2014 Twist/Braid/Bun for Growth Challenge

[Fhrizzball]

I did my first sucessful tuck and roll today. Apparently I was using the worst kinds of hair pins. After using the reinforced ones that Sally's have (The ones in the nifty container) it was a breeze. I thought I just couldn't understand the working of using hair pins as they would get bent out of shape and whatnot but turns out I wasn't using strong enough ones.

Also I did a fully combed out twist out the other day and I got tons of compliments. If it wasn't for the fact that it's a lot of manipulation and seems to tangle and dry out first, it would be my go to out style as I seem to be in a fluffy hair stage as of late. Also I'm loving paddle brushes to detangle way more than wide tooth combs and denman brushes even.

Sorry for the rambling just having a good hair day for once. Also what kind of hair toys are you guys wearing with your buns? Mine always look so plain to me. I'm thinking of trying may hand at Naptural85's wire headband DIY. I fail at DIY's though so I'm not if mine will turn out as expected

 

[toaster]

My buns are pretty plain now but I used to use flexi 8's and hair forks from etsy.

 

[Froreal3]

I am loving these deluxe Goody Spin Pins. They have a cute little flower on the end of them and seem more durable than the regular spin pins.

 

[crimsonpeach]

Now that I've been in twists I can see the wispy ends I have in a couple of areas. Last night I just went and snipped those ends off. Looks so much better. Fortunately, I can hide those in my updos. I'm going to do a better job of babying my ends, drinking water, and taking my supplements.

 

[charmtreese]

December 19 - March 23 length check.

View attachment 251405

That's some great growth!!!

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Still trucking along ladies! This past wash, I didn't even wear my hair out once...which is unusual for me. I just really didn't feel like being bothered as I've been having a lot of lower back pain. I washed last Tues or Wednesday (can't remember) and roller set, threw it in a bantu bun for a few days, and it's been in 2 Goddess braids since then. I'll wash next week.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Oopsie, forgot to mention that I did use some Kanekalon braiding hair in those braids (which is a no-no for this challenge) but it helps the style last longer.

 

[toaster]

Glad everyone is doing well! I'm probably not the best challenge leader because I think if you need to adjust some of the rules to ensure your hair is growing then so be it. As long as the twisting/braiding/bunning is beneficial for you and your hair.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Glad everyone is doing well! I'm probably not the best challenge leader because I think if you need to adjust some of the rules to ensure your hair is growing than so be it. As long as the twisting/braiding/bunning is beneficial for you and your hair.

Cool beans...cause these goddess braids with the extra hair is so easy for me! Woot woot

 

[jesusislove1526]

I've been wearing a twistout for 2 days, and now I am ready to put my twists back in. Cowashing day tomorrow, along with a DC/oil rinse. I may try twisting with wet hair this time around. I know that it's more shrinkage, but it has been a long time since I have done that. I think I am missing my braided roots as well, so I am going to do those too.

 

[prettybyrd]

toaster, your hair looks so much thicker now than it did in December! Great job!!!

I wish that I either straightened my hair in January, or twisted my hair this time. I will straighten my hair next time to keep it consistent. Here goes:

 

[davisbr88]

About to put in a new set of twists today! So excited to know they can last so long!

 

[Fhrizzball]

Still trucking along ladies! This past wash, I didn't even wear my hair out once...which is unusual for me. I just really didn't feel like being bothered as I've been having a lot of lower back pain. I washed last Tues or Wednesday (can't remember) and roller set, threw it in a bantu bun for a few days, and it's been in 2 Goddess braids since then. I'll wash next week.

My hair is in that style now except with Marley hair and flat twists. Also I can't for the life of me flatwist with extension hair so I just add to to my ends for more protection.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

My hair is in that style now except with Marley hair and flat twists. Also I can't for the life of me flatwist with extension hair so I just add to to my ends for more protection.

My extension hair starts right at my ears. I can't add it to the beginning of the braid without getting that lump but I can if I go down midway. I'm going to keep practicing until I can though. lol

 

[davisbr88]

Just put in a new set of twists. These took almost twice as long at 4.5 hours but I made them smaller and more uniform. Plus, I took great care to make sure my parts were really clean because I had a lot of loose hair that got pulled into my twists in my last set because I was being careless. It made take-down and detangling pretty hellish.
I am hoping these will last 6 weeks, and I am thinking I may not wash them since they're so small.
I like the length the smaller size gives me, too!

 

[yodie]

Ladies, my ends tend to break off about three months into wearing a twist out. I don't wear a twist out every day though. Other days I leave it twisted. My ends prefer oil. Butters don't work as well after awhile. Regardless of what I use, my ends always seem to dry and break.

How do you ladies wear twist out styles (wash and not straighten your hair) and still preserve your ends?

 

[prettybyrd]

I've noticed that my hair is a tad thinner in the back. Initially I thought that it came from the stylist who trimmed my hair, maybe she she trimmed too much, but with my hair straight I can see that isn't the case. The other likely suspects are the GHE and wet bunning.

I read through some old posts and women who wet bun experienced breaking and thinning. I am going back to my braids solely, and see how that works. My hair was actually thickening nicely before I got grown and started messing with it.

Decided to shampoo and DC this evening and put in plaits. It will be plaits for the week.

 

[toaster]

yodie: I don't wear twist outs (ever, really) but if your hair is breaking off due to wearing them it may be time to try a different style as opposed to trying to force them to work. Hopefully the other ladies will give suggestions.

prettybyrd Sorry about the thinning, but it sounds like you have a plan to get your hair back to 100%

 

[prettybyrd]

yodie: I don't wear twist outs (ever, really) but if your hair is breaking off due to wearing them it may be time to try a different style as opposed to trying to force them to work. Hopefully the other ladies will give suggestions.

prettybyrd Sorry about the thinning, but it sounds like you have a plan to get your hair back to 100%

Thank you, @toaster. Girl, I will be working hard this quarter to retain and baby my scalp. I'm so glad that I caught the problem before it got bad. Lesson learned! I think that I will return to buns at some point, but they won't be wet, and I will be moving the bun around - like I should've done anyway - and it won't be anytime soon .

 

[DoDo]

I have been wearing a set of twists for the past week or so. I have to get better about moisturizing. I only do it twice a week maybe.

I want to get back to a rate of once a day. I bantu knot the ends of my twists in order to protect my ends and y'all I feel as if I have found the solution to ssks and tangling at my ends!

My ends are staying stretched and my hair is staying protected. My hair is still moisturized too but I like it when it feels extra soft.

Protective styling for the win! I am staying on this bus 'till hip length !

I have avoided the setback struggle bus for 2.5 years. Let's hope I keep cruising along 'till hip.

 

[yodie]

toaster, I stopped, straightened my hair and now I'm wearing it up. I had to trim about two inches and now I plan on covering my hair for the next three months to let it rest. I think my ends prefer to be straightened. I need to learn how to use curlformers.

What protective style do you wear?

 

[toaster]

yodie I've been stretching my hair with roller sets and then bunning. I used to wet bun (have one right now in fact) and never had any troubles with it, but I prefer the look of a straighter bun.

 

[RegaLady]

I've noticed that my hair is a tad thinner in the back. Initially I thought that it came from the stylist who trimmed my hair, maybe she she trimmed too much, but with my hair straight I can see that isn't the case. The other likely suspects are the GHE and wet bunning.

I read through some old posts and women who wet bun experienced breaking and thinning. I am going back to my braids solely, and see how that works. My hair was actually thickening nicely before I got grown and started messing with it.

Decided to shampoo and DC this evening and put in plaits. It will be plaits for the week.

I swear by bunning! In fact it was the only PS that got me to my goal before I cut it. What worked for me was using a banana clip. It doesn't take your hair out AT ALL! I also did not wet bun but damp bun. Sometimes it isn't the problem with a certain PS as it is with the technique.

Anyhoo, I am in this bunning challenge. I plan to wear it all spring and summer.

 

[jesusislove1526]

My new set of twists with braided roots. I did them while my hair was damp to see if the step of stretching them with larger twists or banding was easier or not. I know now that even though it takes longer, air drying in the twists or banding works better for me because it was more difficult with sectioning my hair all at once while it was damp. Also just separating the hair to part was a lot more difficult somewhat wet than it was when it was air dried previously. I don't want to damage my ends, so lesson learned. I think I spent almost as much time parting as I did twisting this time around.

 

[yodie]

Your twists are beautiful.

 

[prettybyrd]

I swear by bunning! In fact it was the only PS that got me to my goal before I cut it. What worked for me was using a banana clip. It doesn't take your hair out AT ALL! I also did not wet bun but damp bun. Sometimes it isn't the problem with a certain PS as it is with the technique.

Anyhoo, I am in this bunning challenge. I plan to wear it all spring and summer.

Now that's a great idea. I didn't even think about using the banana clip.

I admit, it was my method, and not the PS that caused my problems. I didn't mean to imply that wet bunning was bad. I should not have been wet bunning and not moving the bun around.

It was a thread about a woman wet bunning to great lengths that prompted me to give it a try, so I know it is possible to grow hair long with wet buns. But in the future, should I try it, and I probably will, I'll just use your recommendations for doing it on damp hair with the clip.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Pouring down raining today and according to the forecast, it's gonna be this way until Saturday. Threw in a halo/crown braid for the next few days. Oh April Showers!

 

[davisbr88]

Are there any finger detanglers in here?
After my last twist take-down, I used a comb and brush and really don't want to use one this time around (even though that's not for another 5 weeks... don't judge lol). Has anyone been successful in finger detangling after a protective style?

 

[Tibbar]

Are there any finger detanglers in here?
After my last twist take-down, I used a comb and brush and really don't want to use one this time around (even though that's not for another 5 weeks... don't judge lol). Has anyone been successful in finger detangling after a protective style?

davisbr88:


Me! I usually finger detangle after I take out my twists, and it works pretty well for me. I have to do it in small sections though, about 3 - 4 twists at a time and then I either clip it out of the way or braid it, I can't leave it loose while I am working with the rest of my hair or else it becomes a tangled mess!

 

[Tibbar]

Just posting to update for end of first quarter. I wore a puff about a week ago and took a picture and when I compared it to a puff from last June, I was surprised by the difference in size because my hair never seems like the length changes.

I will continue to wear twists because they are easy, and I'm lazy
yup!

June 2013 puff

March 2014 puff

usual curled twists: