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

My name is Dani Jackson and I am from West Palm beach, Florida.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 3c and 4a.

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

I went natural in September 2012.

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

I never did a big chop so my transition was challenging. It was also interesting finding the right products to "play nice" with my newly curly hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I am a wash and go girl because I work out a lot. So usually I cowash 2 to 3 times per week and spray with water to keep hydrated daily.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I spray my hair with water and put in Shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie as my styler. I then seal with an oil usually jojoba.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night I spray with water and wear a satin bonnet to bed or I will twist it up before bed.

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

Once a year I do a length check and good trim. That's the only time I use heat.

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

My name is Fatima Farmer and I'm from Paterson, New Jersey.

2. What is your hair type?

Somewhere between 3c and 4a

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

I've actually never had a relaxer, but I used to wear my hair flat ironed for about 6 years. In 2007, I was inspired by Tracee Ellis Ross and Teyana Taylor so I started experimenting with my natural texture. I had severe heat damage and I had to "transition/big chop" in order to get my natural texture back. By 2010, I was 100% heat damage free.

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

When I started wearing my hair in it's natural state it wasn't as "acceptable" as it is now. I was in high school so I was teased a lot. All of my peers had weaves and relaxers, but I had a huge fro. I didn't have anyone to connect to in real life. So I used myspace and websites  to see people with hair like mine.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Hmmmm, depends on my mood or the event to be honest. For the most part I make sure I do a deep conditioning treatment, I cowash/detangle and mainly rock wash & go's for about 5-7 days. I only restyle during the week if I have a special event to attend. Otherwise, it's pulled back or in a puff.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Take down pineapple, shake/ fluff and apply some gel on my egdes.That's really it...I like to keep it simple.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Very simple! I put it in a pineapple and tie on a scarf. That's if I'm not being lazy, some days I just go to bed and hope for the best lol

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

Yes, whenever I get the itch to wear a blow out or straight hair I go for it. It's not very often though maybe 3-4 times per year.

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

I'm Jonna from Virginia.

2. What is your hair type?

3c/4a/4b, yes I have all three on one head

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

I stopped relaxing my hair in July 2008, and big chopped in December 2008. I did it as a move towards a healthier lifestyle and out of curiosity as to what my natural hair would look like.

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

Transitioning was the most challenging for me; that's why it only lasted 5 months. Figuring out how to deal with two textures was too much work for me.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Deep condition, cleanse, detangle, moisturize and style. Then just maintain the style throughout the week.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

If it's in a protective style, nothing much usually. If a loose style, fluff and go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Pineapple with a satin scarf if I'm wearing a loose style. If it is in a protective style, I just sleep on my satin pillow case.

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

Yes. I use indirect heat from blowdryers, hooded dryers, and my Heat Therapy Wrap.

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

My name is Shanell and I am from New York.

2. What is your hair type?

I actually have 3 different hair types. 3c, 4a & 4b.

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

I decided to go natural after a bad experience in a salon which left me dissatisfied with my relaxed hair. I made the decision to transition on April 13, 2011 and big chopped August 1st, 2011. The pursuit of healthy hair care made me take the plunge.

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

The most challenging thing about going natural was wanting to accomplish a hair goal after just chopping off all my hair. I was always used to having a decent length of hair and wanting  to achieve the same length after the cut was difficult. The main thing that saved me was experimenting with my hair and utilizing a lot of different styles and products. It totally took my mind off the waiting and I actually grew to love my short natural hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Sundays are my wash days. They consists of washing, conditioning, deep conditioning and styling. The rest of the week (Monday to Friday) consists of just moisturizing and refreshing my style of choice throughout the week. Weekends are rest days for my hair and that's when I break out my wigs. We all need a break sometimes and our hair is no different.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My morning regimen is actually pretty simple: I always style my hair based on how my makeup looks and it helps to envision how I want to wear it. It usually consists of me taking down my twists and fluffing with my pick to achieve maximum volume. The bigger the hair, the harder they stare!

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I just refresh the style that I had initially done Sunday. So for example, If I did a twist-out on Sunday I would do twists again on Monday, but in larger sections to stretch my hair over time all the while keeping my hair moisturized. My Mango Shea Butter Moisturizing Growth Aid is my go-to product  each night! 

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

I can literally count on one hand the number of times that I've used heat on my hair in the last three years of being natural and it really isn't that many. There has to be something major going on for me to want to use heat. I always end up missing my curls not too long after.

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

My name is Victoria Sallie and I'm from Queens, NYC.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 3C/4A. I have very fine hair.

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

I stopped getting relaxers in January 2013. I was studying abroad and had no idea where to go to get my hair permed. A friend of mine was natural with gorgeous hair and she persuaded me into transitioning. I transitioned for a year and three months and cut the remainder of my relaxed ends in April 2014.

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

The most challenging things about going natural were learning how to deal with my hair (considering I never really did my own hair before) and dealing with the negative comments/feedback from other people. Both took me a while to get over, but practice and growing a thick skin made me a better person in the long run. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Every week I co-wash and deep condition my hair. I alternate bi weekly between moisture and protein treatments. I seal my hair with leave in conditioner, oil, and whatever butter I plan on using for styling.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Depending on what style I have, in the morning I'll wake up, take down, shake, fluff and go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I'm even lazier at night than in the morning, so most nights I just fall asleep on my satin pillowcase. If I'm really trying to preserve a style, I'll put on a bonnet or headscarf.

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

I'm not totally against using heat, but I use it sparingly. I've learned to embrace my hair texture, and I'm scared of heat damage, so I straighten my hair probably once every few months.

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

My Name is Candace Sheppard. I was born & Raised in NYC and currently live in Miami, Florida.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair is a mixture of patterns & textures running between 3C & 4B.

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

I went natural in the Spring of 2006. I was pregnant with my daughter and wanted to lay off the chemicals. Miss Jessie's brand was beginning to spread and peaked my interest, so I started my transition.

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

Finding products that suited the multiple textures on my head as well as products that didn't aggravate my scalp. I discovered later on that I was protein sensitive and needed only minimal light-weight products.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My scalp is sensitive so I cannot tolerate a lot of build up. I wash & condition my hair every 3 days unless it's in a protective style. I can extend protective styles (if I didn't use product) for up to 1 week before washing and re-styling. 

2-3 times per month I use deep conditioning treatments and I am sure to keep my hair protected to retain length. My regimen is very simple.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Depends on the day and where I am in my styling process, it always varies depending on what kind of style I'm going for.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Simple. Wrap it up in a satin scarf and cover those ends.

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

Very, very rarely. In a year I may straighten my hair once a year.

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

My name is Ginny and I am from Detroit, Michigan! D-town!

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 3c and 4a. I have s-waves on top and defined coils on the sides and in the back!

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

I never really had a relaxer growing up but I always had a press and curl. I accidentally went natural. My hair was so heat damaged. It was long and stringy. I was sick of my press and curl look as well and was ready for a change. I was complaining about my hair non-stop, hiding at my desk at work and avoiding folks because I just hated it. 

Your hair is your crowning glory and it really affects your confidence. My hair issues were preventing me from doing very important things in my life. One Sunday night, I went into the bathroom and just cut it all off with some scissors leaving about 1 inch behind of new growth. I was so confused that I did not know what I was going to do with my hair since I had to go to work the next day so I looked online as anyone would. I found Mahogany Curls on Youtube and she mentioned the “The Curly Girl Handbook” by Lorraine Massey which I downloaded that night and I have been natural ever since. I big chopped in April 2012.

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

The most challenging part was during the TWA stage. My hair wasn’t long enough to do anything with. However, I got so many compliments when I wore it curly that I just grew to love my hair and became more confident. My biggest issue was moisture though but by using the LCO method or the LOC method (liquid-cream-oil) to moisturize my hair at least 2 times a week, I have solved that problem.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I am on a strict weekly regimen which includes pre-pooing with coconut oil or a leave-in to finger detangle, washing or co-washing with a low suds or no poo cleansing cream, and conditioning or deep conditioning (alternate with and without proteins). When it comes to moisturizing I do the LCO method or the LOC method (liquid-cream-oil) at least 2x a week. I may or may not use a leave-in depending on the ingredients in my moisturizer but most times I do. I must moisturize with this method at least 2x a week. I typically do twist-outs but I have started doing more wash and go’s as well. I also like to protective style my hair with two-strand twists.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I am typically taking down my maintenance twists and/or pinning it up so I put a little oil (I like NATURALICIOUS Divine Shine Oyl) on my hands first and gently massage my hair. I do this for shine and to soften it. If I have a wash and go then I mist my hair with a little water and then use a quarter sized amount of a light leave-in conditioner and scrunch it into my hair and go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I do different things at night depending on the style I am trying to maintain. I do massage a little Jamaican Black Castor Oil on my edges and eyebrows at night as I am growing them out due to a setback. If I have a twist out that I am trying to maintain then I will lightly twist my hair into 8 maintenance twists without applying any more product and put on a satin scarf. If I have a bantu knot out or any curls in general then I use a satin bonnet to maintain my curl. If I have an updo then I also just use a satin scarf.

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

I don’t use heat at all because there are so many ways to stretch your hair and get curls without doing that, for instance, you can use curl formers, flexi rods, perm rods, cold wave rods, straws, etc. The options are limitless so in order to prevent heat damage regardless of using a heat protectant, I just avoid it. In the last year, I’ve only blow dried my hair once.

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

2. What is your hair type?

As a cosmetologist and Deva Inspired Curl Stylist, I vehemently don’t believe in hair typing because it doesn’t matter. My curl diameter is a 3C though.

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

My first big chop was in Summer of 2003. My relaxed hair was shoulder length and healthy but way too long 99 degrees and 100% humidity.  This was before YouTube and I had no idea there were forums.  I continued to do the same basic care i always did (cleanse,condition, style) and my hair grew.

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

Fighting the urge to cut my hair.  I’ve big chopped 7+ times

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Right now my hair is very short so I don’t really have one. When it’s longer usually I clarify/cleanse/ condition. To style I would either put it in a puff, wash n go, or set medium twists for a twist out.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Wake and shake.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I’ve never had one no matter how long my hair was.  Either sleep on a satin pillowcase or scarf

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

Sometimes 1-2 times a month.  Sometimes not for 2+ years

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

My name is Tabitha Banks aka Beautiful Soul, and I am from Miami, Florida, and I am currently loving life in the ATL (Georgia)!!

2. What is your hair type?

I typically don’t hair type because I have so many different textures, but I’ve been told that I have a mixture of 3c, 4a, 4b, and 4c.

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

November 2011 is when I big chopped and I did it because my hair was thinning terribly and I had a large bald spot on the crown of my head.  Once I noticed that the spot was beginning to spread to the back of my head, and with the encouragement of my dermatologist I went natural and it’s been one beautiful ride.

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

The most challenging thing was learning how to properly moisturize my natural hair. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen consists of shampooing, deep conditioning, and moisturizing my hair.  Here’s a link to my video that shows in detail of my wash day http://youtu.be/Jyyu28hsrrg

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Depending on how I styled my hair, which is probably in some sort of twist out style (braid, twist & Curl or flat twists), I just put a little oil on my hands, remove the twists or braids and fluff.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

If I’m wearing twists or braids, I will retwist or braid my hair every night.  If, I am wearing a fro, I just spritz with a refresher spray and seal in that moisture with oil, and I always protect my hair by covering up with a satin bonnet.

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

Very rarely.  I’ve been natural for 2½ years and have blow dried twice and flat ironed only once and I have no desire to every add heat to my hair again.

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

My name is Raquel Ford. I am known socially as Blessedcoils or Coils of Love. I am from New York City. I was born in Manhattan and raised throughout New York City.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is primarily 4A mixed with 3C and 4B. The area just below my crown area is mainly 3C curly coils and my crown area is mixed with 4A and 4B kinky coils. Lastly, the front is a 4A fanatic...lol.

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

I decided to go natural in October/November of 2011. I decided to go natural because I was truly tired...I was tired of breakage, I was tired of up keeping a relaxer (every 4-6 weeks), and I was tired of being tired. What solidified my transition was my daughter, she started believing she NEEDED a relaxer, she could not wait until she was old enough to get a relaxer, and this was not the mentality I wanted for my daughter. I decided I would eventually big chop, which I did on March 27th, 2012. I have not regretted my return to natural!

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

The most challenging thing about returning natural, honestly, was what do I actually do to this "nappy kinky" new growth and how can I make my hair look like hers... 27 months 1 week and 1 day later, I now know my hair will never be like hers, but it will always be like mines and I am truly happy with that.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I honestly do not have a dedicated regimen. I shampoo when necessary, if I know I have used multiple products and have not had a good wash, then its time. Otherwise, I co-wash. When it is time to wash I pre-detangle in 6-8 sections, which you can see here, in the video below, How I Do: Pre-Detangle 4A Coily Hair. 

Then I shampoo or co-wash, I follow up with a rinse out conditioner, which I allow to sit on my hair for 3-5 minutes to soften and help with manageability. I keep my hair in the 6-8 sections. Rinse. Deep Condition in 6-8 sections.

I do use a thermal Heat Therapy wrap or Hot Head for in-direct heat, to help with intensifying my Deep condition routine.

After the wash routine is finished, I style my hair in either twists to allow my hair to air dry or until damp and then I might twist each section into smaller sections or braids. I prefer to use old hair for buns and ponytails. I love to stretch my twist-outs and see the different styles I can achieve.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My daily morning regimen is to moisten my hair with steam from the shower or a refresher spray or leave-in conditioner spray. I also seal the moisture in with an oil or butter. Depending on my hairstyle, I may just need to fluff my hair out or shake it.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

My nighttime regimen is similar...except some nights I get wild and don't sleep with my bonnet (and I do not own any satin pillowcases ;-))

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

Yes, last year for the first time I used a diffuser and I use heat caps (in direct heat) for deep treatments. I want to straighten my hair, but I still have qualms about using such direct heat on my natural healthy hair.

One thing I do make sure of, is to invest in quality tools for my hair.