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

My name is Ashly Rodriguez. I'm from Boston, Ma.

2. What is your hair type?

​My hair type is a mix of 3c/4a. In the back of my head my hair is 4a and as you get closer to the front it is more of a 3c. 

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

I went natural June of 2014. I had the choice of either relaxing my hair again after a year of not getting one or just cutting off the relaxed ends and going natural. I decided to cut off the ends.

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

The most challenging thing was letting go of the flat iron for over a year to let my natural hair be great. That break gave me a chance to get my curls healthier again and get rid of my heat damage that I dealt with. Also learning ways to style my hair was also a challenge at first but now I love being able to explore new styles to try on my hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Each week I Cowash or shampoo my hair, then I deep condition my hair. I always let the deep conditioner sit in my hair for about an hour before I rinse it out. I really just listen to my hair and what it needs. If one week it's dry, I'll add a hot oil treatment in the mix or If I need to give my hair a little TLC after a few weeks of styling, I will add a protein treatment. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

About 3 days of the week I massage Jamaican Black Castor Oil on my scalp  in the morning. If I feel that I need to, I will moisturize my hair in the morning with a mix of leave in conditioner and oil.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I just make sure my hair is protected each night before I go to bed. I always put my hair into a couple pineapples when my hair is out, and cover it with a Bonnet.

8. Do you use heat on your hair at all? 
​
​I haven't in some time. I've given my hair a major break for the past year and a half. But I do plan on using it for some styles in the future. 

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

Lisa Jean-Francois. Boston, MA (Haitian-American)

2. What is your hair type?

​4A

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

I wanted to see if I had a curl pattern.

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

When I went natural (back in 98), I transitioned with heat styling my new growth. By the the time I was fully natural I didn't know what to do with my hair, and really resented it. I didn't come to fully embrace and  love my hair until I cut short last winter. Now, I'm loving my fierce funky curls. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Twist outs.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Pick out and fluff

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Satin Scarf

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

Yup. When I want extra volume I'll lightly blow dry my hair and twist it. 

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

Dynasty. I'm from Springfield, MA

2. What is your hair type?

3c/3b 4a near edge line medium fine texture

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

My mother used to relax my hair when I was growing up. The last relaxer she gave me was when I was around 10 years old. Although, I started  my natural hair journey in 2013. I transitioned from heat damage for 1 year on June 1, 2013 and then I mini chopped my straight ends on June 1, 2014. 

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

Having two different textures was the most challenging. Products that I used worked well on the heat damage but would work differently on my natural texture. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I pre-poo, cleanse, deep condition and moisturize, seal and style my hair once a week. I massaged my scalp with oil at least 2-3 times a week. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Depending on how my hair is, I take my hair down from a pineapple, shake and go. I sometimes apply oil to frizzy curls to reshape them by coiling them around my finger. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night, I put my hair in a pineapple, cover it with a satin scarf and then I put on satin bonnet on the pineapple part. 

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

​Yes, I use heat but not often. I straighten my hair every 4-6 months. I use a blow dry to stretch my hair once a month if that. 

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? 

Hi everyone! My name is Christine Louis-Jacques. I grew up in Massachusetts, and currently live in the Washington, DC area.

2. What is your hair type?

If I have to categorize my hair, it would fall in the type 4 kinky curly. My texture is naturally made up of various curl patterns ranging from loosely curly toward the front and back of my head whole more thick in the middle.   [Heather: I'm guessing 4A with some 4B?]

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

August of 2010, I did the big chop.  Prior to cutting my hair, I was finishing my last semester as an undergrad. My hair was in a somewhat healthy state yet dull. I was spending so much money on relaxer to feel like my hair was “presentable,” to the outside world and myself. Naturally, I grew more and more curious about my natural texture. I had a few friends that were already natural, and speaking with them confirmed my decision to transition. I decided to go with the big chop after growing impatient of maintaining two different textures.

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

A part of me was scared/nervous with how those close to me would receive it. Everyone has an opinion, and I had to listen to myself and go for it. Also, I was obsessed with YouTube. I was on there everyday for hours taking notes on products and styles before really understanding my texture. It got overwhelming in the beginning until I started finding out which products worked best for me. In my experience, it was mainly through final and error. It is still a learning process.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

Hmm. Right now, my weekly regimen has been low maintenance. Less is more in my book. Sundays usually are my wash/deep condition/style days. During the week, I focus on maintaining moisture, by co-washing every 2-3 days.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

I don’t really have a particular morning regimen. It all depends on how my hair is styled the night before. For example, if I am rocking a 2-day-old twist out or Bantu knot, I usually will spray my hair with a little water to give it life and then add a small amount of leave-in conditioner throughout my head and massage it onto my scalp. I will fluff out my curls with my pick, and I am out the door. On my more lazy days, I throw my hair in a puff.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

My nighttime regimen is pretty simple. I usually pineapple my hair and cover with a satin scarf. Other nights, if I want to maintain a style, I will re-twist/braid my hair, seal the ends with either jojoba or coconut oil and cover with a satin scarf.

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

Every now and then, I will blow out my hair if I want to achieve a stretched out look. I have straightened my hair when getting trims.