I love them! I've been doing bantu knot-outs since beginning my healthy hair journey over a year ago and I the last time I did bantu knots I actually wore them as a style for a couple of days before undoing them.
I always do them on wet or damp hair. When I first started doing them, I would moisturize and use pantene relaxed and natural wrap & set spray for hold. I would also add some shea butter to the end to keep them smooth and unfrizzed. Most recently, I've been doing them with giovanni direct leave in and ecostyler krystal gel.
In terms of technique, it's important to hold the hair taught and make sure it'd detangled and smooth. It also helps to twirl the sections of hair before forming the knot. I always do twists, which I then bantu knot and I find it helpful to twist the hair as I form the knot. Also, it's important to make sure the knot is set in such a way that it will form neat spirals or waves when undone. It's always important to make sure that the ends are tucked under neatly, preferably forming a perfect circle at the base of the bantu knot. Bantu knots must be allowed to dry thoroughly, otherwise they'll get frizzy/puff up or lose their set curl.
When you undo them, oil your fingers first with shea butter or coconut oil and undo them/pull them apart carefully.
I can get 3-5 days out of style. I'll sleep with them loose, pulled up loosely in a puff or pin-curled/re-knotted under a bonnet.
Depending on how you want the style to fall, you might want to try a flat twists with bantu knots at the end. This will set a twist out pattern with curly/spiraled ends and ensure that your hair falls into a desired shape.
Here are some pics:
Bantu knotted twist out during first month of transition on relaxed hair
Salvaged bantu knotted twist out during 12 month of transition
Bantu Knots on natural hair using ecostyler gel
Undone after two days and styled using hairpins
