Does bunning have to be this hard? PLEASE HELP!

[WantNatural]

Please help ladies. I am transitioning and all I want is a bun. I was able to bun earlier in my transition without too much of an issue (dry bun only, I cannot wet bun to save my life!), but now that I have more new growth, it's getting harder. My NG grows outward so a few hours after I pull my hair back it looks like I've put my finger in an electrical socket. My edges will not stay smooth no matter what I use (Fantasia IC gel, Garnier Fructis Brilliantine Wax, Castor oil). And although I have 2.5 inches of coils, I cannot get a consistent wave pattern to save my life! Maybe I will have to wait until I am 6 months post to see that, I have two more weeks until I will be 5 months post. My problem is that when I pull my hair back, my relaxed hair lies is on top of my new growth, and you can see an alternating pattern of straight hair, wavy hair that looks crazy! I wrap my hair in a scarf at night, and the next morning my hair is squished and matted and dry, no matter how much I moisturized the night before. I love the way my hair looks after I have moisturized it with NTM and sealed with olive oil. I brush it back and then smooth with my hands, and it looks great! Then I tie the scarf, go to sleep, and the beauty is GONE! Even if I do my bun in the morning and only use the scarf for a few minutes before leaving for work, I have the same problem. I have been dealing with very dry hair from my last pregnancy which unfortunately just ended in a miscarriage, so I know it will take some time for my hormones to balance out again. I just used porosity control for the first time on Sunday night and will continue using that weekly because I do have porous hair.

So basically right now I have dry hair which will not stay neatly in a bun, looks matted and dry, and is a combination of straight and coily hair even when I try to smooth it back. Staightening my hair helps, but I have used direct heat on it twice in the last month, and I can't do it anymore. I know that is contributing to my dryness and my breakage has increased since using the direct heat, so I want to go back to air drying and pulling my hair into a bun. If I could get my bun right, I could easily transition for the next year like this, but I can't get it right! How hard could this be?

Sorry, I'm just frustrated, thanks for listening. But any advice is welcome on products, tools, and/or technique!

 

[Austro-Afrikana]

Don't worry about the curly and straight. I'm transitioning and i bun my hair wet. Some bits of my hair are straight but i just don't let it bother me...it doesn't look bad, lol.
After washing and STEAMING (great for dry hair) i put a little conditioner in my hair, then some fantasia gel, smooth with a bristle brush, tie up, and lay a scarf over it...i don't really touch it for up to 1 week...i just moisturise the pony tail. HTH

 

[WantNatural]

Thanks! Maybe I'm a bit self-conscious and should just get over it. I'd probably feel better if my new growth wasn't squashed though. I like your idea about just moisturizing the ponytail too. I moisturize, re-brush, and smooth my hair every night because it usually looks crazy once it's time to go to bed - I have a two year old and even if I make it through the work day intact, once I get home with him it's a whole different story! I might just tie my hair up when I get home so I don't disturb it.

 

[dachsies_rule!]

Have you ever tried using Luster's Renutrients Slick Stick? It's a castor oil stick designed to smooth your edges and hold them down.

 

[panamoni]

I'm 18 weeks post right now, and bunning everyday. I can totallly relate to your struggle.

I would recommend experimenting with your leave-ins as well.
When I used Giovanni Direct as a leave-in, my new growth looked like the electrical socket think you described. When I used Salerm 21, my new growth was flat. I'm sure the scarf and DC that I used helped too (Alter Ego Garlic), but in this instance I think most of the credit goes to that leave-in.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

This seems to be the best method to transition with buns. I just hate that it takes so long for my hair to dry.

 

[msa]

Sorry to hear about the miscarriage, I hope you are recovering well.

I think you should do a braid out first because it'll stretch your hair out and help the two textures blend better. It may also help you keep the moisture in your hair. And then that way you can bun for the week.

 

[Desarae]

Maybe you should try putting your hair in the ponytail in the shower, combing it back as the water runs through it, then put in the ponytail holder while it's still wet.

 

[Crackers Phinn]

I bunned my way through a 14 month transition.

My edges will not stay smooth no matter what I use (Fantasia IC gel, Garnier Fructis Brilliantine Wax, Castor oil).

Try putting the product (I prefer the Fantasia IC gel) on a tooth brush and brushing it into the (wet) edges. Then tie it down with a scarf.

I know that you said you can't wet bun, but the only way I was able to get my bun flat past 6 months transitioning and it not look crazy was to apply the Fantasia gel on wet hair (kinda like a relaxer) layer upon layer then pull it back.

 

[AllAboutMoi]

I am 3 three months post and I can get my newgrowth flat by DCing with Silicon Mix, a plastic shampoo brush, Rusk Smoother Conditioner as a leave in, and Aloe Vera Gel before I put on my scarf. If the front is dry by bed time a spritz with a little more water and put the scarf back on. I didnt know Aloe Vera Gel could hold like that. I used it on my 8 year old daughter today and when she came home from school she was not a "frizz-a-nator" as she says.

Sometimes I also wear a center part with bun which makes it look better. Its easier to get it flat than brushing it all straight back.

 

[Mook's hair]

Have you considered blowing it out first and then bunning. (No gel)

Or maybe it's time to try something other than buns.

Cornrows....

 

[lilanie]

I feel you wholeheartedly on not liking the scarf-mush look.

May I suggest that the differences in texture may not be as noticeable as you think... It's probably really cute. And, what about a messy bun or a not-so-perfect top not?

Also, what about some kind of french twist in the back? is that doable? When I was a secretary, I did my lil french-ish twist in the back, securing it with a pen or pencil.

 

[Aggie]

Maybe you should try putting your hair in the ponytail in the shower, combing it back as the water runs through it, then put in the ponytail holder while it's still wet.

Hmmm, I'm a little over 7 months post and was wondering the same thing as the OP and I think this method will work best for me. What I'll add is the leave-in, then put it in a ponytail right there in the shower. This will definitely work for me as I already detangle and smooth my hair a bit in the shower now as it stands. Thanks Desiree.

 

[Aggie]

Have you considered blowing it out first and then bunning. (No gel)

Or maybe it's time to try something other than buns.

Cornrows....

OMG Mook, your hair in your siggy is absolutely breathtaking. I love it!

 

[s1b000]

I found this thread interesting because I've never done bunning before. I think maybe my hair is long enough now, and I'm hoping to learn a bit about technique. Does anyone know of any videos on you tube or something that demonstrate how to go about this?

 

[sheba1]

Maybe you should try putting your hair in the ponytail in the shower, combing it back as the water runs through it, then put in the ponytail holder while it's still wet.

I'm natural and this is the only bunning method that works for me. I cowash, coat my hair with oil and conditioner, squeeze out the excess and smooth my hair back while in the shower. If I brush it's only for the very edges and takes only a couple light strokes. I sometimes smooth a little black and sassy cream set over the edges, also. I don't worry about my hair drying in the center because I cowash daily. I detangle a couple times a week before I wash and my hair has never been better.

Also, so that I don't have to fear breakage my buns are very loose. Two turns of the hair tie only. The first around the base, the second I pull my hair half through, leaving my ends tucked in.

I never thought I could get so many compliments or look so elegant with my hair pulled back. Love it! And, more importantly, my hair loves it!

 

[Honey Bee]

I'm kinda transitioning now (I'm uncommitted), but I have about 2 in of texlaxed hair, and the rest is permed. I pre-poo with bringraj (sp?) oil, co-wash with Wen and DC if I need it. Then, I put in my leave-ins (that nexxus spray, whose name I forgot, and headress, I just added chi keratin mist, and the silk infusion).

Now's the hard part. I air-dry my hair in four ponytails (or braids). Do your center part, put on your wax, if you use it, and very, veeeeeery carefully, brush JUST your grown out edges, and either braid or pony. I do the same process for the back ponytails. And then put on your scarf. HTH

eta: with this method, my edges stay straight until the next wash unless I sweat it out, and depending on how tight you do the pony tails in the back, you might also straighten out the middle of you hair too, but dont forget: brush VEEEEEERY carefully. Please.

 

[BostonMaria]

I had this same problem in months 2 through 6 when I was transitioning. I had to use a headband in order to get those front edges slicked back. No gel worked for me either. Once it grows out longer hopefully the problem will start to go away. Don't give up though, just keep chugging along. I had tons of bad hair days LOL but it was worth it once I did the BC. I'm very sorry about your miscarriage by the way.

 

[DarkHair]

I'm relaxed, but 10 weeks post with massive ng. I apply Elasta QP Mango Butter on my roots like a relaxer, and then I put (brush) it into a ponytail, and tie it down with a scarf overnight. By morning I have beautiful waves, esp at the part. I just keep my ends oiled. When the edges won't lay down, I just apply a bit more EQP, brush, and tie down.

 

[TeeKay21]

I havn't read all the posts so I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet.... but I swear by red palm butter. I am at 14 weeks post and i have VERY THICK 4B hair that also grows outward.

I usually spray my hair with water from a water bottle, apply hemp seed butter for moisture and seal with red palm butter, tie it down with a scarf over night or for about 30 mins if I'm doing it right before work. That stuff is the TRUTH. I can WET my hair and throw on RPB then LEAVE THE HOUSE. No scarf or nothing. Granted it will poof up a little if I do it that way, but tying it down will leave your hair/edges SMOOTH!!!

Hahaha. I kinda feel like the RPB kamikaze. I only stop by the hair forums once in a while, but when I do, i always end up praising my RPB!!

 

[nikki2229]

I am sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I hope that you are doing well.
I do my buns in the shower. I cowash, leave some conditioner on, and then detangle/brush my hair into a ponytail while I am in the shower. I add leave in and gel once I get out. I use a towel or shirt to take away some moisture before I tie my hair down with the scarf. I only wear the scarf for 10 or 15 minutes while I am getting dressed.
HTH

 

[Hairsnob]

I know you're most likely already using a silk/satin scarf so I know I don't have to tell you that. But one thing that I find with my satin scarf and bonnet is that only one side is silky and the other side feels like cotton. So I always make sure I put the silky side on my hair. I believe the cotton side really dries my hair out. I also wear the bonnet inside out (I need to stop being lazy and sew some satin around the cotton band on that too).

But if you moisturize and tie it up at night, the next morning before you get in the shower take the scar off and make sure it's straight and put it back on again. After you get out the shower leave the scarf on as long as you can.

I always hated when people say you need to "train" your hair to lay a certain way but some reason I think it may be true.

HTH

 

[panamoni]

Another thing that makes my hair flat and smooth is waiting until it's about 80% dry to do the bun.

It's annoying, but I really like how it turns out when I do my hair the night before (wash, dc, etc.), then airdry over night with the scarf. In the morning, it's still a little wet, but smooth and flat. I moisturize, seal, and make a nice bun.

 

[WantNatural]

I've been out of commission for a few days, didn't realize so many had responded! You ladies are wonderful! These are all fantastic suggestions and I feel so much better reading them, I know I'll find something that works. I'm washing tomorrow, so I think I will try pulling my hair back into a ponytail while in the shower. I didn't think about leave-ins either, so I might try switching from HH LTR to something else, and see how that works. Actually, I'm going to try each suggestion one by one until I can make the bun of my dreams! I love my new growth - I could stare at it all day - but I have to get it somewhat tame for work! LOL!

And Mook, I'm determined to teach myself how to cornrow, even if just for braidouts. Your cornrows are out of this world!