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

Hi! My name is Roshell D. (kinkycurlsLA). I’m Los Angeles born and bred.

2. What is your hair type?

Hair typing isn’t my thing. I have kinky curly hair. [NenoNatural: perhaps 4A with some 4B?]

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

On September 24, 2011, I chopped my hair off. I use that as my official “I went natural date”, although my hair happened to be natural already. I went “natural” because of frustration and convenience.  

On August 31, 2013, I big chopped again to save time maintaining my hair. The second time around I went with a tapered cut. I’m currently growing it out because I miss my hair.

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

Tuning out the noise others make about your decision is a challenge in the beginning. While I learned my hair and how to maintain it, people showered me with questions and compliments. Unfortunately, most skeptics were family and friends. Compliments often came from strangers and other races. [NenoNatural: so often the case!]

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

For the last month or so, I wash and deep condition once a week. I blow dry my hair, install Curlformers. If the curls look bad before wash day, I pull them up into a puff or do a twist out.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

The morning is easy breezy. I refresh the style by fixing misplaced hair, create more volume with a pick comb if anything has been flattened from sleeping, then I go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I pineapple my curls using a silk scarf and it’s time for shut-eye.

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

Yes. I have flat-ironed my hair about 6 times in the last 3 years. In the beginning I avoided blow-drying, but for the last four months I have been blow-drying my hair often instead of air-drying.

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

De Johnson - Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex

2. What is your hair type?

Hair type is naturally nappy and loving it - I have has several types. it's a different type on the top of my head, in the back and on the sides therefore I like to refer to my hair as either naturally nappy OR  kinkly, coily and curly hair type. [3C, 4A]

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

August 1980 - When I was a teen I begged my Daddy to get a perm on my virgin natural hair.  Once I put the perm on my hair it started and continued to just break off throughout my high school years.  So after I graduated from high school I decided to do a big chop because my hair was extremely damaged and had broken off due to the perms and harsh chemicals.

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

Finding the right product for my hair was the most challenging thing for me.  I'm now a product junkie because I'm always looking for the right product that works best for my hair - I've realized as I grow older my hair changes as well. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash 'n go using only conditioner to wash my hair, that is, I follow a no-poo regimen.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I finger comb my natural hair and applying a dab of leave-in conditioner to my damp hair to restore my curls.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I don't have one.

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

Maybe 2 times a year just to wear it straight.

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

My name is Shamika, but I go by Mika! I'm from the lovely island of St.Thomas, US Virgin Islands!

2. What is your hair type?

I have 4c hair or kinky hair.

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

I have never relaxed my hair. I've been natural for 27 years. However, I started taking care of my own natural hair in 2010. Prior to 2010, my hair had been cared for by my mother and various hair braiders.

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

The most challenging thing at the beginning of my natural hair care independence was just learning what works on my hair and what doesn't. At that point my hair had never been trimmed, I didn't know about the LOC method or any of the natural hair care methods for that matter. So there was a long period of experimenting with different products and methods to determine what works best for my hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash my hair every week. My wash days consists of shampooing my hair preferably with a sulfate-free shampoo, detangling (with a wide-tooth comb) my hair in quadrants with a slippery conditioner like Tressemme Curl Hydration, and deep conditioning my hair with a thick product like Cantu's Deep Treatment Masque. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My daily morning regimen consists of spritzing my hair with water or working a water based moisturizer/leave-in into my hair. I seal the moisture in with whatever oils I have to hand (shea butter, vitamin E oil, hot-six oil, etc.) and style my hair for the day if it was not already in a style.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I tend to wear a lot of simple protective styles, so I just take the style down and moisturize like I do in the morning. Then I put my hair into four jumbo plaits and sleep with a satin bonnet.

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

Very, very rarely. When I do, it's usually to blow dry my hair to get some length. Before I do blow dry, I protect my hair with a heat protecting serum.

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

Hey y’all. I am Monique aka IrieDiva from Kingston, Jamaica.

2. What is your hair type?

I am a 3c I believe.

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

I went natural in February 2012. I’ve always wanted to do it but having a daughter made me finally chop it all off as I wanted her to look to me for hair and beauty inspiration, not the TV or magazines.

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

I can’t think of any challenges, I really have always wanted to do it and knew it would happen one day.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I deep condition every week using my homemade concoction and use ACV to clarify after. Then I apply leave-in conditioner, a styler and seal with a shea butter and olive oil mix. I may do flat-twists or may allow it to air dry depending on my mood.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I spritz with water if necessary and fluff. If the style has gotten old then I throw it up in a puff or butterfly clip and I’m done.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Cover with my satin bonnet. I have great intentions of twisting at night but I can’t seem to kick the lazies.

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

Currently, about twice per year. The heat in Jamaica does not allow for much more and I exercise regularly so the sweat would be an issue.

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

My name is Tasha Branham and I am originally from St. Louis, but I now live in Columbus, Ohio.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 4. I have all three textures of the type 4 category in my hair. I would characterize my hair as a 4b/4c texture.

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

I went natural in October of 2007 after transitioning for 4 months. My hair was long, limp and unhealthy and I was ready for a change. I had come across a blog online of a young woman that documented her natural journey and it was very inspiring. 

I also found www.fotki.com, which had a very large natural community. Becoming a member of the natural Fotki community encouraged me to make the ultimate decision to become natural.

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

The most challenging thing, at the time, was that there weren't many naturals (if any lol) in Ohio. There also wasn't a large selection of products available that were tailored for the natural hair texture. It took me some time to get used to the way I looked with a TWA. 

I didn't realize how much of my confidence I had trapped in my hair. I struggled for a long time to feel pretty. I had to learn to love myself and my hair all over again. I also had difficulty accepting my hair texture for what it is. I thought that when I did the BC, that my head would be full of curls and ringlets. I had to accept the fact that...my hair will never curl, and to be okay with it.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My theory has always been "less is more." I barely do anything to my hair. I moisturize every few days with MILK + HONEY products to help my hair retain moisture. Since I use all natural products, my hair doesn't have product buildup. This gives me the freedom to wash my hair less frequently. I typically wash every 3-4 weeks. I used to wash my hair every week. When I did, I battled with extremely dry hair and a dry scalp.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Depending on how I am wearing my hair, (I typically vacillate between 3-5 styles. That's it! lol) I un-braid and style. That's it. Nothing special!

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I braid my hair every night in about 2-6 braids, depending on the style that I am wearing at the time. I have to braid it nightly because it helps to keep my hair stretched and tangle free. Because I have an extremely coarse and coily texture, my hair will often tangle around itself if it isn't stretched.

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

I have never worn my hair totally straight since I have been natural however, I have had a handful of blowouts for trims and certain styles.

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

My name is Cea Radé.

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 natural 4 years ago because my hair had become very damaged and my edges became sparse.

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

Transitioning and being patient with progress.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I cowash and two strand twist my hair using Cantu's sulfate free cowash conditioner and leave in conditioner alongside Kinky Curly curling custard and Argan oil Ecostyler gel.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Everyday I remove my protective bonnet and apply coconut oil in the palm of my hand, rub to warmth and rub through my hair and spray a little water before I untwist.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I twist my hair back up into two-strand twists with a little water or just leave my hair loose spray water and apply my bonnet

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

Nope, never.

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

My name is Nanalli, but I go by J'ai (pronounced Zhae'), which is a part of my middle name. I am a native of Houston, Texas, but I was raised in Louisiana

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is a combination of 4b and 4c.

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

I went natural in June of 2011. One of my bff's, my cousin and I decided to do it together. We made a party of it. It was our "big chop" party. It was great to have their moral support.

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

The most challenging thing about going natural was wearing my hair in the TWA style. I was never the type to cut my hair in a short style, especially TWA short. It was difficult looking at myself in the mirror, but eventually I became comfortable with it. The many compliments I received was an added bonus :)

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I usually twist my hair using either Miss Jessie products or Shea Moisture. I may twist it up once or twice a week and style it in different ways.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I add oil to my hair before untwisting and styling.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

If I am not twisting it, I use think scrunchies to keep the twist definition for the next day. I part my hair down the middle and create 2 side puffs.

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

I seldom use heat on my hair. When I decide to blowout my hair, I use heat.

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

My name is Mariezain Kabba (Marie to some)  I am the CEO, founder & Editor In Chief of the thriving UK Natural Hair & Hair Care platform Unconditioned Roots! I originate from West Africa, I was born and temporarily raised in the beautiful country of Sierra Leone, I latter came to the UK and I’ve since spent my years growing up in the city of London Town (though I LOVE to travel!)

2. What is your hair type?

Honestly I have a mixture, predominantly 4C however my curls are rather looser towards the nape and back of my head so I would say a mixture of 4C, 4B & 4A. However, in my opinion hair typing is solely a necessity where it regards helping you to better understand your hair, its hair care and style requirements. Anything after that is rather unnecessary and can spur hair type jealousy and false expectations of what your hair was not designed to look like or do. All hair requires the correct hair care, and nurturing, patience and consistency in order for it to thrive so getting caught up in hair typing can defeat the entire purpose of embracing your natural hair as you can be setting standards and false expectations of your hair to be what it’s not. It can equally transform into another system of divide. For example I could have the exact same hair type as someone else and our hair will react differently to products and hair care regimens. I think it is beneficial for styling, as different hair types hold different styles better than others.

That said there are other hair properties like porosity and thickness that are important to consider but are not specific to any one hair type. Hair typing does not consider, dryness, porosity, strength.. etc it is based on textures. Moreover you rarely find a Black African woman who has solely one hair type on her whole head (I have a few!) more often than not you will find different textures.

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

On the 15th November 2012 I decided to do the big chop! When I did this I was partially informed of the natural community but not enough to know what I was doing, I actually honestly didn’t know what the term ‘BIG Chop’ even meant. I was just 100% certain that it was time to get rid of the relaxed hair. I soon fell in love with many Natural Hair Bloggers & Vloggers with varied hair types, textures, lengths, stages, regimens, popularity etc. and these ladies inspired and encouraged me to become intrigued with and discover my UNCONDITIONED ROOTS. So as my thirst for knowledge grew I began to run impatient of my “Transitioning” Roots, I’d transitioned for a few months before deciding to get scissor happy and face the newly natural me.

My hair wasn’t breaking or damaged…I simply cut it because I was curious to see what my natural hair texture was really like! During my Transitioning stages I noticed the vast difference in texture, curl pattern and HEALTH of my hair. My UNCONDITIONED ROOTS were THICKER, DARKER, KINKY & COILY, instantaneously I fell in LOVE and couldn’t wait to witness more; a crown of glory to be exact, one that I couldn’t wait to flaunt with pride!

I must confess however, initially I was sceptical towards how others would receive and accept my new look; almost all my life I’ve had lengthy chemically altered hair so it was a HUGE step for me.

However in the winters of 2012 I got fed up of my curiosity, and relaxed ends and thus made what would be that life changing decision to embark on that battle between physical beauty and personal esteem in a way that defies societal norms…so I went for it… I CUT IT ALL!

November 15th 2012, the evening I cut off my hair, I felt FREE initially. I laughed a little, and then engaged in more laughter to then embody a mixture of emotions; empowerment, shock, doubt, happiness, cultural strength and a sense of belonging. I stood in the bathroom of my University campus room and stared at a reflection unknown to myself and I expressed a huge sigh of relief and SMILED. Although I felt proud and was ready to flaunt my newly found UNCONDITIONED ROOTS I received a mixture of reactions from family and friends, however I was mentally prepared.

I was natural for 11months. With that, after months of care, protective styling and using the right products that I found worked well for my hair, my hair was in the healthiest state it’s ever been, it was FULL, THICK, and FULL of KINKS and COILS and I absolutely loved it! BUT then curiosity got the better of me once again, and I wanted to know what I’d look like with shorter hair. I’ve always known myself to have extremely thinned edges, possibly due to all the chemical processing, tight braids, tight hairstyles and weaves. So I was ready to make the ULTIMATE sacrifice and start from the ABSOLUTE BEGINNING… Yes I was ready to SHAVE it all off!

So on the 10th October 2013 I did my 2nd Big Chop and I SHAVED off my crown of glory and was faced with a new challenge, one of which I did not believe society was ready to receive. Although I actually adored my bald new look, as I believed it further enhanced my beauty and gave me a greater sense of relief as if I had been relieved of a great burden, my family were NOT accepting of my new look but have now grown to love my new hair and have been very supportive. I guess it was the initial shock that threw them away; also having always had a head FULL of hair and then shaving it all off is what possibly spurred a mixture of emotions.

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

The most challenging thing about going natural was accepting that my hair is not difficult to manage but simply different. Accepting my new look, not hiding underneath/behind the familiar weaves and braids etc and embracing my natural hair wholeheartedly. Quilting myself in a sincere cloak of confidence and pride when ROCKING my TWA in a society that was blinded to the beauty of an African woman with REAL Afro hair!

As always, there was the challenge of the few family members and friends who were confused as to why I would choose to be natural, they didn’t understand why I’d exchange the “luxury” of straight ‘easy to manage’ hair for a head full of (in my opinion) BEAUTIFUL, UNIQUE kinks and curls.

Despite some of the negativity, I didn’t let the comments and young ignorance phase me; it motivated me to want to educate myself the more, make sure my hair was in excellent shape at all times and influence and distribute knowledge to other women. There is an abundance of negative misconception and perpetuated myths that some carry about natural “black” hair that being… “Black hair doesn’t/can’t grow long”… “It’s nappy, it’s rough, tough, it’s unkempt, too big, unprofessional, hard to manage, ugly…” the list is endless and yes you guessed it INACCURATE!!!

My greatest support however was my partner, he actually prefers and loves my natural hair, and truth be told he is the initial reason I actually found the confidence to go natural *shy face*. He made me open my mind to the inaccurate expectations of ‘beauty’ that societal norms impose on us, causing us psychological distress as to how our hair ‘should be’. I became aware that accepting myself for ME, in my natural element, is one of the first steps in a victorious consciousness. My self-awareness of this fact coupled with the education, encouragement and inspiration I received from other forums is what greatly helped me overcome the negativity, until this present day.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen is exceptionally simple, simplicity is the greatest from of sophistication, I love to keep it simple and my hair THANKS me for it. Surprisingly prior to having gone back to my natural tresses I had a severe case of ‘hand in hair syndrome’ LOL (don’t judge me) but now I’m very relaxed about my hair and just let it do as it does and that is to be naturally content and free.

That being said my weekly regimen consists of; daily moisturising and sealing, co-washing every couple of days and a deep condition at the end of the week. I wash my hair once a week using either Hollywood Beauty Argan Shampoo OR Black Soap and every 3-4 weeks I will aim to use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of build up from environmental contaminants and hard water. I co-wash with Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Coconut Conditioner, I deep condition with Hollywood Beauty Argan Conditioner and add some of my DIY Home Made Oil Cocktail (mixture) and occasionally I will steam my hair (my hair LOVES  a good steam treatment). After all that I put my hair in some twists slap on a satin/silk scarf and I’m good to go!

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

With my daily morning regimen I simply finger detangle, moisturise and seal my hair, add a leave in conditioner, fluff and go (also applies for when I’ve got a protective style in such as braids).

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Simplicity yet again! My current night time regimen is pretty much similar to my morning regimen, reason being my hair is still at the TWA stage, a large TWA but nonetheless a TWA. So I simply finger detangle my hair, moisturise and seal my hair, add a leave in conditioner, put my hair in some big twists, and wear my satin/silk scarf or bonnet.

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

Currently, I solely use heat on my hair when I’m prepping it for a protective style such as box braids or Senegalese twists; otherwise I’m an air dry kind of girl!

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

Noelle Adores from Los Angeles, California.

2. What is your hair type?

I have a mixture of 4a/4b hair, 4a at the ends and 4b at the roots.

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

My last relaxer was in the spring of 2008 but I didn't decide to wear my hair naturally until September 1st 2011. 

I had grown very tired of the never ending cycle of wearing weaves for a year or two to grow out my hair, followed by getting my hair straightened every two weeks at a salon only to have it break off and become damaged from the excessive heat. It was a vicious cycle. 

In 2011 I was introduced to the plethora of information on maintaining healthy natural hair on YouTube. I decided it was time to put in the work and learn to care for my natural hair in it's natural state.  

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

The most challenging thing about wearing my hair naturally was my shrinkage. I have never been a fan of short hair on myself. I love it on others, but my hangups prevented me from wearing my hair out at all the first year. 

In my second year I rarely wore it out or down because I felt more comfortable with it pinned up or in a puff. I was very frustrated that my shrinkage wasn't allowing me to show off all my hard work and hair growth. It wasn't until the last year I overcame my hair length issues and learned to embrace and accept my hair shrinkage instead of seeing it as a negative or downside to being natural.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash, deep condition and style weekly, on Sundays. If I pre-poo, I do it overnight starting on Saturday night. On Tuesdays I moisturize and detangle. Midweek, on Thursdays, I oil-rinse and style.   

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Typically I take down whatever I had done the night before (twists, braids, bantu knots) or if I had not prepped a style I remove my bonnet, mist with water, and style. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Mist with water, twist, bantu knot, braid or put into a puff, put on bonnet, go to bed.

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

I do not use regular heat on my hair, meaning I don't blow dry or sit under a dryer, I air dry. I do give myself short term goals for straightening my hair. For example, my first year of wearing my natural hair I straightened every 3 months, the second year every 4 months, etc. 

These were my opportunities to check the length and get a good trim of my ends, as well as enjoy some length and a change of style. In my third year, I was supposed to straighten my hair every 6 months but when the time came I was not interested in doing so. 

I find that the longer I wear my hair naturally the less I want to straighten my hair or place heat on it.

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

Christine St. Vil; originally, my family is from Uganda, East Africa. I was born in DC and raised in Maryland.

2. What is your hair type?

I've never really studied the whole hair type thing, so can't honestly say I have a favorite. But I do love my tight kinky coils :).

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

I did my BC in March 2012. I had been transitioning for about 6 months at that point. But when I washed my hair, I realized too late that I had not completely detangled it beforehand. The result was that my hair was completely tangled in lumps where my new growth met the perm. I had no choice but to sit on my bathroom floor and take scissors to my own hair. I may or may not have shed some tears in the process.

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

For me, I felt like I was exposing myself because I could no longer wear bangs or have hair cover any part of my face. I also had absolutely NO clue on what to do with my natural hair, how to style it or keep it moisturized. Thank God for natural hair girlfriends and YouTube!

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen generally consists of a co-wash and twistout. If I don't have any events, then I'll wear flat twists and slap a bonnet and scarf around my head.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

If my hair is out, then I'll "fluff and go". If it's not, I'll untwist and moisturize.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I know I probably should twist my hair every night, but with three kids and a business...it just doesn't happen. So I try to at least spray my hair with a homeade concoction of coconut oil, olive oil and filtered water, before covering it with my bonnet.

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

I rarely use heat. I made the mistake of allowing a so-called professional (and natural) hair dresser to straighten my hair and I ended up with bad heat damage. So now, IF I use heat, I have my blow dryer on a very low setting and even then only until it's just a little damp, so I can elongate my twist-outs.