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

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

My Name is Saleemah Cartwright. I am from Buffalo, NY and I currently reside in Atlanta, GA. Co-owner of Hydratherma Naturals

2. What is your hair type?

I have a mixture of textures. My sides and nape is 4a. My crown is 3c. I also have a quarter sized amount of frizz in my crown. Not sure how to categorize the frizz section because it has no real curl just frizz. :)

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

I went natural numerous times in my life. I’ve actually done 5 big chops. I transitioned for 5 months and did the big chop in 2008. I have been natural ever since. I’m definitely here to stay. I recently big chopped my natural hair last month and donated my natural hair to locks of love. I'm wearing a TWA now and I’m lovin’ it!

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

I believe that the most challenging thing was learning how to handle my natural hair.  Dealing with single strand knots can be a pain but oil rinses really helped with this problem a lot.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

My weekly regimen consist of keeping my hair balanced with moisture and protein with the Hydratherma Naturals products. I alternate my moisture and protein deep conditioning treatments. Every other week I use the Hydratherma Naturals Moisture Boosting Deep Conditioning Treatment or the Hydratherma Naturals Amino Plus Deep Conditioning Treatment. 

After applying the deep conditioning treatment, I apply a small amount of the Hydratherma Naturals Hair Growth Oil to my hair ends before covering with a plastic cap. I then deep condition with heat for about 15 minutes, comb though and rinse. The end result is super soft hair!

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

I keep my hair balanced with moisture and protein daily with the use of the Hydratherma Naturals Protein Balance Leave In Conditioner (adds protein), Daily Moisturizing Growth Lotion (adds moisture) and the Hair Growth Oilto seal in the moisture. These 3 products keep my hair balanced with moisture and protein daily and leaves my hair super soft and well moisturized.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

At night, I cover my TWA with a silk bonnet. When my hair was longer, I would apply the Hydratherma Naturals daily use products and braid or twist my hair. If I want extra hold I will apply the Botanical Defining Gel (firm hold) or the Foaming Sea Silk Curly Styler (light hold) before braiding my hair. In the morning, I would unbraid (or untwist) and finger-comb.

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

Currently, I do not use heat since I am wearing my TWA. When my hair was long, I used heat about every 2 months. I was always sure to protect my hair with the Hydratherma Naturals Herbals Gloss Heat Protector to prevent heat damage.

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

I do not braid my hair but 1-2 times a year I like to wear temporary protective locs. I love the look of locs. This is a temporary loc style that gives the look of locs without the commitment. I usually wear them for about 5-8 weeks.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

I use a wide tooth comb. I notice less breakage when I do not use a denman brush.

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

I wear my hair loose unless I’m doing some sort of protective style challenge.

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

I haven’t had a hair tragedy in many many years. Back in 2002 I relaxed my hair and added a high lift hair color a few months later. My hair started breaking at the root and needless to say I had to cut the damaged hair leading to my 2003 big chop.

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

I believe that the biggest factor for obtaining and maintaining healthy or long  hair is balancing the moisture and protein levels in the hair. The Hydratherma Naturals line focuses on this balance. While working as a licensed cosmetologist I noticed that when the hair was well-balanced, the hair would flourish. Too much moisture or protein would result in breakage. 

Many of my clients, however, did not know how to achieve this balance so I wanted to develop a line that would take the guess work out of keeping the hair balanced. I tried many products on my hair and the hair of my clients. Most products would result in too much moisture or protein overload in the hair. 

So after several years of combining many of the hair care ingredients that I absolutely loved, I was able to design a natural-based hair care collection that provides the perfect balance of moisture and protein levels. I wanted to create an effective solution and a simple hair care regimen that my clients could easily follow.

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

Please visit us at: HealthyHairJourney.com for healthy hair tips on moisture / protein balance and info on the Hydratherma Naturals Healthy Hair Product Collection.

• facebook.com/pages/Hydratherma-Naturals/
  
• twitter.com/Hydratherma
  
• instagram.com/hydratherma
  
• youtube.com/HealthyHairJourney
  

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