Braidout Styles

So, this continues my ''messing with the braidout'' to come up with cute Up-do's and stuff.

It's nothing awesome, but I like it.

The back: I scooped the back of my hair up (I like the look doing this method gives) and I pinned it in the middle.

I used about 4 or 5 bobbypins to make sure it's secured -- since it's pretty loose back there.

The front: I swooped the front to the left and pinned it. :) I like.

The Back: I had taken the pins out and pinned everything to the side (more than to the middle) to see if I liked the look better.

Side: This angle shows how messy this style is. Because I just grabbed and pinned.

Overall, I love it. This one goes into the ''style file'' :)

I'll keep messing with braidouts to see what other messy do's I can slap together.

Messing With The Braid-Out

...For the sake of coming up with new styles and looks.

I braided over an old braid and curl a few days ago.
I just sprayed it with water since there was conditioner (Hello Hydration + Suave pro.) left over from the braid and curl.

So I tried to do a little something with some bobby pins and I don't think it came out that terrible.

Excuse the pictures, I was working with my webcam and a mirror.

I pinned the sides back, creating a pouf. Then I pulled the back up (holding the nap and moving my hands up) and pinned it in the middle.
Then I just used more pins to hide most of the hair that was sticking out.
And BAM!

The front pouf -- I didn't want to make it too large

 I'll use (old) braid outs for experimenting with styles and keep you guys posted.
...'till next time...

My December Hair and Products

Hey Ladies,

I have some new products that were given to me as early Christmas presents! Yay!


I'll be reviewing Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner. And also Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Deep Cleansing Shampoo.

So, if you're interested, look out for that (after final exams lol).



For now, I just wanted to post how my hair has been since the beginning of December.


Yup! In chunky twist and under my bonnet. When I have to go out -- School, Church or just to hang out and relax -- I put a hat on top of my bonnet and head out.
When I get back home, I take off the hat.



However, because I don't want free form locks, every other day or so I take out each twist individually, wet it, apply a little conditioner if needed, de-tangle and re-twist! That's about it when It comes to maintainance!



In my winter routine post, I wrote about the different styles I wear with my hat.
This winter protective styling thing is easier than I thought.

There are LOTS of benefits:
~ Most obvious is length retention
~ Saving product since I'm not completely re-styling every week
~ More time to do what I need to do: currently studying for final exams
~ Easy cute style for going out: Of I'm invited to go out on short notice and I want to ditch the hat, I can easily take out my twist and have a beautifully defined twist-out that I can style however I want!

I just love it!!


Year's end is going to catch me in Georgia though, so we'll see how that will go.



Are you protective styling for the winter?

Current Winter Routine

I think it can be agreed that winter and curly hair aren't the best of friends. For the past few winters, I have not giving my hair any special care or attention.

There were winters (most recent- last year) when I would treat my hair just the same as I did in the summer. And needless to say, my hair didn't respond too well.

This winter, my current (as it may change) is as follows:

Wash Day:
1. Shampoo in braids (once every 2 weeks to a month) with either Dr. Miracles or Suave Professionals (newest purchase)
2. Condition/ de-tangle
3. Deep Condition (sometimes I don't have the time to DC, but I try and make the time)

Style:
Chunky Twist! About 10 medium size chunky twists all over, with either Herbal Essences Hello Hydration or Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner.

Wearing The Twist:
Since it's winter I get to 'hide' my hair under hats! So unless I'm going out someplace special or I just want to wear my hair out, my hair will be hidden under hats.

The only parts of my hair that will be exposed will be the very front, which I will be using as 'bangs'.
1. Some days, I will loosen and separate the twists and pin it to the side
2. other days I'll loosen, but not separate- as to have the thick curls hanging out the hats
3. I will also have the twist peeking out without loosening and pin them back or to the side
4. And finally, I'll loosen all the twists and wear a twist out

These variations will hopefully help me to not become bored with the protective style.
I will also be doing 'touch ups' to keep the twists moisturized, by wetting and sealing with olive oil or Shea butter, or both.

Today's Hair- More Of The Same

Although I planned on changing it up for today, I wore my hair basically the same as yesterday. I really wasn't in the mood for anything much. It was very cold in NY today and so this hat was once again the best option (it's layered and thick enough for cold weather).
The only 'change' in this style was that I let a few curls hang out of the hat.

I need to get some more of these winter hats. So cute, they are.

Looking forward to finding some more ways I can wear this (and other) hat(s) as a part of my winter protective styling.

The Kinks And Curls Are Back-- A Popular Protective Style

Yup that's right! The good ole Beret with minimum hair exposure. I only have one beret (the one I'm wearing), but I'm thinking about getting a few more, because I'm liking this style! It's so winter appropriate.

I really need to protect my hair this winter. I had a lot of breakage over the past few months and winter is usually a hard time for my hair, so protective styles are a must!

For this style I put my wet and oil-sealed hair in about 10 chunky twist on Monday the 29th and on day one, that Tuesday, I pulled the super-shrunken twists in to a low side-'bun' and slapped on a regular hat (the gray hat with red designs I wore in one of my previous post).

On Wednesday the 1st, I loosened the right front-twist, finger combed the roots and pinned it to the side and secured on (with booby pins. It was a Windy day) my beret.

Today's was basically the same look, except I loosened the left front-twist, finger combed and swept it over and pinned it to the right side. Doing this gave the hair a fuller look.
I want to change it up for tomorrow, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it.

On Saturday, I'm going out, so I'm going to wear a twist-out, I'm going to pull it up into a pineapple for the night and wear it down again on Sunday for church. However, Sunday night, I'm thinking of re-twisting for the protective style on Monday.
That's my plan, but we'll see how things actually go.

Underneath The Hat!- chunky twists revealed :)

Today's Hair--Low Side Bun And a Hat

I spent nearly 2 hours oil de-tangling my hair last night, in preparation for washing it later today.

I put each small de-tangled section into braids and took those braids out for school today. To prevent more tangles the next day, I tucked the hair into a low 'bun' and slapped a hat on it.

I found this look to be cute and I think I will continue to wear it as a protective style.

Today's Look--Tucked up and Away

I've been trying to prepare my hair (and myself) for winter styling.
Last winter, I was terrible to my hair--I wore it big and out nearly 90% and of course, It suffered. It dried out, tangled and broke.

Now, a year smarter :) I have decided to do protective styles at least 50% of the time this winter: tucked in, twisted up, pulled and hidden to the back--the works.

Earlier this week I wore a bun using my sock donut bun. Today I also wore something bun-like.
I pulled my hair into a pony tail, took the hair (hanging out the pony tail) and pulled it to the front and pinned it down with bobby pins. I loved the delicious volume! And it's a protective style--so it's a win-win, right?

These pictures were taken after the day (very windy day)

Bunning!

I've been M.I.A lately. Things have been pretty hard lately, but thanks to God everything works out for good.
I've been trying to get back to the routine of caring for my hair. Today, I pulled and tucked my old braid-out into a bun for church. And I liked it!
When I wear buns, I usually wear them pretty high, but today I had to pull it to the back a little to wear my head covering (I am an Apostolic Pentecostal).

I used my sock bun that I made last summer (there's a bunch of tutorials on how to make them on YouTube). It's really not that bad, especially since I didn't do it on fresh hair.
I think I may do a little experimenting with bunning this week :)

Until next time,

Kerri

My 'No Time For Hair' Hairstyle

School is upon me!!! Summer is practically over which means back to the books, studying, projects and exams! And less free time for me things such as proper hair care.

On the curly hair website www.naturallycurly.com one reader asked about hair care during college semesters. Some ladies advised her to set aside a day just for hair (washing, deep conditioning, styling), which I agreed to but also added that she should also come up with 'no time for hair' hairstyle. A hairstyle which will give at least a week without having to De-tangle and re-style.

I think this style could be anything from braids, twists or just a bun, whatever style you like that will "take care of itself" when you can't.

My recently discovered 'no maintenance' style is the famous two-stand twist! Yes, I've fallen in love with this style. Not only for when I need a styling break either! I just enjoy styling it; there's countless ways to wear these mini twist.

I've created neat buns, messy buns, curls and curly ponytails (by adding rollers and letting it set overnight) and my most recent love: the messy bob. Neat 'bun'

Curly Ponytail: Twists curled and pulled up into a ponytail

Curls created by rollers (looked neater in real life)

Messy Bun


Messy bob. I tucked the longer layers of my hair underneath itself
and pinned it with a bobby pin. With the shorter layers
hanging out and a few twists pinned to the side, it made a cute style.

Mini Two- Strand Twist..Once Again

If you've been reading my blog, then you know that two-strand twist are a way for my hair and I to get a break from each other.

It's been getting on my nerves because it's time for a trim. I usually trim my own hair when I straighten it, but I'm not suppose to straighten until May. So I'm trying to work something out. I was thinking about getting one of my close friends to do it for me again, he did a good job last time I straightened (and he's straight :)

Since I'm not straightening until May, but I need a trim now, I was thinking that I can leave my twist in until spring break starts (March 29th) and get it trimmed, while it's in a twist- out style. At least that way it'll be close to being straight, and I'll be able to get an even cut.

I realize that trimming a decent amount of hair while my hair is in a two strand twist style, yields uneven hair and my hair is uneven enough.

The only problems that I have with leaving my hair in a twisted style for a long period of time is tangling due to shed hair getting caught in the twist and lack of creative ways to style it.

I've seen some ladies on hair forums with beautiful twisted styles, but i either don't have the tools or skills to duplicate them :) I definitely will keep trying. For now, I've been wearing a bun, it's not bad but, it's not me.

Mzmillion, a beautiful natural on naturallycurly.com, suggested a great home made deep conditioner that I will definitely be trying. Mayo, banana and olive oil, hopefully during spring break I'll be trying this.

Braid-out results

Before I went to bed last night I added the green rollers to my ends. When I took my braids out today, it looked really soft and fluffy. It's stretched out because it was done on dry hair. For a while I even considered doing this style often, but I remembered that school starts next week and time will definately be an issue, seeing how long it takes to comb out my dry to lightly damp hair.


We'll see how things go though.

My Twists are Out

I took my twists out yesterday, the 19th. Which means I kept them in exactly 3 weeks. That's the longest I've ever went with two-strand twist in my hair.

I'm going to wear a twist-out for the next couple of days and wash and style at the end of the week or the weekend.

My twist-out is huge and I love it, but I have to find a way to style it. I'm going out today, so I'll post some pics of whatever style I come up with.

Update: I decided to go simple with the styling so I simply pulled back the front and clip it.

Bunning my Twist!

Hey readers, I haven't had a chance to access a computer lately, which explains why I haven't been posting as often.

My twist have been getting frizzy, of course. Yesterday, the 12th, made two weeks since I put them in. I think I'll leave them in until the week of the 24th, because my classes start the 28th.

I think I'll wash them either this weekend or sometime next week. They will shrink up of course and I'm not sure if I'll leave them that way or redo a couple of them. Either way I'll post pictures.

Below are a few pictures of my latest style. I made a donut bun last summer, by following an awesome tutorial on youtube (I don't remember the link). It's really easy to make and they also sell them pretty cheap at beauty supply stores. I put it in my hair to give my bun more volume.

Curly Twists

Although I had no where to go, I decided to do something with my hair. I still have my boring, body-less twist in, so I decided to curl it.
Curling it gives it the apperance of having more body, which is what I like. It's not that noticible because I only curled the very ends with the little green rollers over night.