Now that my hair has ventured into APL territory, I'm finding it a lot easier to style it during stretches by putting it into a loose bun held by a bun cage-type hair ornament (Scunci makes an accordion-style one for very cheap, which is my go-to hair accessory, or you can find fancier ones with a pin/stick to hold it in place) so that I don't have to use bobby pins, which tend to pull on the hair in the middle of my bun and cause breakage and thinness in that area. I don't worry about my edges, since they don't cause "peas" or anything and I don't mind a little puffiness to the updo. If I really need it smooth, I just make the bun. tie a scarf around my hairline and sleep on it overnight,and that takes care of it. I find this style to be a lifesaver, especially after 7 weeks post, for minimizing breakage from too much manipulation, since that's where my biggest setbacks happen--at the demarcation line between new growth and relaxed hair, as well as at the ends where my hair is brushing against my clothing and getting snagged on seat belts, shoulder straps, car doors, etc.
