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

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

9/10/2015

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

My name is Whitney Madueke. I am from Nigeria.

2. What is your hair type?

I have your good old, 4c hair.

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

I went natural 2 years ago – March 13th 2013, after almost a year of no relaxer. I stopped relaxing on June 20th 2012. I was really bored of my relaxed hair. I always love changing up my hair and at the same time, Tumblr had this obsession with natural hair, which I loved. It was so diverse in its many forms and so I wanted to be a part of that; its beauty and diversity.

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

Trying to find what works for me best. It takes a good amount of research, patience and perseverance. That’s what I like about being natural. It involves you knowing yourself – your hair and its needs; how it works; and accepting your hair for its own features.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

My weekly regimen is usually to deep condition my hair using Organics by Africas Best Olive Oil Deep Conditioner, Shea Moistures Deep Treatment Masque or Organics Root Stimulator Hair Mayo; these are protein and moisture treatments. I decide on which to use or I mix my protein and moistures together. After which I wash off and stretch out my hair using three strand braids or I style as I please. I air dry after applying my hair products – jojoba oil, tea tree oil, coconut oil or olive oil and Indian hemp. See here:

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

I either wash my hair using my V05 Alberto conditioner, or I simply dampen my hair in the shower or if I have a twistout or style done; I just let it be and moisturize if need be. This year I am trying to keep my hair stretched as much as possible, compared to last year when I always had my shrinkage afro, but now that my hair is growing longer keeping it stretched prevents tangles and knots. Then, my daily routine would be to wash after every 1-2 days with my V05 or just dampen it, apply products – jojoba oil and Indian hemp, then let air dry. I have an example below:

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

I don’t really have one. I am trying to develop one. But if I have a style done eg twistout, I would either put it in a bun or two or in bantu knots – whatever keeps it stretched at night. But for the most part, I just sleep with a satin/silk scarf, that’s my night routine.

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

Only if I need to straighten it or blow dry. I air dry like 99% of the time. As its just convenient and healthy. For a good stretch, twist outs, braid outs, low buns, a good brush through on stretched hair works fine for me. Most times, the hairstyles I do don’t need heat. I rotate between braids, wigs, scarves or stretched hairstyles.

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

I loveee braids, even while relaxed. I do it as much as I can. In the UK, I hardly unless its done on my way to UK from Nigeria, as here braids are quite costly and to do them myself is time consuming. I do it once or twice. Back in Nigeria, I get braids done every holiday for my hairs protection – Christmas, Easter, and Summer. Or at any point I feel my hair needs to relax from all my manipulation. I do braids over 3-5 times a year, in Lagos. Its super cheap.

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

Neither. I rather finger comb. My hair is better off with my fingers.

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

50/50. I youtube a lot, so I need my hair out for tutorials on my channel – Leazz Way. When my hair gets tired of all the manipulation, I go into braids or wigs. It helps my hair grow alottt.

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

Not really. I remember having seriously dry hair from neglecting my hair under my wig . I couldn’t combat it with deep conditioning overnight; hot oil treatments, and conditioning. I knew if after these methods and it didn’t revive my hair the only thing left would be to steam. I had to get braids done that same day so it was perfect; I deep conditioned using the products I mentioned above, while steaming at the salon. It kicked in so much moisture into my hair. Since then, steaming is my everything. I try to incorporate it as much as possible.

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

Have a good hair routine. That way you are constantly (regularly) feeding your hair with the right things for its growth and health. Also it helps you keep track of what your hair likes and doesn’t. Simply makes your hair journey a lot easier.

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