1. What's your name and where are you from?
 
My name is K. Mishawn and I'm from a small city outside of Chicago, IL.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 4B/4C.

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

I initially tried to go natural in 2010, but it didn't go as planned.  I ended up relaxing my top crown area twice.  By March of 2013 I had done lots of research and began transitioning.  I did my mini big chop in April 2014 and I've been in love since. 

My daughter who is going on 4 years old also played a huge role in my decision to go natural. We both have the same texture and she's so beautiful with her hair.  I wanted to show her that I was confident enough to wear my hair that looked just liked hers and assure her that it is indeed beautiful.

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

The most challenging thing about going natural was actually wearing my real hair and accepting my true hair texture.  I got my 1st relaxer when I was 6 years old and I've been wearing weaves since I was in the 7th grade. It was a major adjustment that I felt was way overdue.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Once a week I make my own pre-poo mix (banana, egg, coconut milk, oil and honey).  After 2-4 hours I rinse it out and wash it with either a sulfate-free shampoo or co wash conditioner and deep condition for another 1-2 hours.  I then apply my L.O.C method, oil my scalp and style. I oil every 2-3 days with olive oil and re-moisturize as well.  Here's my video:

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the morning I usually take down my twist-out or braid-out with a little coconut oil or I unwrap a protective style.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night I usually two strand twist or braid my hair (normally every 2-3 days).  If I'm wearing a protective style, I just put on a satin bonnet.

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

I just recently straightened my hair after 15 months of no heat and transitioning.  I only did it to check the length.  I won't be straightening it again for another 6 to 12 months.

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

Natasha Beals and I am from Chicago.

2. What is your hair type?

4C

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

I went natural 4 years ago, my big chop was in 2010. This was my second time going natural, the first time I was not knowledgeable at all about the process of transitioning to natural. So this time around I did my research and transitioned for a year with braids and weaves. 

I have always loved the way natural hair looks on a woman. I love the versatility, the bigness and thickness of natural hair. I also loved the fact that I do not have to run from the rain anymore because my hair loves the rain.

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

The most challenging thing for me was dealing with the two different textures and finding a stylist who could handle the two different textures. I ran into a lot of stylists who could not handle the thickness of my hair, they would approach my hair with small tooth combs and pull a lot of it out. My family made it difficult too; they would makes jokes and talk about how my hair was going to fall out when I went natural. It was kind of hard to ignore their comments but I did, and I made it happen, I was determined to go natural.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I try to wash my hair every Sunday but lately I have been slacking; I am lazy, lol. Wash days are usually a full day. I start with a pre-poo mixture I make which is olive oil, coconut oil, and peppermint oil. I let that sit for about 15 mins. After that I put my hair into twists, and wash it with a water and shampoo mixture in a color applicator bottle. My favorite shampoos are Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo and Trader Joes Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo. 

After the wash I deep condition with Organics Hair Mayonnaise. So far it has worked alright for me. Another favorite deep conditioner is Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Smoothie. I let that sit for about 15 minutes under a hooded dryer, and then rinse it out. 

I follow it up with the LOC method (Aphogee Curlific Moisture Leave-in Conditioner, Coconut Oil, and Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercream). After that I put my hair in two-strand twists and let it air-dry and wear a twist-out for a couple of days, and then put it into a bun.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I  fluff out my twist-out, and spray it with a mixture of water, olive oil and coconut oil, then go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I re-twist my hair every two days, put my hair on the top of my head, and then put on my satin scarf or bonnet, and go to sleep.

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

I rarely use heat on my hair, I get my hair flat-ironed and trimmed about every six months. I don’t like to use heat on my hair. The last time I did it, my curl pattern disappeared, my hair is still recovering from my last flat-iron.

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

My name is Krystle and I am from Chicago, IL.

2. What is your hair type?

I have mostly 4b curls.

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

I went natural in September of 2010. I was no longer in love with my hair and it became a struggle to maintain healthy relaxed hair. My scalp started to really react to the relaxers at that time so I made the decision to big chop on September 26th, 2010.

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

Finding the right products to work for my curls.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I clarify once a week using ACV on Mondays. I deep condition for 30-45 mins, rinse and shingle my curls to define my wash-n-go.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Because I shingle my curls, I get great multiple day hair so all I do in the morning is spritz my curls with water and apply a little gel on my edges.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night I like to lightly spritz my curls with water before going to bed to give them a dose of hydration and I sleep with a satin bonnet to protect my curls.

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

Only when I lightly defuse my wash-n-go for more volume.

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

My name is Samantina Zenon, I'm originally from Boston, Massachusetts and I moved to NY six years ago, now I reside in Queens.

2. What is your hair type?

I have Kinky hair. 4C to be exact.

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

I went natural six years ago, after I graduated high school. My hair doesn't do well with chemicals. My mother had been perming my hair since I was four, and my hair was constantly breaking. I noticed my hair growing a lot faster without perms. That's when I decided to go all natural.

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

Most likely combing it everyday, because I always braid it at night, and when I'm running late it takes a while. Also washing it. There are methods I follow to wash my hair, and it takes a while.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I use Miss Jessie's Baby Butter Creme on my scalp once or twice a week. It helps my hair grow faster. I also use Knot Today Conditioner to help me detangle my hair, after unbraiding it.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the morning when I wake up, I untwist my hair, I shower without a cap, so the heat from the hot water can soothe my hair. Afterwards I apply a moisturizer called Nene's Secret; it makes my  hair soft and curly. I apply a small amount, because it keeps the hair soft for a couple of days.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I braid it, and I wear a sleeping cap.

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

No, I don't own curling irons or blow dryers.

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

Jasmine and I'm from London, England.

2. What is your hair type?

I have a 4b /4c hair type

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

I've been natural all my life. 

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

The most challenging thing about being natural to me is the unpredictability of my hair. One day my hair will be one way, the other day it will be another way. Another challenging aspect is the thickness; it is very hard to detangle and soften especially when I've just washed it.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I'm currently in a protective hairstyle (braids) but when I have my natural hair out I moisturize my hair 3 times a week as my hair retains a lot of moisture. I focus a lot on my ends as these are prone to excessive dryness. I spitz my hair with water and olive oil before I begin to style. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

I undo the large braids from the night before I spitz a mixture of water and olive oil onto my hair and scalp. I comb out my hair with a wide tooth comb, section by section, then I style.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night I simply spritz my hair with my oil and water mix part in into four section and braid it; I then put a satin hair cap over my head.

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

Yes I do you use heat on my hair but at the lowest level. I use a blow dryer with a heat protection spray. As I keep my hair in protective styles a lot, heat isn't something I use regularly.

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

My name is Vashti. I'm Grenadian and I live in Dallas, Texas.

2. What is your hair type?

4b/4c

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

I big chopped in August 2009 because I was bored with relaxed hair and wanted to switch things up a bit.

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

In the beginning, it was challenging to keep my hair moisturized because I was having issues with highly porous strands. Once I figured out the cause and how to remedy it, I haven't really had any issues.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I tend to cleanse my hair every 10-14 days. I start off with a pre-poo, then I wash & deep condition. I allow my hair to dry in a t-shirt for a bit and then I proceed to moisturize, seal & style.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

If I'm wearing a twist out, I untwist, shape and go :) If I'm wearing a twisted updo, I smooth my edges and use a moisturizing spritz all over.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I re-moisturize (if necessary), retwist and wear a satin bonnet.

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

I use heat sparingly. I have my hair blown out about 3 times a year when I get professional trims.

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

I'm Nandi; born and raised in Sweden with a mother from Germany and a South African father.

2. What is your hair type?

I'm not a big fan of hair typing, but I think I'm a 3b or 3c.

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

I've been natural most of my life; I had a short-lived experience with relaxer at the age of 18. But since I had less knowledge of how to care for my relaxed hair than my natural hair I quickly returned to my natural hair.

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

I think the most challenging think about natural hair is figuring out what works for you and what doesn't. A lot if trial and error is involved in this. It's what started my blogging journey, trying to figure out my own hair and paying it forward to others.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I usually wash my hair once a week, depending on how my hair feels I'll use a cleanser or ACV and then a conditioner or deep conditioner. I usually wear a wash n go with only leave-in conditioner for the first couple of days after washing and then as the week progresses I refresh with water and leave in. As my hair frizzes up I usually do some kind of style using a gel to keep the hair in place.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the morning I shake my hair out, spritz with water and add leave in conditioner if needed.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Right now I just wear a pineapple or a bun to bed.

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

In winter I diffuse my hair to cut down on drying time. The last time I flat ironed my hair was in the spring of 2013, I usually don't flat iron my hair more than once a year.

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

I'm Rochelle Graham. I was born in Jamaica.

2. What is your hair type?

4A

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

In 2008, I was inspired by my mother who was natural and decided I wanted to see how my hair would turn out.

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

At that time it was difficult to find resources and products that helped to keep my hair healthy.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Wash once a week with Black Soap Shampoo then deep condition weekly with Honey and Sage deep conditioner. I use the LOC method with Lemongrass Leave-in Conditioner, Shine Crave Hair Glosser, and Shea Yogurt Hair Moisturizer (I do this on wash day). Once a month I do a hot oil treatment with The Blended Therapy Hot Oil.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Undo my pineapple hairstyle, spray on Lemongrass Leave in Conditioner then I apply Shine Crave. If my scalp is very dry I'll use the Essential 17 and give myself a scalp massage.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I give myself a scalp massage every night with my Essential 17 Hair Growth Oil depending on my style. I may or may not re-twist my hair; if I do, I use the Pomegranate Passion Hair Elixir. Alternatively, I'll just put my hair in a pineapple.

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

I blow dry about once a week.

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

I’m Denise, I live in the Washington, DC area. I have a Jamaican background.

2. What is your hair type?

3c/4a.

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

My last relaxer was in October 2010. I started off as just trying to have healthy relaxed hair. Eventually, I started by stretching my hair relaxers to 6 months, but during the process decided to just stop relaxing. I transitioned for 14 months before I big chopped.

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

Detangling while in transition, managing the 2 textures was hard in the beginning.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash my hair every two weeks with Golden Wheat Deep Cleanse Shampoo by Giovanni. I deep condition every two weeks after my shampoo.  I either use The Mane Choice Green Tea and Carrot Deep Conditioner, or mayonnaise mixed with coconut oil and honey to deep condition. I put on a plastic cap and sit under a heat cap for 45- 60 minutes. After that, I wash out my hair and condition using Smooth As Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner by Giovanni. 

I finger detangle my hair in the shower. It is so much easier to detangle with the water running down your hair. I have not completely given up on combs, but it is very rare when I use one. I squeeze out the excess water, spray my hair with Giovanni Vitapro Fusion Leave-In Hair Treatment, and then apply some Direct Leave In Weightless Moisture Conditioner by Giovanni. I then style as desired.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Usually fluff and go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I mist with Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Moisture Mist and seal with virgin coconut oil, focusing mainly on my ends.

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

Yes, a few times a year I get my hair straightened. Other than that, I mainly air dry for the styles I do.

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

My name is Arlena Mark and I am from the island of Grenada.

2. What is your hair type?

Type 4.

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

I went natural because I had a great deal of heat damage and my hair was thinning.

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

Finding the right products and methods that worked for my hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Moisturize (leave in conditioner, oils), seal with a shea butter mix, twist then bantu knot.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I usually use oils on my hands to take down my bantu knots. When I have protective styles, like braids, I use a mist (water with oils) on my scalp.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Moisturize and bantu knots.

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

No.