Twist/Braid/Bun for Growth Challenge (7/1/2012 - 9/30/2012)

[LilMissRed]

FINALLY took my twists out on Tuesday nite.. wore a twist out Wednesday morning then did my usual (dc, moisture, twists) I'm Happy Happy Happy now

[MeowMix]

Originally Posted by Rocky91

checking in.
i've just been cowashing and bunning, not fancy.
i will be getting a weave next week for back to school (i need a hair break), so i guess that will make me ineligible to finish up the challenge.

@Rocky91. Doggone...I'll miss your pictures One of these days I'm going to try to do that bantu knot style you had. You have to do what you do for you hair though. HHJ

Originally Posted by MsDee14

Washing my hair in these twists tonight, then taking them down and finger detangling once about 80% dry. Plan on doing a braid-n-curl for the weekend and going back in twists on Monday.

I've been wearing scarves all week since my twists are a mess, but I was too lazy to take them out.

@MeowMix You look adorable in that pic.

@MsDee14, Awww, THANK YOU. You know I got some issues around taking my picture. You made my day. BTW, why am I seeing you with that scarf riding around in a convertible? Very classy

[NappyNelle]

@Rocky91 Nooooooooooooooo! *pouts* I understand. *sniffle*

@MsDee14 That scarf is so cute. I don't think your twists look a mess, but I guess you have me fooled with your styling.

I saw this photo on Tumblr, and I want a bun like hers:

[shortdub78]

i can't do a high bun to save my life. maybe when my hair gets longer. i wear my part in the middle, so i know that is an issue.

[-PYT]

Hey girls!

Checking in from almost the end of my first week of job training. Only tomorrow, monday, and tuesday to go! It's like being in class all day long, but I'm learning a lot. These mini twists are a life saver. going to wash them tonight...well my scalp at least. I'm going to avoid this Glover's sulfur

[Tibbar]

Yeah, I took out my big braids and threw some jeweled hair pins in my hair. I thought it looked ok. I got a few compliments (mostly from people who love me and/or live with me ) but I also got a few side eyes... oh well...
Anyways, back to braids / twists for me...
Oh and i THINK my hair is all natural now, I don't see any relaxed ends left. I have been cutting at least a 1/2 inch at a time for quite a few months now. STILL don't have a long term plan though...

[NappyNelle]

@Tibbar Very pretty!! I wore a similar style today and accessorized with a jeweled clip too. Congrats on being fully natural. I didn't realize that you were transitioning.

@-PYT I'm glad you're enjoying your orientation. I'm getting nervous about starting my job, but I hope it will go as smoothly as yours.

I saw this photo on Tumblr, too. I don't think my hair will ever look this thick without adding some extensions:



One of my hair goals is to make a french braid (or two) that looks like a professional style. I need to practice my braiding.

[isawstars]

Hey ladies... so... will you share the process you use when you wash and redo your twists? I want to try a different process.

The past 2 months I have been doing the following:

1. Undo twists, section, and spritz water
2. Apply deep conditioner then detangle per section
3. Put shower cap over hair and let it sit for another hour
4. Rinse hair and apply diluted shampoo to hair/twists
5. Rinse out shampoo while massaging scalp then apply conditioner
6. Rinse out conditioner then spritz twists with braid spray

I like that process because My hair gets tangled when I shampoo my hair loose. Also, I get the "hard work" done first. But I am getting a lot of build up on my scalp. It's getting disgusting. I intend to use a clarifying shampoo next week but I don't know if that will be enough.

So please tell me what you're doing on wash/twist day. Thanks!!

[-PYT]

Thanks girl @NappyNelle, you will be just fine. When do you start??? I'm trying to psych myself up about working nights. This will be a first.

@isawstars hey! When I twist, I usually wash beforehand in sections focusing on my scalp (let me add that I detangle/pre-poo before washing with some tresemme naturals)

Then I rub on some protein balanced conditioner like aphogee two minute and then follow with a moisture dc. Rinse, detangle, style. I don't spray anything on it but I usually twist with castor oil because it keeps my hair's moisture locked in.
how long is it before you notice build-up?

[isawstars]

@-PYT

Thanks for sharing! So 2 questions, you detangle before and after washing your hair? And how do you keep your hair in sections when you wash it? Clips?

I notice white build up after 1 week. I think that I dont get all the product off my scalp... But I dont know how to without washing with my hair loose... Which I am terrified to do. I am on week 2, and it's getting flaky and itchy! I cant take it anymore!

[isawstars]

I am completely aware of shrinkage... but DANG! It blows my mind everytime!

[kinkycurlygurl]

Hi all, just checking in. In the middle of a huge project. I'm wearing simple buns and french braids just doing the minimum with my hair.

[kinkycurlygurl]

Originally Posted by Tibbar

Yeah, I took out my big braids and threw some jeweled hair pins in my hair. I thought it looked ok. I got a few compliments (mostly from people who love me and/or live with me ) but I also got a few side eyes... oh well...
Anyways, back to braids / twists for me...
Oh and i THINK my hair is all natural now, I don't see any relaxed ends left. I have been cutting at least a 1/2 inch at a time for quite a few months now. STILL don't have a long term plan though...

I think it looks good. I love your coily texture.

[-PYT]

@Tibbar your hair is beautiful!

@isawstars I usually just soften my hair up with conditioner before I wash...like making sure there's no knots/tangles, then when I'm rinsing, I comb it out with the jilbere shower comb. That keeps it pretty detangled until I'm sectioning to style. I hope I'm not confusing you

But hmm...I wonder if you could limit how much you spray your hair with the braid spray and see how that works. Try sectioning your hair in 4 and using a color applicator bottle to apply the shampoo right on your scalp as you wash and scrub with the pads of your fingers making sure you are getting your scalp nice and clean.

[NappyNelle]

Originally Posted by isawstars

Hey ladies... so... will you share the process you use when you wash and redo your twists? I want to try a different process.

@isawstars Hm... what is my process?

Generally:

• Cover hair in hempseed or coconut oil.
• Undo twists as gently as possible. As I go along, I finger comb the shed hair and any knots I may find. After I have removed a medium section of twists, I finger comb again, and then braid.
• By now, I'm usually too tired to do anything else. Generally I will wear a braid out, bun, french roll, etc.
• Undo each section, slather deep conditioner onto the hair, then immediately braid the section back up. I will steam or baggy with the conditioner for as long as I please.
• Rinse out the conditioner as well as I can. Then I shampoo, concentrating on my scalp by massaging. I let the suds run down each braid until the water runs mostly clear. Sometimes, I'll do a quick condition using a lighter conditioner afterwards, but lately, I haven't done that.
• Towel / Tshirt dry until hair is damp, but not dripping. Undo each braid, apply heavy butter, concentrating on ends, then braid again. Allow to dry completely.
• Now that hair is dry and moisturized, I use those individual braids to grab-n-go twist.

My method seems like a lot of manipulation, but I don't do much to my hair for weeks following that. At night, I loosely bantu knot my hair in sections and release in the morning.

[ladysaraii]

Originally Posted by isawstars

@-PYT

Thanks for sharing! So 2 questions, you detangle before and after washing your hair? And how do you keep your hair in sections when you wash it? Clips?

I notice white build up after 1 week. I think that I dont get all the product off my scalp... But I dont know how to without washing with my hair loose... Which I am terrified to do. I am on week 2, and it's getting flaky and itchy! I cant take it anymore!

I notice that too with my hair. And I don't need to go back to washing my hair loose b/c that is a clusterfluck waiting to happen.

I wonder if a light scalp massage with oil would help (like as I detangle, before I wash.) I wonder if it would help dissolve (like if I used jojoba and peppermint oil) or if it would just hurt things

[Tibbar]

@NappyNelle, @-PYT, @kinkycurlygurl:
Thanks for the love ladies! After a year of just wearing twists or occasionally a bun or two large cornrows I'm trying out some new things...

I'm loving the pictures and ideas in this thread from everybody-- Keep em coming!!

[Leslie_C]

Originally Posted by Tibbar

@NappyNelle, @-PYT, @kinkycurlygurl:
Thanks for the love ladies! After a year of just wearing twists or occasionally a bun or two large cornrows I'm trying out some new things...

I'm loving the pictures and ideas in this thread from everybody-- Keep em coming!!

@Tibbar I love your hair, its gorgeous and thick and looks really soft!

@MsDee14 you are working that scarf...love it! Totally my style! I have a slight obsession...no matter how many I get, I always have my eye out for a pretty color or pattern I dont have...they are so cool bc its almost like no two are alike and they are all unique.

@MeowMix you do look cute in that pic you posted!

@NappyNelle...love the style pics you posted!

@isawstars....that is some amazing shrinkage!


Can somebody tell me why I wore my hair down today for the first time in weeks and it rebelled against me and wouldnt hold a style AT ALL???? Is there such a thing as being TOO SOFT? Its really soft and moisturized but so soft soft it wouldnt hold my braid n curl that was so cute when I left the house. By the time I got to work and got out of the car...I looked at my reflection in my car window and it was already a straight up afro, and not in a good way either...random straight puffy ends sticking out....not the bizness... lol. Any suggestions on how to make my styles hold? I used a little shea butter mixed with some talijah waajid curl cream to braid. Im going to try again tonight with the curl cream alone. Also, I did it on dry hair...wonder if wet hair may have gotten better and longer lasting definition????

[Tibbar]

Originally Posted by Leslie_C

@Tibbar I love your hair, its gorgeous and thick and looks really soft!

@MsDee14 you are working that scarf...love it! Totally my style! I have a slight obsession...no matter how many I get, I always have my eye out for a pretty color or pattern I dont have...they are so cool bc its almost like no two are alike and they are all unique.

@MeowMix you do look cute in that pic you posted!

@NappyNelle...love the style pics you posted!

@isawstars....that is some amazing shrinkage!


Can somebody tell me why I wore my hair down today for the first time in weeks and it rebelled against me and wouldnt hold a style AT ALL???? Is there such a thing as being TOO SOFT? Its really soft and moisturized but so soft soft it wouldnt hold my braid n curl that was so cute when I left the house. By the time I got to work and got out of the car...I looked at my reflection in my car window and it was already a straight up afro, and not in a good way either...random straight puffy ends sticking out....not the bizness... lol. Any suggestions on how to make my styles hold? I used a little shea butter mixed with some talijah waajid curl cream to braid. Im going to try again tonight with the curl cream alone. Also, I did it on dry hair...wonder if wet hair may have gotten better and longer lasting definition????

@Leslie_C
Thanks for the compliment on my hair !
These are just suggestions because I don't really have a concrete answer for you --
Have you tried using gel on your twists or braids in addition to doing it on damp hair? You also need to make sure it is completely dry when you take your hair out. Also, how humid was it? Good luck, I'm sure others will chime in with more answers.

[jprayze]

So I'm back in the challenge full force-- bun today and just got mini braids put in! :-). Wish my hair was thicker but oh well...

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