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

16/3/2015

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

My name is Julie Thomas aka Juboolee and I am from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair is a mixture of 4c/4b

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

I initially went natural in college by transitioning some time in 2007. At this time I wasn’t fully aware of what “going natural” was. I just stopped getting perms and thought that was it. I was still flat ironing my hair excessively, damaging my curly new growth. It wasn’t until February of 2013 where I realized that I needed to start from scratch and decided to big chop and start a healthier hair journey. Best decision ever.

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

I can’t say that I really had an challenges with going natural or doing the big chop. I just went for it. I say if you want to go natural, just do it and don’t look back. You are making a step to a healthier you, which is a step in the right direction.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

First I start off with “pre-pooing” my hair with coconut oil and detangle with a wide tooth comb before the cleansing process. Every other week I’ll cleanse with my Dark & Lovely Anti-Breakage line shampoo and conditioner (love this stuff). For the weeks in between I’ll just simply co-wash with the conditioner. I then deep condition my hair with The Mane Choice’s Green Tea & Carrot Deep Conditioning Mask. After about an hour of letting this sit, I rinse and then follow with my holy grail, Karen Body Beautiful’s Sweet Ambrosia Leave-In Conditioner. I also follow up with coconut oil and my styling cream (shea butter) to twist.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

My morning regimen is quite simple. If I two-strand twisted my hair the night before I’ll unravel my twists with a bit of coconut oil on my fingertips, fluff and then pick out to my desired shape. If I slept with loose curls (in a bonnet of course!) I’ll simply spray with a little water, apply a dab of coconut oil all over, fluff, and then out the door.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

Lately, I’ve been two-strand twisting my hair and then applying rods to my twists. A twist and rod set, if you will. Takes about 20-25 mins, which can be tiresome every night, but I wake up with flawless hair.

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

I have not applied direct heat to my hair at all since big chopping. I’ve been itching for a good blow out to be laid to the gawds, but I’m trying to resist lol.

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

I’ve rocked box-braids about twice in the past year. I love to put my hair in a good protective style every now and then to give my hair a rest. The key to managing braids and any protective style is making sure that your hair stays moisturized.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

I use both, however prefer a Denman brush. I use a wide-tooth comb in the shower to detangle and a Denman brush to distribute my leave-in conditioner once my hair is cleansed. I love how the Denman brush defines my curls and clumps them together.

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

I would say it’s 50/50 with me. I change my hair constantly. If I’m bored with my fro after several weeks, I’ll throw in a protective style. Then after several weeks of a protective style I miss my curls. I can’t win! Lol

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

I have unfortunately. The summer before my big chop I went to a local African braiding shop to get kinky twists installed. I was hyped and thought I was going to be fly. I had already dreamed up styles I would do with them once installed lol.

She started at the front of my hair by my temple and got about to the sixth twist when something didn’t feel quite so right. You know how a braider will get to the end of a braid/twist and back up to complete it. Well yea, she was steady backing up to complete this one twist, where I felt my hair pulling and then “SNAP!”.

My hair popped off and was attached to this twist. I had a clean bald spot from where my hair was ripped from the root. She tried to say that was there and she didn’t break it off. Ma’m, I did not come in here bald and I felt my hair leave me. Ugh lol. I can laugh about it now but I was livid. I made her take out the few she did and left the shop. I had to purchase a wig until my hair grew back in. Sad! [Heather comment: oh, no! I can't believe she tried to lie about it too :(]

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

My biggest tip for maintaining healthy hair is again to make sure you keep your hair, and scalp, moisturized. Nobody wants dull, dry and brittle hair. This causes breakage. Keep your hair moisturized will definitely keep it at its healthiest and will in the growth process.

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