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

My name is Victoria and I am from Cleveland, Ohio but currently reside in Indianapolis

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is mostly 4a with a tiny bit of 4b

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

I went natural almost 4 years ago (time is flying!) and I did so because for a couple of reasons. I am really into healthy and natural living and once I discovered the horrible ingredients found in relaxers I knew I wanted to return back natural. I also was simply curious about my natural texture. I hadn’t seen it since I was a very small child.

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

Dealing with the two textures was my issue. Although I had researched in the beginning, I still was doing a lot of things wrong as far as being gentle and the basics of handling hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash my hair every 7-10 days depending on my workload. I wear protective styles most of the time. I usually deep condition with every wash and also apply cassia treatments every now and then.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Over the years I've gotten a lot simpler with my routine. I normally take off my headscarf and spray a leave in conditioner on before leaving the house.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

If I have a style that requires sleek edges, I’ll apply a little product then tie on my scarf. In addition I do spray on my leave in conditioner and apply an oil to seal every few days.

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

Yes I do. I blow dry my hair on using the tension method about every 3-5 months. This usually happens when I install mini twists.

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

Kiki living in Atlanta, GA but originally from Chicago, IL.

2. What is your hair type?

I don't like to put my hair in this very limited category system. I have different textures ranging from loose curls to very tight curls.

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

I stopped relaxing in 2000 after my hair dresser suggested it. I have always suffered with scalp burns from relaxers so I was willing to give it a go.

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

Thinking that my hair texture would look like the girl on the box just by using the product in the box.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Now that I have shaved my head I don't have one and I am loving it!! I do moisturize my head/hair daily because my scalp gets dry just like the skin on any other area of the body.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I rub my head down with a hair moisturizer that is basically a combination of oils and shea butter.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

Absolutely nothing!! Now that I have shaved my head I don't even wear a du rag!

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

Not now since I don't have any hair to work with but when I had longer hair I would blow dry it from time to time to achieve a particular style.

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

My name is Samantha. I'm 33 and I'm from Columbia, S.C.

2. What is your hair type?

I believe my hair falls into the 4b/c category.

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

I have been natural all my life. My parents wouldn't let me get a relaxer growing up so I had to go without one.

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

The most challenging thing was staying natural because at times I felt pressured to get one just so I could fit in like everyone else.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash my hair every two to three weeks, then style my hair in two strand twists. I wear those for about two weeks, then do the whole process over again.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

After I wake up I usually pin my twist up or if they are old and fuzzy I will wear a beanie or a scarf to cover it up.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I usually moisturize my hair about twice a week before bedtime then I will cover my hair with a satin bonnet or scarf.

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

I only use heat when I need my hair trimmed. I will do a light blow out.

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

Dawn Gibson-Thigpen. I am originally from Michigan. However, I currently live in South Florida

2. What is your hair type?

I think I am more like a 3c/4a. 

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

I went natural about 4 years ago, due to extreme over processing and weaves.  

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

Nothing really! I didn't really have to much of a choice. One day I looked in the mirror and I didn't have a bang! I stood there for a moment and said out loud, "Wow! you look like Homey The Clown"! I can laugh now, but at that time I was totally destroyed! #eyeopener!

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I usually co-wash every two weeks with a simple conditioner, then I also condition with Tea Tree Tingle (Trader Joe's) leaving it in for 5 to 15 minutes; it really helps to detangle the hair. After that I apply a mixture of Olive Oil/Hair Food Product, Aloe Vera Gel (Trader Joe's), Shea-Butter Miracle Moisture Intense Bouncy Curls Pudding (African Pride) and either twist my hair or section it off into 2/3 big braids depending on the style I will be wearing the next day.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the morning, regardless of the hairstyle, I set the night before, I will just run some Olive Oil or a Hair Food Product through my hair, and then fluff, separate, or finger detangle depending on the style.  

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I apply a mixture of Olive Oil/Hair Food Product, Aloe Vera Gel (Trader Joe's), Shea-Butter Miracle Moisture Intense Bouncy Curls Pudding (African Pride). Then I stretch my hair by either twisting it or putting it in 2 or 3 big braids depending the style I am wearing the next day. 

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

No so far, but I am not against doing so.

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

Hi! I’m Courtney and I currently live just outside Atlanta, GA.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is actually mixed ranging from loose waves in some parts to tightly curled in others. It is predominantly 3b/3c when defined.

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

I transitioned to natural hair for about eight months before having the big chop done in June 2009. I returned natural for several reasons, with the most pressing being my curiosity about my natural texture. Though I achieved long, relaxed hair with little maintenance or effort, I suffered from recurring dandruff and split ends more than I liked. I didn’t understand how to care for my hair, and this became increasingly clear when I went to college. I wanted to understand my hair and how to take care of it without the nuisance of having to relax, blow dry and straighten every month.

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

The most challenging part of going natural was not having a strong support system. I had encouragement from friends, but not much from family, and no stylist.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly routine begins with a sulfate-free wash followed by a deep conditioning or hot oil treatment, then an apple cider vinegar rinse. I allow my hair to air dry in four twists after it’s been saturated with a leave-in conditioner. Once it’s 80-100% dry, I will unravel the twists, apply a cream or heavy moisturizer and style. If I’m lazy or planning for a busy week, I’ll set my hair in “many” twists (not too tiny or too big), and wear it that way for the week. My go-to style is a chunky twist out.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Each morning I lightly mist my hair with water or aloe vera juice, fluff and pin whatever pieces can’t be easily tamed.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night I simply cover my hair with a satin bonnet. I will retwist or reset my hair about once a week.

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

Yes, I use heat sparingly. Occasionally I will tension blow dry my hair for a bigger, fluffier twist out. I’m currently on a flat ironing “strike” as part of a healthy hair challenge, so I’m abstaining from having my hair ceramic pressed for six months. I usually have my hair pressed by a licensed stylist twice a year.

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

Hi, I'm Alfreda and I'm from Nigeria but reside in Texas.

2. What is your hair type?

I have various textures, 3B-4B and some fuzz lol

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

I got my last relaxer 07/2010, because my guard and band camp schedule was to hectic and sweaty to let me get one. Fast forward to 01/11, I washed my hair after taking down braids I'd had for two months, then felt and saw something that BLEW my mind! I had about four inches of curly roots and I loved it! I didn't know what natural hair was or that I could maintain hair without a relaxer, so I was quite impressed. I left it with the straight ends till 10/2011, then I shaved my hair off to start college.

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

For me it was not having a clue what to do with my hair and how to care for it. I remember for the first eight months after my BC, I used only shampoo and olive oil. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I co-wash my hair in 5 sections 2-5 times a week using Silkience or the vo5 kiwi-lime clarifying conditioner,finger detangle and rinse, then apply a rinse out conditioner (currently using Pantene Curl Perfection Moisturizing Conditioner), rinse apply some silkience and seal with my shea butter or oil mix, then style.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

If my hair is in a loose style, I just apply some shea butter or Crisco shortening on it, then shape it. if it's textured, I spritz it with water, then apply some shea butter or conditioner and coconut oil.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I really don't have one, but if my hair is a bit dry at night, I add a little bit of moisture to it(water or conditioner). I always sleep on satin pillows, so I don't have to remember to put on a bonnet or scarf, or worry about my pillowcase sliding off.

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

I recently just flat ironed my hair for the first time in a year. so I would say rarely.

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

My name is Ebbie and I am from Charleston SC

2. What is your hair type?

I honestly do not get into the hair types... However if I had to choose I would say I am a mix... 3c/ 4ab

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

I went natural back in 2006, I have big chopped my hair about 3 times since and cut it almost every year when the weather gets warm. I was tired of getting relaxers and wanted to see my true pattern. I loved it immediately and now I love the versatility.

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

Learning how to do styles that fit me. At first, I didn't know what to do, but eventually I found my way and now know what to do with my hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I use to be strictly a cowasher, but I have recently started to shampoo my hair again. I cleanse once a week and twist my hair for styling. During the rest of the week I either twist in larger twists to maintain or rock it in a puff until it's wash day again.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

In the mornings I take off my satin bonnet, untwist my hair and go. Or if I don't like the way the twists look, I pull it up in a puff.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At I shower with my hair out so it can absorb some of the moisture. I twist my hair after showering and put on a satin bonnet and go to sleep... Easy peasy.

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

Yes, I normally get my hair pressed out twice a year as this is my preferred way to get my ends trimmed. Sometimes I get it pressed out 3 times a year, but never more than that.

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

Tope born in Nigeria live in the UK.

2. What is your hair type?

4a/b

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

When I was pregnant with my second child a few years ago.i wanted to be completely free and accept who I was plus I didn’t want to be a hypocrite since I would never let my daughters relax their hair.

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

Figuring out styles to do especially at the awkward lengths.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Shampoo and deep condition twice a week.moisturise daily with Mahogany Naturals products.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Shake and go  and mist and go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Sleep on a silk pillowcase.

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

I might blow dry once a month.

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

My name is Daliah Ferguson. I was born in Jamaica. I came to America at a young age and I have been raised in Connecticut ever since.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is a mixture of  4a and 4b.

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

I began my transition 2011 after an appointment with my dermatologist. My scalp was inflamed, and my crown was thinning, too young for that, I thought to myself.  Apparently I had an infection on my scalp that was causing the inflammation and the thinning. My dermatologist, a Caucasian male, encouraged me to have as natural of a hair care regimen as possible that meant no chemicals. He stated that a lot of African American women experience different types of Alopecia from years of relaxers.

In addition to this my 11 year old daughter, now 14 years old, was relaxed and she decided that she was tired of being relaxed and experiencing the chemical burn, hair breakage, and monthly relaxer maintenance.  She showed me a picture of a natural with full luscious hair, and she decided that, that was what she wanted for herself.  At such a young age she inspired me to start my transition back to natural.   My last relaxer was May of 2011.  I transitioned from May 2011 to March 2012.  After an unsightly incident during a styling session with a hair dresser (heat damage) I decided to totally cut all the relaxed ends off.  I cut on March 30, 2012, returned to natural and I never looked back.  This was one of the best decisions that I could have made so far.

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

The most challenging thing about going natural was finding what products to use in my hair and learning what my hair type needed.  I had to learn what products gave definition to my twist outs, made my hair have hold, and how to moisturize my hair properly to retain my growth and prevent breakage.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen consists of pre-poo, shampoo, deep conditioning with my steamer LOC method, and styling.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My daily morning routine depends on the style I choose for the week.  If I am rocking a twist out, I wear a satin bonnet at night and I will use coconut oil, or avocado oil on my hands to fluff and my afro pick to left.  If my hair need moisture I will lightly spay a moisturizing spray and then refresh.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Nightly I wear a satin bonnet or silk scarf.

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

I do not use heat on my hair because I have experience heat damage in the past and my hair did not bounce back.  The only heat used is under a hooded dryer.

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

Tamara Taylor, I was born and raised in Richmond, VA and currently live in Raleigh, NC

2. What is your hair type?

3C

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

I went natural in April 2011.  I tried to go natural 2 additional times before my big chop.  I suffer with eczema on my scalp and the more and more I was getting relaxers the more my scalp was suffering.  The front of my scalp and hair line would look like cradle cap because of the discoloration and build up.  I saw everyone rocking the styles that I wanted and then I found out that most of my cousins went natural and decided to take the plunge one final time.  I was a short transitioner as my last relaxer was right before Christmas 2010 and I cut all of my hair off on April-7-2011.

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

Finding products that work and understanding my specific hair type.  Not all curls are the same and what works for one may not work for you.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Pre-poo, wash, deep condition, excess my ends and then style

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I mostly wear braid outs or twist out so I use coconut oil to release my hair, fluff and go

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Re-twist or re-braid religiously. If I don't I will pay for it the next day

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

I only use heat 2-4 times a year when I get my hair straightened for special occasions.