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

15/3/2015

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

My name is Cannie and I’m from North Carolina.

2. What is your hair type?

I have a mix of 4a and 4b curls.

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

I had been relaxed for the majority of my life and had long, healthy hair. I hadn’t had any terrible relaxer experiences and I wasn’t truly aware of a “natural movement” at the time.

It was 2010 and I had a love/hate relationship with my relaxed hair. While it was long and thick, I didn’t enjoy dealing with it because I felt like my relaxers never “took,” like my hair was always “puffy” and hard to manage. I would get relaxers and it would be silky smooth for a week to 2 weeks, and then it was, what I tended to call it, “unruly.” So I resorted to wearing my hair in braids or kinky twist styles and I simply got tired of it.

I wanted something new and fresh. I saw one of my cousin's “natural journey” photo albums on Facebook and was instantly inspired. I truly felt like it would be something I could enjoy, Instead of having angst about my hair, I could have a chance to embrace the kinks! So, I did a little research and took the plunge.

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

Transitioning was the most challenging for me. Because I was wearing so many braided styles, my relaxers were stretched out, so I had some natural new growth already when I decided to transition to natural. I only intentionally transitioned for around 4 months because the two textures were hard to maintain for washing and styling.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

I keep my hair stretched during the week to decrease tangles and for easy styling. I moisturize and seal as needed. I alternate between co-washing and shampooing weekly depending on my hair needs.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

On a typical morning, I will take down the style I prepped for the night before. If I did not prep ahead of time, I will moisturize and style.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

I usually moisturize, seal and prep my hair for the style I’m going to wear the next day or reset a style I am already wearing by doing the “pineapple method” or re-twisting.

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

I typically blow out my hair once a year for a really good trim, but I don’t normally use heat for styling on my hair other than that. In the case that I’d like to get a really nice deep conditioning session, I will sit under a hooded dryer if it is necessary.

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

I don’t normally braid my hair for styling. I enjoy twist outs because they are quick and easy and I love the overall look. I have done kinky twists and spring twists and that is usually a once a year occurrence.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

I prefer to finger detangle first and follow up with a wide-tooth comb to decrease pulling and pressure on the hair.

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

It really depends on the time of the year. In the spring and fall, I enjoy having my hair loose. In the summer and winter I love a nice protective style. I love bun styles year round.

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

I guess I could say I’m in the midst of a hair tragedy now: I have a little bit of breakage and thinning in the back of my hair in the “upstairs kitchen” that I believe is due to wearing my hair up the majority of the time.

While my bands are not extremely tight, I’m thinking that, it being constantly pulled up has put a strain on the hair in that area. After a nice trim, I’m “babying” that section and being sure to keep it moisture balanced and not putting any pressure there. Instead of using bands, I can use hair pins or small combs if I’d like to wear my hair up. I’m confident that the fullness will be restored!

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

My biggest tip would be “keep to the basics.” Maintain a regular regimen for washing, deep conditioning and moisturizing your hair. Enjoy styling, but low manipulation can only help and regularly trim. There’s no use holding on to damaged ends; the problem will only worsen. Hair care basics get you healthy hair.

14. Where can we find you online? (blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc).