I am african and my mom grew her hair really long with the african threading technique. Are there any africans or anyone out there who knows where to buy thread for the hair. I am thinking about threading my hair under a fall for a few months and seeing how long it would grow. Thanks. The hair stlye can be seen on this link. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tribalarts.com/feature/lawal/large/26.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tribalarts.com/feature/lawal/26.html&h=550&w=413&sz=39&tbnid=P39rnJS2F5cJ:&tbnh=130&tbnw=97&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dirun%2Bkiko%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN
African treading techniques
- Thread starter maryj1584
- Start date
DragonPearl
Well-Known Member
Looking at the drawing, I really couldn't figure out what the hairstyle was like. Do you have pictures with real people wearing the styles? 
How do you take care of the hair when it's treaded? Is it like wearing braids?
How do you take care of the hair when it's treaded? Is it like wearing braids?
Mahalialee4
New Member
Maybe at an African Market or contact some of the African cultured groups in your area. With a connect, some one should be able to hook you up. The kind of thread they use, is it not just a heavy cotton one like the one they use to make coats etc.? hope this helps. Bonjour
Naijaqueen
New Member
girl the thread isnt that thick though u can improvise and use something like a weaving thread but truthfully I think the reason folks grow their hair with threading is that it is left alone, like once its done, its not coming down for days, or weeks.
weaveadiva
Well-Known Member
Naijaqueen said:
exactly
it's kinda like when you get yarn braids. the hair grows because it is wrapped and protected. be careful though because your hair can become very dry with this method.
Netta1
Well-Known Member
yep what she said. Just get you some thread from the hairstore and get-to- wrappin. I've seen this hairstle and I think it is very beautiful. I'm sure you can keep your hair moisturized even though it will be wrapped. I would think the moisture would be able to soak through the thread.
thatscuteright
Well-Known Member
maryj1584 said:thanks yall. I am going to try this and see if it works. I am thinking of wearing my hair like this under a fall and see how much growth i can get b4 my 1 year aniversary
I wore my hair like this when I was a kid, its also a great way to "straighten" you hair if you are natural.
MiamiHottie
Well-Known Member
you can definitely get the thread at any west african store. It would look better if you get the thread instead weaving thread because it has a nice shine to it that looks much better.
I was really hopeing someone could find a website cause I live in charlotte and there are no west african hair salons here. I know what shiny theread you are talking about, the shiny one. I just wish there was an african food store or something here, all the ones I have been to are just asian food stores that carry african food.
loolalooh
Well-Known Member
^^ I know I'm not the OP, but I figured I could share my 2 cents also. My mom used to do this style on me when I was younger. I didn't like the style as a little one; I was too young to appreciate it's beauty. However, my hair retained a lot of length from threading. It's a GREAT way to protect the strands from root to tip. Unlike braid extensions and weaves, not much tension is put on the scalp (depending on the style). It's definitely worth trying at least once! This is exactly how my mom did mine (pic found on the web). There are other styles as well:
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MummysGirl
New Member
Another way I saw hair threaded when I was younger was - thread the whole length of hair then twist it into a bantu knot... so it just looks like bantu knots before being unravelled... at least 20/30 of these...
And another - get a section, thread the bottom 1/2 inch, braid the hair till the last inch and thread... I really wasn't a fan of threading but this I ALWAYS liked the outcome. About 20 sections...
My hair always came out soft when I was done, maybe cos I never had it in for more than 2 weeks... it was usuallyt done for a week.
And another - get a section, thread the bottom 1/2 inch, braid the hair till the last inch and thread... I really wasn't a fan of threading but this I ALWAYS liked the outcome. About 20 sections...
My hair always came out soft when I was done, maybe cos I never had it in for more than 2 weeks... it was usuallyt done for a week.
Nayna
Unbothered
I used to hate this when I was younger. The kids used to make fun of me and say I had worms in my head, lol. It did make my hair silky when taken out. It had a cute curl that my mom never let me wear to school. She also used regular thread back then but these days she uses weave thread on her own hair.
lonelysky
Baby Chick Gate 2011
^^ I know I'm not the OP, but I figured I could share my 2 cents also. My mom used to do this style on me when I was younger. I didn't like the style as a little one; I was too young to appreciate it's beauty. However, my hair retained a lot of length from threading. It's a GREAT way to protect the strands from root to tip. Unlike braid extensions and weaves, not much tension is put on the scalp (depending on the style). It's definitely worth trying at least once! This is exactly how my mom did mine (pic found on the web). There are other styles as well:
so your hair stuck up like that. or is that just a thing for the picture?
LadyPaniolo
New Member
This is such a fascinating topic. I remember way back in high school I read a book about Gullah people, and the book mentioned threading. I thought maybe it would help my hair grow, but I didn't know how to do the style or how to maintain it. Plus I was afraid I'd get made fun of at school.
Can any of you ladies who wore this style/technique as children please break it down, like from basics?
TIA!
Can any of you ladies who wore this style/technique as children please break it down, like from basics?
TIA!
Maracujá
November 2020 --> 14 years natural!!!
My mom used to do it on my hair when I was little, but she would lay them flat afterwards, it wouldn't stick out like that, and I don't have a clear picture of it unfortunately. Basically, she would take the thread, section off a piece of hair and go around it, till the ends of the hair. Thinks about two strand twist, but instead of twisting hair around hair, you're twisting black thread around it. My mom still does it on her hair till this day, I'll take a picture of it and post it here. It makes your hair silky smooth and straightens it. I haven't done it in ages but I want to again. I hope someone else comes in and explains it better. HTH
Nonie
Well-Known Member
Hallelujah! 
I had no idea this discussion even existed. Every time I talked about this, all I heard were crickets, so figured no one else had ever heard of this sort of threading. I used to get this done when I was young, but the hair was not sticking up as in that photo--although a friend sent me a pic that was kinda similar to that show me an "ugly do" and got me thinking I so could wear that (much to her horror, I might add 
)
The way the style was done on me was 4 rows were sectioned from front to back. Then each was sectioned further into narrow sections crosswise ie right to left that were then wrapped w/ cotton thread (similar to crotchet thread but black). The same # of sections were made on each row. Then two rows were on each side of the head were joined in a fashion as to form a herringbone design, kinda looking like you have two French braids.
I loved threading. I loved how straight and easy to comb it made my hair. I don't really know if it made my hair longer but straight hair was always longer than my natural hair at rest so that's another reason I loved the results of threading. But you couldn't tell me nuffin when my hair was threaded. No one laughed at me in school and I think if they had, it would've been wasted on me because I rocked that do, IMO, and still think threading styles are beautiful. I'll never forget one beauty pageant (Miss World or Miss Universe) where an African lady made it to the final five and had her hair threaded high into a crown-like design. I thought it was so becoming. I might've been the only one, but I have always associated that style with her beauty...almost to the point of thinking if I wore it, I'd morph into the doll she was.
There was also a threading using shiny thread (raffia) that was also popular back then, and this is the one that was more commonly wound around a knitting needle or the like to create a coil that resembled bantu knots. It could be done through the entire head or regular cornrow could meet at the crown and their tails would then be wound to formed a coily bun.
The style I describe was similar to this except picture smaller cornrows meeting at the crown (like this, but smaller) and the bun being more compact due to real coils instead of waves:
The style looked even more regal if the "bun" was at the back.
Y'all have taken me way back!
I can't wait to pull this off next year. I keep meaning to but never remember when my hair is out. 
(I can see some of you looking very terrified at my taste in hairdos and at the thought that I will really wear this in public. 
You better believe it I will.)
I had no idea this discussion even existed. Every time I talked about this, all I heard were crickets, so figured no one else had ever heard of this sort of threading. I used to get this done when I was young, but the hair was not sticking up as in that photo--although a friend sent me a pic that was kinda similar to that show me an "ugly do" and got me thinking I so could wear that (much to her horror, I might add )The way the style was done on me was 4 rows were sectioned from front to back. Then each was sectioned further into narrow sections crosswise ie right to left that were then wrapped w/ cotton thread (similar to crotchet thread but black). The same # of sections were made on each row. Then two rows were on each side of the head were joined in a fashion as to form a herringbone design, kinda looking like you have two French braids.
I loved threading. I loved how straight and easy to comb it made my hair. I don't really know if it made my hair longer but straight hair was always longer than my natural hair at rest so that's another reason I loved the results of threading. But you couldn't tell me nuffin when my hair was threaded. No one laughed at me in school and I think if they had, it would've been wasted on me because I rocked that do, IMO, and still think threading styles are beautiful. I'll never forget one beauty pageant (Miss World or Miss Universe) where an African lady made it to the final five and had her hair threaded high into a crown-like design. I thought it was so becoming. I might've been the only one, but I have always associated that style with her beauty...almost to the point of thinking if I wore it, I'd morph into the doll she was.
There was also a threading using shiny thread (raffia) that was also popular back then, and this is the one that was more commonly wound around a knitting needle or the like to create a coil that resembled bantu knots. It could be done through the entire head or regular cornrow could meet at the crown and their tails would then be wound to formed a coily bun.
The style I describe was similar to this except picture smaller cornrows meeting at the crown (like this, but smaller) and the bun being more compact due to real coils instead of waves:
The style looked even more regal if the "bun" was at the back.
Y'all have taken me way back!
I can't wait to pull this off next year. I keep meaning to but never remember when my hair is out. (I can see some of you looking very terrified at my taste in hairdos and at the thought that I will really wear this in public. You better believe it I will.)
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loolalooh
Well-Known Member
Yes, but not as much as in the photo. I'll post a pic of the style on me when I was a little girl when I get home later today. I believe I have the pic with me.
Agree!
loolalooh
Well-Known Member
I don't have the pics on me; they're with my mom. But I thought this youtube video was a cute demo of threaded hair. (If only she did a tutorial.) I think I'll do this style in the near future:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHLawMLrOuw
This book also has a couple more photos of different threaded styles. You can see some pics w/o having to purchase the book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3908247306
And fotki shots from one of my hair idols. She threaded for stretching:
http://public.fotki.com/bluegreen78/natural-hair-2006/end-of-december-2006/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHLawMLrOuw
This book also has a couple more photos of different threaded styles. You can see some pics w/o having to purchase the book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3908247306
And fotki shots from one of my hair idols. She threaded for stretching:
http://public.fotki.com/bluegreen78/natural-hair-2006/end-of-december-2006/
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QBOE2001
New Member
You can purchase thread from Jo Ann Fabrics, check in the upholstery section for heavier weight satin or silk skein thread, its strong and has a sheen to it which I think makes threading look prettier. Also buying from them allows you to get a color that is close to your hair color. Pay attention to what oils you use to moisturize your hair though because they will make the color of the thread change. Happy Threading.
Bachelorette
New Member
When I needed my hair straight for an event as a kid, I'd ask my mom or granmom to thread my hair. It did make MINE too soft though so I couldnt do a ponytail.
There's an episode of the UK show Mixed Blessings where they show an African woman in the hospital with threaded hair. I remember being amused.
There's an episode of the UK show Mixed Blessings where they show an African woman in the hospital with threaded hair. I remember being amused.
kryolnapps
Active Member
This brought me back to hight school. I had a friend from Togo who's hair was APL, which for me at the time thought was really long, lol! I assumed it was relaxed because it was so straight. She told me no, her hair was not relaxed and she got it straight like that with threading. She was ashamed of coming to school with that hair style, but I begged her because I had never heard of it. She did come to school with her hair threaded one day. I thought it was cool, but I understood why she wouldn't rock it to school. Now I'm all grown up and wished I could do it as a protective style.
erplexed
DivaD04
New Member
thx for resurrecting this thread. i know some africans who thread and everytime i ask HOW to do it.......i get the crickets, lol. thx u, thx u, thx. i've been wanting to do this to my dd's hair...try it on my hair first. but never knew how. now, i'm off to study this thread.
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