African treading techniques

[Nonie]

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.

I'm in braids right now and I love the freedom of not having to deal with my hair. But when I take them out, do you wanna revisit this idea with me? My friend said they look like worms, but the way I used to get them done was in rows that could be twisted like a flat twist or two rows combined in a way that looked like a French braid or cornrow. I am dying to demonstrate this but have no one's head to work on.

So if you're game, then we can both sport the look at the same time when I get my braids out. So if anyone sees you and asks, WTH? You can say, "I'm not the only one rocking this do. Some other chick in Hogwarts is wearing a similar do." We could start a trend. And then we can give up using heat altogether, rocking this instead for a future straight do.

 

[Hairsofab]

What is it about the threading technique that makes the hair appear straighter when the thread is taken out?

 

[DivaD04]

nonie, can you post some pictorial steps? i'm hm'n over the herring bone look. b/c in my mind....i'm thinking to weave the thread back n forth to get the herring bone effect.

 

[kryolnapps]

I'm in braids right now and I love the freedom of not having to deal with my hair. But when I take them out, do you wanna revisit this idea with me? My friend said they look like worms, but the way I used to get them done was in rows that could be twisted like a flat twist or two rows combined in a way that looked like a French braid or cornrow. I am dying to demonstrate this but have no one's head to work on.

So if you're game, then we can both sport the look at the same time when I get my braids out. So if anyone sees you and asks, WTH? You can say, "I'm not the only one rocking this do. Some other chick in Hogwarts is wearing a similar do." We could start a trend. And then we can give up using heat altogether, rocking this instead for a future straight do.

I'm already on it!!! Great idea! I went on Youtube hoping to find something, no luck there. Then I went to my crochet box to look for some thread. I have no idea which thread to use or how to start, how to end...

So, if you show me how, i'm game!

 

[Nonie]

nonie, can you post some pictorial steps? i'm hm'n over the herring bone look. b/c in my mind....i'm thinking to weave the thread back n forth to get the herring bone effect.

Oh DivaD04, I'm getting irritated coz I don't have anything to work on to show this. If you can suggest something really cheap (How much are those heads from the BSS...or does the dollar store sell dolls? erplexed), I'd so demonstrate. I'm actually getting mad that I have nothing to show. Also does anyone know if I can get the crotchet black thread at the BSS? If not, where can I find it? I know where to find it in Kenya but not here.

I'm about to go out to the store so if you guys give me ideas before I step out, I'll see if I can find props to do a demo. Holler back ASAP.

 

[Nonie]

I'm already on it!!! Great idea! I went on Youtube hoping to find something, no luck there. Then I went to my crochet box to look for some thread. I have no idea which thread to use or how to start, how to end...

So, if you show me how, i'm game!

Excuse the ignorance, but where did you get your crotchet box and thread from? Can I find them at Walmart?

 

[DivaD04]

what are they doing here.....not sure if it's viewable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK2cKmdwYHU&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdgGxDZ6gsg&feature=related

 

[Nonie]

nonie, can you post some pictorial steps? i'm hm'n over the herring bone look. b/c in my mind....i'm thinking to weave the thread back n forth to get the herring bone effect.

Diva, let me try to explain that herringbone effect. You basically part the head into squares (like checkers) forming an even number of rows that run from forehead to nape and then each square section is wrapped up from base to ends as shown in the first youtube someone posted, only you don't form coils with the resulting pole of wrapped hair (but you do wrap hair completely so none is showing). You end up with what looks like poles standing up all over the head. Now it's time to pair up the rows to form one "herringbone" pattern.

Starting with the first pair of rows, you take the two poles that are side by side and cross them over making them lie back. Think of forming a Y by crossing them over and then tying the point where they cross together in the same way you wrapped the single pole. You don't need to wrap all the way to the end just enough to create a branch that you can then cross over the next pair of poles. You try to make the poles that you are crossing over hide the main branch that holds them together. So that you get this look >>>>. If you can imagine the poles being close together, you can see how they can be closer forming this herringbone appearance:

BTW, the herrinbone does not lie flat against your scalp and is slightly lifted coz the poles are kinda stiff but when viewed from above it's kinda cute. You can create any patterns that you can with cornrows by parting in curves if you like.

Cool thing is if you got bored with that look, you can separate the paired rows and twist the poles around each other as I did to my twists below and create what looks like a flat twist and can form a bun in the back. And if the squares are small, you get a less gappy look:

 

[DivaD04]

Oh DivaD04, I'm getting irritated coz I don't have anything to work on to show this. If you can suggest something really cheap (How much are those heads from the BSS...or does the dollar store sell dolls? erplexed), I'd so demonstrate. I'm actually getting mad that I have nothing to show. Also does anyone know if I can get the crotchet black thread at the BSS? If not, where can I find it? I know where to find it in Kenya but not here.

I'm about to go out to the store so if you guys give me ideas before I step out, I'll see if I can find props to do a demo. Holler back ASAP.

the only place i know to get a doll head would be sally's
oh wait there's amazon.
why!!!!! i wish i was in the states right now.....i'd send my doll head thats in storage!

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1252350...l+heads,i:hpc,n:3760901,n:!3760931&sort=price

 

[Nonie]

what are they doing here.....not sure if it's viewable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK2cKmdwYHU&feature=related

They are doing something similar to is it called a blanket stitch, only using fingers. (I'm sure there's a term for that but you can tell my knot tying training went out of my head as soon as I gave up my ranger uniform...actually might've evaporated during girl scout years. )

That's different from the threading I know. But you would basically hold the hair like that and just wrap the hair around. You would start off by holding a short length of the thread against the hair you're about to wrap, and holding the hair at the base as you start to wrap hair as if forming a pony tail.

Then you continue to wrap covering the hair completely with the thread from base to end. The result would be a stiff pole. So if you had many like that around the head, you could bend them and style as you want. I don't think there's a limit to the number of creative styles you can come up with.

Some people will just part the hair pie style and then after wrapping fold the poles to meet at the crown where they are joined to form what looks like the queen's crown.

Might be a bit wild for some, but hey, our people wore our hair with pride and the more elaborate the do, the prouder we felt.

 

[Nonie]

I don't even need those heads stylists use. I need just any old head with hair on it. (Why don't any little girls with dolls live near me. I'd go kidnap one of their babydolls and give the blonde poupee an African do with a quickness. ) Can you all picture Barbie with an African do?

 

[Nonie]

What is it about the threading technique that makes the hair appear straighter when the thread is taken out?

Maybe it's just because when you are wrapping the hair, you're stretching it. And then it's held in that stretched state for a while. It's like people who wear pony tails all the time, some complain that the hair in the front seems not to revert. It's not unlike how when you wear braids for long, and then you take them out, your hair doesn't appear to shrink and you can wear it stretched for a while until you wash it.

This is my hair after a wash:

And now my hair out of braids a bit stretched out:

Notice there's still a wave pattern from the braiding effect. (In threading, the hair is held straight and wrapped with all strands parallel so it holds that look without any bends)

You can get an idea with how the hair is stretched by seeing how this woman is holding the hair she's wrapping--even though this isn't the threading we are talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK2cK...eature=related

 

[DivaD04]

I don't even need those heads stylists use. I need just any old head with hair on it. (Why don't any little girls with dolls live near me. I'd go kidnap one of their babydolls and give the blonde poupee an African do with a quickness. ) Can you all picture Barbie with an African do?

barbie's eyes might pop open

 

[kryolnapps]

Excuse the ignorance, but where did you get your crotchet box and thread from? Can I find them at Walmart?

It's just a box I put my crochet materials in. I have various threads and crochet needles in the box.

 

[Nonie]

It's just a box I put my crochet materials in. I have various threads and crochet needles in the box.

I haven't attempted to crotchet in ages. Can I find crotcheting thread a Walmart? I don't feel like driving all the way to Joann's.

 

[DivaD04]

I haven't attempted to crotchet in ages. Can I find crotcheting thread a Walmart? I don't feel like driving all the way to Joann's.

all the walmarts i know of have a fabric/yarn section where you can pick up crocheting supplies.

 

[mangojuice33]

My mum used to love this style, because once it was in, nothing could shift it! I had mine wrapped in tiny sections like micros, then further braided into corn rows. It was wind, rain and forgot-to-put-tights-on-my head-at-night proof lol! It grew my hair as it is more gentle on your roots than braids, and when it comes out your hair is soft, smooth, and suprisingly clean and dust free.

To agree with an earlier post cotton thread is the best as its tensile strength is nearer to that of hair. Nylon based threads can cut the hair if your not careful...

 

[SilverSurfer]

Ahh man I have a lot of the black African thread at home in my drawer. I get them from my local Africa store here. I have been meaning to do my DD hair with it but just haven't gotten around to it. I used to do my own hair like that but I find the tension was a bit too loose. I wish I knew someone close to me that can do it for me like my mom used to. It is true that it makes your hair very very straight yes but it also makes you hair longer really fast...I don't know why it does but it really does grow hair fast.

 

[Nonie]

Ahh man I have a lot of the black African thread at home in my drawer. I get them from my local Africa store here. I have been meaning to do my DD hair with it but just haven't gotten around to it. I used to do my own hair like that but I find the tension was a bit too loose. I wish I knew someone close to me that can do it for me like my mom used to. It is true that it makes your hair very very straight yes but it also makes you hair longer really fast...I don't know why it does but it really does grow hair fast.

Now you have no excuse since you already have the tools so oke: get busy on DD hair. Folks wanna see already!!!

Perhaps the reason it grew hair fast (or at least appeared to) is because hair was not manipulated (Remember how we'd comb dry, 4B hair without caring about pieces of hair flying everywhere? I know I used to. ) and then because the hair came out straight, combing it didn't lead to breakage so that if you did it back to back, you'd end up with retention and hence long hair.

We need to start a challenge on this. Folks not used to it might look at us all funny, but once we start seeing results, it'll become a hit. Like other things became a hit eg coochie cream, MTG, Surge, chicken poo... I haven't tried any of them yet (and I'm kidding about the chicken poo) but y'all know what I mean.

 

[ToyToy]

My mum used to thread my hair when I was a child. She would wash my hair with soap perplexed: ) and then comb out while still wet and unconditioned. Then she would part my hair in sections and thread. I used to *hate* the style (because it hurt, was unflexible and I looked busted), but when the thread came off, I had the softest hair possible. It stretched out my hair really nicely too.

 

[kryolnapps]

I've tried to thread one section of hair with synthetic yarn (I'll have to buy cotton thread) and...let's just say it did not come out pretty! LOL! Obviously I have no clue what I'm doing. I don't think I did it tight enough at the base and I don't know how to end it. With a knot? It started to unravel right away.

Tutorial please!!

 

[lucea]

Now you have no excuse since you already have the tools so oke: get busy on DD hair. Folks wanna see already!!!

Perhaps the reason it grew hair fast (or at least appeared to) is because hair was not manipulated (Remember how we'd comb dry, 4B hair without caring about pieces of hair flying everywhere? I know I used to. ) and then because the hair came out straight, combing it didn't lead to breakage so that if you did it back to back, you'd end up with retention and hence long hair.

We need to start a challenge on this. Folks not used to it might look at us all funny, but once we start seeing results, it'll become a hit. Like other things became a hit eg coochie cream, MTG, Surge, chicken poo... I haven't tried any of them yet (and I'm kidding about the chicken poo) but y'all know what I mean.

I would be interested. Of course I have zero skills... any of you ladies in NY?

 

[DivaD04]

nonie, i'm down. i only have 1-1.5" of hair myself since i cut all my relaxed ends off. i can do my dd's hair though. this'll give me practice. oh, i just had a name idea. threading for 2010 challenge.....that's what we can call it. tommorow is my first dental surgery appt. so i may not be up to threading after being drugged and i'm not sure when i'll have my second dental surgey but it'll be pretty back to back, i think. i'll let you all know. but i want to definitely join the challenge for my dd's hair that's for sure.
i need to see if the tailor will sell me some thread.
yes!!!!!!
the tailor here will sell me some thread.....i'm off to go get it!


eta: i have my spool of thread

 

[Nonie]

I've tried to thread one section of hair with synthetic yarn (I'll have to buy cotton thread) and...let's just say it did not come out pretty! LOL! Obviously I have no clue what I'm doing. I don't think I did it tight enough at the base and I don't know how to end it. With a knot? It started to unravel right away.

Tutorial please!!

This is the thread they would use:

My suggestion is to fold the thread as shown in the attachment below (first image) and hold the looped thread sections to form on unit as shown in second image. The thread you fold should be longer than your own hair so that if A is the top, B is where your hair ends and C is the base. (Continued in next post.)

 

[Nonie]

OK, Kryolnapps, getting it firm isn't so tricky. Basically you would hold the gathered thread against your own hair with your fingers holding C against the base of your hair. Then the loose thread (shown as a short thread to the right in second image but is really long enough to mummify your hair), is wrapped around the base as if you're making a pony tail. Think of how you'd make pigtails, but gathering hair together and then wrapping the ribbon around the base. Same thing, but this time you will continue up the length of your hair and past till you've mummified even the tip leading to A. You can then tie a knot there, beyond your hair.

Does that make sense?

 

[Nonie]

nonie, i'm down. i only have 1-1.5" of hair myself since i cut all my relaxed ends off. i can do my dd's hair though. this'll give me practice. oh, i just had a name idea. threading for 2010 challenge.....that's what we can call it. tommorow is my first dental surgery appt. so i may not be up to threading after being drugged and i'm not sure when i'll have my second dental surgey but it'll be pretty back to back, i think. i'll let you all know. but i want to definitely join the challenge for my dd's hair that's for sure.
i need to see if the tailor will sell me some thread.
yes!!!!!!
the tailor here will sell me some thread.....i'm off to go get it!


eta: i have my spool of thread

LOL, I see you aren't playing.

I may join the 2010 challenge but I have to confess wearing braids is such a joy to me that if I can help it, I may still have them on next year. erplexed But maybe I can join in the summer for a bit then go back into braids.

Ain't that a joke? I suggest a challenge and then I'm not even going to be in it just yet. But I'd love threading to be my signature look, seriously, just like braids are. :scratchch

 

[Nonie]

I would be interested. Of course I have zero skills... any of you ladies in NY?

I'm not in NY, sowwy.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Let me know when the challenge begins although I might thread my own hair as early as this coming weekend.

 

[kryolnapps]

OK, Kryolnapps, getting it firm isn't so tricky. Basically you would hold the gathered thread against your own hair with your fingers holding C against the base of your hair. Then the loose thread (shown as a short thread to the right in second image but is really long enough to mummify your hair), is wrapped around the base as if you're making a pony tail. Think of how you'd make pigtails, but gathering hair together and then wrapping the ribbon around the base. Same thing, but this time you will continue up the length of your hair and past till you've mummified even the tip leading to A. You can then tie a knot there, beyond your hair.

Does that make sense?

Thanks! I kinda see what you mean. I am visual though, I would have to see it first.

I too had plans to braid (treebraids) for the rest of the year into Spring 2010. I thought threading might be easier and less expansive...we'll see!

 

[DivaD04]

is this it. yes, it's my first attempt. my dd was watching the big screen so a sample was not in her interest to keep still
----photo did not attach will fix when i get home from the dentist.