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

My name is Jacinta and I am from Nigeria but I live in Pittsburgh PA. 

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is more like 10C lol no but according to Andre Walker's hair chart I am 4C. ​

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

I had my last relaxer December 29th 2012. I Started taking good care of my hair September 2014. I decided to go natural because I was frustrated with my relax hair. 

Here is the Youtube video of my natural hair journey:     

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

The most challenging thing about going natural was not knowing what to do for my hair. I could not figure out what products works well with my hair or how to style it. And that is why I thank God that now I have found a regimen/products that works well  for me. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash my hair bi weekly. I usually pre-poo, wash, deep condition my hair. Then I will do a braid out, twist out or Bantu knots. I make sure that my style last me a week before I re-style it. Then I will leave my hair in a bun till my next wash. 

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Depending on how I feel I would wear my hair out or otherwise I will just put it in a bun and go about my day. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I would re twist or braid if I have have a special place or occasion but if not I would just put my hair in top loose bun. 

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

I do not use heat often.  I've only blew out my hair once since I went natural. ​

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

My name is Nogah, I’m from Philadelphia but currently live in New York

2. What is your hair type?

I have both 4a and 4b textures in my hair 

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

I had my last perm on October 2013. I transitioned for about 3 months before I big chopped. After chopping I had about 2 inches of hair, it was very short but I didn’t care. I was so happy to be natural.

​I decided to go natural because I was tired of the weaves, perms and damaged hair. I tried to go natural a few years earlier but gave up when I didn’t see immediate results. This time around I was dedicated and promised myself I would stick with it. Almost two years later I am so glad I did. Natural hair is more than a trend, for me it was really about falling in love with myself and not allowing the media or anyone else to defy the standards of beauty. 

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

I think the most challenging thing about going natural is the knowledge! Some of us have no clue how to take care of our hair. Products, styles, regimens, all of it can be very over whelming. There is a lot of trial and error to figure out what works for your hair, but with patience and consistency you can see progress.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen is either cowashing or shampooing but I always deep condition at least once a week or every other. Whether it’s a hot oil treatment of hair mask, deep conditioning is so important in your hair’s health and growth.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Every morning I take down my nightly twists or loose puffs. If twists I apply oil or serum to my fingers to reduce frizzing. If I slept with puffs then lightly spray my tips to moisturize and reshape my fro. I apply water and eco stylergel to my edges, brush them neatly and wrap a silk scarf around for 10 minutes to lay them down.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

My nightly routine is always moisturizing. Type 4 hair tends to be the driest of all textures so keeping my hair, especially my ends, moisturized and sealed are important for me. After moisturizing I either put 8-10 chunky twists in or 2-3 loose puffs to preserve my curls. I then massage black Jamaican castor oil on my edges, crown and any weak spots. BJCO promotes hair growth and thickness.

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

Never. The only ‘heat’ I apply is my heating cap while I deep condition once a week.

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

My name is MoniQue Highsmith and I am from Philadelphia, PA.

2. What is your hair type?

I have 4b/c hair

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

I began my transition in October 2011. I wanted to go natural because I researched the ingredients in perms and I discovered that some of the same chemicals that are in perms, could be use for household cleaning products. My hair was heat and color damaged, and I wanted my hair back to health again. My ends were shedding constantly and I wanted a change, and I made that change

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

Trying to find the products that worked for my hair texture/type.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Moisturize (spray bottle: water, leave in conditioner, grapeseed oil, coconut oil), seal with shea butter and twist.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Depends. If I am rocking a twist out, I put coconut oil on my hands and take down my twists. If I have a protective styles in, I moisturize with my spray bottle mixture and oil.  

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Moisturize and twist or moisturize and do the band method.

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

No.

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

My name is LaNeshe and I’m originally from Connecticut, now I live in Philly.

2. What is your hair type?

4a/b

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

I got my last relaxer in May of 2008. After taking some African American studies classes and really starting to think about the standards of beauty that are imposed on black women I decided that natural hair was more “me” than a relaxer. Also, I was tired of the money, time, and pain I would spend getting my hair relaxed at the Dominican salons.

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

Definitely the transition phase. I never big chopped, so for a long time I was dealing with two separate textures, which was much harder to manage than when my hair was 100% natural.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

On Sundays I wash my scalp with Shea Moisture shampoo or just co-wash with Tresseme Naturals depending on how dirty my hair has gotten during the week. If I have used shampoo I think follow up with Tresseme Naturals as a rinse out conditioner. I then moisturize with Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia Leave in, follow that up with coconut oil, and then seal with the Karen’s Body Beautiful butter. Depending on how I plan to wear my hair for the week I’ll put in media twists for an eventual twist out or twisted flexi rod set, flat twists for a flat twist out, or small twists to just wear.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

If I’ve prepped for an “out” style I unravel my twists or rods then fluff. If I’m wearing small twists I leave them be or pin a portion of them up.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

If my hair feels dry I spray with water and/or Shea Moisture Hold and Shine Moisture Mist, then use some Shea Moisture Restorative Conditions. Tie my hair up with a satin scarf.

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

Maybe once a year I’ll blow dry it.

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

My name is Markeeta, but I am mostly known online as KeetaRay (my first and middle names shortened and combined). I am from a suburb of Philadelphia, currently residing in Maryland.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is Type 4 (mostly 4a and some 4b).

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

I went natural by doing my Big Chop (BC) in November 2008. I transitioned prior to that for 8 months. I was tired of getting relaxers, and although my hair was long it seemed to be thinning. I also didn't want to continue to identify myself with my hair, and I wanted to accept myself - all of me - as I was created. That included my natural hair.

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

I feel the transition was more difficult than actually being fully natural. While I was transitioning, I read and researched A LOT about natural hair textures, how to style, care for hair, etc. I got a relaxer for the first time at age 13, so I had never dealt with my hair in its natural state before (my mom had always maintained and styled my hair prior to that). This was a completely new learning experience, as it is for many, but I loved it. The hardest part AFTER my BC was probably finding products that my hair responded to best. But I had so many to try that it was a fun process for me.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

When my hair is not in a protective style (like twists), I wash and condition my hair weekly. I try to use non-sulfate shampoos as they don't dry my hair out, but I'm not opposed to shampoos that contain sulfates - I just make sure not to use often. After I wash and condition, I twist my hair with a leave-in, an oil like extra-virgin olive oil, and a styler (like As I Am Twisting Cream - I think that's what it is called). I then let it air dry overnight and untwist in the morning for a twist out. I deep condition every other week. I detangle weekly while conditioning my hair.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I don't do much in the morning except take my twists out to style and go. I may put oil on my fingertips to help eliminate frizzies but that's it.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night - if my hair is not in a protective style - I retwist by spritzing with water and applying a light oil. I only use the oil if my hair feels dry - otherwise, I just lightly dampen with water.

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

I do occasionally use heat. If I'm in a rush and need to untwist my hair for a twist out I will sit under a hooded dryer using indirect heat to speed up the drying of my hair. And when I get trims (which I get every 3-4 months by a licensed professional), I do get my hair lightly blow-dried beforehand.

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

My name is Crystal aka Kriss.  I’m from the Philadelphia PA area originally but I’m currently in Delaware.

2. What is your hair type?

I consider my hair type as 4C.  My hair is very tightly coiled and has a ton of shrinkage.

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

I decided to begin transitioning to natural in February 2012 and big chopped in August 2012. Prior to that, I had been trying to maintain texlaxed hair and ended up having a huge set back from over processing… my hair thinned out so badly!  From that point, I realized that no matter how hard I tried to make relaxers work for me, it just wasn’t the right decision for me.

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

I think the most challenging thing was the uncertainty prior to big chopping.  I had no real positive memories of my natural hair as a child for motivation so it was going to be very new to me.  I wasn’t sure if I or my family would like and accept it but I was determined anyway.  When I decided to big chop, I made sure that I was comfortable with my decision…I even told myself that I was gonna rock whatever texture I was blessed with to the fullest.  :)

5. What is your weekly regimen?

I like to keep my regimen pretty simple. I like to detangle mostly with my fingers and detangle with a comb only when needed. I tend to cowash my hair at least twice a week. On my wash days, I moisturize my hair with versions of the LOC, LOCO, or LCO (new to me).

After that, I apply my styler (if I’m using one) and set my hair in whatever style I’m going for. Last, I air dry or sit under the dryer (cool/warm setting.)

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

Nine times out of ten, I wake up to VERY smushed hair lol!  I’ve learned that when that happens, shower steam is my best friend.  I hop in the shower and let the steam get to my hair. Depending on the style, I may let a few drops of H20 hit it. Then I’m able to manipulate it into the style I decide to rock for the day. If I need extra moisture I add just a little product. :)

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

At night, my routine varies depending on what state my hair is in (wash & go, twistout, braidout, updo, etc.)  I moisturize if needed, and prep my hair for the style I'm choosing to wear.  I also sleep on a satin pillowcase, and wear a satin bonnet or satin-like skirt slip. Don’t laugh! :D

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

I currently only use my hooded dryer as a source of indirect heat. I use the cool setting which is not “cool” air at all lol.  It’s warm air. :)