Are buns an option for 4a/b naturals?

[jd_bdfly]

I'm toying with the idea of transitioning - all your pics and experiences are starting to inspire me to do so. However, since I'm going to be working in a conservative office environment after this year, I'm wondering about style options. I'm worried about having too "wild" of a look for work

LOL. If I did have a full head of natural 4a/b hair, would I be able to pull my hair back into a neat enough bun without pressing?

I know braid extensions are one option for transitioning that give a lot of styling possibilities, but my previous experience with braids was that they were more harmful than helpful to may hair, so if I do decide to transition, I'd prefer to do it without braids.

Do any of you 4a/b naturals have advice to give me on this?

 

[z3000zee]

i haven't done it, but i have heard of other naturals doing it.

 

[HotCoCoGurl130]

since you have shoulder length hair already wearing a bun will be a good option but you may get bored with it. you can do things to spice up your bun but I got bored after 2-3 months of all bun wearing so I did weaves and braids but I moisturized 2-3 times a day.

 

[NGC]

I am a 4a/4b natural and I wear a bun daily. It's very possible.

 

[Mamacita]

I can't, it's not an option for me. I can only wear a curly puff, not a bun.

 

[biyanna]

Absolutely! But you would have to have enough hair to pull back. A nice size bun doesn't matter because you could always wear a fake pony or bun. When I wear a bun, I wear a very neat ballerina bun by giving myself a CO wash, detangling w/conditioner, then rinse and apply leave in. I gently brush and secure bun. Then the most important step-I wrap my head firmly with a scarf. The scarf does all the work. When I get up in the morning my hair looks so smooth. Not one hair out of place.

 

[Mamacita]

Wow, I have no ckue what all of you ladies are doing to your hair. My hair is way to thick to comb all of my hair into a donut bun. My hair is definitely not too short, it's layered with the longest layer between my shoulder blades. I have this huge culry puff of hair that I wear pulled back. I wish I had a scanner to show you all the pics of my hair that I speak of

 

[adrienne0914]

one of my best friends, tanisha, wears a bun with a curly drawstring ponytail. i think it can be done if you find the right products to smooth down your hair with.

 

[Nx2brat]

I wear buns to work all the time.. I have a folder in my hair album of my bun styles. You can check it out if you'd like. And I definitely have puffy, coily, mind of its own natural hair.

 

[serena]

Buns were my staple style when I was natural.

 

[NGC]

Yep - Nx2brat's instructions are excellent.

 

[Mamacita]

So that is what you consider a bun....this is exactly how I wear my hair, like in pic number one, actually your hair texture is much like mine. I call that a curly puff, NOT a bun. When your hair is completely rolled up in a knot, that's what I consider a bun.

 

[NGC]

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Are you talking about her first picture in her buns, buns, buns album? Her hair is twisted under in a bun similar to a phony bun anyone can buy in a BSS.

Brat's bun

 

[Mamacita]

oh no, I was talking about the curly puff in the 1st ablum. I didn't even see the buns album. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[jd_bdfly]

[ QUOTE ]
biyanna said:
Absolutely! But you would have to have enough hair to pull back. A nice size bun doesn't matter because you could always wear a fake pony or bun. When I wear a bun, I wear a very neat ballerina bun by giving myself a CO wash, detangling w/conditioner, then rinse and apply leave in. I gently brush and secure bun. Then the most important step-I wrap my head firmly with a scarf. The scarf does all the work. When I get up in the morning my hair looks so smooth. Not one hair out of place.

[/ QUOTE ]

That makes sense. It sounds like the scarf will definitely be the key. I guess it's the same concept as with relaxed hair. If I want smoother styles without heat I have to use a scarf now, so that won't change, huh?

 

[NGC]

[ QUOTE ]
Mamacita said:
oh no, I was talking about the curly puff in the 1st ablum. I didn't even see the buns album. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

[/ QUOTE ]

Gurl - I thought I had lost my mind.......it's all good

 

[nbcgurl22]

Mamacita - have you ever tried to start your bun with dripping wet hair - it should be much easier to work with and that is what i have to do

 

[Faith]

I really love your different hair styles Nx2brat

Gives me ideas

 

[DragonPearl]

Nx2brat, I just checked your album and I absolutely loved it! I bookmarked it, and I am going to be up in your hair all the time now!

 

[babyblue]

thats like my daily protective style. you can pull it off if you have enough lenght. my directions for a smooth natural bun.
1. do a conditioner wash or light rinse
2. fingercomb (optional)
3. apply leave in or favorite hair products
4. secure hair into ponytail
5. apply gel around the hairline and smooth with a boar bristle brush. (may substitute pomade instead of gel)
6. twist end of ponytail into bun and pin.
7. apply satin scarf for 5-10 minutes to help "set" the hair. (usually at this time i am putting on my clothes or eating breakfast)

i sometimes skip #7. without the scarf trick im able to get my hairline kind of kinky/wavy/smooth" with just the gel and brush. When i use the scarf it makes my hairline much "straighter."

 

[Tracy]

Based on my Mom's progress in the past year and half - ABSOLUTELY.

My Mom's hair is some kind of a 4

and she gained about 12-15 inches of length in a year and a half using a bun. I'm going to take pics of her hair and add it to my album when I see her next. I've been meaning to do so for some time. She pulls her own hair back into a bun (dry - sometimes wet) and wears a phony bun. She doesn't need to do that anymore, but she still likes it.

 

[Mamacita]

I have, I only "do" my hair when it's sopping wet, bit it's such a mass of hair...it's huge

It only seems that I can get it pulled up into a certain point and the pony tail jsut can't get any smaller at the base....so I opt for the wet n' go curly puff all the time

 

[diamondlady]

NGC,

I love that bun!!!

 

[Nx2brat]

Thank you Faith.

 

[Nx2brat]

Thanks Jessy. I want to try your banding technique...I need to pick up some of those over-size bands the next time I'm in the store.