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

Brandi Crenshaw from Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

2. What is your hair type?

4B

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

I went natural in 2008 after noticing years of thinning edges and a dwindling ponytail. Years of consistent relaxers had damaged my hair and it was see through. I hated the fact that my hair was so thick at the roots and so thin at the ends. It was time to go back to my roots and so I did and have never looked back. That creamy crack is WACK!

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

The transition period where you have two or sometimes more, curl patterns and textures. I combatted this issue by maintaining my transitioning hair in protected up do's and two strand twist styles. The other challenge was dealing with a new look, a new me. 


Hair is a major physical feature for a woman and changing the texture and length dramatically can cause mental and emotional challenges that requires changes to an individuals state of mind state outlook on self.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I cleanse using a co-wash once a week and moisturize every three days with mist of water and quartersize amount of my personally blended Castor Oil/aloe vera based leave in conditioner followed by a dime size amount of my very own Shea Butter concoction that I mix at home and call PrettyBrand Hair Crack. I apply that to my hair in small sections. I style using a light non tacky gel.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Depending on the hair style it varies but typically I do not style in the morning as I have my style already set the night before.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Typically stretched using my moisturizing regimen listed above then braid each section or two strand twist and roll the ends for a more defined curl pattern for the ends.

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

Maybe once or twice a year when I have my stylist trim my ends.

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

My name is Kim Isaacs, I live in Los Angeles, California, but I'm originally from Durham, North Carolina.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair is half and half 3C and 4A. It's low porosity with fine to medium strands and thick density! 

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

I went natural in August of 2010.  I wasn't really trying to go natural, I just became curious about my own curls.  I never knew I had any!  I was getting my hair pressed and my stylist had just washed my hair.  I looked in the mirror and was shocked to see waves! It was then on that I wanted to learn more about my hair which put me on the journey to becoming natural.  In August of 2010 I made the decision to embrace my curls.  :)

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

Getting used to the image in the mirror after decades of associating myself with straight, flat hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I do my hair twice a week, once with a sulfate free shampoo, the other with conditioner only.  I do a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment once a week and I do a protein treatment every few months or so or as my hair need it.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Pretty simple, I fluff my hair, and spritz with an oil spray. That's it! If I'm wearing a bun or a puff, I just take off my scarf and go!   

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I spritz my hair with water first, then I apply a water based moisturizer and seal with an oil or butter. If I'm wearing a wash n go, which is most of the time, I pull my hair into a low ponytail and cover my hair with a loc soc.  I also sleep on a satin pillow case.  If I'm going to wear a bun or puff the next day, I style them the night before, and cover my edges and hair with a satin scarf.

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

I might sit under the dryer for a deep treatment or to dry my hair, but that's about it. I almost never use direct heat on my hair.  I had my first blow out in almost 4 years a few weeks ago. I have no plans to do it again any time soon. I haven't flat ironed my hair since going natural. I am scared of heat damage.  Plus, for decades I wore my hair straight, I know what that looks like. :) I just don't have the itch yet.  I'm sure I will at some point, although I have no interest in going back to wearing straight hair most of the time.

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

My Name is Stacie Daye aka MamaDaye I live in Raleigh, North Carolina.

2. What is your hair type?

I’m a mixture of hair types, I have 3B, 3C and 4A in my head of Curls.

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

That’s a loaded question but I went natural May 2010 on Mother's Day.  I was diagnosed with a Rare Spinal Syndrome CES and going natural and putting my focus on Learning about natural hair helped to remove myself from depression and it gave me purpose in my life.

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

The most challenging thing for me was learning this new person.  All my independent life all I knew was how to take care of my relaxed hair.  My new hair couldn’t function with my old methods SO I had to learn what she liked and how often she needed that DC. It took some getting used to but I would not change it for the world.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I’m rocking the WNG’s (Wash N Go’s) right now so I wash my hair, Dc, use Aloe Vera and style my WNG for a 3 day stretch and I start the WNG process all over again.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I usually don’t do a lot in the morning.  I will put a little oil on my hair if it needs it but for the most part, I shake and go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

This is usually when I do my hair so I refresh my curls or twist depending on whether or not I’m rocking a protective style. Every other day I spray oil on before bed.  If my hair feels extra dry I do the green house effect: I put 2 plastic shower caps on and then 2 head rags to help bring moisture back to my hair and scalp.  I love the Greenhouse effect with my WNG.

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

Rarely but yes.  I would say about 2-3 times out the year I blow dry my hair and 1-2 a year I flat iron it.  When I do I make sure to do a Protein treatment and use Heat protectants to ensure I have not caused Heat Damage to my curls.

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

Sasha Manley from Hampton, Va living in Charlotte, NC :)

2. What is your hair type?

That's a good question lol My  hair is definitely a mixture of the 3 types. It's straighter on top and more kinky on the sides.

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

I went natural nearly 13 years ago because of a bad perm. I was actually long over due from ditching perms. I've always worn rodded and curly styles 

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

The most challenging thing in my opinion is  learning your hair.  Those  of us that go natural have been use to permed hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash and deep condition on Sundays depending on my schedule and wear it in a protective style until it's almost wash day.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I usually have a light oil to freshen up my twists

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

If needed light moisturizer and a satin scarf

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

The only heat that goes on my hair is when I'm deep conditioning

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

My name is Donna Moody and I am from North Carolina but currently live in South Carolina.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is 3c-4a.

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

I went Natural in 2010. My best friend talked me into going natural. After many attempts, I decided to give it a try and I absolutely loved it! It was the best decision I made for hair! On July 27, 2014 I will be celebrating my 4th year anniversary of being natural.

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

The most challenging thing about going natural was cutting my hair. I had transitioned for 6 months before I did the “Big Chop”. I knew ahead of time how much I had to cut. I only left about an inch to an inch and a half of hair on my head. I was in total shock for a minute but after getting myself together, I felt so refreshed!

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen changes from week to week. I try to make sure I apply oil and water daily to keep my hair to keep it moisturized. I like to wash my hair every other week to keep my natural oils in my hair. Some times when you shampoo too much, it will cause your hair to strip and dry out because you are washing your natural oils out. This is what causes build up. Another great tip I do during the week is the following: Apply a leave-in conditioner such as Cantu Shea Leave-in.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the morning, I use my spray bottle to midst my hair and I apply oil. Next, I use a moisturizing product or a leave-in before I style. This helps me manage my hair better. I love using Eco Styler Gel on my edges to keep them smooth. The one I use has the argan oil in it so it keeps my hair firm but not crunchy hard. Mostly during the week, I wear a lot of updos’.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night, I take down my hair and apply oil. I use a lot of oil in the spring and summer because the weather is hot and your hair needs a lot of attention. It screams out for moisture! Sometimes with the oil, I massage my scalp. If I am wearing a twist out the next day, I twist my hair in medium sections. If I am going to create an updo’, I just leave my hair loose and put on my satin bonnet. You never know how many times you toss to and fro at night, moving your head back and forth or side to side which causes your hair to rub against fabrics that cause breakage. Satin pillows are great or my satin bonnets. The key is to always protect your hair at night. It is so important.

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

I use heat such as blow-drying, a few times a year. I only try to flat iron my hair once a year. I do not want to apply too much heat to my hair because I do not want to mess up my curl pattern or cause my hair to become so damage that I have to do the “BC” again.
Too much heat is not good for natural hair.

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

Tamara Taylor, I was born and raised in Richmond, VA and currently live in Raleigh, NC

2. What is your hair type?

3C

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

I went natural in April 2011.  I tried to go natural 2 additional times before my big chop.  I suffer with eczema on my scalp and the more and more I was getting relaxers the more my scalp was suffering.  The front of my scalp and hair line would look like cradle cap because of the discoloration and build up.  I saw everyone rocking the styles that I wanted and then I found out that most of my cousins went natural and decided to take the plunge one final time.  I was a short transitioner as my last relaxer was right before Christmas 2010 and I cut all of my hair off on April-7-2011.

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

Finding products that work and understanding my specific hair type.  Not all curls are the same and what works for one may not work for you.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Pre-poo, wash, deep condition, excess my ends and then style

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I mostly wear braid outs or twist out so I use coconut oil to release my hair, fluff and go

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Re-twist or re-braid religiously. If I don't I will pay for it the next day

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

I only use heat 2-4 times a year when I get my hair straightened for special occasions.

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

My name is Ashley a.k.a FabEllis and I am from North Carolina.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is a mixture of 3C/4A.

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

I made the decision to go natural in October 2010.  I transitioned for five months and then did the big chop in February 2011.  I decided to go natural after realizing that a keratin treatment I had was not washing out my hair after a year of having the treatment applied.

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

The most challenging thing about going natural was learning my hair and taking the time to style it.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

My weekly regimen is simple.  I wash with shampoo, condition, deep condition, rinse, do the LOC method and style in two strand twists while wet.  Some of my favorite products are Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo, Pantene Truly Natural Shampoo and Deep Conditioner and Cantu Deep Treatment Masque.  

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

In the morning, I remove my satin bonnet and let the steam from the shower hit my hair.  If necessary, I may apply oil to my hair and/or scalp.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

I place a satin bonnet on my hair.  I detest retwisting my hair so I refuse to do it.

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

I do have heat applied to my hair a few times a year mainly when clipping my ends.