Styling Natural Hair

[Tropicana]

Yes it is the African threading I am talking about.

[Tropicana]

I can't remember who asked in the shout box if anything other than weave thread could be used for stretching natural hair. Was it Kia?

I just read that yarn can also be used for threading and stretching natural hair. As Blackstar suggested, ponytail holders can also be used.

Shrinkage in natural hair after washing can limit your style choices. Stretching the hair is great for those who want versatility in their everyday styling, as it elongates your shrunken curls.


I have listed my favorite stretching methods for you to try.


Threading


Yes you read correctly, good old fashioned threading can be wonderful for stretching natural hair without heat. You can use the traditional threading yarn that’s commonly used or you can use the thread used for sewing a weave on.


Banding


This method is similar to threading, but instead of using thread, you use ponytail holders or bands to stretch out the hair. Divide freshly washed and conditioned wet or damp hair into large sections, similar to the ‘calabar’ style done for kids, then take small ponytail holders and place them on the hair starting from the roots and work your way down to your ends. Remember to smooth down your roots with the band, but don’t make it too tight as it can cause breakage. Also be careful when removing the bands so it doesn’t snag on your hair.

More: http://www.olori.com.ng/ways-to-stre....kTUvHDMW.dpuf

[Tropicana]

Is 100% Length Retention Possible?



It is well documented that hair grows approximately half an inch per month. This would translate to 1 inch every two months , 2 inches every four months and so on and so forth. However is it really realistic to expect 100% retention of this growth? Here are some factors to consider:
1. How long/old is your hair?

Generally the easiest growth and retention phase happens at the beginning. Gaining and retaining the first 4-6 inches is fairly easy with very little extra care necessary. However, after this point, the ease with which you retain length depends on how well you protect the older hair from weathering and damage. Naturally texture and individual strand thickness differences will influence retention ease but regardless of hair type, the fundamental ‘be gentle with your hair’ mantra really matters for hair that is over a year old.
2. Breakage and Split Ends

Some hair breaks easily while some hair doesn’t. Some people can comb their hair with little to no breakage while others will suffer some breakage regardless of how gentle they are to the hair. In general hair that is most affected by breakage and splits tends to be fine in thickness (individual strands) and kinky. It will not be possible to retain 100% length retention if your hair naturally breaks with gentle handling but it may be possible to get quite close to it (80- 90%) utilising breakage prevention techniques such as protective styling and low manipulation.
3. How do you prefer to style your hair?

The two previous subjects namely the age of your hair and whether you experience breakage and splits are intrinsic properties of your hair which you have limited control over. The choice of how you style your hair especially for natural hair has a huge influence on how much hair you will retain. Once more texture differences come into play but in general the longer the duration of time (consecutive days) that you spend in low or no manipulation styles, the more length you retain. This does not mean you cannot style your hair in an ‘out’ style as often as you like, it just means that there is a trade off (for example, you can choose to alternate 1 week of protection with 1 week of out styles which may give you 50-60% retention or you could choose 4 weeks of protection with 2 days of out styles which may give you 80-90% retention)
My advice is that in the first year a goal of 100% length retention is quite realistic but as the years go by, adjust this goal to suit your hair’s abilities and your lifestyle. If you are keen to grow your hair as long as possible and as quick as possible, then having a high retention rate as a goal is ideal. If you are keen to enjoy your hair as much as possible but still also gain length, reducing your expectation to a minimum of 50% retention is probably more ideal.
Ladies, how much length do you retain?

http://blackgirllonghair.com/2012/01...tion-possible/

[twiney]

Tropi you heng out with the long hair people them though

[Tropicana]

I'm trying to grow my hair and looking for all the tips I can find especially since I am no longer relaxing the top. Seems there are alternatives to relaxer that I was never aware of to keep the hair from tangling as it gets longer. My mother had really long hair when she was younger but I have never had long hair. I need the flexibility to blow dry it when I need to and be able to care for it easily when it is not blow dried at a longer length. Right now, you just look at it and it tangles.

[Tropicana]

I hardly ever use a comb and no brushes. I detangle my hair while wet with my fingers and i have between 2-4 inches of retained growth in no time. For me length is not a big deal instead I like healthy manageable hair that can handle a variety of styles.

Twiney points well taken. I'm doing more of the finger detangling now too when my hair is wet. Though at the moment it is dry and I am detangling it with my fingers and then combing it section by section.

With me when the hair was short and natural, there were no issues. Now that it is longer between relaxer and colour I'm finding that I am getting split ends. My hair is longer than it has been in years but I am still trying to grow it. Just can't afford to keep trimming. When I wear it wash and wear and blow dry it less frequently, I seem to retain more of the growth.

I've also learned when I am overseas to either go wash and wear or get it roller set. I have returned from trips a number of times with 2 inches of damage due to blow drying and curling iron misuse by stylists who didn't have experience with Black hair and one time having someone put the wrong protein in my hair. I walk with my own products.

Careful not to become a product junkie or one of those high maintenance hair folk.

No danger of that happening. When I am watching these videos and these women are talking about taking 40 minutes to detangle their hair every day I am thinking.



I would never have that kind of time.

I am so busy that the challenge is getting in enough care but I have to do more as you just look at my hair and it tangles. I always check products and gadgets with my hairdresser and so far there is not one they have given me the okay on. I will run the Tangle Teezer by them.

[twiney]

Dont waste your money...

As one who dont have much trouble with detangling (maybe that's why I not interested in growth) I dont handle my hair very often since I listened to Gen and found a girl who had a low maintenance regimen that I adapted to suit my life style and hair. I wash and deep condition and comb my hair once every 2 weeks most of the time. Every 3-4 days I do light spritz of water and olive oil or argan oil before bed (not every hair need the whole heap of moisture as them would want us to believe) satin scarf every night. I do an apple cider rinse every 6 weeks ... and caster oil at the hairline in between washes ... I dont wear it out alot just because I don't have the time to wrap it at night.

[Tropicana]

Makes sense. No one needs to be a slave to their hair.

I do notice that men, who do far less manipulating of their hair and who spend less on products and hair care generally have hair that looks healthy and great. My son's hair grows like crazy for example.

[Emperah]

How much ppl eenya actualy have natural hair?

[Tropicana]

Is encourage mi a encourage everybody. After 11 years, I am transitioning back so I am sharing what I am learning about all the options that are now available..

[kia027]

How much ppl eenya actualy have natural hair?

me


ok not me as I colour my hair.. using the henna was too much work

[Blackstar*]

I'm natural.

[Tropicana]

Speaking of colour. One issue is that, due to the curl pattern, natural hair can be resistant to colour. I still have to get my hairline relaxed for that reason or the colour doesn't take.

[twiney]

How much ppl eenya actualy have natural hair?

Never straightened or coloured only an occasional blow dry and just to dry. Why u ask?

[Tropicana]

Never straightened or coloured only an occasional blow dry and just to dry. Why u ask?

im tink everybody sell out.