Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Big Afro!!!

Afro with the front pinned back
The Afro-- a symbol of true badness!  The bigger the better.  So my natural ladies have you ever wanted to get the super big afro, one bigger than a wash and go could give you?  I have found a method!  Now I am sure people have lots of ways of doing it, but this it my way and it is quick and easy :)


What you need-- blow dryer, heat protector product

How I do it--  I rub in some heat protector over my hair and then blow dry just to stretch my hair.  When I am satisfied with the length I finger part medium to large size sections (I ended up with about 10 or 12 sections) and twist and knot them.  This would be properly called "bantu knots" but if you are Caribbean you may call them "chiney bumps" (lol).  You do not have to leave them in for a long time, maybe an hour or 2.  Then just take them out and separate and go!

*Refreshing-- I would knot my hair back up quickly each night and then take it out again in the morning.  It is very quick!

Protective Styles: Twists

Twists half up and half down
Give your natural hair a rest!!  Protective styles give your hair a break and allow it to grow.  This past summer I started doing mini twists in my hair.  It takes a long time, but I did have noticeable growth and it gave me a break from have to style my hair--everyone wins ;)  I am still trying to figure out ways to make the twists last longer.  The longest I have had them in was about 3 maybe 4 weeks (I can't remember the exact amount of time but I do remember I was disappointed because I thought they would last longer). I tend to have a dry scalp, which can be solved by washing the twists but when they dry they will shrink which changes the look.
Twists flat twisted to a side pony tail (back view)

What you need-- Blow dryer, hair heat protector product, tail comb, and lots of free time ;)


(front view)
How I do it-- First I message a heat protector through my hair, lately I have used 100% shea butter--a natural heat protector and moisturizer.  DO NOT PUT ANYTHING ON YOUR HAIR (besides the heat protector) because next you will blow dry your hair and we don't want to fry our hair!  Now, when I say blow dry I don't mean a Dominican blow out ladies, just blow enough to stretch your hair out not for a style or anything.  I section my hair into four section and I start twisting in the front.  I part witha tail comb and stagger the parts in the front so when the twists are done you don't see much of the parts.  In the back i part the rows with a comb and finger part the individual twists.  You don't have to be as precise in the back.



Twists after washing
*Refreshing-- I rub herbal essence none of your frizzness leave in  or 100% shea butter over my twists about every other day or so and I put oil on my scalp when I feel like it is getting dry.