Today's Hair - African Hair Threading (updated)

Style two weeks old in this photo

Style: African Threading (Ghana Plaits)

Time to Complete: 2hrs with breaks and first try

Products Used: Water, AvoCoco moisturizer

Tools Used: Rat tail comb, Denman Brush, Soft bristle brush, Spray bottle, spool of weave thread, scissors

Reason for style: I spent the holiday weekend enjoying videos from Girls Love Your Curls on YouTube. I was so inspired that I decided to thread my hair.

Lessons Learned: You must part Ghana plaits. I tried to do the first few like I do two strand twist with "same size" pinch parts. This will not work, treat the part as if you are making box braids.

  

I  added some flat twists on the side.

There is special thread for hair it looks like this:

While researching online I found this classic article from Ebony Jr here.

So far I love them and they threaten to last longer than two strand twists. I would really like to do more sculptural style once I get better/faster.

Today's Hair - "Cinna-bun"

This style was taken from the YouTube natural below and I think it turned out fabulous! Got lots of compliments on it at work!

I realized Monica also did a version of the Cinna-bun in December.



Style: The Cinna-bun

Time to Complete: 15 mins

Products Used: Water/v05 conditioner mix, EcoStyler Gel, One N Only Argan Oil(small amount)

Tools Used: Brush, Skinny Wrap(to tie hair back), Scarf, bobby pins

Reason for style: I had done a dry twist out the night before and my hair looked crazy in the morning.

Lessons Learned: Kept my ends SUPER moisturized, fast to complete than I thought, great go-to style on 'bad hair' days.

Today's Hair -The CinnaBun

Style: The Cinnabun

Time to Complete: 20 mins

Products Used: water, Taliah Waajid Protective Bodifer Mist

Tools Used: Bobby pins and scarf

Reason for style: Couldn't wash my hair in morning. (too cold) and inspired by Leah and Natalie.

Lessons Learned: Co-workers said it looked like a formal updo.

Today's Hair-Mini Twist-Out

Please excuse my allergy eyes.

Style: Mini Twist twist-out

Time to Complete: 25 mins to untwist and style

Products Used: water, Taliah Waajid Protective Bodifer Mist and Taliah Waajid African Healing Oyl

Tools Used: Boar bristle brush, barrette and hair accessory

Reason for style: Gotta make those twist last by rocking a twist out.

Lessons Learned: My new co-workers like my hair.

Today Hair: How fro can you go?

Monica NEEDS make-up in photos.

Style: Wash-Go with flat twists

Time to Complete: 30 mins

Products Used: Water and Taliah Waajid Protective Bodifer mist (on a recycled puff)

Tools Used: Rattail comb and Denman brush

Reason for style: I was in a hurry. :)

Lessons Learned: No matter how long my hair gets it will shrink enough for a wash-n-go.

Today Hair: Wrap-A-Locs on loose hair

Style: Puff with Wrap-A-Loc Bangs

Time to Complete: 45 - 1 hour to roll, 2 hours to air dry

Products Used: AvoCoco Cream, Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic

Tools Used: Wrap-A-Loc

Reason for style: I was asked to review the product :)

Lessons Learned:
1) I can roll my hair with the right roller.
2) Wrap-A-Locs work on loose natural hair.
3) I have to create a style worthy of these smooth shiny tight curls.

I give Wrap-A-Locs four of five Knaps. They help the roller impaired create beautiful curls. I wish I had the long ones.

They are available at: www.wrapaloc.com

The full YouTube review is here.

added 9/23:
Essence Magazine September 2010 the Wrap-A-Loc product is featured on page 84 under Hotlanta Hair.

Today's Hair-Twist out from Twisted Side Curls

Style: Twist-out from flat and two strand twists

Approximate time to complete: 30 mins to take down hair, 10 mins to mist and put in barrette

Products Used: Eco Styler Gel, AvoCoco Cream, Burdock Root Butter Cream (on twists), water

Tools Used: my hands and a barrette

Reason for style: Can't waste perfectly good twists by not wearing a twist out too.

Lessons Learned: I'm still low-maintenance.

Today's Hair-Twisted Side Curls

Style: Flat Twists to the side two strand twist for the rest

Approximate time to complete: 2 hours 15 mins to twist hair, I made twists into bantu knots and went to sleep.

Products Used: Eco Styler Gel, AvoCoco Cream, Burdock Root Butter Cream

Tools Used: Rat-tail comb (for parting flat twists), clips (to hold sections), my hands, bantu knots

Reason for style: Originally it was supposed to be a mohawk, but it got late so I did just one side!

Lessons Learned: Start styling your hair well before 10 pm if you have to wake up.

Today's Hair(Friday)-Picure Day Flat twists

Style: Flat Twists with two strand twist in back

Approximate time to complete: 1 hour 30 mins

Products Used: Eco Styler Gel, Lil Butter Butter, Burdock Root Butter Cream

Tools Used: Rat-tail comb (for parting flat twists), clips (to hold sections), my hands :)

Reason for style: Time to let the puff go, picture day, I can make it last 2 weeks

Lessons Learned: I had been skipping the BRBC after washing my hair and I could really tell the difference. I'm twisting faster and faster, if only I could braid. :/

Today's Hair - WnG Big Bun

Style: WnG Big Bun

Approximate time to complete: 10 mins

Products Used: Eco Styler Gel, Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioner\

Tools Used: Elastic Head Band, Bobby pins, boar bristle brush, black afro fist hair pic (hehe)

Reason for style: Streeeeeeeeetching the 3 day old WnG (Wash n Go) and it looks cute :)

Lessons Learned: I didn't think I was going to have to tie down the front of my hair after putting on the Eco Styler, but I did. It made the look more "finished". Took a little longer than I anticipated because I had to pic out the bun a lot also, my hair is pretty thin

Today's Hair - Quick updo #2

Style: Quick Updo #2

Approximate time to complete: 5 mins

Products Used: Lil Better Butter, Herbal Essence Hair Spray

Tools Used: 10 Bobby pins, boar bristle brush

Reason for style: EASY Alternative updo for work

Lessons Learned: I love this style. I used more hairspray this time.

Today's Hair- Accidental Updo

Style: French Twist

Approximate time to complete: 5 -10 mins

Products Used: EcoStyler gel

Tools Used: Bobby pins, boar bristle brush

Reason for style: My braid out was fuzzy on the ends. This is how I salvaged it.

Lessons Learned: I thought it was a get-by style but I kept getting compliments. :) I learned my hair is cute with very little effort.

Today's Hair- Fro-hawk

Please note these photos were taken after work.

Style: Fro-hawk (no twist-out)

Approximate time to complete: 15-20 mins

Products Used: Burdock Root Butter Cream, Lil Better Butter, Aloe Vera Gel

Tools Used: small rubberbands (3), boar bristle brush, Denman Brush

Reason for style: I was tired of wearing my puff but not ready to wash and re-style yet.

Lessons Learned: I like the fro-hawk without the twist-out. It was easier to achieve and looked cute.

Today's Hair

Style: Donught Bun

Approximate time to complete: 15-20 mins

Products Used: Burdock Root Butter Cream, Lil Better Butter, EcoStyler Olive Oil Gel

Tools Used: sock-or-bun dougnut ,brush, ponytail holder

Reason for style: I needed to look kind of conservative for some business.


Lessons Learned: I can look very corporate and be natural.

Today's Hair

Style: Cornrows into AfroPuff

Approximate time to complete: 45 mins (depends on how fast you braid)

Products Used: Burdock Root Butter Cream, Lil Better Butter, EcoStyler Olive Oil Gel

Tools Used: My fingers, rattail tooth comb, ponytail holder

Reason for style: I've been practicing my braiding!
(I plan to take down the puff and do two strand twist in back.)

Lessons Learned: I can cornrow.

Today's Hair

Style: Curly Two Strand Twists

Approximate time to complete: 1-2 hrs (depends on how fast you twist)

Products Used: Burdock Root Butter Cream, water,Honey & Mango Butter Pomade

Tools Used: My fingers, wide tooth comb

Reason for style: Ready for something low maintenance

Lessons Learned: Pomade really adds shine!

Today's Hair

Style: Afro Puff with side part

Approximate time to complete: 20 mins

Products Used: Lil Better Butter, Burdock Root Butter Cream, EcoStyler Gel, water

Tools Used: My fingers, Rattail comb, hairpins, ponytail holder

Reason for style: I wanted a puff but needed a change.

Lessons Learned: The smallest change makes a difference.

Todays Hair-Low puff with accessory

Style:Low Afro Puff with Flower

Approximate time to complete: 20 mins

Products Used: EcoStyler Olive Oil Gel, water

Tools Used: My fingers, Boar Bristle brush, Denman brush

Reason for style: I wanted to try my new gel.

Lessons Learned: I love the EcoStyler gel.

Today's Hair-Fingercoils Bang

Style: Afro Puff with Fingercoil Bang

Approximate time to complete: 30 mins

Products Used: Kishya Fruitilicious Pomade, water

Tools Used: My fingers, Boar Bristle brush

Reason for style: Was making two-strands twists and accidentally found Fruitilicious made good fingercoils

Lessons Learned: I like fingercoil bangs better than two-strand twist bangs

Afro for what you know...

Style: Wash-n-go with a twist

Approximate time to complete: 30 mins (including 15 min shower to wet)

Products Used: Water, Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter Cream, Knaps Lil Better Butter

Tools Used: My fingers, Denman Brush, Rattail comb

Reason for style: Easy to maintain, Second try at wash-n-go

Lessons Learned: I can wash-n-go! (If I work with the looser curls in the front.)