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

My name is Raquel Robertson. I am born in Dallas, TX. Raised in Denver, CO and currently living in New Orleans, LA.

2. What is your hair type?

​I have a few different hair types. Wavy in the front which is 3b and back is more 3c.

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

I went natural about 3-4 years ago. My transition started when I saw a photo of this ladies hair that was so full and curly. In my mind I thought, "yessss, I want my hair like that." I also had a friend that used a lot of natural products on her hair and she introduced me to how she washed her hair and I loved it. 

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

The most challenging about going natural was having patience while transitioning. Mainly because I wanted my curls to look a certain way.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

MY weekly regimen consist of washing my hair at the beginning of the week then wear a style for the whole week. Through out the week I moisturize my hair by spritzing it with water and apply moisturizer and sealant if I need it. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the morning I usually just style my hair for the day.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night I spritz and moisturize then I wrap it up for then night using a satin scarf or bonnet.

8. Do you use heat on your hair at all? 
​
​I use heat on my hair occasionally. Once of twice a year I straighten my hair. During this time it’s not a lot of heat just enough to straighten it.

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

Hey you! Yeah, YOU! My name is Linda Hurd and my nickname is Leeny Lynn. I am from the West Bank of New Orleans, Louisiana.

2. What is your hair type?

​I am mainly a type 4 hair type with a sight mixture of 3b and 3c in the front of my crown.​

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

I actually went back to natural when I was in high school as a junior. I did it because growing up I always had natural hair and peer-pressure made me go to a hair salon to get a relaxer. I was tired of being bullied and called names. I realized that after relaxing my natural hair in eighth grade that people were going to bully me regardless if my hair was relaxed or natural. I started accepting myself for who I was and the young woman I was becoming. I transitioned to natural for 6 months and did a big chop. I never looked back and embraced my natural.

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

The most challenging thing about going natural was finding products and hair styles that worked for me.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen is pretty solid whenever I rock my wash n gos.

Oil scalp and do scalp massages Monday through Wednesday. Wednesdays nights I mainly detangle and pre-poo my hair for Thursdays. Thursday is my mid-week wash and re-style. Sunday I shampoo and deep conditioned my hair and style. Then I repeat the same.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

My morning regimen is me simply taking my hair out from under a bonnet or scarf and I shake it out. I pick my roots and spray a little oil mist on my hair and I’m out the door.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

My daily night regimen mainly consists of spraying a water, leave in conditioner, and oil mixture on my hair before hopping in the shower. I place a shopping bag on my head to lock in the moisture and it creates the greenhouse effect for my hair. The steam from the shower makes my spray concoction come to life and makes my hair very soft and hydrated. I oil my scalp just a little bit and place on my scarf and bada boom! My hair is ready to play in the morning!

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

Yes, I use heat on my hair to dry my curls after a wash n go. I use heat at least three-five times a month to stretch out my roots too.​

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

My name is Doni Raye and I am from Southern Louisiana.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 4b/c.

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

I went natural on January 1, 2014 because I wanted a fresh start in life. I wanted to be liberated from society’s definition of beauty.

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

Finding the courage to actually do it. Nothing else in my journey compares to the fear that I had when I first big chopped.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Every Saturday I do a hot oil treatment, wash, deep condition, and style.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I do light coconut oil and water and style because it is already moisturized from the night before.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I use a satin cap to sleep after I do my daily moisturizing.

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

Once, it was a huge fail. I ended up putting a kinky straight ponytail on it after my flat iron puffed up.

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

My name is J’Nai and I was born and raised in Cajun country a.k.a. New Orleans, Louisiana. 

2. What is your hair type?

Like most naturals, my hair is multi-textured. It ranges   from 3c around my nape area to 4b-c in the middle and very top of my head. The majority of my hair is 4a. 

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

When I was in college, I got very lazy with my hair care, and it started to break off really badly. After that, I started getting sew-ins to give my hair a break, but I would leave them in for too long and wouldn't take care of my hair underneath. It's safe to say my hair was a total wreck. My last year of college is when I decided to go natural. I stopped using heat and switched up my products and styles and have never looked back. 

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

It took a while for me to get comfortable in my own skin again. It was a drastic change going from a long and silky weave to a short afro. At times, I felt embarrassed to go outside. I didn't know how to take care of it, let alone style it to make it look good… People who knew me looked at me differently and with hesitation. But I adjusted, and it opened my eyes to a new world of beauty and creativity. I had a renewed appreciation for black hair and a deeper love for myself. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen is usually dictated by the style that I am rocking for that week. My usual style is a two strand twist out. So, on Monday, I will wash or co-wash and deep condition my hair. Then, I will twist it up. I try to wear my hair in twists at least for two days, mainly for protection but also because my twist outs tend to look better this way. Then, I rock a twist out for the remainder of the week. I usually don't have to remoisturize in between styling because the products I use help me to retain moisture. If my hair is just out of whack, I will co-wash it and style again. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

It’s very simple: take off my bonnet cap, shake, fluff, and go! I try to pick it out for volume, also. Because I leave my twists in for so long and I use heavy products that weigh my hair down, its harder to get the big fro unless I do a wash and go. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

My nighttime regimen is also very simple… I just throw my   bonnet on lol. If I have a rod or roller set in, I will put it in a puff just an inch or two above my hairline and throw it in a bonnet. My hair isn’t long enough for a pineapple yet. Sometimes I give myself a scalp massage with Jamaican black castor oil and aloe vera juice to help with growth. This is usually before a wash day. 

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

I usually only use heat to blow dry my hair before a trim.   After I trim, sometimes I straighten it or wand curl it. I trim 3 times a year. 

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

Hello! My name is Paula Bland aka NaturallyGreer and I am from New Orleans, Louisiana

2. What is your hair type?

Not really sure if I fit into a type due to me having multiple textures throughout my head. I am definitely in the category of a 4 but have a mix of a-c.

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

I started to go natural in 2008 while in nursing school and was driven by not wanting to look like everyone else. I would get tired of the growing and breaking off episodes I would have with my hair as well. I was also very curious to see my true texture. 

I remember as a child, my hair being super thick and hard to deal with at times but I never had to do my hair myself so I was unfamiliar with how to manipulate and deal with my natural texture.

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

The transitioning phase. Seeing what my hair could be and comparing it to the limp, lifeless, permed ends was very frustrating.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

That changes pending the style but I moisture my hair daily with a aloe based moisturizing spray. On wash days I usually wash my hair with a rhassoul clay based mud wash, I deep condition once every 2 weeks to one month, moisturize with aloe moisturizing spray, and seal with butter of choice.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I usually wear a lot of styles that are easily preserved and protective like twists, flat twists, or crochet braids. So my regimen usually consists of a daily moisturizer and butter/oil sealant.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Usually just making sure a silk bonnet is applied or silk twisters are place at ends of a section if I have done a twist out to preserve the style.

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

I have in the past but have found due to the multiple textures, my hair responds drastically different in various areas so after cutting off over 12 inches last year, I have decided not to go through the heartache again.

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

My name is Nika Ruffin. I am from Monroe, Louisiana. I currently live in Shreveport, Louisiana.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 3c in the front, and 4a at the top and in the back. I also have low porosity hair. 

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

I started out natural until the age of 10 yrs old. I got my first relaxer at the age of 11. I choose to return back to my natural tresses on September 24, 2011. I didn't like my relaxed hair because it was very, very thin. It never held a curl, and it would literally be stuck to my head from chemical burns. I hated that. 

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

The most challenging thing for me was finding the right products for my hair type. It seemed like everything I tried made my hair dry. I had to learn which ingredients my hair likes and doesn't like. I had to learn to not weigh my hair down with a lot of product because I have fine low porosity hair. It has been a challenge learning my hair, but I have enjoyed the journey of getting to know what works for my hair. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My hair regimen consists of me doing a hot oil/deep conditioning treatment every week on Sunday using Shea Moisture Black Soap Purification Masque mixed with Olive Oil, Peppermint oil, and Tea Tree Oil followed by a clarifying cowash using VO5 Kiwi Lime Clarifying Conditioner. After I co-wash I use a leave-in conditioner by Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture conditioner or Kinky Curly Leave in conditioner. I use Eco Styler argan oil gel to lay my edges down. I always flat twist or regular two strand twist. I don't do wash n go's often because my curls get really tangled, and I get fairy knots. I choose to twist my hair in order to keep my hair stretched. Shrinkage is real! 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Every morning I take my satin scarf off and I untwist my hair. I always add a little bit of almond oil for shine and then I fluff my hair and that's it. If my hair is in a low bun I take it down and fluff. I keep my regimen very simple. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night I spritz my hair with water then I add a little bit of Kinky Curly leave in conditioner and I retwist my hair nightly. On the nights I don't feel like twisting I always put my hair in a low bun. I sleep in satin scarf. 

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

Yes I flat iron my hair every 6 months to do a trim. I also sit under my hooded dryer for 30 mins whenever I do my hot oil deep treatment. You can find my Youtube video showing how I do my hot oil deep treatment here: 

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

My name is Allison from New Orleans (USA) - the Big Easy!!

2. What is your hair type?

4c

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

I went natural in 2010. I’m an older natural and I notice due to hormonal changes my hair was starting to break off and I had thinning spots around my temples.

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

Finding products that would keep my hair moisturized and healthy. A lot of products are fluff and scent but I wanted healthy options for my hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I make an ayurvedic treatment for my hair using Cassia, Amla, Brahmi etc. 

I will always clarify my hair once a month to remove product build up from the scalp and hair. I ALWAYS follow up with a deep condition and my final rinse is done with a Tea Rinse. The deep condition/tea rinses are NON NEGOTIABLE.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I recently big chopped my hair again into a tapered look, so I moisturize the sides and the back and use a sponge to make coils around the sides and back.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Moisturize and seal my entire head, I use the LOC Method (Liquid, Oil, Cream).

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

Before cutting my hair for the 2nd time I used heat 3x since returning to my natural state

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

Sabrina Newby, DeRidder Louisiana, USA.

2. What is your hair type?

3c-4a

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

 I stopped getting relaxers in 2010. I big chopped in 2012. I was on a Spiritual Journey. 

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

Thinking back...I had little to no challenges.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I only use BouGie Natural Products on my hair.  I Co-Wash using BouGie Natural Conditioner. Deep Condition with the BouGie Natural 3-Minute Treatment or Use BouGie Natural Day Serum as Hot Oil Treatment. I wash my hair every 2 weeks with the BouGie Natural Refresh Shampoo. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I have a quick and easy regimen. I spritz with water, use BouGie Natural Leave In Conditioner and Day Serum then away I go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I spritz with water, use BouGie Natural Night Serum on my scalp, and twist my hair with the BouGie Natural Moisturizing Jelly and ButterCreme.

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

No, I'm heat free.

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

Hi, My name is Monique, and I am from New Orleans, Louisiana.

2. What is your hair type?

I am a combination of 3c/4a.

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

One day I woke up and decided to cut the remainder of my relaxed ends off. I was already rocking a short haircut, so the decision was really easy. That was over six year ago. It was one of the best decisions I ever made about my hair.

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

Finding the right products and styles that worked best on and for my hair. Also, learning that my journey is my journey, and that I shouldn't compare my hair journey with others.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I co-wash, and deep condition weekly. I usually set my hair in 8-10 braids, and let my hair air dry.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the morning, I apply a little oil to my hands, and remove the 4-5 braids. Fluff and go!

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I rebraid my hair into 4-5 braids. If my hair feels dry, I spritz with water, and apply an oil/conditioner mix.

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

My hair has been professionally straightened once. I will lightly blow my hair out at least once a year to trim

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

My name is Deanna Bocâge-Pace. I was born and raised in New Orleans but have spent a great portion of my life in Virginia.

2. What is your hair type?

I have type 4 hair (a mixture of all 3)

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

I did my big chop in March 2010. I was tired of going through repeated cycles of growth followed by breakage and a lot of shedding. So I decided to give it a try.

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

For me, it was going through the growing phase and getting my hair to a length that I felt I could work with. I wanted big hair!

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

When I find the time, I may co-wash once a week and do what I call "the works" toward the end of the week or every 2 weeks.  I shampoo, condition, deep condition and treat my scalp using apple cider vinegar. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I don't always have the energy to retwist every night so I usually wear my hair in a low maintenance semi protective style during the week and where my hair out on the weekend days. In the morning, I usually just take off my bonnet, fix up my edges or refresh my style and go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I may add some moisturizer to my hair, put on my bonnet and go to bed :) 

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

Yes, I use heat on my hair. I may straighten my hair twice a year. I will use my blow dryer on a low setting to stretch my hair if I'm going for that type of look.