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Nappturality has been online since 2002. Dedicated to all the women in the diaspora who proudly wear their highly textured hair naturally. Nappturality.com is the place to find photographs,, forums, information and links about the care, maintenance and politics of natural hair. Natural napptural hair. Here you will find photos of all natural styles, comb coils, two-strand twists, afro puffs, afros dredlocks (dreadlocks), locs and many other natural styles. Styled by natural napptural haired women on their own hair.

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Blogs and stories written by Nappturality and Friends
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Helli!

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Been googling for the last several days trying to find info about products for my hair type and thought, dang there's probably some natural hair forums out there that would be a better resource than these articles written to appeal to girls with 2a hair lol. Glad to be here.
Original author: piratesswoop
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Wake up

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They're killing us.
They've always killed us.
Black lives do not matter as much as White lives.

As far as I'm concerned, through all my pessimism this is a turning point because for the first time a SIGNIFICANT amount of non-Blacks worldwide and within our borders recognize the struggle is real. People are learning and though some prefer not to learn but to wallow in stupidity and with a blind refusal to see beyond their privilege, we are making progress. It is not up to Black people to change the system. We don't control the system. And until those who control the system make a concerted effort to change it, we will return to this point time after time after time as we have for over 400 years.

Keep the pressure up. Keep the movement going and do not allow yourselves to be distracted, taken off-message or pulled to the side.
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Original author: deecoily
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Hair Type?

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Hi all, I'm new to this board and after some help please ?? after years of being natural, I'm still struggling to figure out my hair care needs. Anyone know what my hair type is judging by the pictures please? I know porosity matters more but I'm trying to find someone with hair like mine for hair care advice. Oh I think I'm high porosity too
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Original author: Charchargabor
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Hey Guys!!

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Hi everyone I hope you’re all safe and staying healthy during these crazy times!! Hopefully you girls can give me some advice!! I have an 11 year old daughter. She’s been relaxed since the age of 5. Her hair has never really took to the relaxers as well as it could. Even though she would get relaxers her thick 4c texture would never come out bone straight, but it made her hair manageable for me to style. Recently back in April of this year during COVID-19 I noticed a lot of breakage in the back area of her head. I think the last relaxer that I applied was a bad one (hair stores where shut down), and that’s what caused the damage! I put her hair into large box braids for a month and when I took them down the breakage to her hair had spread up to almost ear to ear!

At this point I decided to cut off the relaxed ends of her hair to prevent further damage and to regrow my baby’s beautiful healthy hair! I’m dedicated to this healthy hair journey and I’ve committed myself to no longer use relaxers or any types of chemical treatments on her hair. I’m a newbie at this, and it’s not easy! So far I’ve been:
1. Shampooing /conditioning
2. Sectioning with Creamy Leave-In Conditioner / Shea Butter ->Twist out
This method has been working extremely well for her hair! As a result not only has her scalp been extremely clean and healthy, but her hair is staying very hydrated!

I’m running into problems when trying to style her hair! I’ve been trying to apply braids, or plaits with kanekalon hair, but it doesn’t last. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. I’m still trying to figure out which products work best for her hair. I’ve tried blowing her hair out prior to styling it, as well as using the hot comb to stretch her hair, but:
1. It straightens for a few minutes and then shrinks back up
2. It won’t straighten, and it curls right back up.
I used Janet 3X Carribean braid hair to Senegalese Twist her hair in its natural state using edge control, and Cantu Curl cream. After a day or so her natural hair shrinks and separates from the extensions, just like with the Kanekalon hair.

Her hair is very short right now, so i’m not sure what I’m able to do with it, but it’s getting frustrating and very expensive. I’m watching so many different videos and buying so many different products, and none of them are working! I’m sorry for writing such a long post, and I apologize if it’s confusing. Thanks in advance for any advice and support!
Original author: Nurse.Qu3
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Single hair knots seem to be multiplying in my hair

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Please help I been moisturizing my hair and everything. I even clipped my ends. It just seem like the more I cut the knots keep appearing and my hair is not growing. Please help !
Original author: Diane Combs
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Chlorine and Natural Hair

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I have a quick question on how chlorine affects natural hair. I’ve been fully natural for 6 years and always thought my hair was mostly 4a with some areas 4b/3c. However I went swimming the other day And didn’t wash out the chlorine right away. I already know that chlorine will make any hair type dry and crunchy if not washed but when I woke up the next morning my curls were a lot tighter in diameter (4b or maybe even tighter!). Once I washed my hair my curls loosened up to the size I’m used to. I just wanted to know if this is normal?
Original author: Beebs
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ACV wash

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After completing ACV wash on your locs, how do you return the moisture back to your hair.
Original author: Mzteach910
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Considering Combining Locs

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Hi,
Since I have been self-retightening my locs, I realized how incredibly small some of them are. I am considering combining some. Has anyone combined their locs? If so, what was your experience?
Original author: Mzteach910
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just wana feel good

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I have tried everything to help my edges grow and the perimeter around my head and nothing works. I am almost completely bald around there. Should I accept the fact that it isn't going to grow back ever, if so how do I do that with so much hype over edge growth along with clowning of the edge less? I don't feel confident and it really affects my self-esteem and my self-worth is diminishing.. Please helpEnable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
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Original author: ztyu123
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Need help with new hairstyle

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Hello I’m looking to finally change my hair style and stop wearing fake hair. My hair Is 4c has always been thick and Long due to my indian genes which I hate because I just want short curly hair. Does anyone have a step by step guide on how I can get my hair to look like any of the styles below? I no longer want to wear fake hair and just want to go natural. I would like to stick with hairstyles like these for the rest of my life and never wear crochet again.

I am willing to use product. I want my hair in a way that it doesn’t go back to its original state quickly and can stand the heat and rain.

https://imgur.com/a/SZGKCCL
Original author: Vampwolfie
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Hello

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Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this community. I've been natural for over 10 years. However, I had Sisterlocks for almost two years. I've now been self- maintaining since COVID-19. I'm looking forward to my new journey and learning as much about natural hair as possible. Thank you for having me.
Original author: Mzteach910
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Protest stories

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As protests spread for a 3rd week, post George Floyd's assasinanation in the streets of Minneapolis, please post your protest pictures! What impactful wisdom have you been able to share in your circles to educate others on the importance of equity and inclusion? Please share!
Original author: KnottyAuthor
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Loc build up. Don't know what to do.

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Been loc'd for about 1.5 years. Back if my locs is in a state. I don't know where this shit has come from. I use minimal products. But I've been going awhile without washing( month or two gap) so maybe this is the culmination of my neglect. But I wonder why now. I've been doing these gaps in washes since I started and didn't have none of these problems. It's terrible. Is there a way to upload pics?
Original author: Marselek Brown
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Curls Depleting, Help Me Pls

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Hi beautiful people,

I'd like to warn you that this will be a very thoroughly explained post so that i can get the very best help from this community. I made sure to do my homework and read through a lot of the forum topics + discussions to try to find any similarities to my hair issues. While i drew some comparisons to others' hair struggles, my ups and downs are in its own lane. But maybe what i share with you all today can shed light for some in the future :)

I am 27 years old and have naturally dark brown 3a and 3b shoulder length curls. I've always loved my curls and never the type to straighten my hair frequently, maybe 2 - 4 times a year max. With that being said, I always had a pretty good handle on how to manage my hair since i was a child. Disregard the fact that i used blue gel and mousse for most of my teenage years. I did, for the most part, ditched those products heavily filled with chemicals and sulfates at around 21, and decided to stop dying my hair to allow my natural hair color to flourish.

Fast forward to last year, when I first noticed my hair feeling very sticky in the beginning in Jan '19, after living 2 full years in NJ from South FL. My hair seemed fine in the winter, as tea tree oils and leave in conditioners like Cantu and Garnier were my holy grail. I was also using Suave Argan Oil &/or Moroccan Oil Shampoo 1/2 times a week & Conditioner at least 3 times a week. Every month I would do at least 1/2 deep hair treatments/masques, particularly Deva Curl and Shea Moisture and Briogeo.

When my hair started to feel sticky, it was usually while in the shower - as i would finger detangle my curls after letting the conditioner sit for 5-10 minutes. This would go on for a couple of months, and then a different type of issue would come about.
My hair started to become extremely hard to manage, and moisture would not stay. My hair would get soo dry and knotty when it dried after washing it a few hours before and then apply styling products while it was damp. It was not like my hair at all. My hair would look frizzy and thirsty no matter what i used. Before, my hair could go for 3 days easily, unwashed, and still maintain its volume and curl pattern if i simply applied water to it. So i decided to stop using all Suave, Cantu, and Garnier products and stick to solely Deva Curl & Shea Moisture.

My hair started coming out thick, as early as Spring last year. I remember thinking to myself that it did not look like the normal hair ball i would accumulate while in the shower, literally whole strands of curls would come out and i my eyes would water because my hair was going through major shit. The hair thinning really came in strong from spring to summer. And my hair pattern would start to change around this time too.

My curls began to look straightened from the roots to the mid shaft - by my nose - then curl the last 2 inches. It looked awful. And on top of that, the body of my hair decreased by half its density and my hair looked noticeably gone. At this point i started to eliminate all products from my regimen except Deva Curl Hair Masques and Shea Moisture Black Castor Oil Conditioner. Using Shea moisture as a leave-in when needed to style.

The hair thinning lessened around the fall time last year. My hair was so depleted at this point anyways. Frizzy, half straightened out/half curly, flat and less voluminous more than ever before. I maintained about 3-4 hair cuts throughout 2019 and am not sure if i witnessed my hair growing or if the straightening of my curls played a role in the length.

I also want to mention that i feel and can see that in the middle of my scalp, it is completely flat. My hair would usually voluminize itself at the center of my head, so i realized that this is where hair is mostly losing its curl pattern, from the roots to mid shaft. Also, at the sides of my head where my hair line started. Luckily hairline didn't thin out too badly.

Last November was the very FIRST time that i straightened my hair that year - against my own instincts only because my sister was getting married. So traditionally i of course, went to a Dominican hair stylist, but someone that i had never been to, who my mother highly recommended. Nevertheless, i straightened my hair and noticed how badly my hair thinned out when seeing how little of a pony tail i had. It was heart-breaking. Even the hair stylist told me it wasn't normal and i should be concerned.

When i washed my hair from the straightening, after 5 days, my hair was damaged like i had never seen before. My curls were straightened out except for about an inch at the ends. Total devastation ensued. I didnt know what to do except for.. nothing.
I eliminated everything from my hair care lineup at this point except for Mielle's Berry palmade edge control, because at this point i was wearing my hair in a bun or a hat almost everyday.

I went from being the girl with the hair that everyone envied (which i was always humble about, letting whoever in on whatever product or secret i had) to the girl who tried to hide her hair as much as possible. In Jan. of this year i went to a dermatologist who took some strands and examined my scalp. The results and examination came back with no irregularities.

A facebook with over 60,000 members, that i joined, believes that Deva Curl is the primary reason behind our hair struggles. I will say though, that i find the most similarities with those in that group than here and other curly hair forums, so there has to be some sort of connection i think. The administrator's main claim is that it is the plastic that DC uses is harming our hair follicles. Could be.

Another interesting find that i pieced together was my diet. At the end of 2018, i completely eliminated all pork, red meat, turkey and even eggs from my diet. Except for moms holiday pernil (it's a sin to Puerto Ricans not eat this during Xmas Eve).
Upon doing some extensive research, i found a study that explains how curly hair follicles are made up of proteins that contains many copies of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine amino acids can bond with other cysteines further down the hair shaft contributing to curling of the hair between the bonds. Curly hair has more of these bonds, referred to as disulfide bonds, than straight hair because the follicle shape and angle allows different regions of the hair to come closer together making these bonds easier to form.

Foods that are highest in cysteine amino acids are poultry and eggs. So i of course added them back to my diet and am now solely using all natural + organic hair treatments with the exception of 2 products: Creme of Nature Leave-In-Condtioner Spritz and Shea Moisture Castor Oil Conditioner.
I now only conditioner the hair once a week, usually on sundays and shampoo every other week.

I use half apple cider vinegar + spring water with sprigs of rosemary to condition.
to shampoo Olive oil + ACV + lime + egg followed by Shea Moisture Conditioner.
In between washes i spray my hair with an aloe vera mixed with water solution i made that smells like musky armpits.
and that's all folks.

My hair is still lacking in its curl pattern, definition + volume, dryness, and a lot of frizziness. I will say the hair loss has gotten somewhat better but hard to say when you only wash once a week.. I'm overly optimistic and just hope that my hair can recover from all of this.

If you all can please drop your all time favorite natural remedies and DIY products below, it'd be greatly appreciated. As well as any natural treatments/brands/supplements to implement in my daily routine would be superb. Feel free to drop links to articles and your own experiences if they may be similar.

Many, many thanks in advance to all of you and may we forever cherish the crowns were blessed with

love & light to you all♡

#BLACKLIVESMATTER


Original author: fauxxever
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Uneven hair growth or hair stopped growing

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I don’t want to write too much and have people lost in content so I’ll just jump straight to it, to make a long story short, I’ve been loc,d up since Christmas 2019. I’ve noticed that my front locs are either not growing or growing slower than my locs in the back of my hair. Locs in the back are around 4-5 inches when not stretching the loc itself. The front it’s only about 2-2.5 inches and some Locs even shorter. I’m not sure what’s going on here but I decided to wear them in braids until the front catches up to the back.........HOPEFULLY
Original author: Benniebob95
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head wraps and bonnets

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Any head wrap/bonnet lovers out there? I recently came across this black business that provides head wraps and bonnets. I just thought I'd share with everyone! I love the silk bonnet that I got. www.chiwrapz.com It really helps my curls and protects my hair. they have a 15% off sale with the code "CHECKOUT"
Original author: champangemami
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Headwraps and bonnets

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Any head wrap/bonnet lovers out there? I recently came across this black business that provides head wraps and bonnets. I just thought I'd share with everyone! I love the silk bonnet that I got. www.chiwrapz.com It really helps my curls and protects my hair. they have a 15% off sale with the code "CHECKOUT"
Original author: champangemami
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help with dry, thick, nappy hair!!

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hello!! im 13 and have thick hair up to about my shoulders on the front of my hair and to my armpits in the back. my mom always had me go to the hairdresser when i was 9-12 and in january of this year i got a perm. right now my hair is thick, dry, the roots and back of my hair are very fizzy, thick, and nappy. and the roots all around my hair stand up as if its in a ponytail. but the front of my hair is straight. i never learned how to properly do and take care of my hair at all. the products my mom makes me use makes my hair the exact same as it was before the next day, even when i wash my hair it still looks bad. and also my hair hasnt grown for years and recently ive been very sad about my hair and i got bullied a bit cause my hair looked like a ‘birds nest’ also my hair is naturally straight, ive never seen it curly but after the perm i got the roots got curly?

thanks if you can help me!!


Original author: gabby3386
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Cold water rinse

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Does any one else’s hair feel brittle from this? Mine does!
Original author: SugarCareBear
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Rice water

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Who has experienced protein overload? What does it feel like?
Original author: SugarCareBear
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Nappturality Shoe 300 faded

Your Natural Hair is NOT a Fad

Wearing natural hair is not a fad. It is not a fashion trend. It's the natural hair you were born with. So why can't you wear it?
Don't believe the negative hype..

Brandi Murphy Adaleia Coultman3 Queena Beenblessed Williams2 Kayla Bush Angie Knight Talishia Robins2 Sasha Stoute2 Sheila Da She Serumula Tamara Hinkle Moore Troya Sowell Sarah Moore 2 Michelle Hudson Da OC Jillijoy Holloway2 Jay Roge Regina Ellis Livingston Urecha Dunn Essie Dodson Lakishia Brown Raven Nacole Madison Karmen B. Jones Kaleta Battle Antoinette Jeaninne Bryanna Knight Nikki Poole 2 Raticka Scruggs Leslie Blakely8 Gema Ebanks Juanita Simmons Iman Whitmore 2 Sonjia Murphy Jay Roge4 Monique Colon Candace Montgomery Linda Brown Campbell Maya Mj James2 Leslie Blakely2 Tammie Braggs KaRen JackSon Adrienne Lifeisgolden Skinner2 Adaleia Coultman2 Hairbyjuanibless4 Kim Lewis Jay Roge3 Mysteek NaturalHair2 Adey's Natural Hair Tips Daphanie Brooks Leslie Blakely3 Monica Evans3 Kenita Mitchell Ayesha La Vonia Boyd Courtney Davis Chelsea Patterson Sanders Marenda Eison Gloria Obruche 2 Abigail Boyce Miz Jones Natanya Jones2 Heila Da She Serumula 2 Monica Evans4 Jewel Grant Sarah Moore Selena So Blessed Mckibben Lorraine Gray Sheila Da She Serumula3 Mary Wells Katrina Stallworth Chasity Williams Richeau Breland ShaRon Hicks2 Cynthiakim1 Debra Chatman Rhonda Littles Heeyy Jessie Natanya Jones Shalari Drakes Princess First'Lady Briggs3 Vanessa Agee Gilly Dee Jariel Deanna2 Nadia Newton Sheila Da She Serumula KaTina Smith Walker3 Keia Parker Nikki Poole Monique Wilson Shannon Bell Monique Colon Mary Wells Lisa Amos Wilson KaRen JackSon Angela Watkins2 Daniella Cardoza Kimberly Montague Leslie Blakely5 Khady Didi Sow Alnita Reaves Vaught Denise Billings Andrea Cantrell Sophonie Bien Aime Irena Shipley Trina Smith 3 Hairbyjuanibless2 Tammie Elkerson Mcgill Samantha Jordan Bokua Adwoa Bray 2 KaTina Smith Walker Leslie Blakely9 Kennedra Tucker Kathy Terrell 3 Natanya Jones3 Dominique Truthfairy Williams Watt J LaKayle Jones Adaleia Coultman4 Kathy Terrell Toma Thornhill Raticka Scruggs2 Jazmine J. Boss Tonyelle Bennett Leah Prater Bella Negra1 Nyree' Allen Cheryl Freemon Watts2 Jagged Edge3 Msincognito Shades Princess First'Lady Briggs4 Destiny Hawkins Ann Brown Carolyn Parker Princess First'Lady Briggs2 Monica Evans Jacqueline Parker Michele Washington Diamond Mull Hairbyjuanibless3 Angela Watkins3 Naiesha Howell Tiara Shinae Jariel Deanna1 LaCharla Figgs Shekera Combs Jariel Deanna Emmanuelle Key Dickerson2 HairbyJuanibless Talishia Robins Divinity Starr MrsNohaterallowed Taylor2 Jillijoy Holloway Cheryl Freemon Watts Cynthiakim2 Betty Alexander McGriff Gilly Dee Bokua Adwoa Bray Sharea Twymon Summers Melody Dark Shadi Shukuma Maepa Daniella Cardoza2 KaTina Smith Walker2 Lekeytha Dukes Shaw Chenay N. Bryant Nicki Wade Trina Smith Latanya Coverson Heeyy Jessie2 Kathy Terrell 2 Andrea Cantrell 3 Jillijoy Holloway3 Jagged Edge2 Princess First'Lady Briggs Jariel Deanna3 J LaKayle Jones2 Eiimariiee Rosee Lynn Notm Pressed3 LaShawn Hairbyjuanibless5 Marilyn E Lowe Emmanuelle Key Dickerson Sonya Makeba Solange Campos 1 Sasha Stoute Jaunene Jones Leslie Blakely6 Melinda IzsoDivine Angie Knight2 Tammy Mariano Adrienne Lifeisgolden Skinner3 Adrienne Lifeisgolden Skinner KaRen Lauren Foster Walls Nikki Poole Ednasia Green Raticka Scruggs Curley N Cynthia Simpson Sheila Da She Serumula2 Monique Colon2 Yasmeen Cookngd Ali Brown Andrea Cantrell 2 Angela Watkins Frankie Monroe 1 Ashley Erica Holmes Hale Tiffany Smith Star Bullard Frankie Monroe LaJoia Hamilton Tracy Gary Bella Zambezie Leslie Blakely7 Monica Evans2 Chara Harris Queena Beenblessed Williams Solange Campos J LaKayle Jones3 MrsNohaterallowed Taylor Vicky Hightower Amanda Flowers Peterson Iman Whitmore Gloria Obruche 1 Frankie Monroe 2 Urecha Dunn2 Sylvia Randi Carroll Jennifer Bass Leslie Blakely Mysteek NaturalHair Jay Roge6 Akeisha Saundrea Arila Mendez Kaynisha Renee Martin Leslie Blakely4 Adaleia Coultman KaRen JackSon2 Maya Mj James Jagged Edge Notm Pressed Kathy Terrell 4 Trina Smith 2 Lysa Davis EJ Thompson