Over the course of 2013 Neno Natural focused on hair education. 

In 2014 we are going to continue with hair education but with a renewed focus on hair ingredients and DIY homemade hair care recipes. 

To balance that off we're opening Neno Natural up to bloggers and anyone else that wants to share some of their own experience and knowledge about natural hair via a new feature called Queen of Kinks, Curls & Coils. Click here to apply.

Anyone can apply but only the best will be published.

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

I'm Kiara and I am from Hampton, Virginia, United States. 

2. What is your hair type?

I have a mixture of mostly 4a with some 3c patches 

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

I decided to go natural about 6 years ago, I transitioned for a year and then big chopped Aug 2010. My decision came after dealing with my skin condition after a really bad relaxer experience. 

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

For me, learning what worked for my hair and what didn't seemed to be the most difficult part. It took a lot of trial and error. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I usually wash my hair weekly, most times Friday nights so my hair has time to air dry. I try to pre-poo with an oil to help detangle, wash with either bentonite clay, ACV, or my fav Trader Joe's shampoo & conditioner. I try to deep condition every wash and I style my hair once a week as well.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I usually take down my pineapple, spray a little water on it, shake down my curls and walk out the door. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I normally work out most afternoons so my hair is in a pineapple, so to prep for night time I just tie my hair up in a satin scarf. 

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

I do. I rarely use flat irons or curling tools. I do use my blow dryer at times as well as sit under a hooded dryer occasionally. 

9. Do you braid your hair? If so, how often do you do so in a year? 

Normally once, or twice a year at the most. I normally don't leave them in for longer than a month at a time because I start missing my hair. 

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush? 

Wide-tooth comb

11. Is your hair normally loose or in a protective-do? 

It's normally loose. Protective styles and I, just don't get along because I like being able to wash my hair. lol But I do plan to try a few this upcoming winter.

12. Have you ever had a hair tragedy? What was it? How did you recover from it?

I would say currently I am experiencing some hair issues. I've been experimenting a lot more and trying new things which causes me to play in my hair a lot more often. I want to focus on health and strand retention. That is my current goal and I think adapting a method that keeps me from playing in my hair all the time will help.

13. What's your biggest tip for maintaining healthy or long hair?

Enjoying every moment of your journey! A lot of us get so wrapped up in length checks and how fast everyone else's hair is growing that we try to rush our journey. Loving your hair every step of the way will require you to focus on its health and that in turn will promote length retention. 

14. Where can we find you online? (blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc). 

• Blog: newlynapturalme.squarespace.com
• Instagram: @va_slim25
• YouTube: youtube.com/KiaraMac

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

Judy Acevedo from Washington D.C., USA. 

2. What is your hair type?

Type 3/Type 4

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

My last relaxer was in April 2013. Deciding to transition back to my natural hair was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself. I began transitioning in April 2013 after my last relaxer. I had been perming my hair since I was around 16 or 17 and it had been so long since I had seen my natural hair, that I honestly could not remember what it looked like.

I had depended on my mom to do my hair my whole life and when she suggested I perm it so that I could manage my own hair, I accepted.  I can’t even lie, having relaxed hair was fun. I liked to wear it straight (I still do) and I loved the ability to flip it, toss it, have it blow in the wind, tuck it behind my ears!! I enjoyed it, I really did.  

What I did not enjoy were the scalp burns whenever I got a touch-up.  I also did not enjoy seeing my hair break off and fall out.  It scared me to see how thin my hair was becoming. What used to be thick, luscious, shiny hair turned into brittle, dry, stringy hair.  It concerned me. Upon moving to Washington DC in spring of 2013 and seeing so many confident, beautiful black women sporting their own natural hair, I decided enough was enough.  

I had also suffered from severe chemical burns on my scalp from a bad hair dye and I just knew I wanted to stop putting harsh chemicals on my scalp and hair. I decided right then and there that I would just transition back to my natural hair. I was very excited but also nervous to see what my hair would look like. The anticipation of it all was nerve wracking.

I transitioned for 18 months then cut off my relaxed ends October of 2014. What a relief! Such excitement! I do not regret my decision at all. Having my natural hair makes me feel complete. I feel like the woman I was always meant to be. 

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

The most challenging thing about going natural is the time and effort it takes in  caring for my hair. Natural hair is so unbelievably delicate. Tending to my natural hair feels like a full time job.  I can't just fall asleep at night, I have to wrap my hair. I can't just hop in the shower and wash my hair, I have to pre-poo. Going to the gym requires a lot of planning and coordination. If I go to the gym on day #1 of a particular hair style, it'll be ruined before the end of the session. And don't even get me started with the wash-and-go... it's never just a wash and go. Natural hair requires a lot of effort, time and patience.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I don't really follow a strict regimen.  Natural hair is too unpredictable for a set regimen.  One thing I do weekly, however, is a deep condition to help minimize the dryness. To deep condition, I use either a store bought deep conditioner or natural ingredients (mayo, eggs, oil, etc.), apply it to damp/wet hair and leave it in for 20-30 minutes while wearing a plastic cap. Then I rinse it out completely, then style my hair as usual.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Every morning, I apply a little oil to my hair and pick my hair at the roots. It's helps to give me the volume I love. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Overnight, I preserve my hairstyles by gathering my hair in a pineapple using a silk scarf. 

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

I use heat to style my hair, mostly in the winter. I try to stay away from direct heat (flat iron, blow dryer) since they directly heat the hair. My preferred method of heat styling is through the use of a hooded dryer on my roller sets. The hooded dryer does not directly heat the hair so the hair is less prone to heat damage. I would also like to note that hair burns at temperatures above 400 degrees (some might even say 350 degrees). The hooded dryer does not get quite this hot. If it did, the rollers would melt and you'd bake like a turkey. I have never experienced heat damage from a hooded dryer so I consider it a safe way to heat style my hair.

9. Do you braid your hair? If so, how often do you do so in a year? 

I do not braid my hair although I would love to try this style soon. 

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush? 

Team Denman Brush - Nothing clumps and defines my curls quite like the Denman Brush. 

11. Is your hair normally loose or in a protective-do? 

I wear my hair loose almost every single day. I just love how it looks and how it feels.  When I'm not wearing my hair down, it's usually pulled back in a bun while I'm pre-poo'ing or deep conditioning.  

12. Have you ever had a hair tragedy? What was it? How did you recover from it?

I once heard that garlic helps to reduce hair loss and shedding.  While I was transitioning, my hair was shedding so badly that I decided to make my own garlic treatment.  I used my blender to whip up a garlic paste for my hair then applied it on damp hair and left it in for about 30 minutes while wearing a plastic cap. Afterwards, I washed it out it with shampoo. Unfortunately for me, the scent lingered for almost 3 weeks.  

No matter what I tried, I could not wash the scent out of my hair!!  It was truly the worst three weeks of my life.  Imagine the faces of my co-workers; I reeked of garlic. To make matters worse, my hair continued to shed after that ordeal.

13. What's your biggest tip for maintaining healthy or long hair?

 My biggest tip for anyone on any hair journey, deep condition.  You hair will thank you for it.

14. Where can we find you online? (blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc). 

• Facebook: facebook.com/Fluffcoif
• Instagram: @FluffCoif
• YouTube: youtube.com/JudyAcevedo

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

I went natural on January 1st, 2005. I transitioned for 4 months prior with micro braids and kinky twists (those were super popular then!) and did the big chop for the new year. It was my senior year of high school and I was soon to graduate. I wanted to start my new chapter with a change. My sister transitioned in her middle school years and her hair is beautiful. We have they same parents so I thought to myself, " I know my hair is just as pretty! We have the same genes!!" 

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

Gosh, the change! Having relaxed hair seemed so much easier at the time. Trying to find the right products. In 2005, there weren't all the natural hair brands like now. No stylists in my area knew much about caring for natural hair. It was a lot of trial and error! I did wash/go's every day. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Right now, my regimen consists of weekly washing & deep conditioning, then I finger coiling my hair. That is what I'm known for now! I love them because I can do the coils and not have to do it again for a week! I also love the definition and how polished my hair looks. I'm not a fan of the frizz! I love the way polished natural hair looks on me.  

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the mornings, I unwrap my hair and use a bit of water to bring my hair back to life. I may have to recoil a few smashed coils, but other than that, I'm good for the day! 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I simply put a little of an oil  on my hair then wrap it with my satin scarf. Super easy! 

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

No! I will not use heat until I've grown my hair out a couple years. I know how damaging heat can be and I want to retain as much length as possible! I didn't use much heat when my hair was relaxed and it did well, so I know my hair will be even better without heat being natural.