Crown and Glory for the Remainder of 2011

[SvelteVelvet]

After a few hot days I'm already sick of dealing with my hair + heat + sweat. Most people are weaving or wiggin nowadays but I don't want the maintenance that comes with those options. Plus I need my scalp to breath and I want to be able to truly leave my hair alone and just go. I have a busy schedule lined up.

So I'm itching to hit up the African shop this weekend for some down my back semi-micros, keep em in for the whole summer, get them re-done in the fall and see if my hair reaches the ever elusive mid-back length Ive been trying to get to by 2012 (I always end up cutting back between APL and BSL due to a number of reasons)

Now my concerns...my experience has taught me that synthetic hair can cause the hair to break more than human hair. Human hair braids were always a 'safe' option if I decided to hide my hair but I don't want that look. I'm set on long and straight down my back with maybe some loose curls at the very ends.

I'm not good at keeping up with challenges so this isn't one but if this thread inspires others and becomes a support thread...by all means.

In the past there were lots of ladies that used this method and grew their hair. Any suggestions for the safest type of hair to use that won't break my hair? Specific brands and hair type and the experience after takedown would be awesome


I'm also perusing the www.growafrohairlong.com site for care tips, glad to see thats still up.

HHG!

 

[HE_Blesses_MY_Tresses]

OMG... I was JUST talking to my mom about how I wanted to just braid my hair up in long braids down my back... I have to really do some configuring on how I can apply my sulfer mixture on my scalp because with the results I'm getting with this, the option to not use it while the braids are in is not an option. I dont want to wet the braids on a daily basis but I am thinking of maybe instead of applying daily with daily cowashes maybe apply 4 days a week and dilute some shampoo with some water in a spray bottle to get to my scalp or maybe even seabreeze on a cottonball... IDK, I'll figure it out bc I want to do it and the braids will allow me to moisturize the strands of the braids without getting the scalp coated and the air can get to it.... Okay okay okay.... you talked me into it, wait, or was that me?... I'm going to go tomorrow , (well today) and get some hair.... I'll let you know the brand when I get it, it wont be human and it will be fairly inexpensive, I've never had issues with synthetic hair breaking my own when I do the braids..... I'll keep you updated... Im going to try to keep them in until September, since I do them myself I just redo the braids, mainly the perimeter, as my hair grows so I never get breakage or thinning of the hairline....

 

[prettypithy]

Now my concerns...my experience has taught me that synthetic hair can cause the hair to break more than human hair.

I actually tend to experience more snarling/tangling with the human hair which could lead to more breakage.

I think I am going to do Crown & Glory for the summer plus Megtek and Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I need to trim in the fall, so I'll probably be losing half an inch or so, it would be nice to net at least an inch, so 1.5-2 inches of growth would be ideal. I got my extension braids in on Friday but I'm concerned they are too tight.

 

[SvelteVelvet]

I actually tend to experience more snarling/tangling with the human hair which could lead to more breakage.

I think I am going to do Crown & Glory for the summer plus Megtek and Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I need to trim in the fall, so I'll probably be losing half an inch or so, it would be nice to net at least an inch, so 1.5-2 inches of growth would be ideal. I got my extension braids in on Friday but I'm concerned they are too tight.

Thanks for the bolded. I'll probably go with the Kanekalon brand I used as a teenager, I used to stay in extensions back then and my hair grew in pretty thick back then. I did them myself too. Now I just don't have the patience to do them myself although i don't want anybody to do them too tight like you feel you are experiencing. Decisions decisions. Oh and oiling! It'll be soo much easier to stay on top of applying my BT, I have a whole bottle that I've been dying to use. I'll definately use it up on my braids

 

[SvelteVelvet]

OMG... I was JUST talking to my mom about how I wanted to just braid my hair up in long braids down my back... I have to really do some configuring on how I can apply my sulfer mixture on my scalp because with the results I'm getting with this, the option to not use it while the braids are in is not an option. I dont want to wet the braids on a daily basis but I am thinking of maybe instead of applying daily with daily cowashes maybe apply 4 days a week and dilute some shampoo with some water in a spray bottle to get to my scalp or maybe even seabreeze on a cottonball... IDK, I'll figure it out bc I want to do it and the braids will allow me to moisturize the strands of the braids without getting the scalp coated and the air can get to it.... Okay okay okay.... you talked me into it, wait, or was that me?... I'm going to go tomorrow , (well today) and get some hair.... I'll let you know the brand when I get it, it wont be human and it will be fairly inexpensive, I've never had issues with synthetic hair breaking my own when I do the braids..... I'll keep you updated... Im going to try to keep them in until September, since I do them myself I just redo the braids, mainly the perimeter, as my hair grows so I never get breakage or thinning of the hairline....

Lol, you talked your self into it girl, I just sparked the convo, and you know you are making me think about just doing them myself also. I'll have to block out Friday evening and most of Saturday to do it. I think I'll feel safer doing it myself because I know I'll be gentle my natural hair, no one yanking. Yaay! I'm so excited. Now I just have to decide on the color or colors.

 

[SvelteVelvet]

Found some inspiration pics..

 

[yardyspice]

Can you use crochet braids for the C&G technique?

 

[HE_Blesses_MY_Tresses]

Found some inspiration pics..

Thanks for posting these, these are my favs and one will serve as my muse when I begin to braid.

 

[SvelteVelvet]

Can you use crochet braids for the C&G technique?

On the growafrohairlong site there are a couple of options for hiding your hair. I don't see why crochet braids wouldn't count. As long as your hair is in some type of braids.

I thought about crochets but depending on the type of hair you crochet, it needs to be done more often than individuals.

 

[HE_Blesses_MY_Tresses]

Okay, I picked up my hair.... The cardboard in the package is yellow and orange and it's simply called " pony tail". It was inexpensive... Normally 2 and change per pack but it was the stores grand opening and they were selling them for 2/ $1.00 so I grabbed 20 packs... Lol the best part was the guy helping me was smitten and wouldn't stop cheesin and trying to chat, staring nag spewing compliments, nothing out of line but I definately had to force conversation and smiles, but on my way to the register to pay I stopped to look at some products and he tries to hand me the amount
for the hair... I'm like erplexed I declined several times ( nicely ) and went to the checkout which was unattended so who do you think comes to attend to me? Yup and he wouldn't take my money so I got them for free.... Hey, I tried, I figure it's a blessing, and I defiantly thanked God.... Lol. So I'm going to start my hair tonight, I'll take before pics...

 

[SvelteVelvet]

^^Go head girl, get that free hair! Lol. Can't wait to see your style. I've decided I'm gonna go to the African shop on Saturday instead of doing them myself. I'll take pics and post them. Gonna do a protein treatment the night before to keep my strands strong. I decided i'll go to them because I don't think my braiding skills are on the level to do them as neat as they would do them and I really want them to last as long as possible. Buying my hair this Friday. Yippee!

 

[destine2grow]

Its funny you mention this because I was just looking at that site last night. I was considering getting some braids like the one in my pic or like the 3rd pick you posted. I believe I will be able to cowash my hair at least 2-3x a week and mist and oil my scalp. The only thing holding me back is having to sit for a long time to get them done.

 

[HE_Blesses_MY_Tresses]

^^^^ I was like " dang, the day I decide not got get some Remy hair.... "Lol nah, I was grateful nonetheless and I have only had one person braid my hair to my complete satisfaction, her name was Mrs. Angie and she is an African lady who moved to Korea to do hair by the base and she listened to me about my hair and what I wanted and didn't want. I referred EVERYONE to her and her clientele grew sooo much as a result of it that I would get every 4th style free because people would tell her who referred them... I miss her... :-( Every other braided has been disaterous for my edges and try rrrrrip through my hair. I do my own and never have any unnecessary breakage or shedding and I know how to handle my hair. I like how mine turn out better anyway but even though I'm starting mine tonight, I guarantee you will have yours in before me... Lol... It takes FOREVER....!

 

[destine2grow]

^^^^ I was like " dang, the day I decide not got get some Remy hair.... "Lol nah, I was grateful nonetheless and I have only had one person braid my hair to my complete satisfaction, her name was Mrs. Angie and she is an African lady who moved to Korea to do hair by the base and she listened to me about my hair and what I wanted and didn't want. I referred EVERYONE to her and her clientele grew sooo much as a result of it that I would get every 4th style free because people would tell her who referred them... I miss her... :-( Every other braided has been disaterous for my edges and try rrrrrip through my hair. I do my own and never have any unnecessary breakage or shedding and I know how to handle my hair. I like how mine turn out better anyway but even though I'm starting mine tonight, I guarantee you will have yours in before me... Lol... It takes FOREVER....!

@bold Don't be to sure of that!

I wish I knew how to do my own braids. I normally let my cousin do it because she is an license braider. However she is not professional at all. She has to stop and talk on the phone, have company come over and take too many dang breaks but she does a good job and she listen to what I want her to do!

 

[WorkInProgress88]

Guess im on the same page as you ladies, i recently put yarn braids in my head and i will more than likely have this style (just keep redoing them) until the end of the year (or until it cools down a bit).

I was going to get a weave or make another wig but i don't want ANY hair on my neck in this Tx heat

 

[SvelteVelvet]

I'm so glad this came to my mind right at the half mark of the year. That's 6 months of hiding. Hope I see the progress I'm looking for, but I'm really looking forward to a true resting period and the get-up-and-go.

So I ended up hitting the bss today and decided on Soul Sista Yaki Kanekalon hair. It's in a red green and white package. The texture is more dense than the usual jumbo braid, yet it's smoother without being to silky. Just right for what I want.

 

[HE_Blesses_MY_Tresses]

Okay, change of plans, I am not starting my hair tonight, my son had baseball practice and by the time I got home, took my braids out, showered, helped him with his homework and ready for bed, I was too tired to try to play myself and start them.... I have a little running around to to tomorrow and when I get back, I will start then...

 

[naturalmanenyc]

I have crochet braids in right now. They took nearly 5 hours from start to finish, including about 1 hour to cornrow my hair (12 cornrows with hair added). When I did them on my own it took 5 1/2 hours to just put in the crochet hair, so this was an improvement. I paid $70 and plan to keep them in for 8 weeks.

It has gotten too hot for my silk top lace wig. I thought I might pass out the other day while at an event in my wig.

I have not had individual braids since I was 13 and I hated them. My sister and I took them out in under 24 hours. I don't think I could deal with all that hair on my neck & back.

 

[pringe]

I have crochet braids also right now. I'm too hot for anything else. I don't feel like seeing, washing or touching my hair til after summer!

 

[AlliCat]

Just stopping by to say braids are awesome for retaining length. I wore them on and off during high school and the beginning of uni. Right now I'm also kinda doing the crown n glory method (cornrows) to MBL. I'll be wigging it in the mean time. I'm not sure if I will continue for the rest of the year, but definitely the whole summer

 

[sirde4]

Do you know anyone in the NY area that do the tree braids with human hair.

Lynda

 

[H4irHappy]

I'm getting Kinky Twists braids done this saturday. The stylist seems pretty good. I hope they last for the summer. I want them to be my summer protective style.

 

[SvelteVelvet]

I'm getting Kinky Twists braids done this saturday. The stylist seems pretty good. I hope they last for the summer. I want them to be my summer protective style.

I was thinking about getting these, I love how the thin ones look.

 

[Beautytalk69]

I will be doing the crown and glory method..for the rest of my life..lol. Every time I wear my hair out, I just want to cut it. So,yeah.

 

[SvelteVelvet]

I will be doing the crown and glory method..for the rest of my life..lol. Every time I wear my hair out, I just want to cut it. So,yeah.

Funny you said this because a few days before deciding to braid it I was fighting the urge to cut and I knew I would have just been upset about it later so braids it is. Can't wait til Saturday.

 

[HE_Blesses_MY_Tresses]

Okay, I started my braids the day before yesterday. I haven't had time to just sit and braid for hours on end but i do have a substantial amount done and I LOVE the way it's coming out. I am using 3 colors and I am aiming to have them finished before inhale to go to class tomorrow night because I have a ton of stuff to do today... I will post pics as soon as I am finished though. This is the second time I have braids like this and I forgot how thick the ponytail/bun is... But love it... The last time I braided my hair like this was in 2006 after my bc and I got a ton of growth but I wasn't taking Nioxin or using sulfer. I also am doing the deep moisture method as I braid so I am hoping to get a ton of growth within the next 2-3 months that I have these in....

 

[H4irHappy]

I got my hair braided on saturday, but I'm not all that happy with them. I had to take down the braids around the edges because they were too tight. Overall, I am not happy with the look of the braids.

 

[HE_Blesses_MY_Tresses]

I got my hair braided on saturday, but I'm not all that happy with them. I had to take down the braids around the edges because they were too tight. Overall, I am not happy with the look of the braids.

It's funny you say this bc I was thinking of taking my braids down too.... I love how the braids are turning out but I am not feeling the hair. I like the the texture and LOVE the colors but the DENSITY is ridiculous! I mean I'm a little over halfway done with my hair and the ponytail is like 5 1/2" around and it's heavy! I've never used this brand of hair before. I made bigger parts bc I didn't want the "micro" look and used a little hair but it's still thick as hell! If I have to put it up then, forget it, the bun is so big and heavy that my head feels like it has a weight on it. I dont braid too tight on my head and I made sure to have good sized parts with a little hair, ESP when I saw how thick it was looking but it is STILL too thick. Smh. I'll post pics. I may have to go the human hair way or just suck it up and block out 6-8 hours and do my own full sew in.... :-/

 

[JerriBlank]

This is exactly what I have been thinking of doing! I've been in braids for about three weeks now,which I'm trying to keep in until August or September. After that I think i'll try some kinky twists until early December. I've never had them though,and if they dont work out,I'll just go back to braids to help me finish the year out.

 

[LongLeggedLife]

As much as I dislike "protective styling", the heat this past week has made me reconsider! I have been wet bunning for days :sigh:
I am considering yarn again which is the only type of braids I've ever had.