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

My name is Ruth Mafupa and I am a Malawian living in Johannesburg South Africa

2. What is your hair type?

I have predominantly 4b with some sprinkles of 4a and 4c

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

I started my transition to natural hair in 2011 (January). I did a long transition of 2 years and became fully natural in January of 2013. I did not like how my hair looked when relaxed. It was so thin, limp, dry and was breaking chronically. I knew that if I wanted fuller healthier hair, I had to grow it natural. Natural hair bloggers and vloggers also inspired me to think of natural hair as a healthier alternative that could give me the fuller and healthier hair that I wanted. I signed up for an account at Natural Sunshine and the weekly emails urged me to take that leap and stop relaxing my hair. When I relaxed my hair for the last time on the 8th of January 2011, I knew even then that it was for the last time. I have never looked back.

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

I transitioned for 2 years so managing the two textures of my hair was very challenging.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash my hair once a week by doing a pre-poo, shampoo, deep condition and then moisturize. I then twist my hair to let air dry. I normally wear my hair in an updo in a twist out or mini twists. I spritz my hair with a water and oils mixture at least once a day and will do a proper moisture session in between wash days where I apply a water based leave-in conditioner or my spritzer to make my hair close to damp then apply some oil and then Shea butter. Basically the LOC method.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I spritz my hair with a water and oils mixture and style my loose hair or protective style mostly in an updo. Sometimes I have a protective style that I keep for a few days like a tucked updo then I just remove my satin bonnet or scarf, tidy the edges and hit the road.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

This depends on whether I have my hair loose in a twist-out, mini twists or hair extensions. When I have my hair loose in a twist-out, I will spritz it with my water based spritzer very lightly and then band it with ouch-less hair bands in 3 or 4 sections, place a satin scarf over it and hit the pillow. This I find gives my hair maximum stretch and keeps tangles away. If I am wearing my hair in an updo the next morning, I may also style it up before going to bed so that styling my hair does not delay me in the morning. This limits the styles I can do on my hair if I am styling the night before but that is okay. When my hair is in mini twists, which I do very often, I also spritz my hair with my water based spritzer and then seal lightly before styling for the next day or two and then tie a satin scarf on and I am good for bed. This applies for when my hair is in Havana twists or Senegalese twists as well.

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

Yes I do use heat on my hair about once or twice a year.

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

Yes I do braid my hair and I do this very often. My hair is mainly in two strand twists also known as mini twists and also use hair extensions for Havana twists and Senegalese twists. I rarely braid my hair though as I find braids harder to undo.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

Both. I feel both have their purpose. I use the wide toothed comb more though.

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

It is more in a protective styles. I love low manipulation styles as they give me more time on my hands where I am not doing hair and also give my hair a chance to retain more length.

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

I have hey. I experienced excessive shedding after delivering our son in 2012 and up to now I am still trying to recover from it. My hair is quite thinner now than before so I am on a hair challenge right now to grow it thicker and longer this year.

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

Be kind to your hair when handling it and use products that work for your hair. How one handles their hair is more important than what products one uses. Listen to your hair needs and do that consistently and your hair will flourish.

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

• Website: naturalsisters.co.za/
• Facebook: facebook.com/Naturalsisters
• Twitter: @natsis27
• Pinterest: pinterest.com/ruthwillow/
• You Tube: youtube.com/user/natsis27

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