Since Going Natural
- Thread starter snookes
- Start date
Crackers Phinn
Either A Blessing Or A Lesson.
The only way I've retained length is through protective styling. My hair stretched is about 16-17 inches but shrinks to about 4-5 inches. Whenever I've tried to do the loose hair thing it always breaks which is why my hair is currently bsl instead of the wsl it was 6 months ago.
Wish I had some advice besides hide your hair but that's the only thing that has worked for me.
Wish I had some advice besides hide your hair but that's the only thing that has worked for me.
I find that I need to keep my hair stretched out to retain length. When you have that much shrinkage wearing your hair out without stretching it is a disaster. The tangles are unbearable. I would say keep it stretched with twists, braids, blow dry or whatever you'd like. That should help with a lot of the tangles right away.
Now the dryness is different. How often do you deep condition? How often do you moisturize and what are you using?
Now the dryness is different. How often do you deep condition? How often do you moisturize and what are you using?
naturalmanenyc
Well-Known Member
I know how you feel. I have not relaxed since 2007 and have been fully natural since 2009 but am still at APL.
My hair grows slow (I think 4 inches per year) and I don't retain as much as I'd like since I enjoy wearing my hair out.
Protective styling seems to work. I'm trying crochet braids currently after trying Havana twists previously.
Have you clarified? It may be that moisture is not penetrating your hair, presuming you deep condition and moisturize.
My hair grows slow (I think 4 inches per year) and I don't retain as much as I'd like since I enjoy wearing my hair out.
Protective styling seems to work. I'm trying crochet braids currently after trying Havana twists previously.
Have you clarified? It may be that moisture is not penetrating your hair, presuming you deep condition and moisturize.
snookes
Well-Known Member
I've been deep conditioning since February 14th with Giovanni smooth as silk deeper moisture, sometimes twice weekly but every week yes.
Hi thanks my hair isn't long enough for a protective style yet I am CBL
Prettymetty
Natural/4b/medium-coarse
The look on Eddie's face 
snookes
Well-Known Member
Yes I clarify with Giovanni 50/50 whenever I suspect build upI know how you feel. I have not relaxed since 2007 and have been fully natural since 2009 but am still at APL.
My hair grows slow (I think 4 inches per year) and I don't retain as much as I'd like since I enjoy wearing my hair out.
Protective styling seems to work. I'm trying crochet braids currently after trying Havana twists previously.
Have you clarified? It may be that moisture is not penetrating your hair, presuming you deep condition and moisturize.
Prettymetty
Natural/4b/medium-coarse
@snookes how are you styling your hair? Are you type 4? I had to start blowing out my hair in order to avoid knots, tangles, dryness and matting. My twa was a nightmare. I couldn't do wash n gos because the next day my hair would be drier than ever.
I wore cornrows under wigs until my hair was long enough to be worn straight. Now I'm still wigging it between blowouts with braids underneath. This works for my fine 4b low porosity hair.
I wore cornrows under wigs until my hair was long enough to be worn straight. Now I'm still wigging it between blowouts with braids underneath. This works for my fine 4b low porosity hair.
snookes
Well-Known Member
Yes I braid my hair every night to prevent tangles.
LivingInPeace
Well-Known Member
Why do you think your hair is too short for a protective style? You can do twists, braids and coils.
snookes
Well-Known Member
I braid my hair every night and wear out in the daytime. Can't leave braids in longer as I can't go work looking like Coolio in the dangerous mind video lol
snookes
Well-Known Member
Yes I braid every night and wear out in the day time. Can't leave braids in longer as I look like Coolio in the dangerous mind video lol
Prettymetty
Natural/4b/medium-coarse
Lol I understand. So you wear braidouts most of the time. Maybe you can hide your hair in a sew in for a couple months. Or get crochet braids. Long term protective styles are great for retention.
LivingInPeace
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure that you could find a way to style braids or twists that would not call Coolio to mind.
snookes
Well-Known Member
Yes braidouts. Twists unravel. And I can't conrow. Extentions, wigs & weaves aren't really my thing hunny
Blessed&higlyflavoured
Well-Known Member
Hi Snookes,
the braiding and unbraiding is probably the culprit. It's quite alot of manipulation. You need a long term protective style, a wig or weave or box braids. just to keep your hands out of your hair. Keep protective styles in for 2.5 months take 2 weeks off, trim a quarter of an inch and put it right back in. Keep that up for a year and you'll see your hair thicken and lengthen.
the braiding and unbraiding is probably the culprit. It's quite alot of manipulation. You need a long term protective style, a wig or weave or box braids. just to keep your hands out of your hair. Keep protective styles in for 2.5 months take 2 weeks off, trim a quarter of an inch and put it right back in. Keep that up for a year and you'll see your hair thicken and lengthen.
snookes
Well-Known Member
Lol unfortunately I can't conrow. I am mixed race my mum was white I didn't have a dad. I grew up around white people, so have only learnt or rather learning how to manage my hair. I live in the UK
snookes
Well-Known Member
Hi it is seeming like that is the only answer for me right now the extentions. But I thought braiding hair at night time was a good thing?
LivingInPeace
Well-Known Member
I'm not talking about cornrows. Watch some youtube videos that show twists on short natural hair.
snookes
Well-Known Member
@Prettymetty Maybe I should consider getting extentions put in
Blessed&higlyflavoured
Well-Known Member
It is and it isn't.
It keeps your hair stretched and untangled which is good.
But its a lot of manipulation everyday which is not good.
With extensions you get the benefit of braids without the daily manipulation. You can still moisturise and dc and all that good stuff without worrying about tangles.
Also I find when my hair is annoying me , a protective style is welcome. Just think, you won't have to bother with braiding and rebraiding it every day/night.
snookes
Well-Known Member
Twists won't stay in but braids do.
Crackers Phinn
Either A Blessing Or A Lesson.
I throw my hair in some flat twists and either put a wig on or put some twists in with added marley hair.
snookes
Well-Known Member
True true I am definitely swaying to the idea of extentions now
DarkJoy
Bent. Not Broken.
Youre cbl? Thats plenty of length to tuck and roll to protect the ends all day. I do mine with some variation of these (no bangs for me)
I also i stretch it wet after wash under a hooded dryer to fight ssk. I slather it in moisturizing leave in and seal with butter or oil and done. Stays nice and moist.
I sleep on satin pillow cases or put it under a silk scarf at night. Light morning manipulation to put it back together and/or remoisturize if necessary since I sleep wild
My hair is SL fine 4c highly porous and low density. Impossible to wear weave or extension for any length of time without follicle destruction.
I sleep on satin pillow cases or put it under a silk scarf at night. Light morning manipulation to put it back together and/or remoisturize if necessary since I sleep wild
My hair is SL fine 4c highly porous and low density. Impossible to wear weave or extension for any length of time without follicle destruction.
naturalmanenyc
Well-Known Member
Braiding every night is a lot of manipulation. Can you try to get second day hair, by using the pineapple method to put your hair in a high ponytail for bed?
I can get 2 - 3 days out of a braid out or twist out using the pineapple method. Try it on a Friday/Saturday (presuming a M-F work week) so if you don't like it you're not rushing to change your hairstyle go to work.
snookes
Well-Known Member
I slept in a puff once I know I shouldn't have I was soo tired and my hair still shrunk & tangled up. I will try the Pineapple see how that fairs
Blessed&higlyflavoured
Well-Known Member
@DarkJoy is right. When wearing weaves and extensions you have to be on the look out for damage.
For extensions just make sure that the braids aren't too tight, too small, too big or have too much added hair. You have to keep them build up free and moisturised. I just fill three spray bottles, one with diluted shampoo, one with diluted conditioner and one with a watery leave in/oil mix and I'm good for the next three months.
I also leave my edges out and slick them down, and put a canerow in the back where my nape is. ( sometimes I crochet braids on but that's if can be arsed).
It'll be a bit of work initially but once you have a good install maintenance is minimal
For extensions just make sure that the braids aren't too tight, too small, too big or have too much added hair. You have to keep them build up free and moisturised. I just fill three spray bottles, one with diluted shampoo, one with diluted conditioner and one with a watery leave in/oil mix and I'm good for the next three months.
I also leave my edges out and slick them down, and put a canerow in the back where my nape is. ( sometimes I crochet braids on but that's if can be arsed).
It'll be a bit of work initially but once you have a good install maintenance is minimal
snookes
Well-Known Member
You know what am thinking of blow drying my hair on warm setting than braiding after my wash then pinappling until next wash day instead of the extensions now lol.
What ya think?
I think this is a great idea. Because your hair will be stretched out and you should be able to wear your hair this way for a few days.
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