apple_natural
Well-Known Member
i've added happy at last
@PlanetCybertron thank you for that informative post. I do try some of those suggestions. My hair was fully coated in oil though before the wash. But just a day after washing it's itching again. I don't think it's too much sebum, not sure how I'd know. Rubbing my scalp, I don't feel any thick oil.
Have finally cracked the code on how I can get maximum hangtime with my braid outs! Too bad I'm about to wash today, loving the look right now (attached)
So what’s the secret? Enquiring minds want to know.
Loool sorry girl. Was waiting on someone to ask because sometimes I feel like I'm just talking to myself lol
So I think 3 things have been important:
1. Not a lot of moisture--I only moisturuze VERY lightly (just smoothing hair down with a little bit of leave-in) throughout the week. The length of my hair is never really "wet" which helps to keep it stretched. I do, however, wet and seal the ends every night while Re-braiding
2.Time. I won't get the best hang time until at least 4 days in unfortunately. My hair just won't stretch enough before then
3. Most importantly... Braiding pattern. I've been playing around with them and I've noticed that braiding towards the back, rather than out to the sides gives a flatter, sleeker look.
Also, the number of braids matter. I used to think that the more braids, I Re-braid in, the more stretched my hair would be. But actually it's the opposite for me. I am down to rebraidimg with 1-3 braids before bed. 1 braid (with middle or side parting) gives the best results for me in terms of a flattish stretched braid out that I can wear out
By day 4 my hair is looking like it's a braid out on old straightened hair.
I'm liking the look right now.
I hope this makes sense!
If you guys have any other tips for this, please share~ <3
Thanks for this! Can you post a pic of how you wear your braids in a bun?
@mayoo do you do french braids?
Pretty!! Thanks!Hey girl ~
Do you mean the first day after I wash? If so, that's today so here's a pic attached. I usually wear this braided bun until my hair is fully dry.
When I wear my bun throughout the week, it's usually not braided but already in the braid-out state.
There are a lot more braids because I do the initial setting and drying in 8-10 braids
Hope this makes sense!
Yep, better stretch, less tangles, and more definition. It also lasts longer than my twistouts. I do twist the last 3" or so on each braid (a maximum of 8 braids for me).Can any braid out lovers on here share why they prefer braids over twists? Do you find braids give you better stretch or less tangles?
I think I want to start auditioning for a new main style. Starting to feel like these twists / twist outs might be causing excessive tangling for me due to not stretching the hair enough.
@mayoo @water_n_oil you guys do braid outs right? Any thoughts?
Can any braid out lovers on here share why they prefer braids over twists? Do you find braids give you better stretch or less tangles?
I think I want to start auditioning for a new main style. Starting to feel like these twists / twist outs might be causing excessive tangling for me due to not stretching the hair enough.
@mayoo @water_n_oil you guys do braid outs right? Any thoughts?
Yes, twirling the ends as well! Way easier to remoisturize. I often will just do water and castor oil then rebraid when it starts looking old.I agree with @water_n_oil, more stretch and less tangles and its easier and quicker for me to remoisturise. Same for me with twisting the last few inches as well. As for the very last inch or so, I don't twist. I just "twirl" to avoid tangles
Co-signing in the longer - lasting effect too. I could only wear twistouts for 2 days at the longest. I cam maintain a braid out for up to 2 weeks if I want to
Hope this helps!
I just conducted a porosity test on clean hair (5 times) and discovered I have low porosity hair. I don't know why that surprises me, but it does! It also may explain a lot of my past natural hair frustrations! I made sure to cut the natural hair from the relaxed hair (both are low porosity). I feel like this is about to open up a deep rabbit hole! So before I go down it, I'll ask you low-porosity ladies what works for you. I'd appreciate any feedback!
- Deep conditioners?
- Leave-ins?
- Layering products? Like LOC method, etc?
- Oils/greases?
- Applying leave-ins on wet, damp, or dry hair?
- Particular must-have ingredients?
Be careful with those tests, they typically aren’t very accurate
Be careful with those tests, they typically aren’t very accurate
I was going to say the same thing
So how do you test your porosity?
This way: If you go to wash your hair and it takes a long time for your hair to get wet, then chances are you're lo-po. If your hair takes in water quickly, then chances are you're hi-po.
Conversely, if when you come out of the shower and it takes a long time for your hair to dry then you're probably lo-po. If your hair dries quickly, you're probably hi-po.
Lo-po --> water in and out with difficulty
Hi-po --> water in and out easily
The water test has too many moving parts that people never describe when they're giving the instruction: your hair has to be clean, the water needs to be room temp, etc. etc. etc. But, if I read correctly, the way that hair is composed (layers, lipids, etc.), it will pretty much always float.
I agree with everything @snoop said. Bri Hall also has a really good video on porosity
Product usage will also make a difference in this as well. If I layer 2-3 different things for a wng then my hair will take ages to dry. If I simply slap on a leave in and/or oil it dries pretty quickly.This way: If you go to wash your hair and it takes a long time for your hair to get wet, then chances are you're lo-po. If your hair takes in water quickly, then chances are you're hi-po.
Conversely, if when you come out of the shower and it takes a long time for your hair to dry then you're probably lo-po. If your hair dries quickly, you're probably hi-po.
Lo-po --> water in and out with difficulty
Hi-po --> water in and out easily
The water test has too many moving parts that people never describe when they're giving the instruction: your hair has to be clean, the water needs to be room temp, etc. etc. etc. But, if I read correctly, the way that hair is composed (layers, lipids, etc.), it will pretty much always float.
Product usage will also make a difference in this as well. If I layer 2-3 different things for a wng then my hair will take ages to dry. If I simply slap on a leave in and/or oil it dries pretty quickly.
Thanks, Ladies. I'll look this through and try again. The only thing I know for sure is that when I let my hair air-dry, it never takes "forever." It's not super fast, but I never felt it was slow drying. And I also know the ONLY leave-in that makes my natural hair feel moisturized for days is Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream used on dry hair with no sealant. So IDK what all that means!
@water_n_oil & @mayoo What products do you guys use to prepare for a braid out? Do bigger plaits result a better braid out vs finer plaits? Do you get a better braid out styling on already dried stretched hair or on damp hair?