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

I'm Donyell Johnson, and I'm from Greenville, SC but currently reside in Nashville, TN.

2. What is your hair type?

​My hair type is a Mix of 3C/4A. ​

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

I went natural in 2012, I hated going to the beauty salon and I also sweated out my relaxers thanks to Cheerleading in high school. Plus I wanted something new. 

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

The most challenging thing about going natural is the transitioning stage and then finding the right products once you're natural. It's hard trying to handle two different hair textures. Once you become natural you're clueless about what products to get for your curly/kinky hair since it's all new to you.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash and deep condition my hair every week. I deep condition with coconut oil, castor oil, and Trader Joes Natural Spa Conditioner. Then after I deep condition I wash my hair with Trader Joes Natural Spa Shampoo and Conditioner.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I spritz some water and add coconut oil to my hair.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

Honestly nothing, I just make sure I put that bonnet on my hair before I go to bed. haha

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

Yes, sometimes when I do a wash n' go I blow dry my hair with a diffuser. I also flat iron my hair once or twice a year.

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

Hi! I’m Ashley Michelle from Memphis, TN! 

2. What is your hair type?

It’s a mix of a few different textures. It’s mostly 4a/4b with a bit of 3c. 

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

There was a time when was I hooked on the creamy crack and you couldn’t tell me any different.  That was until the constant use of it caught up to the health of my hair and scalp.  My long thick hair had become thin and broken and literally left me heart broken! (no pun intended).  I suffered through chemical burns, unflattering “trims”, and more.  These issues caused a downward spiral in my self-esteem.  I felt unattractive and found myself trying to hide my hair with hats and scarves on a daily basis.  It was then where I realized, “this CANNOT be life.”  After transitioning for 3 months, I big chopped on January 3, 2010 and it was one of the most liberating feelings of my life.

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

The most challenging thing was trying to figure out what to do with my hair.  It was always dry and matted.  Sometimes I felt discouraged, but my thirst for knowledge made the research and process of trial and error tolerable.  Once I learned more about ingredients, techniques, methods, etc., my journey became a lot easier and fun! 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I try to keep it really simple because I hate being in my hair all of the time #LazyNatural lol. Once a week I wash, condition, and style my hair. I usually style my hair in a twistout or braidout which lasts for a week. This keeps the maintenance pretty low in my regimen.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Since my shrinkage is so disrespectful, I never re-moisturize or wet my hair in the mornings. My poor tresses will shrivel right on up lol.  I usually take care of that situation the night before. So my mornings consist of me simply fluffing and going.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I have 2 night time routines.  Whichever I use depends on the state of my hair.  If it’s dry, I re-moisturize with 1 of my fave moisturizers then either high bun or plait my hair (which helps combat shrinkage).  If it’s well moisturized, I simply throw it in a high loose bun or ponytail.

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

I used to use heat maybe 2-3 times a year, but as of late, I haven’t used heat in almost a year.  

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

My name is LaPorcha and I am from Louisiana but currently living in Tennessee.

2. What is your hair type?

I'm not into hair typing, but I've been told my hair is 4A.

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

I went natural in April 2013. I simply got tired of buying relaxers and burning my scalp. Also, I was just really bored with my straight hair. Although it was long (MBL) there just wasn't much I could do with it.

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

Transitioning and getting the looks and comments from people who don't like natural hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I Co-Wash at least once a week, deep condition and style my hair. I usually have a twistout, but recently I've had LOTS of success with wash and go's so those have been my go to styles.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I spritz my hair with a little water, shake and go (if I have a wash and go). With a twist out I take the bands out and fluff and go. Simple, right? :)

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I band my hair at night, and I sleep with a satin bonnet. Sometimes I'll re-twist, but a lot of the time I don't.

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

I have used heat on my hair once, to do a length check. I'm afraid of heat damage, so I limit the heat.

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

My name is Shermaine Nettles and I am from Nashville, TN.

2. What is your hair type?

I am a proud 4C natural

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

I went natural in 2012 after a terrible break-up. I was texturizing (relaxing my hair slightly so it was not bone straight) my hair at the time and neglected it for three whole months because of depression. I would wear my hair in the same bun day in and day out. After everything had finally ended between my ex and I, I decided to change my hair. I went from grazing APL (arm pit length) to ear length hair. I was horrified. That day, I just started my transition to natural hair because my hair was so short, I had three months of new growth and I thought I was overdue for a touch-up.

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

When I first went natural, I struggled a lot with styling my hair. I hated my shrinkage, and it was so tiring to moisturize, oil and braid my hair every night. I definitely was not prepared for the maintenance involved with 4c hair. I had limited styling options when my hair was short, so I would always wear it in a puff, which became very boring.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Sunday - Moisturize with conditioner and seal with coconut oil and divide hair into about 8 two strand twists.

Monday - Pin my twists into an updo.

Tuesday - Friday: I wear my updo. If I need moisture, I’ll spritz my hair with a conditioner water mix in a spray bottle.

Saturday - Take my twists down and wear my hair out and down.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I only style my hair once a week. So the only thing I have to do in the morning is take off my satin scarf!

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

On Sunday night I style my hair for the rest of the week. Every other night after that, all I need to do is put on my scarf before bedtime. Once a month a do the ‘Inverson Method’; meaning, I rub my scalp with the oils of my choice (usually peppermint and coconut mix), massage my scalp and hold my head upside down for four minutes. I do this for seven days straight once a month. To increase growth for that week, I place a plastic bonnet on my head to create steam and promote hair growth. I can gain up to one inch of hair per week when I do this before bed.

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

I only use heat once a year on my natural hair anniversary. I would like to heat train my hair, but I’m going to reach my length goals before I start.

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

Ngozi Ali, Nashville, Tennessee

2. What is your hair type?

Mix of 4a (lower back of head), 4b (outer perimeter) & 4c (crown area)

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

I had my last relaxer in Dec of 2008 (see pic below). My hair started thinning 2 months before turning 26. When I turned 28 I noticed I was developing a large bald patch on my scalp behind my hair line (around the temple area). I was also relaxing and wearing weaves, which was only adding to the hair loss issue.   

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

Most challenging thing was (and sometimes still is) detangling. Because my hair is fine and thin, it tangles really badly so if I don’t detangle on a regular basis (at least once per week) then it starts to loc/ matt. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Weekly regimen, finger detangle moisturize just to remove any shed hair one time a week. This is when I usually refresh my twist. On Monday night (which I wouldn’t suggest as the best time, but this is randomly when I always feel compelled to do it), I pre-poo my hair with Aussie Moist conditioner and separate into sections to wash. I detangle if I can. I then wash with a sulfate or moisturizing shampoo. After I protein treat and follow with a deep conditioner. After I rinse those, I detangle and style in my signature twist. The next day I may style if going somewhere or just were my hair in a twisted updo.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I usually only moisturize 2 times per week. I use the L.C.O Method, which keeps my hair pretty moisturized. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I may moisturize if needed, will wrap my hair in a scarf as well as wear a bonnet. I also sleep on a satin pillow case. This is if I wear my hair in twist, which is usually 85% of the time. 

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

3-4 times a year I will blow dry my hair for a blowout. August 2014 (my upcoming 5 year anniversary) was the first time I flat ironed my hair. 

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

My name is Erica King and I am originally from Nashville, Tennessee. I currently live in Phoenix, Arizona.

2. What is your hair type?

I am definitely 4c with some 4 a/b areas in the back.

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

I went natural in February, 2009. It was time for another relaxer and I decided to fully embrace my natural curls instead. I transitioned for 11 months and big chopped on January 25, 2010.

I had been natural on and off for about 10 years, but I had always gone back to the relaxer.  This time, I big chopped right after I had my son (he was a few weeks old). We had also discovered my girls (2 & 4 y/s old), had severe food & nut allergies. 

We needed to make some BIG changes.

I was obsessed with reading ingredient labels to make sure our lotions and conditioners didn't have almond oil or macadamia nut oil in them. Both were pretty popular. We started using all-natural, allergy-free, non-toxic ingredients on everybody's hair and skin.

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

DETANGLING! I transitioned for months before doing a big chop, so detangling would take me hours. As my hair grew longer, it would take even longer.  I loved my thick, luscious hair, but it took me a while to figure out my hair's moisture code. 

Thank God for YouTube tutorials and coconut oil.

I starting using homemade clay treatments and Terressentials Pure Earth Hair Wash (Lavender Garden & Left Coast Lemon), after watching Naptural85's clay wash videos. Bentonite clay, along with finger detangling (on wet and dry hair), got my detangling time down to 20 minutes.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

I wash my hair once every 2 weeks and deep condition each time. I'm always trying to simplify my routine but I use these methods regularly:

• Apple cider vinegar or hair tea rinse (1x every 2 weeks)
• Scalp massage: 2x weekly, focusing on the crown
• Leave-in conditioner (4x a week)
• Seal ends with hair butter (4x a week)
• Oil rinsing as a deep conditioning treatment (once every 3 weeks)
• Hair affirmations -- daily:)

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Right now my hair is in havana twists so I take them down in the morning, spritz with a leave-in conditioner, and that's it. I like to make my own and use Oyin Handmade's Frank Juice, or Jane Carter's Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner.

When my hair is not in a protective style, I keep homemade flaxseed gel and hair butters close for extra styling pizazz!

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I use the L.O.C Method to put my hair in twists for the night. I usually put in about 8 to 10 twists and tie my hair up in a satin scarf.

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

I use minimal heat, mostly for hot oil treatments and deep conditioning.

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

My name is Dominique Payne and I’m from Memphis, Tennessee.

2. What is your hair type?

I have what you call “corkscrew” curls. My curl pattern is 3b/3c according to NaturallyCurly’s website.

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

I started wearing my hair natural back in September 2011. That decision stemmed from the heat damage that I had at the time. Back then, I never really paid much attention to what I was doing to my hair health-wise. I would flat iron or curl my hair every other day, which eventually led to me having about 4 inches of heat-damaged ends. One day I woke up and decided to stop butchering my hair. My decision has paid off since then as I no longer battle with heat damage.

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

I remember having such a hard time trying to learn about all the different chemicals and ingredients that go into a product, and knowing how to distinguish between “good” ingredients versus “bad” ingredients. The truth is, there’s so much information on the chemical makeup of hair care products that it can sometimes get overwhelming. 

My simple solution starting out was to stray away from the main harsh detergents such as sulfates, parabens and silicones. Once I finally got into the groove of actually reading ingredients lists, it got a bit easier and I started incorporating my knowledge of ingredients into my purchasing decisions.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My regimen tends to change overtime. My current weekly routine is to cleanse and condition my hair on the weekends. To cleanse I use DevaCurl No-Poo and to condition I opt more towards DevaCurl One Condition, although I do use other conditioners from time to time. I do deep treatments every other week. One of my favorite moisturizers to use is Shea Moisture’s Thickening Growth Milk. I also like to style with a light defining gel by DevaCurl. I air-dry my hair throughout the day, which takes around 4 to 5 hours… My hair holds a lot of water (lol). Throughout the week, I apply water and oil as needed to prolong my wash and go.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Five days out of the week, I’m usually in a rush. So I have to be quick, especially since I’m not a morning person at all (lol). All I do is take my hair down from the pineapple, spritz a little water (if needed) and shake my hair. I like to call it my fluff n’ go! Literally, I’m done in less than 2 minutes!

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

My night time regimen is even more simple than my morning regimen. I just put my hair up in a high ponytail at the top of my head (called a pineapple) and sleep on a satin pillowcase to prevent moisture loss and frizz.

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

No heat for me! In fact, the only heat that I will allow is from the sun or my hair dryer bonnet, which I only use for deep treatments. Both are indirect sources of heat. After my past experience with battling heat damage, I am all about protecting my hair from direct heat.

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

I'm Tori and I was born and raised in New Orleans, LA (NOLA), but I currently reside in Memphis, Tennessee.

2. What is your hair type?

The Andre Walker hair typing system can be so interpretive; just when I think I've got my hair type figured out, it turns out to be something different. I may be 3B/3C, majority 3C, according to the link provided, however.

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

I was natural until 4th grade when I begged my mother for a perm so I could be more grown up. Since high school when I realized my relaxer combined with my lack of healthy hair practices was severely breaking and thinning my hair, I had a yearning to go natural so my hair would be healthy and super long again, but felt like I couldn't. I felt as if I wasn't allowed to (by society, I suppose). Well, one day several years later, I met up with an old friend who locked her hair and I expressed how much I liked it and how I wished I could do that with mine. She simply responded, "You can." Her answer stuck with me until a few months later in 2008 when I had an epiphany, "She's right! I can!" After that, I decided to transition, which I did for about 18 months, until I BC'd on Oct. 6, 2009.

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

While transitioning, dealing with the two textures. I chose to blend my relaxed hair with my new growth by using braids, twists, and bantu knots so when it got humid - and for some inexplicable reason it was superhero humid that year - one texture would shrink up and poof while the other would look wet and fall limp. I looked like Mother Willow. 

5. What is your weekly regimen?

I wash bi-weekly, alternating between a rhassoul & bentonite clay wash and co-washing with one of my favorite Suave Naturals conditioners. 

I DC with either coconut milk, SN conditioner, or a mixture of greek yogurt, honey, & ACV bi-weekly as well. 

I moisturize with either my Elixir (a combo of water, SN conditioner, and oils) or an herbal infusion (fresh rosemary, sage, and parsley with honey, coconut oil, and soybean oil) and seal with a whipped shea butter pomade I mix. Then, I braid or twist (whichever one my hair isn't rejecting) my hair for the night and style the next day.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

I pretty much just remove my scarf, take a hot shower so the steam hits it, style my hair (if it isn't already in a style), and go. If I'm not going anywhere, I will sit there looking like Ms. Celie all day.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I tie my hair with a scarf. If necessary, I may spritz lightly and throw on a plastic bag for 20 minutes to replenish moisture beforehand. If my hair was in an out style, I pineapple loosely or put my hair in a loose bun.

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

Not really. Recently, I have tried using a hot wet cloth while deep conditioning, but I prefer just slapping a plastic bag on and letting it sit for a while.