I wrote about going to the Corinne Bailey Rae concert a few days ago (see that post here: Beautiful Voice, Great Performer, Gorgeous Hair). Well, I wanted to add a post about my look for the Corinne Bailey Rae concert. I was very excited to get a chance to see Corinne sing live, so I started thinking about what I wanted to do to my hair a few days ahead of time. I decided to try a new experiment. In August I posted about trying a Bantu Knot-out on my hair (see that post here: Bantu Knot-out). Well, I’ve always liked how my hair looks when I do a twist-out, so I decided to see what would happen to my hair if I combined two-strands twists with bantu-knots.
This is what I did: I grabbed a large section of hair, applied ORS Lock & Twist Gel to the section, combed the hair out to make sure that it was thoroughly detangled and began two-strand twisting it. After the hair was twisted, I then began to take the twisted hair and twist it upon itself until it was in a bantu knot (I have a feeling that I may have to put together a how-to video to show this process – if you want me to put together a video, please let me know in the comments below). I then secured the knot with an elastic band (just as I did in this post: Bantu Knots – sorry about all the post references). I let these dry for a day and a half, then took them down and fluffed them up. Here are my results:
Was the extra step worth the end result? I think so. The first time I did a bantu knot-out, I liked it, but I did not get the dramatic results that I wanted. By two-strand twisting the hair first, then twisting it into bantu knots, my hair had more of a defined texture.
Here is the back. I think if you compare these pictures to the pictures I took after my first bantu knot-out, you will see that my hair is more defined this time around.
Here is the side view
Here is the top view. Can you see the clumps of coils & curls?
Here’s another view of the side & back of my hair
The front of my hair really held the two-strand twisted texture well.
Okay, it’s been 15 days since I did yarn twists in my hair. I will be taking them down tomorrow but I did want to post pictures of different ways in which I wore them. I did want to note that the smaller you do them the longer they last. The only reason I’m taking mine down is because the ends of my natural hair is starting to swell probably because I was in New Orleans last week and it was raining almost the whole time. I will be doing them again but probably a little smaller next time.
I’m pleased to add the Tar Heel State to the Natural-ness in the States feature. Please meet Portia and some of her lovely natural family members (son, sister-in-law & sister)!
Name:
Portia
What state are you representing?
North Carolina
How long have you been natural?
4 months
What’s the natural scene like in your area?
There are mostly people with locs in my area and very few loose
naturals. I always get asked if I am planning on locking because
that’s the norm around here.
Additional comments regarding your natural hair:
I love my hair, the way she feels, moves, looks, smells, coils,
curls, bounces, and twirls. From being relaxed most of my life to now
being 100% natural, I can say that this is the best choice I have ever
made for myself.
Would you like to “Rep Your State”?
If so, please fill out the form here: Natural-ness in the States. I will be glad to accept more than one entry from the same state. Let’s see what state will be represented the most! Once I get at least 20 submissions, I will randomly choose one lucky person for a special giveaway!
I am thrilled to have the Magnolia State be the first state represented in the new Natural-ness in the States feature. I am pleased to introduce Denise!
Name:
Denise
What state are you representing?
Mississippi
How long have you been natural?
six (6) months
What’s the natural scene like in your area?
More and more women are adapting to their natural hair. I love to see
a natural sister.
Additional comments regarding your natural hair:
Loving my natural look. Excited about my hair growth and finding the
right products for the look I want.
Would you like to “Rep Your State”?
If so, please fill out the form here: Natural-ness in the States. I will be glad to accept more than one entry from the same state. Let’s see what state will be represented the most! Once I get at least 20 submissions, I will randomly choose one lucky person for a special giveaway!
OK, so I woke up the next morning and began to untwist my knots (see yesterday’s Bantu-Knot post). I really liked the look of the knots and could see them lasting for a while – something to think about for the future. They were hard to sleep on though.
Anyway, I started taking them down. Now, I didn’t not get the exact results that I was looking for, but I really loved what I did get. I wore the same bantu knot-out for two days. On the third day, I washed my hair and reknotted my hair for a new bantu knot-out (I’m wearing these knots now as I type this).
My bantu knot-out resulted in a cute curly afro.
The texture was very different than a twist-out (and much quicker to accomplish). It was also not as big as a stretched afro would be.
Here’s the back. The knots created clumps of twists and curves.
Here’s another texture shot. I think the bantu knot-out will be one of my quick go-to styles when I don’t know what I want to do with my hair.
I am very glad that my sister, Coco, is now a writer for this website, because I am not nearly as experimental with my hair as she is. I tend to stick with a few proven, easy styles (partly due to lack of time, I’m a home school mom – enough said ), while she practically has a new style every week. Well, I decided to break the mold and try something new with my hair. I was looking through Curly Nikki’s website, when I saw a post about Bantu Knot-outs. The ladies on the post had some gorgeous results, but they all had longer hair. I decided that I wanted to see what a Bantu Knot-out would look on shorter hair. So I washed my hair and proceeded to twist my hair into knots. Here is what Bantu Knots ended up looking like:
Here’s the front of my Bantu Knots. Check out my website in the background.
Here the side/back. I never intended on wearing these out, so I didn’t brother trying to part my hair. I just grabbed and twisted.
My hair is too short for the knots to stay on their own, so I used cloth bands to hold them. I wish I could have parted my hair (I’m not very good at making straight parts on my own head), because I wouldn’t mind wearing this style out (without the multi-colored bands though).
I’ll post the results of my Bantu Knot-out tomorrow, so be sure to check back!
Excuse me while I do a happy dance for a moment *dance, dance, dance* …OK, I just had to celebrate briefly. What am I celebrating? Two things actually: 1) I am one post away from finally moving all of my old archived information over to this new blog format (except Val & Nadine), and 2) It has been 1 year since I BCed for the 2nd time! Now it’s not really a nappiversary, because I first BCed five years ago, but another year of healthy hair growth is always cause for celebration. Just to recap, here’s my hair a year ago when I BCed for the 2nd time:
And here are my updates from just a few days ago (click to enlarge):
I’m looking forward to another year of healthy happy hair! Have you BCed this past year? If you are a new natural, who has been natural for less than a year, please click the New Naturals showcase link in the green bar above. Not a new natural, but would still like to be showcased? Click the “Natural-ness in the States” link in the green bar above to “rep your state”!
Today’s New Natural is Shaz. I am honored to feature her. Shaz’s beautiful hair color with coils popping all over is sure to inspire others to sport their TWA!
Name: Shaz
Date of Last Relaxer: End of April 2010
Length of Transition: 2 months
Date of BC: 30 June 2010
Favorite Style: TWA
Current Routine:
Am loving being a new natural.
Currently daily cowashing with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration
Spritz or Mist with my mix of castor oil, EVOO, jojoba oil or glycerin and water
Gel with Eco Styler Gel or Fantasia IC Styling Gel
Seal with EVOO or castor oil
Moisture DC 3 times a week (usually overnight) with castor oil and honey
Shampoo to clear build up once a month with ORS Creamy Aloe Vera
Shampoo then a protein DC with ORS Replenishing Condish
If you are a new natural (natural for less than 1 year) and would like to be featured on this website, please click the New Naturals link in the green bar above.
This is my first attempt at yarn twists. I was just about to make an appointment to get my hair braided but then I was browsing YouTube and saw someone doing yarn twists on their own hair and it looked easy enough so I ran out and got some yarn and did it that very day. It took a little over 4 hours to complete but it was pretty easy and I’m pleased with the results.
I’m noticing visitors from several states on the website. Don’t be shy – be the first to represent your state with your natural hair! I feel that seeing pictures of women with natural hair from different parts of the US will help inspire some of those ladies who are considering going natural; especially if they live in a state where there are not many sporting their natural tresses. Be an inspiration to them by sharing a bit of your experience. You can help even if you’ve only been natural for a short time.
Don’t forget, once I have 20 people “repping their state”, I will choose one of them to win a special give-a-way.
), while she practically has a new style every week. Well, I decided to break the mold and try something new with my hair. I was looking through Curly Nikki’s website, when I saw a post about Bantu Knot-outs. The ladies on the post had some gorgeous results, but they all had longer hair. I decided that I wanted to see what a Bantu Knot-out would look on shorter hair. So I washed my hair and proceeded to twist my hair into knots. Here is what Bantu Knots ended up looking like:
