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

20/5/2014

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

My name is Shawnte, I blog under the name The Posh Urbanite and I'm from Los Angeles, CA

2. What is your hair type?

My hair type is primarily 3C but I also have tighter curls at my crown which are 4A.

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

I went natural in October of 2010. My cousin was natural and she inspired me. I fell in love with her hair and wanted my hair to be healthy and long like hers.

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

The hardest thing was having patience to let my hair grow out and finding ways to style it that were protective and cute. I eventually just decided to wear braids for months because it was easier than dealing with two textures (I transitioned not BC).

5. What is your weekly regimen?

I wash my hair once a week. To moisturize I start with damp hair add a cream conditioner like Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, and seal in the moisture with a mix of Shea butter and argon or jojoba oil. Then I braid or twist my hair and allow it to air dry overnight so my hair is moisturized, stretched and ready to style however I want during the week.

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

I mist my hair with a refreshing spray (my current fav if by Obia Naturals). This makes it easy to style. My hairstyles change often during the week but I usually use Eco styler gel and U R Curly still control for edges on my twistouts, puffs, or other styles.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

If I have time I'll set my hair in twists or braids. If not I usually mist with a little water and pull it into a bun and cover with a satin scarf.

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

The last time I used heat if my hair was May 2013 and I damaged my hair. It's just now recovered and I have no plans to use hear on my hair again. For some they can go back and forth between straight and curly my hair is not like that, heat alters or destroys my curl pattern completely.

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

I haven't braided my hair since I finished my first transition. I like braids and I think I might braid my hair just to give myself a break.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

Wide tooth comb. (But I prefer to finger detangle!)

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

Normally loose, especially when my schedule is busy. If I don't have time it's just easier to wear it down. I get bored with hairstyles easily so I change my hairstyle often.

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

Yes, which is why I've sworn off heat.

I got heat damage. My hair would not revert back to curl after I washed it. I had to do a second transition. I let it grow out and trimmed off the straight ends. I did a lot of deep conditioning and protein treatments to try to help it but in the end I just had to grow it out.

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

Consistency in healthy hair practices. That can be hard because life changes. But having a consistent hair care regimen is key, keep your hair clean, moisturized and in low maintenance or protective styles and it will grow.

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