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

18/5/2015

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

My name is Yataye (Pronounced “Yah-Tay”) Keaton and I’m originally from St. Petersburg, Florida.

2. What is your hair type?

My hair texture is very coarse and varies from the front of my head and crown to the nape of my neck; but for hair typing purposes, it would be classified as 4C.

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

I began the process of returning back to my natural hair texture on August 18, 1999 while serving in the U.S. Navy; I’d made the decision because I got tired of having my hair relaxed, the awful smell and my scalp being irritated by the chemicals.

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

The most challenging thing about me “Going Natural” at the time was staying within military grooming standards/regulations and experimenting with different protective styles while trying to be creative.

5. What is your weekly regimen?

My weekly regimen consist of keeping my natural hair moisturized with Shea Butter, Nature’s Blessing (Hair Pomade), or some other essential oil (I.e. Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Castor Oil or Jojoba Oil, Etc.) and shampooing & conditioning it (Every 7 – 14 Days).

6. What is your daily morning regimen?

Since “Twist-Outs” are my signature style, I untwist my hair; rub a light moisturizing agent through it; separate my twists in the desired look for the day and lift my hair at the roots with a metal pick to add volume and remove the parts.

7. What is your daily night time regimen?

My daily night regimen begins with me misting my hair lightly with water, two-strand twisting it (adding an essential oil to the ends for overnight protection) and tying it down with a silk or satin scarf or just sleeping on my satin pillow case.

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

Yes, sometimes I use a hooded dryer (or hooded Hair Steamer dryer) for deep conditioning. My natural hair stylist also uses a ceramic hair dryer (warm setting) when creating various styles that may require my coils to be a little loose.

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

Yes, I braid my hair in various natural hair styles; but, I also wear protective styles about 2-4 times a year (mostly during the winter months).

10. Wide-tooth comb or Denman brush?

Wide-tooth comb.

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

My hair is normally loose because I love the freedom and versatility of wearing my natural hair.

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

Yes. I had a sew-in done many years ago that left me bold at the crown of my head. I recovered by giving my hair a year’s rest without extension of any kind (to include sew-ins); I also manipulated my hair as little as possible and massaged the crown of my head with essential oils to promote hair growth in the affected area.

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

My biggest tip is maintaining a “Positive Mental Attitude” about your natural hair coupled with drinking plenty of water, taking some form of vitamins & minerals and eating as clean and healthy as possible because the external health of one’s natural hair begins with the internal care of one’s mind and body.

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