Twist/Braid/Bun For Growth Challenge 7/1/13 - 9/30/13

[Igotstripes]

Last night I moisturized and sealed my ends with Aphogee Pro-Vitamin leave-in, a tiny bit of GF Pure Clean condish, and my oil mix. My ends were super happy afterwards, but I didn't know how I should leave my hair, so I ended up putting it in a top knot. Well they ended up not liking that and were a bit poofy and stretched out, rather than super curly . I haven't noticed any knotting or stray hairs clinging together, so I guess it's okay. Tonight I gave myself another scalp massage using JBCO on my edges and Vatika oil on the rest. I've been doing massages for about 2 or 3 weeks now and it may have contributed to some additional growth. I used to avoid putting oil on my scalp because the hair police said not to, but too many long-haired ladies do this (especially Indian and Middle Eastern ladies) for to not try it. I also need to get back on my CO HOT because its like the number 1 oil for long haired women world wide .

What's a CO HOT? And is top knot like a bun?

 

[ckisland]

What's a CO HOT? And is top knot like a bun?

CO HOT= coconut oil hot oil treatment
Yeah a top knot is like a bun, but I consider it a loose, slightly messy bun.

 

[Igotstripes]

[

Froreal3 OMG I LOVE YOU !!! Lmao so I twisted my hair and set it on rollers right. Then today I went to get my bro some chicken on campus. The dude who works there said he liked my hair And asked if I do it myself and I was like yup. So he was saying I should come in and do hair at his salonnn!

 

[Froreal3]

Wow Igotstripes that's awesome! Did you want to work at a salon?

Now, we just need pics!

 

[Igotstripes]

Wow Igotstripes that's awesome! Did you want to work at a salon?

Now, we just need pics!

thnks , Yes I would! Before I figured I would go to hair school after college now I can get some experience before and during!

Ill try to post some tomorrow!

 

[FoxxyLocs]

virtuenow

what is your blowdry and flat iron regimen? I do a protein DC (AO GPB, or HSR+egg), shampoo, DC, blow dry, and flat iron every 2 weeks. I don't rinse my hair or co-wash in between. I don't sweat, don't use a lot of product in between so I every 2 weeks works well for me. If I had to wash more often I still wouldn't blow dry more than every 2 weeks.

Do you use the tension method? No, I use a comb attachment

High/low, hot/cold dryer? High speed, low heat (warm air)

What kind of dryer and flat iron? Solia 1 in. iron; Solia hair dryer (the blue one) w/Willie Morrow comb attachment that I bought locally

What temp do you flat iron on? 300-350; every 3-4 months or so I do a bone straight flat iron on 400 but I think that's too much for twice a month.

Are you blowdrying first? I always blow dry before flat ironing. Air drying doesn't work for me. The only reason I flat iron is b/c I can't get my ends straight from blow drying.

Do you use big sections or small sections to flat iron. Very small sections, sometimes a little bigger if I'm in a hurry but they're still on the small side

Will you retain a satisfying amount of length using these techniques? I've tried this regimen off and on for the past 2 years and my retention is always better. I kept stopping because I love my natural hair but ssks were killing my ends.

This time around I've been consistent for about 6 weeks and I have zero ssks, almost no splits, my hair is soft and easy to manage but still looks full and is clearly not relaxed. I can still do twists if skip flat ironing, but I haven't done a set yet. I've been bunning or wearing a ponytail.

Will you increase your DC's b/c of this? I've actually decreased my DCs b/c I used to DC once a week but since I'm stretching my washes its 2x/mo. The protein DCs are new though. I didn't do them before. Not sure if I need them now but they make me feel like my hair is more protected.

What kind of DC do you use (protein/brand)? protein I'm using AO GPB only because I have some left over. I love, love, love Silk Dreams Vanilla Silk and Avocado. When my AO runs out I'll switch to an SD protein DC.

Do you use heat protectant when you blowdry or flat iron or both? I sometimes use a heat protectant but usually I forget. Or I'll put it on one section and not on the others. IDK how much of a difference it makes but I like my results without it.

Do you moisturize and seal before you blowdry or after? The DC is all the moisturizer I need. After I blow dry and flat iron I use castor oil or rice bran oil on my ends. Usually rice bran right after because it's lighter, and then later on in the week when I'm bunning I use the castor oil.

I'm really loving this regimen. Detangling is a breeze. Blow drying is down to 45 min where it used to take 2 hrs or more. My hair is big and full and has lots of body. And I don't have to use high heat b/c my goal is not to have pressed hair, but just to keep it from knotting at the ends.

I had my hair trimmed from WL to MBL 6 weeks ago and I've retained all of my length since then. Before I would have needed another trim by now.

 

[TraciChanel]

Hi ladies. Checking in...I'm still wet bunning (w/ my daily WNGs). Going good...I pulled/stretched a section of hair tonight and I swear I could see a difference in length. #excited!!

 

[faithVA]

Put my hair in flat twists yesterday after washing and then redid them today. Not sure they will hold up for 5 days but will try it out. They look ok. I will rock them anyway. Don't feel like fooling with my hair. Will take them out Friday so I can color my hair for my 1 year big chop anniversary.

 

[perfectlyImperfect]

im determined to keep these twists in another two weeks. but after cowashing them once i got bored. so i threw my curlformers in to see what would happen. im not so bored anymore and everyone at my job loves how they look. it also makes them look fresher, so hopefully this helps me hold on to this set a lil while longer.

 

[Killahkurlz]

Checking in. I've been Bunning my twists still. I've also been using 비녀 (binyeo) a Korean hair sick. Id like to buy hair forks and sticks to create buns. There r a lot of girls over in the long hair community that utilize them. Their buns look amazing

 

[crimsonpeach]

I took down my twists and did a full clarifying wash. My scalp was horrible so it was time. I pre-pooed with SM Purification Masque, washed with a dilutred Groove Therapy shampoo, and DC'ed with AO GPB for protein.

After watching African Export's YT on her love of Hawaiian Silky gel activator for moisture, I decided to get it go for the twists. I used that, some OM Shape Shifter and OM Lux Locks. I will be wearing these twists for 2 weeks and then a twistout for my boyfriend's birthday. He's missed my hair so I guess I can be nice for a few days.

I oiled my scalp with Coily Head Chick's oil. Hopefully this will help ease up on the flaking I'm having in one portion of my scalp. I need to get some tea tree oil. My twists feel really good and I know I will great definition because OM products never let me down.

 

[Sosa]

When you all wear twists...are you pulling it back into a bun?
I have about mbl natural porous 4a/4b hair. And I have been wearing medium twists consistently for months now...but I noticed that my edges are thinning

I don't know how else to style my hair for work with twists besides doing a bun. *sigh*

 

[Killahkurlz]

When you all wear twists...are you pulling it back into a bun?
I have about mbl natural porous 4a/4b hair. And I have been wearing medium twists consistently for months now...but I noticed that my edges are thinning

I don't know how else to style my hair for work with twists besides doing a bun. *sigh*

Yes I do buns with my twists. Make sure ure not pulling ur bun too tight.

 

[faithVA]

When you all wear twists...are you pulling it back into a bun?
I have about mbl natural porous 4a/4b hair. And I have been wearing medium twists consistently for months now...but I noticed that my edges are thinning

I don't know how else to style my hair for work with twists besides doing a bun. *sigh*

How about rodding the twists in the front to create a bang. Even if you don't want to wear them down, you can keep the front twists out of the bun and then pin them back instead of pulling them back.

 

[crimsonpeach]

When you all wear twists...are you pulling it back into a bun?
I have about mbl natural porous 4a/4b hair. And I have been wearing medium twists consistently for months now...but I noticed that my edges are thinning

I don't know how else to style my hair for work with twists besides doing a bun. *sigh*

My hair isn't long enough in the front to put into a bun. I tend to make a roll/tuck/pin headband/crown with the front row of my hair. i

 

[perfectlyImperfect]

When you all wear twists...are you pulling it back into a bun?
I have about mbl natural porous 4a/4b hair. And I have been wearing medium twists consistently for months now...but I noticed that my edges are thinning

I don't know how else to style my hair for work with twists besides doing a bun. *sigh*

if i do a bun i try and do it loose. otherwise have you tried pinning them up? or even pulling them forward and pinning to create a bun that way so its less stress on the edges?

 

[MizzBFly]

I like these twists soo much- that I'm willing to do this as a protective style until December, this can be a protective style for a tex-laxed head huh??
**please give me your opinion, this is done with my hair**

 

[Igotstripes]

I like these twists soo much, that I'm willing to do this protective style until December, this can be a protective style for a tex-laxed head huh??
**please give my your opinion, this is done with my hair**

They are soo pretty and long!! Are those rope twists?

 

[MizzBFly]

They are soo pretty and long!! Are those rope twists?

Igotstripes thanks alot!!

I did some using that method so it can hold better but I did some like a "regualr twist"

 

[Igotstripes]

Igotstripes thanks alot!!

I did some using that method so it can hold better but I did some like a "regualr twist"

Ahh I see! Well they look great! np!

 

[faithVA]

I like these twists soo much- that I'm willing to do this as a protective style until December, this can be a protective style for a tex-laxed head huh??
**please give me your opinion, this is done with my hair**

They look good on you. Definitely a keeper And it looks like they are versatile enough for you to do multiple styles.

 

[bronzephoenix]

Yay! I'm in!

1. What is your primary style?

I'll rotate between conditioner buns and braids

2. What is your style maintenance regimen?

Cowash at least once a wk.
Bun with conditioner in.
Moisturize and seal braids 2x daily, coconut oil between parts.
Moisturize and retwist braid out overnight.
Pineapple for flexirod sets.
Satin scarf/ bonnet!


3. Are you natural, relaxed, transitioning?
Transitioning back to natural from a texturizer; 16wks post...

4. What do you hope to achieve from the challenge?
Length & thickness.

5. After wearing your hair out will you restyle after [Pick One] 2 days or 3 days?

Probably 3. I'll be doing braid/twist outs & flexirod sets during that time.

6. Starting pic!




Proverbs 31:30

 

[Igotstripes]

The month is just about over! How has it been for everyone? I think this month went by pretty fast

 

[NikkiQ]

Faithfully braiding and bunning the hair up! Hopefully this helps retain my growth so I can bounce back from that mini setback I had.

 

[ckisland]

I like these twists soo much- that I'm willing to do this as a protective style until December, this can be a protective style for a tex-laxed head huh??
**please give me your opinion, this is done with my hair**

Your twists are so cute!! My twists don't look this good and I'm natural .

NikkiQ , the cartoon in your siggy is beautiful and I want one .

 

[faithVA]

Thinks are going well. I am glad to have some styling choices. I can now switch between 2 strand twists and flat twists. Glad to give my hair a break.

 

[Igotstripes]

The rain caused my mini twists to Matt so now I have to take them out -.-


I'm happy everyone is doing well!!

 

[TraciChanel]

The month is just about over! How has it been for everyone? I think this month went by pretty fast

Yes..I can't believe this is the last day of July! I've been sticking to the challenge and I'm enjoying my buns! I know August will be good as well. Good luck ladies...let's grow (and RETAIN) a lot of hair!

 

[bronzephoenix]

Day 7 in my bun... This is so effortless! I cowashed earlier & put it right back up. Not using an elastic band to secure a pony before wrapping the bun today. Tryna decrease tension so I just used a mini claw clip on one side.

Proverbs 31:30

 

[ckisland]

The month is just about over! How has it been for everyone? I think this month went by pretty fast

I can't believe I PS'd for most of the month! Besides the couple of days I wore a wash n'go, I've worn flattwists, buns, and small braids consistently. I can't believe it's been a month. WOW! I've been trying to to PS for so long, and apparently it's finally stuck .