HOW TO AVOID BREAKAGE: TAKING DOWN 2 STRAND TWISTS

In a previous post, I wrote about the things I do to keep my hair moisturized and pliable while wearing two strand twists for over 3 weeks. The twists, and then the twist out can both create the environment for knotted ends, matted roots, and basically a tangled nightmare. After having a ball with my two strand twists, I also expect to retain the length that I gained. This means that I have to be careful not to rip my ends when I go to take them down. MOST IMPORTANT: DON'T WET YOUR HAIR UNTIL ALL TWISTS ARE TAKEN DOWN AND KNOTS ARE REMOVED.

• The preparation gets my hair ready for the detangling. Preparation such as: softening with oils and conditioners, removing shed hairs while finger detangling all play in important role in safely getting rid of all traces of the twists.

• Ideally, when taking down two strand twists, they can each be taken down in sections. The idea is to take them down in some kind of order, so as not to miss any twists. Once the hair is wet, any twists that are still there, can and will probably knot up with the loose hair. Also, because two strand twists are difficult to take down while wet--it's best to try to untwist each and every twist before starting the wash process. Truth be told, I never have a few hours in a row just to take down each one. The take down process usually takes me about 2 days (an hour here, an hour there).

• While unraveling each twist, it's always a good idea to run your thumb and pointer fingers down the shaft of the hair from the roots to the ends a few times. This will help further untwist the hair, and will also remove shed hairs. 

• Any knots that are not able to be resolved by finger detangling---will need to be cut off. YIKES--so you definitely don't want too many knots. If the knots are not cut out before the hair gets wet, this can result in breakage, which results in thinning ends--which requires trimming. All knots are ideally gone before the hair gets wet and any detangling tools are used. Lots of times, the detangling tool will just rip the knot out.

• Finger combing before using any tools will help avoid any ripping during the take down process. It's best to finger detangle with conditioner on the hair. While finger detangling each section, be sure to feel for knots, any matting or anything else that the comb or brush will be sure to rip and cause damage to. 

• Using a seamless wide tooth comb after finger detangling is one safe option to complete the take-down. This is like a 2nd step to the detangling process. Start at the ends and work slowly upwards with the comb.

• After the seamless wide comb, I use my Goody Finish Gel Paddle Brush to complete my detangling. Before I even use this tool, all knots, matting, tangles and problem areas would have already been taken care of. I use my goody finish brush while in the shower under running water with conditioner saturated on my hair. All of my detangling is done with conditioner and oils on my hair.

This is the full process that I take to safely take down and detangle my hair after wearing two strand twists on a long term basis. Doing this helps me to avoid ripping and breakage, which are the types of damage that later require cutting or trimming due to thinning ends.

Well Moisturized 2 Strand Twists: Co-Washed Only During 3 Week Wear

The first year that I was all natural, I did many long term twists. I suffered some damage due to trial and error. Mistakes that I made: Washing my hair with shampoo while wearing two strand twists. My hair would immediately lock up! No deep conditioning was able to help it out either. Another mistake I made was to think that I could just pull down my twists and start washing my hair. WRONG! There are a few detangling steps to be done to ensure no damage is done to the ends of the hair (as outlined above).

Moisturized 2 Strand Twists= Moisturized Twistout Later

The Beginning of the Detangle Process (after a workout)

Hopefully this post can help someone to avoid the mistakes that I made during my 1st year of wearing two strand twists. It's great to be able to learn from your own mistakes...but it's better to learn from the mistakes of others ;o)

And as always,

Stay Beautiful                                                                   --------------------------tia

Moisturized Two Strand Twists Using EDEN BODY WORKS PRODUCTS!

Hey All!

I hope every one's day is going GREAT! It's all good here...so far LOL.

I've been getting really lazy with my hair. I used to be so "on the ball" about steam treatments and cute styling, as well as protective styling. I was always ready to do the 6 hour (broken up into 2 days) sit down and twist up. Not so much lately. 

But I've started a set of small sized twists! It's going good so far. I think I'm almost halfway through (I hope).

I started with the back section and worked my way up. I know, I probably should start with the front and work my way around the edges, but I can't make sense of it that way. How I styled it here, I just did about 10 twists in the front and braided them into a sort of headband around the sides. Between that and the headband, no one will be any wiser about the foolishness going on up in there (except you now).

2 Strand Twists Halfway Done, Front Section Done In Bigger Twists

I went to Sally's Beauty Supply the other day to browse around. I don't know why I do that, because I always complain that they got all the toxic products up in there. WELL, they must have heard my muttering...or maybe everybody started complaining, but they now have an actual section with all natural products (or close to all natural). I purchased 3 products from a line that appears to actually be ALL NATURAL, or have all natural ingredients. 

I bought the EDEN Body Works Conditioner, Hair Milk, and Hair Oil. They come in peppermint tea tree scent. They actually have tea tree as an ingredient, so it tingles your scalp and helps rid of any itching.

I used the Conditioner as a deep treatment and kept it under a plastic cap overnight. Good stuff. My hair stopped itching, and I think it helped me get my scalp situated (I have dry scalp issues). My hair was soft the next day. Since this is not the actual product review, I will stop there. I used the conditioner to prep/deep condition my hair for the twists that I'm putting in now.

I used the Hair Oil in combination with the conditioner to sit on my scalp and hair shaft overnight. It was a great decision, as it seemed to help add to the softness! I put it straight on my scalp, and it helped refresh my scalp.

I used the Hair milk to coat my hair before my twists. So far so good. I'm liking the shine, luster, and softness. I'll just wait for the review! Hahaha

EDEN Body Works Conditioner, Hair Milk, & Hair Oil

Free Beach Bag with Qualifying Purchase From Sally's Beauty Supply

Great deals going on at Sally's! I hope I haven't shared too late, but you can probably check on their website. I purchased the 3 products and got this sweet, nice sized beach bag for free!! So basically I spent $33.00 and got a bag (valued at around $26.00) for free. NOW THAT'S A DEAL! Especially since I wanted to try the products anyways. I don't think the free bag was limited to the EDEN Body Works products, I think they were promoting their natural hair product lines, and the purchase of any 3 (mix and match between lines) would qualify. CHECK IT OUT!

How To Style Natural Hair Without Breaking The Ends: While Straightened

Natural Hair While Heat Straightened

Fun, Fun, Fun with my Blow Dryer, Flat Iron, and eventually straightened out coils. I enjoyed the two weeks, and tried to keep manipulation to a minimal. Here's a Few Tips on Avoiding Breakage While your hair is Straight:

1) Make sure your ends are moisturized properly. While heat straightened, it's not wise to use water moisturizer, so I used Butter Based moisturizer, mixed with oils. Any time I felt I needed to, I would just add some avocado oil to my ends.

2) Minimize combing, even though it's tempting. Try to smoothe with your hands, fingers. I know the hair can't be wrapped without comb/brush, so that's unavoidable. Just keep it moist if you must wrap.

3) Combing/Brushing hair over a light colored surface will enable you to see if any hair ends are breaking. You'll also get to monitor the amount of shed hair. This is a great way to know if you need to amp up your moisturizing! I used my Vanity Table Top. I saw no breakage (Yayyy)!

4) Do styling that doesn't require combing through the ends. Bantu Knots were great! Just grab a section, moisturize, wind up, knot, then go to sleep. When I took them down in the morning, all I had to do was fluff and go! NO DAMAGE.

Moisture and Healthy Ends Show Well on Coily Hair

In the end, I did everything possible to save my ends, as that's where I will ultimately gain my length. And don't forget, that's how I'll keep my coils looking healthy and moisturized for daily wear! I hope to pick up 3 more inches of healthy hair by August 2012, which will bring me close to mid back length. Meanwhile, I'll just keep having fun thinking up sweet Summer Hairstyles for my coily girl wash n go's! See you then ;o)                   ---tia