

I usually finger comb my hair.

11. Is your hair normally loose or in a protective-do?

My hair is protected in twists or flat twists or cornrows or updos during the week. During the weekend, I wear my hair out.

12. Have you ever had a hair tragedy? What was it? How did you recover from it?

Luckily for me, I have not had a hair tragedy. **fingers crossed*

13. What's your biggest tip for maintaining healthy or long hair?

Having a regimen has helped me in maintaining healthy hair. I strive mostly for healthy hair, knowing that when my hair is healthy, the length will show.

14. Where can we find you online? (blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc)

You can find me on my blog: DiscoveringNatural.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoveringNatural
Youtube: youtube.com/DiscoveringNatural
Twitter: @sawahtwit

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1. What's your name and where are you from? 

I'm Jessica Reed from Cleveland Ohio!

2. What is your hair type?

I would say between a 3c-4a.

3. When did you go natural and what made you do it? 

I big chopped in 2012. I would say my daughter inspired me because she has such gorgeous natural hair (she is biracial, I am not) and I have always wondered if my hair could ever be long.
 
4. What was the most challenging thing about going natural? 

At first it was getting used to the short hair, then it was dealing with criticism from everyone around me whether it was positive or negative. I just learned to look in the mirror and love what God gave me because with out that I would have probably gone back to relaxing my hair and damaging it even further.
 
5. What is your weekly regimen?

Unless my hair is straightened I usually cowash once a week with any conditioner right now I use the Moist conditioner by Aussie. It comes in a really big bottle and did not cost much so that's why I picked it - saves me money!  After washing I either do a wash 'n go or flat twist for a flat twist out depending on what I want to do with it during the week. I always use the L.O.C method when moisturizing after washing and my favorite oil for sealing is coconut oil. 

6.What is your daily morning regimen?

Just like before depending on how I am wearing my hair, it all depends on weather. I need to unwrap my hair or untwist or just spritz with water if I'm rocking my wash in go. But no matter how it's worn I always try to add some kind of oil to it to keep it supple.
 
7. What is your daily night time regimen?

Usually I just twist and put on my satin bonnet or scarf depending on if my hair is straight at the time. I also sleep on a satin pillow case. I got some at Walmart just in case my bonnet or something falls off. 

8. Do you use heat on your hair at all?

Yes I am not afraid of heat I have never experienced heat damage as far as I can see.  I always use some type of heat protector on my hair what ever I may have on hand at the time. 

9. Do you braid your hair? If so, how often do you do so in a year?

I like to do two-strand twists every once in awhile. I think once my hair gets a little bit longer I will wear them more often. Especially in the winter months because the weather is crazy around that time! 

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

I prefer the wide tooth comb but I use both. I just feel it takes me longer with the denman to detangle. 

11. Is your hair normally loose or in a protective-do?

Most often loose in a twist-out or wash 'n go. 

12. Have you ever had a hair tragedy? What was it? How did you recover from it?

Lol not that I could think of. Everything since being natural has been very pleasant and my hair thanks me for it all the time. 

13. What's your biggest tip for maintaining healthy or long hair?

My biggest advice would be stay on top of your moisturizing. It is so important for our hair to stay moisturized because it breaks so easily if not. 

14. Where can we find you online? (blog,Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc)

• youtube.com/Jessica44120

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Want to be featured as a Queen of Kinks, Curls & Coil?
Here's how to apply.