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

I am Patricia Striggles from The Boogie Down Bronx,NY.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair is mostly 4b but some sections are 4a. 

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

I transitioned for one year then big chopped on May 16, 2013. I was at work and just had that feeling of "girl just cut it." So stopped at the local target, brought some Shea Moisture products, hair sheers and a box of blonde dye (big mistake I later learned).

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

The hardest part of going natural for me was styling. I am great at doing my own hair but the process took a lot longer now. Dealing with the two textures was hard. Also finding the right products was a trail and error experience. I was receiving subscription boxes and became overloaded with products that I really did not need. I Patricia was a product junkie.

All my life I was used to having long hair (mid back length) and there I was with hair that barely passed my ears. It took a toll on my self esteem for a while. I would do my make up everyday to compensate missing a major part of my beauty. I constantly found myself having to deal with negative comment from people who could not understand why I cut my hair and a lot of "advice" on how to grow my hair long. It was annoying. Finally I fell in love my my new found hair and embraced my fro. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Regimen? Ha. I am still trying to find the right one. Currently due to my busy schedule I try to do my hair once a week. I do a twist out and wear the twist in the beginning part of the week (sometimes I wear a head wrap to be fancy). At the end of the week I take out the twist and wear it out for as long as I can.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Every morning I take down my modified pineapple. It's just two pineapples. One in the front and one in the back. Then I fluff out my hair. I add no products because I do not want product build up.   

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night I just put my hair in the modified pineapple, tie my edges down with a satin scarf and but a bonnet over my curls. If I want to lay my edges I will add a little edge control before tieing the scarf. 

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

Oh heat... How I love the way my hair looks when I use you but hate the possibility of the damage. Whenever there is a special event heat is the 1st things a lot of girls reach for. We feel we need should straighten our hair for the joyus occasion. Only to miss our curly hair in a few days. I was guilty of this but now I am embracing my curls.  I try to not use heat. I use it about two or three a year at most. I am trying to cut back to zero or on time.

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

Nada (pronounced like Netta) Atabani, from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

2. What is your hair type?

3b with fine strands.

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

I officially went natural July 1st, 2014, after seeing a picture of the most beautiful girl with the most beautiful long curls on twitter. I had always thought that my frizzy curls had to be straightened to look nice (nice as in, shiny, and I would feel comfortable wearing them with a nice dress, etc.) but she had my curl type...so I thought, “why doesn’t mine look like that? what is she doing differently? HOW?” and I started researching on instagram and youtube.

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

The trial and error phase. Seeing products that seemed to work for everyone on youtube but wouldn’t work for me, the time put into research, and soooo much money spent on products that I would never buy again! I had to learn that all 3b curls are not equal.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Coconut oil prepoo overnight, shampoo with Shae Moisture’s Organic Yucca & Baobab Shampoo in the morning, deep condition with either DevaCurl Heaven in Hair (for moisture) or Africa’s Best Hair Mayonnaise (for protein) for half an hour, rinse with cool water.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

If my hair was down the day before, I take out my pineapple, loosely tie a plastic bag over my hair and take it off after my shower. The steam dampens my hair just enough for me to get them back to where they should be. If my hair was up and I want to wear it down the next day, I cowash with Aussie Moist conditioner and style my hair with whatever I feel will work best that day.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I put my hair in a pineapple and sleep on a satin pillowcase.

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

I straighten my hair about twice a year, but I prefer it curly now. I also diffuse if i want my hair to look its best.

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

Hello my name is Sasha De La Cruz and I am from New York City I am currently living in the Bronx. 

2. What is your hair type?

Deciding what is my hair type was the hardest part, my parents are both Hispanic background, my curls range from 3b to 3c. ​

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

I have never gotten a perm in my life. My mother never believed in it and didn't like the idea of manipulating my hair in that way. She loved my big curly hair and left it as it was.      

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

The most challenging thing about natural hair is keeping it moisturize.    

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I cowash twice a week. Deep conditioned once a week and shampoo once a month.  

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My only daily routine is to spray a little bit of water and spray leave in conditioner.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I don't own a night time routine.       

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

I do not use heat on my hair at all.         

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

My name is Jessica Harmon and I am and always will be from sunny Miami, Fl, yet I currently reside in Houston, TX

2. What is your hair type?

4C dry hair

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

I simply always wanted long healthy hair and with a perm I never achieved that. So at the beginning of 2012 I decided to begin transitioning.

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

Transitioning and taking care of the two hair types. After about 6 months of transitioning I big chopped and never regretted it. I rocked my twa?

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Well I wash every other week. I use 3 products: Shea Butter and coconut oil blend to, Cantu Coconut curling cream, and Eco styler gel to do my twist-outs or my braid-outs for the week. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

If I have twist or braids I spritz my hair with water, put a dab of my Shea-Coconut oil mix in my palms and gently rub into the ends of my hair. Then I untwist, finger fluff and go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I put a dab of my Shea-Coconut oil mix in my palms and gently rub into the ends of my hair. Put my hair into a pineapple puff and tie a silk scarf around my head. I keep it simple

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

​No, I did once last year and my hair shed horribly so since then I haven't. 

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

Dynasty. I'm from Springfield, MA

2. What is your hair type?

3c/3b 4a near edge line medium fine texture

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

My mother used to relax my hair when I was growing up. The last relaxer she gave me was when I was around 10 years old. Although, I started  my natural hair journey in 2013. I transitioned from heat damage for 1 year on June 1, 2013 and then I mini chopped my straight ends on June 1, 2014. 

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

Having two different textures was the most challenging. Products that I used worked well on the heat damage but would work differently on my natural texture. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I pre-poo, cleanse, deep condition and moisturize, seal and style my hair once a week. I massaged my scalp with oil at least 2-3 times a week. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Depending on how my hair is, I take my hair down from a pineapple, shake and go. I sometimes apply oil to frizzy curls to reshape them by coiling them around my finger. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night, I put my hair in a pineapple, cover it with a satin scarf and then I put on satin bonnet on the pineapple part. 

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

​Yes, I use heat but not often. I straighten my hair every 4-6 months. I use a blow dry to stretch my hair once a month if that. 

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

My name is Dorcas also known as Curious Curls and I’m of Nigerian descent, born and raised in London, England but currently living in Toronto.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is a mixture of all the type 4s. Everything from 4a – 4c. The sides of my hair are predominantly 4c, while my crown and back are a mix of 4a/4b.

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

My last relaxer was in May 2011 and I did a long term transition for 22 months. I big chopped in February 2013 & did a second big chop in November 2013 and sported a TWA. I went natural because I had been relaxed for so long I had no idea what my natural hair looked like. I was simply curious (thus the name Curious Curls).

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

The adjustment in my regimen. I had a pretty solid relaxed hair care regimen and had to re learn how to care for my natural hair. The last time I had been natural my mother was the person who cared for my hair. So it really was the first time in my life I was learning how to handle my own natural hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I’ve currently made some tweaks in my regimen as I am trying to achieve maximum growth but overall it is simple. I wash and deep condition (under a hooded dryer) weekly. I finger detangle in the shower and follow up with my leave-in, oil (Jamaican Black Castor Oil) and shea butter to twist. If I’m wearing a wash and go then I used a gel on top of my leave-in and oil instead of the shea butter to twist. I’ve also incorporated Jamaican Black Castor Oil and scalp massages on a weekly basis to stimulate growth.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I simply fluff and go. If my hair needs a bit of moisture I use  a moisturizing spray or hair milk and seal with oil and then put it up in a puff.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Not much, I don’t retwist, I simply sleep on a satin pillowcase.

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

When I wear a wash and go I often will diffuse my hair to speed up the process and I have done a blowout. But since my second big chop I’ve never straightened my hair.

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

My name is Staci Tyson and I am from Kansas City, MO

2. What is your hair type?

My hair falls between 4B and 4C

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

I big-chopped on 13 April 2011. My first born daughter inspired me to go natural. At that time she was almost 2yrs old. I decided if I wanted her to embrace her beautiful texture, then I must lead by example so I went in the bathroom and cut all my relaxed hair off!

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

Learning to manage my new texture and gaining the understanding that my natural texture was completely different than my relaxed hair. I was on YouTube faithfully looking for natural beauties that had similar textures as mines.I quickly became a product junkie, searching for products that worked best for my hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I really don’t have a solid weekly regimen other than making sure my hair is moisturize at all times. However, I do co-wash my hair bi-weekly and I deep condition monthly!

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I start off by moisturizing my hair with water and oil ( evoo, coconut oil or Carol’s daughter Lisa’s Hair Elixir), I then fluff, take down twist, and or pin up my hair. It really depends on the style I am rocking! 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I always moisturize my hair before bed. I use a hair lotion or one of my favorite oils and a spritz of water. I try not to ever go to bed with my hair completely out, that's just asking for a detangling fight. I twist my hair into about ten twist or I will bun it up, ensuring my ends are covered then I finish off with a satin bonnet.

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

Yes, I straighten my hair once a year to check my length and the condition of my ends. If needed I take this opportunity to trim my ends.

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

My name is Juliet Marz and I am from Connecticut, but I reside in New Jersey.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 3c. ​

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

I went back to being natural in 2012. My hair was boring, limp and wouldn't grow like it should. Growing up, I had hair to my waist that got extremely curly when wet, but My Mom would brush it out all the time. I started to remember how curly my hair could be and I've always loved BIG curly hair, so I decided to do a mini chop because I hadn't used heat or gotten a relaxer in over a year. All I was wearing were buns. 

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

The most challenging thing was my hair being so frizzy for the first few months,the shrinkage(my hair shrinks up to about 75% of its actual length), and I didn't enjoy how short it was. After I did the mini chop, my hair came down to my shoulders, but I'm not a fan of having short hair so it bothered me a little then I got used to it. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I co-wash my hair every 4-6 days. I wash my hair once a month or sooner when I feel the need to clarify. Whether I wash or co-wash, I always deep condition. Always after cleansing my hair, I massage some JBCO into my scalp, then continue with the LOC Method which I loveeeee! 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I just take my hair down from a pineapple and go. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Honestly, I just put my hair in a pineapple and sleep on my satin pillowcase. 

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

Never ever ever ever ever do I use heat. I haven't used heat since before going back to natural. I don't see myself using it in the future. In my opinion, it's not worth the damage. ​

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

Hey everyone! My name is Stephanie and I currently live in Chicago, lL, and I would call myself a true naturalista at heart!
​
2. What is your hair type?

I have a variety of hair textures throughout my hair. I have mostly coarse to thick hair with a few fine textures as well. I am a mixture of 3c, 4a, and 4b hair types.

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

Ever since I was younger, my hair has always been faithfully relaxed. However, I have always been amazed by the versatility of natural hair. My natural hair journey began in 2013 while I was away at college. Due to the long distance from home, I wasn't able to get my hair relaxed, or even get it done as frequently as I would have preferred. With the combination of my love for natural hairstyles  and the fact I was away from home, I decided to transition back to my natural roots.

​Click here to see a video of the natural hair journey.

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

The most challenging part of my hair journey was when I did the "mini chop"; my friends' and families' reactions were all over the place. Some were excited for me, while others were asking me why on earth did I cut my hair! My mom for example was all for the new hair cut, but since I decided to flat iron my hair as soon as I had cut my hair, she was under the impression that I would keep it short, and go back to getting it relaxed. Once I told her that I will be keeping it natural, she was a bit hesitant and tried to convince me to take care of my hair and keep up with getting relaxers. Although I was receiving negative feedback about my decision to go natural, this was something I needed to do for myself and no one's opinion was going to change my mind. Now that I have been on my natural hair journey for over a year now. Both my friends and family or completely supportive of my hair journey.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen consist of washing my hair once a week, and styling it that same day. I moisturize my hair using the L.O.C  method and style my hair either into a puff , plaits or two strand twist. 

Click here to see an explanation of what the L.O.C. method and a demo. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My morning regimen is very simple. I simply take off my satin bonnet or just proceed to pick out my hair to get the desired shape I am going for, and I am good to go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

My night routine varies:

• wrapping a scarf around my edges to keep them flat when my hair is in a puff
• restyling my hair in the designated style ( twistout or braidout) 
• putting a satin bonnet on my hair
• sleeping on a satin pillow cases

​I always sleep with a satin bonnet, or satin pillow case. I choose the pillow case over the satin bonnet on days where I want to preserve  my hairstyle as much as possible , and not squish the style, which sometimes happens when I sleep with the bonnet.

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

Yes I do, but not often.
I apply a flat iron to my hair 1-2 times a year
I use a blow dryer ( low-medium heat) 2-4 times a year

Click here to see various techniques I use to straighten my natural hair.

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

My name is Kharissa and I’m originally from Miami, Florida, USA.

2. What is your hair type?

I wish I could say my hair was one texture but it's a combination. I would say it's a mixture of 3B/3C.

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

I've been natural all of my life. Once when I was younger my mom put a relaxer in my hair because my curls were a bit crazy, but that was the first and last time. I was about 7, and it left me traumatized.

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

I can't speak for going natural, but the hardest thing about being natural is having the patience to properly care for my hair and style it. My hair takes a really long time to dry, so styling is usually a 2-day process for me at least.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I don't really have a weekly regimen. I let my hair tell me what it needs most of the time. If I do plan on styling my hair that happens on weekends, and from there I won't do anything until wash day. If my hair isn't styled I try to moisturize at least every 3 days using the LCO method.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My morning routine is simple. Take of my satin scarf, shake my hair out, and go!

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

My nighttime routine consists of moisturizing (if necessary), putting my hair into a pineapple, and wrapping a satin scarf around my head.

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

I used to only wear my hair straight (talk about heat damage)! Now, I only use direct heat (flat ironing) every 6 months to do a length check. I do use indirect heat (a bonnet dryer) to help dry my hair when styling. ​