Pictures from Wash and Go and Bantu Knots

I took these two pictures to show the differences in curl sizes that I have. On the sides, and the top half of the back of my head, I have the tiny curls and just about everywhere else I have the bigger curls. The sizes vary in between the two examples that are shown. I find it both interesting and annoying.

This is a picture of my first wash and go since last spring. I applied HE hello hydration section by section all over my hair and let in air dry. This wasn't done on freshly washed hair. It was done on an an old twist out. I sprayed water on the ends, which gave me an even length all over.

There are the pictures from my Bantu Knots. My hair really doesn't like bantu knots when it's wet or damp. I will only be doing bantu knots when my hair's straightened.

Bantu Knots and Wash and Go's

Last week was Spring break. I took the extra time to 'experiment' with my hair. After the trim, I needed to style my hair, so section by section I spritz water and rolled my hair into bantu knots. The next day I carefully unrolled the first knot, to reveal a beautiful, shiny curl. As I began to separate it, I remembered why I should never have high expectations for a style, if i didn't properly moisturize and de-tangle. My hair had transformed into this tangled mess.

I had plans to go out that day, and I didn't have time to do any other style except for a wash and go. So for the first time since spring 2009, I grabbed my fantasia gel to do a wash and go. I opened the jar and then I remembered that I can a wash and go with conditioner. So I threw the gel aside and reached for my Herbal Essences hello hydration. Section by section, I applied the conditioner and when I was done I blow dried on cool with a diffuser for about 20-30 minutes.

My hair was soft with nice definition.....but the shape was horrible. I have terribly layered hair, which I have been hiding by doing twist/braid and curls. However, with my hair now in it's natural state it was revealed that the back layer of my hair hung about 3 inches longer than the rest of my hair. I think that the main issue is the fact that the curls at the back of my hair are looser that the other curls. It was not a good look. So, I got my scrunchies and pulled my damp hair up into a puff and walked out the door.

When I got home later that day, I took out my hair out of the puff and saw that it had dried in that shape. I immediately wet it and styled in a braid and curl. It was a pretty interesting day. I learned that: My hair and Bantu knots are not friends (at least not when my hair is damp or wet) and I also learned that I need to get my hair cut into a decent shape :)

I took a few pictures of the ordeal and I will post them soon.

Wash, Deep Condition and Trim

I washed and deep conditioned on Monday. I used diluted Apple Cider Vinegar to wash and I deep conditioned with mayo, an egg and EV olive oil. I wanted to try the deep conditioner that was suggested by a reader but I had no bananas. I will try it the next time I have some soft mushy bananas.


I really had to get my hair trimmed, so I blowdryed my hair on low heat and kept it stretched out by banding (placing scrunchies down the length of the hair).

Before The Trim

My friend trimmed my hair. I asked him to trim off an inch and I think he did a great job. It's not a significant difference, but I do hope it helps with the tangling and breaking.

After The Trim

....And Then There Were None. The Twists are Out

Yup, my twist are out! I was bored and they were frizzy, so after a week and about 2 days, they're gone.
I put braids in last night to keep it from tangling. I think that I'm going to keep it stretched out until I get my trim then I'm going to wash, deep condition and style.

P.S: Don't laugh at my lack of muscles, I'm working on it. :)

Making it Last

I don't think I've ever written about the way that I do my two-strand twist. It's not a big thing, but I know it has helped me a lot when it comes to helping my twist stay in longer.

I always braid the first inch and a half of my hair and twist the rest of it. I find that doing this prevents the roots from getting frizzy to quickly and prevents it from unraveling at the roots by the 3rd day or something.

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.

Baking Soda and Conditioner Deep Treatment

I've been on YouTube lately and I've watched quite a few videos about people deep conditioning their hair with baking soda and regular conditioner.

I've been looking for a deep conditioner on a budget and I figured with all the great results everyone was having, if this worked for me it'll definitely be a keeper.

All hair are definitely not the same! My hair felt as dry as before I put it in.

What did I do?

-I washed my scalp with Dr. Miracles shampoo and conditioner. It did leave my hair with that sqeaky clean, straw-like feeling. But I figured that my deep treatment will fix that.
-De-tangled with suave and my wide tooth comb (Took about an hour!!!! Extremly fustrating).
-Applied the mixture: 1 cup of conditioner (suave and a little vo5), 1/2 cup of baking soda and about a table spoon of EV olive oil. I applied it section by section.

Right now I'm sitting with my hair air drying in braids. I am thoroughly fustrated with my hair and I've decided i'm going to put it in mini twist for the next two weeks. I'll take them out over spring break.
Hopefully I'll find a good Deep conditioner. I'll have to revisit my old friend apple cider vinegar, it gave me soft shiny hair the last time I used it.