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

14/7/2015

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

My name is Christina J from Naptown, Indiana

2. What is your hair type?

Fine, 4a/coily hair with a sistah-gurl demeanor.

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

I went natural in October 2012. Back in 2011, in my last year in college and I had no money to get relaxers. So I just let my hair be (didn’t know I was transitioning at the time) and saw my natural coils and kinks at the roots. I decided to let my hair grow out and once my hair reached a certain length after a few months, I cut the relaxed ends and rocked my TWA. So going natural happened by accident, but it was the best decision I made for my hair.

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

Learning how to moisturize and seal my hair effectively was pretty challenging. That’s when I fully learned about my natural hair and how to care for her.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

I co wash and deep condition my hair on a weekly basis with Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner and Shea Moisture Yucca and Plantain Masque. During the week I wear a protective style: flat twists, high bun, or tuck n roll.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

Daily, I use coconut oil and a water mist (with aloe vera juice).

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

I massage my edges and scalp with JBCO for 10 minutes, then I cover my hair with satin bonnet/scarf for bed.

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

I rarely use direct heat, unless it’s with my hooded dryer when deep conditioning.

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

When I become overwhelmed with my hair, I do braid it. This happens maybe 3 times a year, for 4-8 weeks. This refreshes my energy for maintaining my natural hair again.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

I have both, but I hardly use them. I’m on Team Finger Detangle.

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

My hair is normally in a protective style like mini twists, buns, flat twists, or tuck 'n rolls. But I do wear my hair out during weekends.

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

So embarrassed to say this: There was a moment in the beginning of my hair journey when I got a partial STRAIGHT sew-in. You guessed it…I relaxed my edges. I had the style for 7-8 weeks, but the imprint of the relaxed edges was still there. So I cut the entire nape and hair around my ears and cut my crown to three inches of hair. It took about 6 months for my hair to grow back natural again. This was the worst decision I have ever made for my hair…all for a style! I decided that I was never, ever, ever going to make that decision again. During the duration of the crown being relaxed, it was very different because my styles were limited to protective styling and not out styles. But as my hair grew, it got easy to cut those suckers off.

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

Moisture! I mean, moisturize your hair like you are insane. When your hair is moisturized, your hair is healthy. When you hair is healthy, length will come.

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