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

My name is Yasmine Saibou am I am from Benin, West Africa and currently reside in Washignton, DC.

2. What is your hair type?

I have 4c hair

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

I went natural in October 2013. My reason for doing so was because I realized the harmful effect of chemical processing and I also became more comfortable with myself.

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

I consider myself to still be in the “grow out stage”, my challenge is getting it to grow out longer and being patient.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My regimen differs depending on how my hair is styled but I usually wash and deep condition once a week and flat wist or two stand twist it, if I do not have braided extensions.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I have a fairly dry scalp so I use castor oil or other essential oil blends to moisten my scalp and use a qredew steamer to add moisture if my hair feel dry and brittle.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I always sleep with a satin scarf or bonnet, if my hair is out then I also do several twist to maintain a stretched length. .

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

I have stopped regular blow-drying and started steaming my hair and air drying. I use a sit under dryer if I am doing a permrod set. ​

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

My name is Kaisha Huguley. I'm known as Naturally Kai on YouTube. I'm from Washington, D.C.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is between a 3c and 4a.

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

I went natural on May 24, 2011 after my return from studying abroad for a semester in Ecuador.  I was tired of getting my hair relaxed.  My hair looked unhealthy and I just wasn't feeling the straight hair look anymore.

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

The most challenging thing about going natural when I first started was figuring out which products worked best for my hair texture.  I found myself in the beauty supply store buying up the entire aisle!  I must admit I am quite the product junkie.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen varies between the seasons.  However, as the warm weather approaches, I co-wash or deep condition weekly.  Lately, I haven't done a whole lot of variety in styling, so I usually wear a twist out for the week and protective styles periodically.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

I like to keep it simple and quick in the morning.  I usually wake up and add a little moisture to my hair (water and some type of moisture milk), fluff and go on my way!  

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

At night, I typically pineapple my hair or wrap my hair in a satin bonnet.  I'll usually re-twist my hair a couple of times during the week when I have time.

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

Very little.  I haven't used heat on my hair in months and I haven't straightened my hair since 2012.  I had a very bad experience with heat damage so I'm careful when it comes to heat.

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

My name is Kami, and I live in Washington, DC by way of Syracuse, NY.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair is a mix of a few different types, mostly 3c/4a.

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

I went natural July 15, 2009. I went natural for a few reasons. I always loved big, curly hair, and I also have scalp problems and relaxers would just exacerbate those problems. 

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

Learning about my hair and getting used to it. I'm a little bit style challenged, lol. Getting the hang of braid outs, twist outs, roller sets, etc took a little bit of time for me to learn. 

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

Currently, I wash with Herbal Essence Cleansing Conditioner and detangle right in the shower. Once a month, I use Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor. After I get out of the shower, I moisturize my hair with Giovanni Direct Leave-In, and seal with an oil mix of coconut and olive oil. Then I two strand twist.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the morning, regardless of the hairstyle I set the night before, I will just run some Giovanni Ultra-Sleek Brazilian Keratin and Argan oil Super Hair & Body potion through my hair, and then fluff, separate, or finger detangle depending on the style. 

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I like to wear my hair stretched most of the time, so after wash day when my hair is dry, I moisturize with Giovanni Direct Leave In or aloe vera juice and seal with an oil mix of coconut and olive oil. Then I will do a style that stretches my hair like braids for a braid out, or rollers for a roller set. I also low bun which can get my hair straight similar to a blowout with no heat. When I do roller sets or bun, I also use Jane Carter Wrap and Roll.

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

Only for blowouts. I haven't flat ironed in over 3 years.

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

Christine St. Vil; originally, my family is from Uganda, East Africa. I was born in DC and raised in Maryland.

2. What is your hair type?

I've never really studied the whole hair type thing, so can't honestly say I have a favorite. But I do love my tight kinky coils :).

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

I did my BC in March 2012. I had been transitioning for about 6 months at that point. But when I washed my hair, I realized too late that I had not completely detangled it beforehand. The result was that my hair was completely tangled in lumps where my new growth met the perm. I had no choice but to sit on my bathroom floor and take scissors to my own hair. I may or may not have shed some tears in the process.

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

For me, I felt like I was exposing myself because I could no longer wear bangs or have hair cover any part of my face. I also had absolutely NO clue on what to do with my natural hair, how to style it or keep it moisturized. Thank God for natural hair girlfriends and YouTube!

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

My weekly regimen generally consists of a co-wash and twistout. If I don't have any events, then I'll wear flat twists and slap a bonnet and scarf around my head.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

If my hair is out, then I'll "fluff and go". If it's not, I'll untwist and moisturize.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I know I probably should twist my hair every night, but with three kids and a business...it just doesn't happen. So I try to at least spray my hair with a homeade concoction of coconut oil, olive oil and filtered water, before covering it with my bonnet.

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

I rarely use heat. I made the mistake of allowing a so-called professional (and natural) hair dresser to straighten my hair and I ended up with bad heat damage. So now, IF I use heat, I have my blow dryer on a very low setting and even then only until it's just a little damp, so I can elongate my twist-outs.

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

I’m Denise, I live in the Washington, DC area. I have a Jamaican background.

2. What is your hair type?

3c/4a.

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

My last relaxer was in October 2010. I started off as just trying to have healthy relaxed hair. Eventually, I started by stretching my hair relaxers to 6 months, but during the process decided to just stop relaxing. I transitioned for 14 months before I big chopped.

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

Detangling while in transition, managing the 2 textures was hard in the beginning.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I wash my hair every two weeks with Golden Wheat Deep Cleanse Shampoo by Giovanni. I deep condition every two weeks after my shampoo.  I either use The Mane Choice Green Tea and Carrot Deep Conditioner, or mayonnaise mixed with coconut oil and honey to deep condition. I put on a plastic cap and sit under a heat cap for 45- 60 minutes. After that, I wash out my hair and condition using Smooth As Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner by Giovanni. 

I finger detangle my hair in the shower. It is so much easier to detangle with the water running down your hair. I have not completely given up on combs, but it is very rare when I use one. I squeeze out the excess water, spray my hair with Giovanni Vitapro Fusion Leave-In Hair Treatment, and then apply some Direct Leave In Weightless Moisture Conditioner by Giovanni. I then style as desired.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

Usually fluff and go.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I mist with Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Moisture Mist and seal with virgin coconut oil, focusing mainly on my ends.

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

Yes, a few times a year I get my hair straightened. Other than that, I mainly air dry for the styles I do.

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

Trudy Susan aka 4cHairChick. Born and raised in Washington state, but my parents are from Ghana West Africa. I claim both J

2. What is your hair type?

4c

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

I’ve been natural on and off my whole life, but 2011 is when I drew a line in the sand and committed to doing away with relaxers for good.  I made the decision to stop relaxing my hair because a girlfriend of mine who wore her hair natural inspired me to give my real hair a try.

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

Overcoming insecurities I had swept under the rug.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I’m more of a bi-weekly gal when it comes to my hair. On washday I detangle, wash, hydrate and stretch my hair. The following day I style my hair and rock that style for the week. When the weekend comes I play in my hair, which usually means a twist out, or a curl set. Sunday night it’s back to a protective style until washday rolls around.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

It truly varies. If my hair feels dry I spritz water. If I’m wearing a style that I want to keep stretched then I’ll use my Shea butter blend.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I silk wrap it up and I’m off to bed.

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

Yes, I’m not opposed to heat, but I’m cautious about the tools I use to apply heat and the temperature of the heat when I apply it.  Occasionally I’ll do a tension blow dry on my hair, but when I use heat I prefer a hooded dryer.

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.

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

Victoria Sanders. I am from Washington DC & Alabama but I live in LA now.

2. What is your hair type?

3C

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

I've been natural my entire life. Never ever had a relaxer or any other type of chemical alteration done to my hair.

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

Well, since I didn't "go natural" I can't answer this. However, I can say this...Before being natural became such a phenomena it was VERY hard to find products that worked in my hair. I was extremely self conscious about my big, frizzy hair.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I start by deep conditioning weekly with a homemade concoction (1 egg, half a banana, olive oil, honey). I leave this on my hair for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Then I steam my hair with my Q-Redew steamer,then co-wash my hair with Heavenly Scents opulently organic conditioner (I mix about 2 tablespoons of castor oil in the jar). 

If I'm doing a WNG I'll use Kinky Curly Knot Today, coconut oil, and then scrunch with Curls gel.  I normally co-wash my hair about 2-3 times a week depending on how dry I feel my hair is. And I steam my hair at least twice a week. Also, I follow the Curly Girl method, so I don't use shampoo or any products that contain silicones or sulfates. I make sure to get my ends trimmed when they need it.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

In the mornings I take my pineapple down and refresh my curls by misting them with a little water & vegetable glycerin (that I mix in a spray bottle) and I'll pick my curls out a little.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

If I have a wash and go, I simply pineapple and sleep on a satin pillowcase. I HATE scarves and bonnets, but I always sleep on my satin pillowcase.

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

I use heat on my hair about once every 6 months or so, I will flat iron it to see how long it is. I only blow dry my hair if I'm in a complete rush and don't want to leave with my hair soaking wet.

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

My name is Lana and I'm from Maryland, right outside of Washington, DC.

2. What is your hair type?

I have mostly 4a hair.

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

I had a lot of false starts on my natural hair journey, but I finally committed after realizing I needed to be the change I wanted to see in the world. I didn't want little girls growing up with hair insecurities and setting a healthy example for the next generation continues to motivate me.

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

Changing my perceptions regarding outward beauty was definitely the most challenging aspect. I literally had to un-brainwash myself from all the messaging I had received from the media.

5. What is your weekly regimen? 

I co-wash every other day. Religiously. The night before a co-wash, I sometimes slather coconut oil on my hair and sleep with a plastic cap and satin scarf. After I co-wash, when my hair is still wet, I use Hair Rules Curly Whip, sit under the dryer for about 20 minutes, and then go about my day. I use a creamy shampoo once a week or every other week.

6. What is your daily morning regimen? 

On co-wash days, I hop in the shower, apply a conditioner, rake my fingers through my hair to define the curls, rinse the product out without touching my hair, shake my head like a wet dog, apply a generous amount of the curly whip in a smooshing downward motion, shake my head like a wet dog again, and sit under the dryer for about 20 minutes (this is my time to read the news, catch up on my emails, do a little work, etc). Afterwards, I use a blow dryer to blow my hair into a shape. On my non-wash days, I apply the Hair Rules hydrating cream, blow dry my hair to wake it up, and stretch out the curls using the tension method. This blow drying routine lasts about 2 minutes. My hair has never been so soft day in and day out.

7. What is your daily night time regimen? 

I get sexy with a satin scarf LOL.

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

I use heat on a daily basis via hair dryers/blow dryers and my hair is thriving. I don't personally subscribe to heat-free messaging. I tried it for a while and my hair was consistently dry. To each her own.