Name: Tara Leuvina Smith

Occupation: Editor

When did you start your natural hair journey: There is a misconception that a person goes natural, we are born natural and we go ‘un-natural’ or in this context we begin to relax our hair. But to put a date to when I stopped relaxing my hair … I believe it was November, 2015

Why did you: I began the journey to restore my natural hair because my hair was breaking excessively.

What products do you use: Idon’t use a fixed set of products. Basically it’s what I can afford and what I feel will be best for my hair, based on how my hair responds to products used.

Biggest challenge: Spending all night styling my hair only to have as major style flop the next day… ugh.

How does your hair make you feel: Confident, empowered, stressed out (at times), more cultured (black)

Advice to other naturalists: Don’t give in to the creamy crack, this journey isn’t always easy but at the end of the day you’ll have healthier hair.