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

My name is Marita D. Hills and I am originally from Steubenville, Ohio but currently live in Cleveland, Ohio.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 4b/4c mixed.

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

I started transitioning in May 2011 and I finally did the big chop and was fully natural on November 30th 2011. I actually didn't plan on going natural at all, I was just at a point in my life where

I couldn't afford to get a perm and had other priorities that I needed to focus on. However,once a few months went by I was eager to get one because I never went longer than 2 months without a perm touch up since i was like 8 yrs old! I planned on getting a perm by that upcoming July 2011 but after watching videos online about natural hair (being curious), I was interested in knowing what my full texture would look like and what I would look like in the natural styles so I decided to hold off and not get a perm for that summer and just braid it up and wear a wig in the mean time. 

After months of research and me having a hard time with the two different textures while transitioning; I decided that before Christmas and the New Year I was going to start afresh, new and natural by doing the big chop and I wouldn't change it for the world! I fell in love with my hair right away and my staple style was Bantu knots or twist outs!

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

I think for me it was the transition from the products and tools I was using on my permed hair to the products and tools I needed to use on my natural hair. It was so hard for me to figure out what tools and products to use on my hair for styles and for the care of my hair rather for when it needed to be washed, conditioned, detangled or just even for some hold without using products that would cause major build-up, dry it out or tools that would break it off.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Currently I wash my hair every other week and on an as-needed basis, for example, if during the week I wore styles that used heavy products such as shea butter, gels, creams etc. back to back to perfect the style daily; then I know that I must wash my hair that upcoming weekend. Now if I didn't really use too much on my hair that week and I feel that my hair has no build up then I will maybe either just do a hot oil/deep conditioning treatment that coming weekend or i would go another week and just  wash that following weekend but I will never go past two weeks without a wash. 

I try to deep condition at least 2 times a month in the summer and 3 times a month in the winter. After my wash I will then continue by using the L.O.C/L.O.B method (Liquid,Oil,Cream or Butter) using leave in conditioner, coconut oil or castor oil then a creamy moisturizer such as Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie. Then I'll either band it or 2 strand twist overnight if I'm trying to stretch for the next style, or I'll just twist it for a twist out the next day. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I'm sometimes a lazy bird and I don't seem to do my morning regimen all the time but I try to make up for it at night if I do miss out. Depending on what style my hair is in that's what I will base on what my morning start will be for my hair. 

If I have twists in for a twist out or banded for a stretch then I will not bother it much except to maybe oil my scalp or put shea butter on my scalp and edges. If my hair is just in braids or twists as a protective style with my own hair or extensions then I will take my spray bottle mix (water, tea tree oil and peppermint oil and sometimes I add a leave in conditioner to the bottle) and I spray my hair and scalp then apply a small amount of oil to my hair all over without taking anything down or apart to seal the moisture into my hair then I go about my day without covering it up.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

My routine at night is very simple, I spritz my hair a little with plain water to reactivate what i may have put on it that morning then I put on my silk bonnet and I always have to make sure that I have a silk pillow case and sometimes even silk sheets too. 

I never just leave my hair out for bed, not even under a bonnet so I make sure that it is either twisted, bantu knotted, banded or braided down although i have in the past and that was the biggest tangled mess ever! 

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

Since I've been natural I've only used heat on my hair maybe 3 times. I have blown it out for a length check a couple of times and I have had a silk press at a salon by a natural hair stylist. 

I prefer to only use heat on my hair for occasions or a couple of times a year and that is mainly in the fall before it's too cold and right after most the sweaty heat has passed. Although that will all change this coming summer of 2014 when I start my loc journey and discover new things along the way.

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

My name is LaShunda Ford and I am from Long Island , New York.

2. What is your hair type?

My Hair Type is 3C

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

I reverted to natural hair on January 19th, 2011. At the time I was living in North Carolina and had become frustrated because I was unable to find a Dominican Salon. My hair was relaxed and was trained to get a wash and roller set and then blow out. After not having a salon nearby for a while I began to allow my hair to grow out the relaxer, and wore a full sown in weave. After many months of frustration I decided to shave all my hair off and start my journey. Recently in December 2013 I did my 2nd Big Chop.

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

Although it was not a low period for me, the hardest part was transitioning and the different textures.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen is to pretty much wash, and deep condition every seven days. Before each wash I style in either wash and gos or two strand twists.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My daily regimen is style and go, take off my bonnet and allow my hair to do it's own thing. Of course if it was a look for twist out, I separate the twists and style.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

For my nightly regimen if I don't sleep with my satin pillow, I sleep with a silk bonnet.

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

I have used heat on my hair in the past prior to my 2nd big chop. Since big chopping in December 2013 I am growing off my hair and will not be applying any heat this time around.

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

Maisia (mom), Tiona (17), Reagan (3), & Payton (3)(daughters) “Four Natural Girls” from the first state...Delaware!

2. What is your hair type?

I’m not fan a of typing/labeling (it sparks too much drama), but in order to classify texture differences to aid others, I'll answer lol....Maisia (3c/4a/4b?), Tiona (3b/3c?), Reagan (4a/4b?), Payton (4a/4b?)

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

August 2011 I met a Carol’s Daughter representative who enlightened me on the dangers of relaxing. I went home that night and cut off my relaxed hair. The next day, I found a barber and fell in love with my tapered do. Tiona transitioned for 11 months (straightening her roots) before I cut roughly four inches of permed ends. Reagan & Payton have never been introduced to a relaxer:)

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

The most challenging part about returning natural was buying any and every natural product I thought would work for my hair texture.  Little did I know, I had multiple textures. I found that I became a product junkie and was obsessed with trying different “natural” products that did nil for my hair. It  was hard on my pocketbook. Today, I help prevent others from making that mistake and help them find their “staple” products without going broke.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Maisia: (AM start) Prepoo with an application of coconut oil or jojoba oil and deep conditioner 1-2 times a month for 45 minutes under a plastic cap (before shampooing/cowashing), shampoo biweekly with Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Shampoo, Co-wash weekly with Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner, Deep Condition as needed (1-2 times a month) with Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque, apply a small amount of Shea Moisture Leave-IN Conditioner/detangler), shingle each section with EcoStyler Gel with Olive Oil and let it air dry (about 75%). That night, I’ll apply 100% raw shea butter to damp hair and make about 15-20 twists. The gel helps hold my twist definition.

Tiona: (PM start) I prepoo with an application of coconut oil and deep conditioner 1-2 a month (before shampooing/cowashing), shampoo & condition biweekly with Shea Moisture African Black Soap Shampoo & conditioner or Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Shampoo & Conditioner. I detangle with Shea Moisture detangler.  I then apply 100% raw shea butter to freshly washed hair and twist hair in about 6 twists and allow to dry overnight.

Reagan & Payton: (Late AM/Early PM start) I prepoo with an application of coconut oil and deep conditioner 1-2 times a month 30-45 mins before shampooing, I then shampoo and condition their hair with Shea Moisture Mango & Carrot Kids Extra-Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner. I then detangle damp hair  in sections with a wide tooth comb spraying Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Kids Detangler before combing gently. Finally, I apply 100% raw shea butter to each section and braid hair (about 8-10 braids, twists if I'm leaving their hair out) and allow it to air dry before styling.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Maisia & Tiona: We twist out, style, and go!

Reagan & Payton: We descarf/debonnet and go!

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Maisia & Tiona: We spritz with an application of an oil (usually olive, coconut, or jojoba)  water (1 part oil, 2 parts water), apply a small amount of raw shea butter to each section and twist. We'll sleep in a satin scarf or bonnet.

Reagan & Payton: If hair is braided, I'll spray the scalp with Shea Moisture African Black Soap Dandruff & Dry Scalp Elixir and rub in with my finger tips, then I'll spritz the water and oil mixture lightly all over, smooth with hands, and apply a satin scarf.

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

Maisia: Twice a year at Graffitti Salon in Middletown, DE

Tiona: 3-4 times a year by mom with heat protectant applied (usually raw shea butter or grapeseed oil), blow dried, flat ironed (2 strokes max)

Reagan & Payton: Blowouts (on low heat) at salon twice a year before styling

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

My name is Trenika, and I am from Tampa, Florida

2. What is your hair type?

I haven't really gotten into hair typing but I would say I have a bit of 3c, 4a and 4b.

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

My last part was in September of 2009; I transitioned for 9 months and then in June of 2010 I big chopped. I went natural because I always had adverse reactions to perms and it just progressively got worse as I get older. I decided I was not going to subject myself or my scalp to that anymore plus I really wanted that big, luscious, eye catching hair.

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

The biggest challenge for me was during transitioning, having to deal with two different hair textures.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen consists of shampoo and conditioning on the weekend then doing a protective style for the upcoming week.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My morning routine usually consists of simply removing my satin bonnet. Since I typically have my hair in a protective style during the week that's about all I have to do. If my hair is looking a little dry I might spritz it with water or rub some oil on it, but other than that I try to keep it really simple. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

Sadly, I have to admit I don't have a night time regimen. If my hair isn't in a protective style all I normally do is simply put on a satin bonnet and I sleep on a satin pillowcase, but I don't set my hair nightly.

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

I do use heat. On average I will straighten my hair about 2 or 3 times a year and I may do a blow out once or twice in addition to straightening.