Twisting FOR Growth Challenge Part 3!!!!!!

[Melissa-jane]

Your hair doesn't look bad, but I can understand your frustration on not seeing any growth in 2yrs.

How often do you wash your hair? Do you DC everytime you wash? How often do you trim your ends or do a search and destroy? What products are you using on your hair daily to help maintain your moisture balance? Do you used combs/brushes on your hair?

For me, I have great retention, but I tend to keep things simple. I cowash at least 3x/wk unless I'm in twistouts. I wear large/medium twist 90% of the time. I don't keep my twist in for longer than 10 days. I make sure to over my hair at night with a silk scarf. I don't use combs/brushes, but a lot of condish and my hands to detangle and remove shedded strands. I only use Herbal Essence condish on my hair. I make sure to mist my twist at least 2x/day with water,fFollowed by a mix of oils, shea butter, aloe, and some glycerine. This mix leaves my hair soft and moisturized.

I would say good through your regime, and tweek some stuff out that may not be working.

I completely agree I think giving up combs is under rated, people just do not realise how much more gentle our hands are.

 

[Melissa-jane]

Ooop2
Here are the answers to your questions. Maybe you ( or anyone else who wants to contribute) can help me w/my regimen.

Your hair doesn't look bad, but I can understand your frustration on not seeing any growth in 2yrs.

Thanks, it's hard to tell but it just looks more dull than I"m used to it looking. That may be because I usually blowdry it first. But I"m trying to cut back on heat again to see if that's the culprit.

How often do you wash your hair? When it's in twist I only wash once every 2 weeks. If I need to I cowash in between but it is rare I do it. I noticed I got alot of shedding when I cowashed often.

Do you DC everytime you wash? No, I used to, now I only DC 1x per month. I"ve gotten lazy w/that maybe I should get back to this.

How often do you trim your ends or do a search and destroy? Um, you got me on that one. I kind of trim randomly when I figure I need it and if I notice a split I cut it.

What products are you using on your hair daily to help maintain your moisture balance? I was using a cholesterol, glycerin, and oil mix that I made. I also was using Hawaian silky 14 n1. I stopped using those and now I'm trying EQP Mango butter and sealing w/shea butter and olive oil mix.

Do you used combs/brushes on your hair? I use a wide tooth comb to detangle on wash days. Sometimes I follow it up with the Add+Shine wide paddle brush to detangle. This is when I really notice breakage, when I am combing and brushing. It's horrible. Maybe I'm too rough w/my hair.

I noticed my hair seemed to like Hairveda products but I stopped buying them once I moved to TX because of shipping. Since then I've been trying different things and I think not having a consistent regimen isn't helping my hair.

I think that there is not enough water in your products, especially as you use heat. Hence the dullness and split ends, I used to have that problem, I thought my hair would never shine, now my hair shines without product and I no longer have split ends.

 

[Melissa-jane]

I just wanted to say thank you to all for all your tips.

Twists are my main natural style but i have never rinsed them before, especially with a stocking cap. I can't wait to try it.

 

[loolalooh]

Nixx, I use the braid spray also, especially when going on two weeks in twists.
Loolalooh, I wish I could keep my twists in longer than two weeks...you are encouraging me to try and see if I can go for three weeks this time. I'm only on day two, lol.
I did my twists yesterday morning after washing. I pulled out an oldie, but a goodie to style with...Miss Jessie's Baby Buttercreme. I had forgotten how much I liked this to twist with. I get great length, smooth twists, great shine, and for some reason, fuller twists. We'll see how long I can keep these twists in and what my twist out looks like. I need to get more of this stuff.

Girl, I was the same way. Not too long ago, I used to keep my twists in for one week on average. Then it got to the point where I was just too busy to do them weekly. I think you can go up to 4 to 5 weeks, but definitely listen to your hair during that period and take baby steps. Going with 3 weeks sounds like a good start.

 

[loolalooh]

I wanted to check in. Right now I am in a twistout. I have been busy lately. My grandmother died and I have not been able to twist right now. This saturday, I have to go to a wedding so I want be able to twist until next Monday.

So sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family.

 

[loolalooh]

^^ It's kinda alarming how easily your scalp will adjust to being dirty - isn't it.

Here's my twistout from the twists I posted earlier - these pics were taken last night, so the twistout was on it's fourth day.

Side:

Front: (I look like the devil in this pic, but my hair looks nice )

Glamour Shot rofl

Very, very beautiful twistout. You look gorgeous in both shots. (I actually like the "devil" shot ... LOL.) Your length progress is amazing too! Keep it up.

 

[loolalooh]

CHECKIN:

I just finished prepooing, washing, and conditioning some hours ago. Hopefully my hair finishes airdrying so that I can rock a twistout tonight. (The southern heat here may help with that.)

I'll keep y'all posted on how the takedown goes ... so far, it looks like it won't be bad.

 

[sheava]

Here is a picture of my current twist out (I finally found my camera). Tomorrow is wash day, so I will be deep conditioning and twisting again.

 

[oooop2]

^^ It's kinda alarming how easily your scalp will adjust to being dirty - isn't it.

Here's my twistout from the twists I posted earlier - these pics were taken last night, so the twistout was on it's fourth day.

Side:

Front: (I look like the devil in this pic, but my hair looks nice )

Glamour Shot rofl

And this is my progress pic:

Fly girl!!! Love it!!!

CHECKIN:

I just finished prepooing, washing, and conditioning some hours ago. Hopefully my hair finishes airdrying so that I can rock a twistout tonight. (The southern heat here may help with that.)

I'll keep y'all posted on how the takedown goes ... so far, it looks like it won't be bad.

Can't wait to see your T/O!!

Here is a picture of my current twist out (I finally found my camera). Tomorrow is wash day, so I will be deep conditioning and twisting again.

Wow..Your T/O still look like your hair is twisted. Once I do a T/O my strands tend to EXPAND and become puffy...LOL


Here is a pic of my small twists taken today before seeing The Color Purple play....A MUST SEE!!!!

 

[Ms Lala]

Ladies my hair feels horrible. I pree pood w/cholesterol, washed with EQP creme conditioning poo, and dc'd with EQP DPR-11 and my hair feels so weird. It's like dry and soft at the same time. I'm sitting with my hair in big twists under a towel right now until I figure out what to do. I can't be bothered w/it right now. Maybe I need new products. The EQP doesn't seem to be working well for my hair.

I think that there is not enough water in your products, especially as you use heat. Hence the dullness and split ends, I used to have that problem, I thought my hair would never shine, now my hair shines without product and I no longer have split ends.

Maybe you are right. Do you have any products suggstions, I have pretty thick and coarse hair.

 

[Jaxhair]

Very quick update on me:

I was doing well, twisting, retwisting, TOs, co-washing, DC-ing etc, then I had a wedding to go to last weekend and panicked about how to wear my hair. Made the decision to have it done by my 'trusted' natural hair stylist. Asked for an elegant updo - flat twists and a straw set at the side and front. Well, as it was being done, I started having serious doubts, sigh. Then I thought, no... stick it out, once the straws are out, hair will fall and it'll look banging. Well, BIG MISTAKE! Not only did it hurt my scalp so bad (I'm very tender headed), not only did the heat make me all cranky and hot and bothered I almost cried.... the end result was such a massive anticlimax! My hair looked AWFUL! It just wasn't me. I took a couple of pix which I wince to look at but will fotki for my hair diary as I record all my ups and downs... I wore the 'style' home, got home saw hubby, and burst out crying. Slept it off, woke up in the morning and took the style down. Co-washed and deep conditioned and wore the wrap at the bottom to the wedding....

Thank God, not only did I realise fast that this style wasn't half as good as my regular twists and TO styles, I also learnt that no one but me can style my hair to a style I love and leave me with hair that feels good to me. It's a tough realisation, but it's a good one - I cannot rely on anyone for my hair to look and feel good but myself. The 24 hours it took me to have my hair handled by the stylist and take down the stlye she attempted on my hair have taught me a valuable lesson. I pray to God it hasn't cost me much in the way of progress but I'm on it. I'm back on track and in twists again - installing some small ones which I'll re-do as required - hoping they last at least 2 weeks. Hubby calls himself a hair widower when I spend so much time doing my hair but even he said he'd rather have that than the crying, unhappy hair disaster he had that evening. Will update on the twists once I'm done with them!

 

[Jaxhair]

Oh, and a pic of the disastrous hair experience.... I mean, who would wear this anywhere? SIGH!!!

 

[donewit-it]

Girl, stop playing. Jax both pictures look absolutely beautiful

 

[Ms Lala]

Very quick update on me:

I was doing well, twisting, retwisting, TOs, co-washing, DC-ing etc, then I had a wedding to go to last weekend and panicked about how to wear my hair. Made the decision to have it done by my 'trusted' natural hair stylist. Asked for an elegant updo - flat twists and a straw set at the side and front. Well, as it was being done, I started having serious doubts, sigh. Then I thought, no... stick it out, once the straws are out, hair will fall and it'll look banging. Well, BIG MISTAKE! Not only did it hurt my scalp so bad (I'm very tender headed), not only did the heat make me all cranky and hot and bothered I almost cried.... the end result was such a massive anticlimax! My hair looked AWFUL! It just wasn't me. I took a couple of pix which I wince to look at but will fotki for my hair diary as I record all my ups and downs... I wore the 'style' home, got home saw hubby, and burst out crying. Slept it off, woke up in the morning and took the style down. Co-washed and deep conditioned and wore the wrap at the bottom to the wedding....

Thank God, not only did I realise fast that this style wasn't half as good as my regular twists and TO styles, I also learnt that no one but me can style my hair to a style I love and leave me with hair that feels good to me. It's a tough realisation, but it's a good one - I cannot rely on anyone for my hair to look and feel good but myself. The 24 hours it took me to have my hair handled by the stylist and take down the stlye she attempted on my hair have taught me a valuable lesson. I pray to God it hasn't cost me much in the way of progress but I'm on it. I'm back on track and in twists again - installing some small ones which I'll re-do as required - hoping they last at least 2 weeks. Hubby calls himself a hair widower when I spend so much time doing my hair but even he said he'd rather have that than the crying, unhappy hair disaster he had that evening. Will update on the twists once I'm done with them!

Oh no, I"m sorry you didn't like it. I think the pic looks good though, but maybe the style just wasn't you. This is my biggest concern about going to a stylist. I will be soooo angry if I pay my money and end up looking worse than if I had done my own hair. The only stylist who has ever done my hair is my mom and she doesn't do hair anymore so I do my own. She is still the only person I let trim my ends.

 

[yodie]

Sorry I missed this challenge, but I'll start on my own and follow along with you ladies. Just waiting for my shea butter to arrive.

Great styles ladies.

 

[bablou00]

Do me a favor...If you get a chance, take a pic of your current twist and post. I want to see what your hair looks like in 3-4wk old twist. The longest I've gone is 2wks. I probably could have gone longer, but the frizz factor started to bother me.

Im just now seeing this post. Sorry!!! I took some pics of a headband a few days before I took my hair out. They lasted 4wks to the day and I retwisted once around the second wk. Not all but most of the middle, front and sides. I did a henna txtment this wknd and wore my hair out one day. Im still not for sure how to wear my hair out with out it twisted or a twist out so I wasnt feeling the hair I will work with it more when Im done with this challenge. Tonight was the only night I had the time to twist. It only took me around 6hrs this time. I sectioned my hair off in four puffs and twisted each puff. The back are smaller then the front but it still looks fine to me. Im gonna go until the first wk of Nov till I retwist again. Its been love not having to worry about my hair....I cant stress that enuf. Good job ladies everyones hair is looking good.

Here are pics of my hair after 4wks and a lot of washes and one of my new twist. There are more shots in my fotki.

 

[JustDoIt]

You ladies are amazing! Wish I could join the challenge but will join the next one hopefully... I've been doing twists since I started my natural journey earlier this year and had a few questions for you..

bablou00 how do you get your twists to last a month without re-doing? Also does your hair lock when you wash it? Mine seems to lock when I wet it too much..

My twists only last a week before absolutely have to take them out because they start looking very dry and like "who shot john" DH keeps saying I spritz them and oil them too much and I should leave them let them be..but to me they get really dry and I'm afraid of breakage..

Any advice on how to keep them for a month??? I take 6 hours.. yes I said 6 to put them in now.. so for that time I get frustrated thinking 6 hours to last for one week makes no sense so I'm really trying to stretch to a month this rounds...

Busted or not.. I'm gonna try... just don't want DH to put me out
So I need some help from the twist gurus

Here's my fotki in case you want to take a look..

http://public.fotki.com/sbabe16/

 

[yodie]

Bablou00,

Your hair looks great. Do you part your hair within the four sections and twist or do you make the four sections and then just grab hair and twist? Hope this makes sense.
Sent you a pm.

 

[RubyWoo]

Bablou00 your hair looks great at 4 weeks! Beautiful sheen and no frizz in sight! I'm going into week two with mine and they still look good. You inspired me to go 4 weeks in mine. Thanks for your sharing your beautiful pics !!

 

[Soliel185]

Ladies my hair feels horrible. I pree pood w/cholesterol, washed with EQP creme conditioning poo, and dc'd with EQP DPR-11 and my hair feels so weird. It's like dry and soft at the same time. I'm sitting with my hair in big twists under a towel right now until I figure out what to do. I can't be bothered w/it right now. Maybe I need new products. The EQP doesn't seem to be working well for my hair.



Maybe you are right. Do you have any products suggstions, I have pretty thick and coarse hair.

Soft but dry sounds like a protein effect..is DPR-11 a recontructuring or strengthening conditioner?

Also, I've found that cholesterol by itself doesn't do much for my hair, but it makes a great base for adding things too.

 

[bablou00]

You ladies are amazing! Wish I could join the challenge but will join the next one hopefully... I've been doing twists since I started my natural journey earlier this year and had a few questions for you..

bablou00 how do you get your twists to last a month without re-doing? Also does your hair lock when you wash it? Mine seems to lock when I wet it too much..

My twists only last a week before absolutely have to take them out because they start looking very dry and like "who shot john" DH keeps saying I spritz them and oil them too much and I should leave them let them be..but to me they get really dry and I'm afraid of breakage..

Any advice on how to keep them for a month??? I take 6 hours.. yes I said 6 to put them in now.. so for that time I get frustrated thinking 6 hours to last for one week makes no sense so I'm really trying to stretch to a month this rounds...

Busted or not.. I'm gonna try... just don't want DH to put me out
So I need some help from the twist gurus

Here's my fotki in case you want to take a look..

http://public.fotki.com/sbabe16/

I dont know if its because of the texture of my hair or what but really I dont do anything special. I actually wash it a lot more then what I think most do and one would assume it would dread up but I havent had any problems with that. What I did this last time is retwisted around the second wk. I didnt retwist all of them but ones that were frizzy looking which was the front, top and some of the sides. Im sure the back but I could see that part...haha!! I use coconut oil every couple of days but only use my shea mix when I twist. Sorry I wish I could say I do something specatular but I think its just my tight, kinky texture that my hair holds well. And dont think your the only one that takes six hours. The twist I did a month ago took btwn 7-8hrs. This time it took 6 but I think the front is a little chunkier then the last. Your not alone sister...haha

Bablou00,

Your hair looks great. Do you part your hair within the four sections and twist or do you make the four sections and then just grab hair and twist? Hope this makes sense.
Sent you a pm.[/QUOTE

When I was in the shower I just sectioned my hair off into four puffs and washed my hair that way. Then I kept them sectioned like that when I twisted. I worked with one section at a time and just pulled and twisted no part. I think this helped on time so I will always twist like this. Also it was a lot easier washing and detangling my hair this way. Yes your ? made sense...lol!!!

Bablou00 your hair looks great at 4 weeks! Beautiful sheen and no frizz in sight! I'm going into week two with mine and they still look good. You inspired me to go 4 weeks in mine. Thanks for your sharing your beautiful pics !!

Thanks let us know how it goes. Like I said I did touch up as needed but it was better touching up some then sitting down and retwisting for 6+ hours. I hope to go another month...really I hope to go all winter with twisting every month or so!! Good luck

 

[bablou00]

Ladies my hair feels horrible. I pree pood w/cholesterol, washed with EQP creme conditioning poo, and dc'd with EQP DPR-11 and my hair feels so weird. It's like dry and soft at the same time. I'm sitting with my hair in big twists under a towel right now until I figure out what to do. I can't be bothered w/it right now. Maybe I need new products. The EQP doesn't seem to be working well for my hair.



Maybe you are right. Do you have any products suggstions, I have pretty thick and coarse hair.

Did you figure out what made your hair dry. I agree with maybe your products dont have a lot of moisturizing ingredients. I have to use a lot of creamy conditioners because hair is like yours thick and coarse. I dont use anything that has protein in it. I get my strengthening from henna. I use herbal essence, oyin handmade honey hemp conditiner, anything with glycerin or aloe vera works great with my hair. And coconut and shea butter also do wonders for my hair.

 

[Ms Lala]

My hair is still a hard mess. I tried rewetting it and it didn't help. When I tried combing it my ends were so tangled and they were breaking so I just stopped. I think my porosity is off or something. Maybe I need to clarify and start over. I am wearing it slicked back into a bun made of 2 twists. I could really use some product recommendations. I broke down and bought Qhemet amla and olive heavy cream but who knows when I'll get it. Any suggestions on products I can get at the BSS or grocery to help?

 

[Soliel185]

My hair is still a hard mess. I tried rewetting it and it didn't help. When I tried combing it my ends were so tangled and they were breaking so I just stopped. I think my porosity is off or something. Maybe I need to clarify and start over. I am wearing it slicked back into a bun made of 2 twists. I could really use some product recommendations. I broke down and bought Qhemet amla and olive heavy cream but who knows when I'll get it. Any suggestions on products I can get at the BSS or grocery to help?

If you think it's your porosity try either an ACV rinse or Roux Porosity Control. ACV can be gotten at the market, Porosity Control at BSS. ACV is also a mild clarifier so it can help with that too. I'm never used the Elasta to DC - I do really like the ORS replenishing paks, and Silk Elements Moisture Treatment. Another good but cheap option is Lustrasilk Shea Butter & Mango, or Aloe Vera - they run about $2.99 a peice at your local BSS.

For more moisture & softness try adding some natural ingredients to your DC. Just Kiya posted a great thread about the benefits of adding salt to your DC. If you do hot oil treatments try a fatty oil like coconut, olive, walnut, peanut, etc etc

I agree with the "aloe vera; suggestions. Between washes I love using a mixture of aloe vera, glycerine, and rosewater in a spray bottle. You can get glycerine and aloe vera in most grocery or drug stores, and rosewater can be found in an Indian or Asian Market. Check around locally. The products I love the most are easy to get - Suave Tropical Coconut or Vo5 Moisture Milks in Champagne Kisses are my go to life savers for angry hair. . You may also want to try the Cherry Lola treatment - search You tube to get testimonials and see different results. HTH!

 

[bablou00]

My hair is still a hard mess. I tried rewetting it and it didn't help. When I tried combing it my ends were so tangled and they were breaking so I just stopped. I think my porosity is off or something. Maybe I need to clarify and start over. I am wearing it slicked back into a bun made of 2 twists. I could really use some product recommendations. I broke down and bought Qhemet amla and olive heavy cream but who knows when I'll get it. Any suggestions on products I can get at the BSS or grocery to help?

I was just looking at features of the month and ran across Chicoro's feature and she uses castor oil, aloe vera, olive oil, any essential oil and she put on a plastic cap and let that sit for 20-a couple of hrs for a deep treatment. Maybe you should try that after you clarify with ACV or baking soda(my sister swears by). The qhemet alma is good but you need a good deep conditioning txtment

 

[tallnomad]

I just washed my month old twists yesterday with baking powder--it is a great clarifer and makes my hair soft and shiny and I have extremely coarse 4a/b hair.

I spray my hair (avoiding the roots) with S-curl or water, then I seal with coconut oil, or castor oil or ghee. Ghee is really wonderful.

Also, I love Cantu's Break Cure!!!! This is supposed to curb breakage. I love its texture and it really moisturizes and coats the hair well. It's made of water and shea butter. It has a smooth watery creamy texture that really penetrates, and it can be used as a heat protectant.

My hair is still a hard mess. I tried rewetting it and it didn't help. When I tried combing it my ends were so tangled and they were breaking so I just stopped. I think my porosity is off or something. Maybe I need to clarify and start over. I am wearing it slicked back into a bun made of 2 twists. I could really use some product recommendations. I broke down and bought Qhemet amla and olive heavy cream but who knows when I'll get it. Any suggestions on products I can get at the BSS or grocery to help?

 

[Jaxhair]

Ladies, thanks! Well, i've since updated my fotki and everyone says the style wasn't bad at all. I guess it just wasn't me and I didn't like it, sigh. Still, episodes like that make you learn more about your likes/dislikes, preferences and non-preferences i guess, so it's not all bad!

Glad to report my hair seems to have recovered from the hooded drier experience and is feeling strong, supple and soft again, thank God! Lesson learnt from this: If indirect heat makes my hair feel so dry, and leaves it brittle, I certainly won't be trying a blowout or flat ironing/pressing. Time to give away my hair straightening tools, me thinks (need closure, lol.... sigh!). I'm in the process of doing some small twists right now - hope to be finished by tomorrow, so will post pics then. I certainly won't be deviating from my norm again soon.

Fab twists you guys! Bablou, your hair's so thick! Your grown afro will be so big - I'm jealous already!

Ladies dropping by - thanks for visiting and encouraging us!

 

[Ms Lala]

I was just looking at features of the month and ran across Chicoro's feature and she uses castor oil, aloe vera, olive oil, any essential oil and she put on a plastic cap and let that sit for 20-a couple of hrs for a deep treatment. Maybe you should try that after you clarify with ACV or baking soda(my sister swears by). The qhemet alma is good but you need a good deep conditioning txtment

I just washed my month old twists yesterday with baking powder--it is a great clarifer and makes my hair soft and shiny and I have extremely coarse 4a/b hair.

I spray my hair (avoiding the roots) with S-curl or water, then I seal with coconut oil, or castor oil or ghee. Ghee is really wonderful.

Also, I love Cantu's Break Cure!!!! This is supposed to curb breakage. I love its texture and it really moisturizes and coats the hair well. It's made of water and shea butter. It has a smooth watery creamy texture that really penetrates, and it can be used as a heat protectant.

If you think it's your porosity try either an ACV rinse or Roux Porosity Control. ACV can be gotten at the market, Porosity Control at BSS. ACV is also a mild clarifier so it can help with that too. I'm never used the Elasta to DC - I do really like the ORS replenishing paks, and Silk Elements Moisture Treatment. Another good but cheap option is Lustrasilk Shea Butter & Mango, or Aloe Vera - they run about $2.99 a peice at your local BSS.

For more moisture & softness try adding some natural ingredients to your DC. Just Kiya posted a great thread about the benefits of adding salt to your DC. If you do hot oil treatments try a fatty oil like coconut, olive, walnut, peanut, etc etc

I agree with the "aloe vera; suggestions. Between washes I love using a mixture of aloe vera, glycerine, and rosewater in a spray bottle. You can get glycerine and aloe vera in most grocery or drug stores, and rosewater can be found in an Indian or Asian Market. Check around locally. The products I love the most are easy to get - Suave Tropical Coconut or Vo5 Moisture Milks in Champagne Kisses are my go to life savers for angry hair. . You may also want to try the Cherry Lola treatment - search You tube to get testimonials and see different results. HTH!

Thanks for all of the tips ladies!!! I am off work on Friday so I am not combing my hair until then. I'm going to go to the bss on Thursday and pick up some of the things suggested.

 

[rsmith]

Hi Ladies I will be twisting this weekend. I plan to keep them for at least 3 weeks.

 

[Soliel185]

I have an issue where I will twist, but then I want my hair out for "special events" or if I'm going to see someone that hasn't seen me since the BC.

I just retwisted two days ago, and I find out that SO and I were invited to a surprise party for a friend's Dad. One of the ladies that will be there expressed some misgivings about my going natural and encouraged me not to do it. I want to show her how friggin awesome my hair is now and prove her wrong, but not in a mean way.

It's just annoying b/c I just spent all this time doing the twists (a few hours this past time, they're pretty small) and I took the extra time b/c I'd planned to wear them for a few weeks and maybe even add extensions....*sigh*

Vanity.