Queen Akushika ~ Queen Of Kinks, Curls & Coils® (Neno Natural)

29/1/2014

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

I'm Jennifer a.k.a Akushika GoneNatural, originally from Ghana, West Africa but currently live in New York (US).

2. What is your hair type?

Proud 4C ;)

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

December 1st, 2011. I was curious to come to terms with the real me, au naturelle, kinks, coils and all. I was also tired of the constant breakage I experienced with my relaxed strands.

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

Learning to embrace my TWA (teeny-weeny-afro), especially after my Big Chop...it was a drastic change to what I was used to.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

My schedule is pretty busy, so I wash/shampoo my hair every week and a half to two weeks with either my Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo or Black Soap Purification Masque. I sometimes do a pre-poo with Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner and oils. After shampooing, I do Deep condition with a DIY Avocado, olive oil, mayonnaise mask, or use my Jane Carter deep conditioner. For a leave in conditioner, I use the KimmayTube leave-in or Aloe vera gel mixed with oils. For moisturizer and sealant, I use my Shea-Aloe butter mix or my Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque. I keep my hair in two strand twists most of the time, and wear my FingerComber unit as a protective style especially during the old winter weather.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

I moisturize and seal my two strand twists with the Shea Moisture Curl and Style milk and avocado or emu oil.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

I spritz my hair with my Shea Moisture Curl and Style hair mist, and seal in the moisture with it's Curl and Style Milk and an oil.

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

I try to stay away from heat styling most of the time. I do use a Huetiful hair steamer and Laila Ali Bonnet Hair Dryer to infuse heat to enhance penetration during my deep conditioning and hot oil treatments.

9. Do you braid your hair? If so, how often do you do so in a year?

I do braid my hair in senegalese twists, kinky twists, puffy/fluffy twists from time to time. I still haven't perfected the technique for flat twists, but when I do, that will be a handy protective styling option.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

Both, depending on what exactly I'm trying to achieve during my regimen. I first use my fingers to detangle before using any combs or brushes though.

11. Is your hair normally loose or in a protective-do?

I love to keep my hair in protective do's especially two strand twists because it prevents excess manipulation and breakage.

12. Have you ever had a hair tragedy? What was it? How did you recover from it?

How did you recover from it? : Yes, once when I got my hair blown out and braided for a weave for a friends wedding. It was a horrible experience, they were not gentle at all with my natural strands, and I did loose a little hair off my edges because of the tension from the tight cornrows. I vowed never to go get my hair done in the salon, unless it's a natural hair salon.

13. What's your biggest tip for maintaining healthy or long hair?

Moisturize everyday, or every other day, and protective style, whether it's roll, tuck and pins, braids, buns, etc...it helps retain length.

14. Where can we find you online? (blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc)
My Youtube channel is AkushikaGoneNatural: