Naturals what do you think is the best way to retain length

[laurend]

Januray 2008 is when I decided to start detangling my hair with a comb every every 3 weeks and then I start moving it up to 4 to 6 weeks. I saw a lot of growth that way and now I want to try something different. I want to be full midback by my Feb. birthday. What method do you do to get amazing retention?

 

[MizzBrit]

protective style
no-low manipulation
daily moisture

 

[beans4reezy]

I am not natural, but with natural hair, I would think less manipulation is better. With all of the coils you naturals have going on, it is easier for the hair to break during certain manipulation such as combing. My suggestion would be to keep it moisturized and in a protective style that requires little to NO manipulation during the week like braids or twists.

 

[laurend]

protective style
no-low manipulation
daily moisture

Can you be more specfic, like what's low manipulation for you or how long do you wear your protective hair style.

 

[AfroKink]

For me daily moisture spritzes and finding a fab detangler has helped a lot. I think henna treatments add strength too.

Lys

 

[loulou82]

1. Keeping the ends well moisturized and lubricated so they don't knot or break. I now use castor oil regularly to seal in moisture and HE Hello Hydration as a leave in and moisturizer.

2. Protective Styling. The less I touch my hair, the more I keep. I have serious HIH disease but try not to re-style for at least a week at a time. I got my best retention when in kinky twists and weave.

 

[msa]

Aside from regular hair care to keep it healthy, keeping your ends stretched in order to avoid knots (and the resulting breakage and trimming). So no wash and go's or letting your hair shrink up completely.

I have the best retention when I pay attention to my ends. It doesn't matter if I protective style as long as I keep up with conditioning my hair and stretching my ends out to avoid knots.

 

[jupitermoon]

For me, conditioner washing (co washing) and finger combing. I try to keep my hair up until it is fully dry, then I wear it in a ponytail or sometimes down after that. I try to keep my hair up as much as possible to prevent it from rubbing on my clothes and getting caught on things.

Co washing and finger combing has been most helpful to me. I use Aussie Moist conditioner and don't rinse it all out.

I co wash daily or as little as twice a week depending on what's going on in my life or how lazy I'm feeling.

 

[MizzBrit]

Can you be more specfic, like what's low manipulation for you or how long do you wear your protective hair style.

low manipulation is mainly not touching,combing,brushing your hair on the daily basis if you are wearing it loose..i wear braid extensions for a protective style for 4-6 weeks at a time and let my hair breath for a week or so(in a puff/pony) then back to protective style..sometimes i get sew ins too. i will do this until im at my goal length.

 

[joyfullylivinglife]

I second HE Hello Hydration as a leave in! I use a ton, and it never turns white or flakes after it dries (like some others).

I use the method on www.tightlycurly.com to keep my curls clumped together and moisturized, thus avoiding single strand knots and mats. For me, it works just as well as twists and braids for retention, but I get the look of a wash n go (without the massive tangling lol).

 

[discobiscuits]

low or very gentle manipulation,
moisture (as needed for your hair),
low or no heat, air drying if and when you can
little or no brushing
cone, paraben, sulfate free as much as possible
good quality tools/accessories/products even if you have to save for them you really do get what you pay for
natural products as much as possible
natural oils (eg coconut, almond, olive, avocado, animal oils)
CO washing
protective styling (i prefer two strand twists on wet/damp hair, wet/damp buns/puffs or cornrows)
forgot to add light protein (i like infusium in a spray bottle).

 

[anon123]

I don't do it, but I think the best thing for my hair would be to wear cornrows. Mist/moisturize 2-3 times a week. Undo, finger comb, and redo every 2-4 weeks.

 

[nicey]

I second HE Hello Hydration as a leave in! I use a ton, and it never turns white or flakes after it dries (like some others).

I use the method on www.tightlycurly.com to keep my curls clumped together and moisturized, thus avoiding single strand knots and mats. For me, it works just as well as twists and braids for retention, but I get the look of a wash n go (without the massive tangling lol).

Ditto. I just discovered the HE about 3 weeks ago and it is wonderful. I swear it is like a mask to keep my hair from breaking. I see less hair breakage with this conditioner. It's a keeper for now.

 

[winnettag]

I know this isn't a very popular method because people like to wear their hair out, but braids helped me the most. Cornrows and individual braids.
Also, daily moisture and sealing and weekly DC'ing.

 

[BostonMaria]

For me its been protective styling at night (buns, braids, ponytails)
I use more butters now. This helps keeps the moisture in.
Rollersetting my hair retains length. I do less manipulating when its straight and I can just put it in a ponytail and forget about it.
Shampooing only once a month or if feel build-up. Any other time its just co-washing.
I straighten my hair at least once a month and do search and destroys.

 

[Lucia]

Any naturals using Garnier triple nutrition?

 

[darlingdiva]

1. Protective Styling

2. Minimal Manipulation

3. Keeping the ends moisturized & stretched to reduce knots & breakage

4. Dusting the ends as necessary

5. Using quality hair tools & accessories (I absolutely have to co-sign w/ you on that one, 1star. Although it cost $17.81, including tax, my Magic Star Jumbo rake comb is one of the best hair investments I've ever made. I will NEVER go back to those combs from the BSS.)

 

[Renewed1]

^^I bought the conditioner and I'm going to try it out tomorrow. It should be just as good as their regular line.

 

[Lucia]

1. Staying away from scissor happy stylists
2. moisture-DC, CO washes, ayurveda rinses
3. moisturize and sealing with coconut oil
4. protective styles mostly sometimes alternating with down/out styles
5. S&D's on the splits
6. tying up hair at night, baggying
7. keeping my PJ-ism in check not using 10 products when there's 1 product that does what my hair needs the best.

 

[msa]

5. Using quality hair tools & accessories (I absolutely have to co-sign w/ you on that one, 1star. Although it cost $17.81, including tax, my Magic Star Jumbo rake comb is one of the best hair investments I've ever made. I will NEVER go back to those combs from the BSS.)

I never heard of those combs before...they look amazing. I may have to get some.

 

[Chromia]

5. Using quality hair tools & accessories (I absolutely have to co-sign w/ you on that one, 1star. Although it cost $17.81, including tax, my Magic Star Jumbo rake comb is one of the best hair investments I've ever made. I will NEVER go back to those combs from the BSS.)

I have that comb! The Hercules Sägemann comb! I love it!

 

[aa9746]

Januray 2008 is when I decided to start detangling my hair with a comb every every 3 weeks and then I start moving it up to 4 to 6 weeks. I saw a lot of growth that way and now I want to try something different. I want to be full midback by my Feb. birthday. What method do you do to get amazing retention?

I noticed this too when I kept my natural braids in for 3 weeks so now I'm trying to do a 4 week stretch with my natural hair now to see if I get the same or better results. I tried it with twists but they tangled and combined too much.

 

[empressri]

no heat, and i will run that into the ground. i noticed being more diligent in moisturizing the ends had me only needing to get about half an inch trimmed off after 6 months.

 

[Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll]

Tell me, do you guys think that if I cowash maybe three times a week, wetbun for three or four weeks at a time and then shampoo and detangle, that it would be more harmful or helpful to my hair?

I did this and I had quite a bit of shed hair when I rollerset last night.

I try to put it in perspective that I hadn't detangled my hair in over a month.

I'm hoping that by doing this I am retaining more...I would love to cornrow my hair and get a sew-in ...but it's just not me. I'd feel so self-conscious.

So, as a protective style, I wetbun daily/ cowash every other day - I do not detangle my hair. I simply sweep it up into a high bun. I'll smooth the front with my hands and a tiny bit of gel and tie down with a scarf. My hair comes out perfect - the messy bun look, smooth at the hairline.

I think I'm making good progress, but I hate seeing that much shed hair - even if it is in a month - Also, I'm addicted to water in my hair...I've gotta have it!

 

[SEMO]

I get retention by protecting my ends (from exposure and rubbing against my clothes), only combing my hair when I wash it, minimal brushing, and low manipulation of my hair in between washes.

 

[darlingdiva]

I have that comb! The Hercules Sägemann comb! I love it!

I think I found out about the comb through a recent post of yours. I think you posted a picture of it, and I clicked on it.

 

[silvergirl]

for me.
anything that adds moisture. for me its co washing daily
airdrying or low heat drying
using higher heat (ie flatironing) 3-4 times per yr only
a simple regimen. i dont need /dont like using a whole bunch of products, most times i co wash only an thats it, other times i co wash then add one product.
letting my hair do its thing, my hair will grow on its own, the less i do to it the better.

 

[Charz]

5. Using quality hair tools & accessories (I absolutely have to co-sign w/ you on that one, 1star. Although it cost $17.81, including tax, my Magic Star Jumbo rake comb is one of the best hair investments I've ever made. I will NEVER go back to those combs from the BSS.)

Where did you get this from?

 

[Soliel185]

Moisture and DC's seem to be doing good by my hair.

Also, being patient is big. I've cut down combing - esp when I realized my hair looked the way I'd always wanted it to look the less I messed with it. The only downside is that I now have to remove way more shed hair at once than I would normally, so it's very important that I take my time and go section by section.

I'm a new natural - but in the past I noticed that low mani styles (braids esp) helped me retain a TON a growth with literally no effort on my part.

 

[AvaSpeaks]

1. Staying away from scissor happy stylists
2. moisture-DC, CO washes, ayurveda rinses
3. moisturize and sealing with coconut oil
4. protective styles mostly sometimes alternating with down/out styles
5. S&D's on the splits
6. tying up hair at night, baggying
7. keeping my PJ-ism in check not using 10 products when there's 1 product that does what my hair needs the best.

I have a question. Couldn't CO washing also be a way of high manipulation?