Hellur!
Since my last hair-growth update, I’ve been having a bit of fun with trial-and-error. There are definitely new styles to try now that I have my not-quite teeny weeny afro or not-quite giant fro, which I lovingly call my “in-betweeny afro.” Now, I’ve probably mentioned this before, but… how do I put this in a delicate way, ummerruh…
Well… I’m hair-retarded. Blame it on my “youngest child” status. Basically, I had an older sister who had to learn how to do her hair at an early age and was pretty skilled by the time I was born (she was 14 when I was born, FYI). Sister, grandma, beauty-shop lady… I always had my hair did. I didn’t do my hair. And frankly, when I tried to, it ended up in tragedy. Which is why I stuck to ponytails.
I’ve never been more hair-independent than I have since going (back) natural. And I seriously thank the entire summation of the internets for this. I straight up give kudos to those curly sistas who managed to keep their hair on dimepiece status without YouTube tutorials (or sites like Curly Nikki for frequently posting them).
While obsessively watching said tutorials, I found two styles* I wanted to try out: the finger coil-out and the curly twist-out. And I figured I could tell ya’ll the story through pictures. Visual swag.
First was the finger coil-out…
I’m actually in the process of finger-coiling in this pic. See how I multi-task for my Pinchers?! That right there is LIVE. EXCLUSIVE. POP BOTTLES. … Oh, I’m gettin’ a little carried away there. Anyway, this gives a good look at my length. It’s growwwwwwing! *squeal*
Annnd, about an hour later when I was done with the finger-coilage…
This is pretty much the finger coils soaked in Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Curls Blissful Length Kukinut Oil Elixir.
Wrapped it up in my satin bonnet and when I woke up to un-coil them and fluff ‘em out, I ended up with something like this…
I was relatively happy with what it revealed and after a bit more fluffing/shaping, I figured I was feelin’ myself a bit to take another pic.
That resulted in…
I was so eager to take pictures, I didn’t even put shoes on. Vanity is a trip!! SMH…
About a week after that, I decided to tackle the curly twist-out…
Clearly, I’m a bit annoyed by the fact it took me a little over an hour to complete this style. I’m basically snarling at the paparazzi… who happens to be… me. -_-
Satin bonnet’d that up (sleeping on perm rods** AIN’T the bidness), woke up, took the rods out, and un-twisted to reveal…
LOL, there’s that look again. Blame it on the fact that it was about 6:30 or 7am. I was pretty surprised at how soft and moisturized it was. Guess it further proved that taking my time pays off.
And the full result of that style is rich ‘chere…
Big hair! GLORAAAYYYYY!!
Fin. And whatnot.
So, like I said, this was a trial-and-error thing and while I think I did pretty alright, I learned along the way. What to change, what to focus on, etc. I can only get better from here! *fingers, toes, and hair-strands crossed*
Pinchers, what do you think of my amateur efforts? Any advice (on the above styles or different styles to try in general) for a curly chick?
‘Preciate it!
Love ya like Michelle Obama loves kid fitness,
Cheekie
Hey! I am natural and I currently have a protective style ( weave) . However, I go back and forth between the two. I love Shea moisture, I am product junkie! I tried mixed chicks, kinky curly, Mizani natural, miss Jessie’s curly pudding…
I like your curly twist out. I personally prefer not twisting the hair and rodding it. I would rod it while it was wet and I would seal my hair with coconut oil from whole foods. It is time consuming but it is so cute ‘.. especially with a headband. How are you adjusting to the high maintenance of natural hair? What style are you wearing throughout the week?
SN: I always played in my hair! Shea Moisture left my hair feeling soft as well!
Yeah, I’m gonna also try the two style separately. I’m gonna do a basic twist-out (I’ve been thinking of going to a shop one day to get this done as well) and then a basic roller set with rods or maybe bigger rollers. The possibilities are endless. One of the reasons why I love natural hurr. SO flexible in terms of styles.
Thanks for the compliments! And girl, yeah, I’ll never not play in my hair. I’ve come to terms with this addiction.
Love the updates! My go-to style has been a mix of aloe vera gel and coconut oil in a twist out. I can just throw a scarf on it and it bounces right back in the morning.
I need to get me some aloe vera gel. I’ve also noticed a lot of curlies using that Eco Styler joint. I’ve noticed some sort of gel keps the curl pattern in place for folks. It’s just a matter of finding which kind, I want. NOT Jam! LOL
And thanks! I’m trying to take ya’ll along for the ride, bumpy and all.
Love both!! You did a great job! I will say I Luke the curly twist out better(w/perm rods of all things!!), but that could just be because it was a closer pic.
My head’s too big to box with big hair…written, directed & starring me! I do a lot of puffs, buns and the like. But I will do a wash and go from time to time.
Keep us posted on your progress!
Thanks! I shall keep up the updates!
I’m actually looking forward to when my hair grows enough for me to wear a bun and play around with that as well (bangs, headbands, etc.).
YAAAAY! YOU ARE LEARNING! OMG, look how much your hair has grown since your BIG CHOP! I think you would LOVE a double-strand twist out. You get both of these styles in one. Keep it up!!!!! FABULOUS!
I AM learning! I feel like I’m going through a No Child Left Behind program, except it’s not so much of a fail. Shots. #NoCurlLeftBehind.
I’m still shocked (and APPALLED) at how much my hair has grown. Time seems to have flown by…
Two-strand twists are pretty much the only thing i ever do. . . actually i lie. they ARE the only thing i ever do. every blue moon u can catch me with a press for trimming but thats only 2x a year. twist outs give me big hair and up-dos when its time for the big hair to retire. . . the only thing i ever need. do my hair once a week and pow all good. in totally my hair takes me about 3 hours a week. 1 1/2 to do my hair then adding up the 10-15 min a night it takes to retwist and seal.
As an admirer of your GLORIOUS mane, I do have to ask something. When you do the re-twists do you make them the same size as your orginal twists, or do you kinda skim/cheat through it since it’s kinda already in its desired curl pattern?
it depends. when my hair was your length i had to retwist in the size of the original twists. but has it grows my sections get bigger and my retwists get even bigger. it also stretches it more if i retwist them in bigger sizes regardless of my length while still keeping the definition
o and thank you very much. i am getting it pressed on friday and can’t wait for the blow out pics. my avi is from september (my last trim) and i wanna see if it fa real grew or its just these ends needing to be trimmed
CHEEKIE!
This hair! OMG! It’s grown so much! And it looks awesome!
I’m hair retarded too, so of course I went through my struggles and trials when I went natural, and now that I’ve started the locking process, it’s no different. I get my friend to do them for me, and kind of explain what she’s doing, so that one day I can retwist my own hair, especially when it’s in between time for her to do them. I’m so excited to see what else you can do with it!
Thanks, bew! And I’m eager to get to experience your locking process with you!
BABY GIRL!!!!!
We’ve spent time recently, so you know the perm rod struggle is real.. but I LOVE the way it came out!! I’m at the “wash and go” state right now.. Your hair has gotten SO BIG!! I’m bout to perm rod the front today and see what pops off (cuz the front is stickin straight up!)..
I’m in the trial and error stage too, but not with styles.. I’m there with the combination of products to make it look right.. I have my homemade leave-in conditioner and that Oyin.. I can’t WAIT til my fro is all big and whatnot..
The difference a year makes.. #Lawd
You look GOOD!!!
(this comment is all over the place.. blame it on the migraine…)
LOL, I fondly remember the “what products work for me?” stage. Hell, I’m still kinda in it. I still try new products and the more length I gain, I notice my hair changes a bit. I notice it reacts differently to products since it was ultra-short compared to now. It’s an ongoing process but Shea Moisture has been a loyal friend.
And thanks, doll!
Cheekz!! I admire you and your progress so much!! Would you beelee that under this head full of weave is actually 18 months worth of natural hair… actually it’s 24 months but I don’t count the ends from when I was press crazed. Anywho… I don’t do squat w/ my natural hair. Do you hear me?! Squat. Well other than moisturize, poo, condition and braid/weave it back. *sigh* I’m so petrified of short hair I’ve been in transition for 2 years just to get enough length to actually even THINK about wearing it out. I’m at that stage now… I’ve watched zillions of YT vids and I think it’s that time. This will be my last weave until winter 2012. I’m thinking I’ll get braids when this weave expires and then all my hurrr everything… pray for me. lots.
Thanks, lady! I’ve seen pics of yo own hair (AND saw it cornrowed up in person) and I DO think it’s bout that time. Lookin’ forward to seeing what you do wif it. Plus, I think a shorter ‘do will bring out yo gawjuss eyes.
Awww… thanks Cheekerz! *guffawz at thoughts of my cornrowed head* I forgot we had a literal wig snatchin moment in Canada!!
Wig snatching! YASSSSS. We did! And how we put it on my luggage AND then Max’s diva walk with yo wig. Canadian memories…
i too am hair stunted. i too always got my hurr did and not doing.
i too LOVE these updates and CANNOT believe how long it is!!
Thanks, lady! Glad you’re enjoying them.