Introduce yourself!
K: My name is Keshia. I live in Brooklyn! So happy to say that again :) I’m originally from Harrisburg, PA Star city. I’m a full time model.

Why did you go natural?
K: I became tired of the maintenance that comes with having  relaxed hair, I wasn’t keeping up with my relaxed hair so it started to break off. I started to really transition back to my God given hair (lol) in late 2008 while I was in college. I just let the damaging chemicals in my hair grow out on their own.

Going natural made me accept and embrace what is already God given. When I was growing up I used to get teased about my hair being “nappy”, as an adult I get compliments on my hair all the time, everywhere I go. Oh how the tables turn, lol.

How would you describe your hair?
K: My hair is very thick it requires a lot of moisture and tender loving care, lol. When it is moisturized it is manageable enough to go into any style I want it to.

What’s your regimen?
K: I am a simple girl. Sometimes I just double strand twist my hair or I wear my fro or fluff out. Keeping my hair moisturized is a must.

How do you retain length and moisture in your hair?
K: Getting your ends clipped does wonders. It helps your hair grow out in a healthier way. The right shampoo and conditioner work wonders as well, I got a chance to see the difference when I went to the salon to get a wash and blow out. Special shout out to Misa of Evolution Green Room Salon in Brooklyn. She hooked me up.

What mistakes have you made with your hair that you’ve learned from?
K: Not keeping it moisturized! I can’t stress that word enough. It’s very important. My hair is like a plant that needs water and tender loving care to flourish and grow.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
K: My official Facebook model fanpage is K Dot Elevated if you want to keep up with what I’m doing career wise. I’m a very open person so if anyone has any questions for me pertaining to modeling or advice on life in general you can shoot me a message via facebook on my personal page or on twitter @KeshiaWaldron

*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Introduce yourself!
B: My name is Bilen. I’m originally from Ethiopia, but have been in the U.S. since I was 11 years old. I’ve lived all around the Midwest as well as New Orleans. I currently reside in Brooklyn, NY. I work as a freelance wardrobe stylist.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
B: My hair has always been natural. When I was little and living in Ethiopia, my mom braided my hair on a bi-weekly basis, so I grew up with that. Once we moved to the U.S., braiding was still the main way my hair was styled. As I transitioned into college life, I started heat straightening my hair on a regular basis. The hot comb was my tool of choice! I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been to the hair salon in my entire life. The braiding as well as the heat straightening all took place at home.

When and how did you transition into natural hair?
B: Once I moved to New Orleans, a lot of my friends who worked in the hair industry convinced me to stop heat straightening my hair and to just let it be in its natural, curly state. Before this time, I had never considered my hair to be curly. I just saw it as more frizzy, so it had never occurred to me to just let it be. That was 8 years ago and I’ve just let it be since then.

In what ways (if any) has going natural affected you?
B: Since my hair has always been natural, there hasn’t been much of a transition or significant effect for me. I certainly pay more attention to the overall health and condition of my hair because it has a tendency to dry out faster compared to when it used to be braided or even heat straightened. A lot of random people approach me to ask me about my hair or comment on it than before, but that’s pretty much it :)

How would you describe your hair?
B: I would describe my hair as relatively soft, curly and not as thick as it may look in pictures. I just have a lot of it :) My hair behaves pretty consistently from week to week. I wash it about once a week or sometimes go as long as bi-weekly, so it’ll get more volume each day that goes by.

What is your regimen?
B: My hair regimen would best be described as minimalist. I usually wash it once a week or sometimes once every two weeks. I wet detangle using a combination of my fingers and a detangler comb. Once my hair has been fully detangled, I use DevaCurl No-Poo Shampoo and run a wide-toothed comb through my hair while the shampoo is still in my hair. I condition using DevaCurl One Condition and leave it on for about 30 minutes. I wash it out, apply a generous amount of Carol’s Daughter Tui Moisturizing Hair Oil while my hair is still wet, wrap a warm towel around my head and leave it like that for a minimum of an hour. Remove towel and that’s it…

How do you retain length and moisture in your hair?
B: I used to not put oil in my hair and it dried out very quickly. That’s definitely a mistake I’ve learned from. My sister actually asked me about it in passing when she saw how dry and brittle my hair looked and was shocked when I told her that I do not put oil in my hair. After that reaction, I decided to try it out and it has definitely been to the great benefit of the health of my hair.

What’s the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
B: The best thing I do for my hair is to not touch it. Having my hair braided as a young girl definitely taught me not to touch my hair because that meant messing up the braids. I’ve continued that trend as much as possible. I just don’t need to add any dirt or tangle up my hair any more than it already does by itself.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
B: I don’t have a blog, but you can keep up with me on 16stonevintage.com.

Anything else you want to add?
B: Nothing too great to add, but I think it’s beautiful that so many women are embarking upon their own natural hair journey. I’ve always been natural and luckily enough for me, I had the support of my family to NOT get my hair permed even when I was begging for it. I clearly remember an emphatic, “NO” coming from my mother when I asked her about getting my hair relaxed when I was in high school. Boy, am I glad for that now! There is so much diversity in our hair and it’s great that even if you don’t get the support you need among your family, you have blogs like BGLH to help you out. I know it’s been a great source of information for me :)

*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Introduce yourself!
T: My name is Toni. I live in Houston, TX and I was born in Woodville, TX. So, I have to rep Woodville along with Houston, but my heart belongs to Houston. I love Houston and Houston loves me (well, at least I like to think so)!:) I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s of Science in Dietetics. I am a proud co-owner of MyNaturalSistas’s YouTube Channel (CHECK US OUT). I do my best to live, love, laugh and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I enjoy working out and adore spending precious moments with my family & friends.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
T: I decided to go natural because it made sense. I was not fond of going natural until my lovely sisters took me under their wing with their exploration and persuasions of the whole idea. I have always been a huge fan of BIG HAIR, so it all made sense after a while of denial, questioning and curiosity.

When and how did you transition into natural hair?
T: My transition wasn’t exactly planned. It was really spur of the moment. When I was addicted to the “creamy crack”, I stretched my perms every 4 months. My sisters were already trying to convert me into being a natural and I wasn’t exactly feeling that idea at the time. After seeing all of these amazing Black American women and their stories on YouTube and Fotki, I started to become more interested over time. So, I got my last perm March 2009. After that I became confused on what to do with my hair. My mom and I were on one team and my two sisters were on another. During this 4 month wait, I decided to get only roller wraps and use less heat. In May 2009, I was really contemplating on whether I should BC or not, but I was still scared and nervous about the idea. So, I weaved it up. I decided I was going to see how long I could go without a perm with it being weaved up.

To make a long story short, I became frustrated and angry with my hair. I woke up one day feeling like…it’s that time. I called up one of my girls and asked her to take out my weave, she did. We went to SuperCuts and next thing you know, BAHDDA BOOM BAHDDA BANG! July 13th, 2009 I was ALL NATURAL. Finally, I became ONE with my hair and I felt extravagant, phenomenal, and unique. Although the actual experience of sitting in that chair wasn’t so easy, it was actually very emotional for me. Until this day I do not regret one bit of my decision.

In what ways (if any) has going natural affected you?
T: Wearing my natural textured hair has affected me culturally, mentally, emotionally and socially. Knowing the story behind the perms, the weaves, the hows and the whys has altered my opinion about what is really beautiful and realistic in my world. This part of my lifestyle has led me to be more comfortable with myself. I’m proud to wear my natural hair; the freedom of showing it off reassures me of my culture and who I am every day. There is so much support behind this self-defining movement it’s awesome! I love it and I am pleeeased to be a part of it.

How would you describe your hair?
T: My hair is CRAZY FUN. I like to call her Red Hot because she’s smoking HOT! I love her. She behaves pretty well for the most part. We’ve only fell out twice that I can remember. I would say my hair is a mixture of 4a and 4b texture. She’s thick, course, sturdy and growin’ BIG. Although, the sides of my hair are thin. I am not sure if it’s damage from relaxing and weaving or if it’s genetics.

What is your regimen?
T: Since I re-dyed my hair, my regimen has changed. I wash and deep condition every 10-14 days. I alternate my product lines (I get bored easily…teehee). For the most part, I alternate between Miss Jessie’s and Shea Moisture’s hair product lines. Most of the time I two strand twist my hair or define my curls.

Tell us about your hair color?
T: My hair color is like the Red Sea, I just want to dive in it. I absolutely did not color my hair, haha. I got it colored by a licensed professional. I do not know the exact color, but I do know that it’s a mixture of colors.

How do you retain length and moisture in your hair, especially now that you have color?
T: I deep condition more often now to keep it moisturized. When it was first dyed it was dry, but now it’s back to its natural softness. Dying my hair has not changed my texture at all.

To retain length, I keep heat out! I get my ends trimmed every 3-4 months. I take care of my ends; I am a huge believer in healthy ends. I hate split ends, their gross and unproductive. One of the main things I learned is to not go without getting my ends trimmed for a long period of time. I went without a trim for almost a year. No bueno!

What’s the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
T: The best thing I do for my hair is take care of her. I like to spend quality time learning what she likes and what she doesn’t.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
T: You can find me on Facebook “my natural sistas”(with spaces) or better yet on YouTube “mynaturalsistas”(no spaces).

Anything else you want to add?
T: To all of the ladies who are transitioning, going natural is a wonderful experience. It’s like being in another world. Don’t let other people’s opinions reflect yours. If natural is what you want to do, then do it. And to all of the ladies who are natural…WORK. Keep inspiring others and keep inspiring me.:)

*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Tamika was originally featured on December 14, 2009. We followed up with her to get an update on her regimen and find out things are coming along.

Introduce yourself!
T: My name is Tamika and I’m from the DMV lol. I live in Maryland. I do a lot haha. I work in retail at Urban Outfitters, I am the Personal Assistant to Kas of Kas Collection Inc, as well as the Lead Assistant Designer within the company. I model here and there as well.

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
T: I decided to go natural because I was tired of putting chemicals in my hair. I wanted the versatility of being able to wear my hair straight or naturally curly. I transitioned back in October of 2008, and just grew my relaxer out.

In what ways (if any) has going natural affected you?
T: Going natural really hasn’t affected me in any big way honestly, but I am very strict when it comes to my hair now, and who I let style it. I’m a bit over protective when it comes to my hair lol.

How would you describe your hair?
T: If I had to type my hair, it would more than likely be a 4b. My hair is very thick, but not hard to manage at all…It does have its days though styling wise lol, sometimes it doesn’t want to cooperate.

What is your regimen?
T: My regimen is very, very simple. I wash every two to three weeks with Pantene Pro V Relaxed and Natural shampoo, deep condition with cholesterol conditioner, or Yes To Carrots conditioner, moisturize and style. Once a week I may cowash with any available conditioner I have with a lot of slip depending on the moisture level of my hair.

How do you retain length and moisture in your hair?
T: Protective style, protective style, protective style. That is all I have to say. The less manipulation, the better.

What mistakes have you made with your hair that you’ve learned from?
T: I’ve made the mistake of being lazy when it comes to my regimen, as well as switching up on my products in some cases (stick with what works people lol).

What’s the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
T: The best and most effective thing I do for my hair is leave it alone, as I stated before, the less manipulation the better.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
T: Yes, you can find me over at www.Mydesignerdreams.blogspot.com.

Anything else you want to add?
T: Love your hair, and your hair will love you back.

*Prepared for BGLH by Meosha Tall of 1MeNaturally

Introduce yourself!
B: My name is Brittanie! I’m originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana but I’m an army brat so I’ve lived all around the globe. I currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia. I work as a producer at a radio station in the greater Atlanta area. I’m also an independent documentary filmmaker, and freelance writer and videographer. (And I’m a recent Temple U grad! Go Cherry & White!)

Why did you make the decision to go natural?
B: The decision to go natural for me was really out of financial necessity at first. I’ve been able to do my hair since a young age, but with university and other responsibilities came more time and money constraints. I couldn’t pay anyone else to relax my hair, and I honestly didn’t feel like doing it anymore myself. I also had close friends experimenting with their own natural hair so I thought it was a better time than ever to give it a go.

When and how did you transition into natural hair?
B: A month after completing my sophomore year of undergrad I BC’d. My hair was probably about an inch long.

In what ways (if any) has going natural affected you?
B: Honestly, I didn’t think it would be as big of a deal as it turned out to be. I haven’t had many hair issues in my life so when I went into this it was more of a, “It’s hair, it’ll grow back, just not straight,” thought process. After I cut it I received a lot of negative attention, but it wasn’t from people that I expected it from. Some of my family members really didn’t take to it well and that hurt. After the first two weeks a close family friend convinced me to ‘texturize’ my hair so it would “lie like Halle Berry’s”. That was probably the worst day of my newly natural experience and I cried in the chair.

A week later my mother went to get her hair washed and straightened on a whim at a salon she’d never previously been to. The woman there was natural and so beautiful, so I told her my story. She IMMEDIATELY sat me down and gave me advice, then cut my hair AGAIN to get rid of that texturizer. My hair was snap short then, but my aunt (who’d had a battle with cancer and lost her hair) served as my biggest inspiration. I vowed to never let others’ opinions sway me about my hair; I’ve been going strong for two and a half years now.

How would you describe your hair?
B: If you ever need a pillow replacement my hair is IT (LOL). It’s extremely dense and thick so even on my most matted and shrunken days I still feel like I have lots of volume. Don’t get me wrong though, matting is bad and I definitely pay for skipping a day or two of detangling. I’d say it’s not so tightly coiled in some sections (the front, crown, and back half), and more tightly coiled on both sides. It also retains lots of moisture.

What is your regimen?
B: Right now I’m using Shea Moisture’s Black Soap line of shampoo and conditioner. I shampoo every two weeks, condition whenever I see fit. I use unrefined shea butter as my main butter mixed with Kinky Curly Knot Today as a leave in, and Spring Valley Coconut Oil or Proclaim 7 Oil to seal in moisture. I find that less is more with my hair, and what I’m doing has been working so it’s all right with me.

How do you retain length and moisture in your hair?
B: I’m not a big protective stylist at all; I prefer wearing it out and big which means I go through lots of tangles and things of that nature. I think the key to retaining my length is making sure I sit down and go through my hair every few weeks to twist, and recognize ends that need to go. My hair is like a sponge, so moisture is not really hard for me to keep. I just make sure I get a good seal on it after washing and conditioning and it’s good to go.

What mistakes have you made with your hair that you’ve learned from?
B: My biggest mistake was being lazy with my hair. Being natural wasn’t as low maintenance as I thought it would be, so I got behind with its maintenance. This led to strenuous detangling sessions that wouldn’t have been so bad if I stayed on a tighter schedule with my hair. That period of time taught me a lot about my hair’s behavior though, which I think is the best lesson.

What’s the best/most effective thing you do for your hair?
B: Not to TOUCH IT! I had really bad hand in hair syndrome for as long as I can remember (even back when I was relaxed). A scalp massage every now and then is beneficial for me, but I added a lot more dirt to my strands by touching it so often. I’ve broken the habit for the most part, and I can tell because my styles last longer when I take the time to do them.

Is there a blog/webpage where we can find you?
B: You can catch me on twitter @burrrittanie, or on tumblr at burrrittanie.tumblr.com.

Anything else you want to add?
B: For anyone thinking about going natural, I just give you my words of encouragement. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in regard to my personal health and well-being and I think it could be for many others. Feel free to ask me questions if you have any!