Ladies,
I received the question below and need your help in providing an answer. I’m not a TWA styling guru, but I know that many of you are! So, help a sista out!!
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Hey Nikki-
I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and I look forward to you sharing your thoughts (as well as others) on how to maintain “curly styles.”
I have been reading a lot about protective styles and my hair is currently in TWA due to a recent cut because of damage. What protective styles can us TWA’s wear? I am constantly wearing my hair in twist outs but recently read that twist out are not a ‘protetcitve styling method.’
What are your thoughts?
BgRs
I consider the TWA to be a protective style in and of itself. I use products that promote my curl and reduce frizz. The shrinkage also helps me out a lot. I couldn't care less who thinks my hair is shorter than it really is. My curls are so tight that the ends are nowhere in sight for the most part.
I consider the TWA to be a protective style in and of itself. I use products that promote my curl and reduce frizz. The shrinkage also helps me out a lot. I couldn't care less who thinks my hair is shorter than it really is. My curls are so tight that the ends are nowhere in sight for the most part.
I bc'd again after heat damage. I soak my hair daily in the shower, add almond oil, a small amount of Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie, and ECO Moroccan Oil Styling gel. I use a Denman brush and brush my hair smooth and then use my fingertips in circles throughout my hair. It give me the most amazing curls! I do this daily, in between co-washes. dtowndeidre
hey i recently BC'd my hair on sept 16 so my hair is not that long i dont know what to do with it.. normally i just wash and go.. but other than that what types of types to put it in? email at brycetanya@gmail.com
if any of you have any suggestions on what to do with my hail.
thanks and god bless
Thanks for all the feedback ladies!!
I’ve really enjoyed reading all of your helpful hints.
PeAcE
Okey dokey, so I guess I should’ve checked that link before submitting it. I just went to it and fotki has blocked her account.
I would suggest checking out her fotki. She has pages and pages of styles for TWA’s. http://public.fotki.com/poochie247/p…an-hair-suite/
I’m greatful for this post, as I am newly natural and fear that I will have the same problem. I don’t want to become a PJ, but what is a girl to do!??
http://curlylikeme.blogspot.com/
twist outs not being a protective style is merely a matter of opinion , but not fact ;). my hair has managed pretty well from twist outs. due to my having fine strands of hair, wearing my hair smaller twists for a long period of time =a horrible ass detangling session w/ a ton of hair loss ( had small/ medium sized twists in for a week, about 2 weeks ago & it sucked!!!!) & comb coils/single strand twists r not an option, because my hair strands like to hug… a lot. every night I moisturize,sel my ends, put in a few fat twists with some old school sponge rollers on the ends. take 'em down in the morning , finger fluff & Im out.
@ anonymous–TWA= Teeny Weeny Afro 🙂
Thanks for this blog topic! The headband (everyday) look was starting to wear on me, so I’ve got my hair in kinky twists now to give my hair a break from my hands always being in it lol. (as well as from the headband. lol.)
I BCed in February, so it was still too cold to wash and go. I would co-wash at night, apply leave-in conditioner, then twist my hair in largish twists with a good moisturizer (Qhemet biologics burdock root butter cream was my favorite), then seal the ends with coconut oil or some type of butter. In the morning I’d just separate the twists, fluff and go. I did the twist to prevent my hair from getting that matted look while i slept, because I couldn’t figure out how to get second day hair no matter what I did and I didn’t want to have to wet my hair in the morning before heading out into the cold.
This routine kept my hair moisturized and healthy. I didn’t use headbands a lot, which can lead to damage over time if you wear them too tight, so my hair wasn’t getting a lot of manipulation from accessories. I made sure that I always twisted and untwisted gently, so that my hair wasn’t being weakened by the manipulation.
What is a TWA?
Being a TWA’er myself- I do wash-n goes sometimes I add flowers to my hadbands. I also suggest that you visit fotki.com – Do a search for natural hair. It will show you all kinds of hairstyles and types.
I am gald that Nikki did this blog- all this time i thought she didn’t like us TWA’s just joking!(smile)
i became too obsessed with twisting my hair so i put in 2-strand twists extensions to give my hair (and myself a break). my hairline is thanking me. 🙂
tell her to check out http://blackgirllonghair.blogspot.com
they have some really great TWA styles!
large comb coils pulled apart looks similar to a straw set or you can do tiny comb coils and leave them be. practice makes perfect b/c when i used to do this on my longer hair i would tangle my hair in the comb! you have to coil in a downward manner with a rattail comb to coil your hair. you can also do this with your hand but i don’t know how to get the roots tight w/ that method. i guess a metal clip? as long as you co-wash 1-2 a week and moisturize in b/w you should be ok until it gets a bit longer. butters and oils don’t moisturize..they just seal..moisturize w/ water and conditioner and then seal.
here’s another concern: i work out quite a bit and sweat a lot. do you all think i HAVE to co-wash afterwards b/c of the salty perspiration..and sometimes my scalp is tingly..i wonder if that’s from yesterday’s sweat.
I have about 7 inches of hair but it shrinks to a 2-3 inch TWA. I do wash n gos 1-2 times a week, double strand twist, and single strand twist. My twist sets last a week. During the winter months I do hot oil treatments using coconut oil. I sleep with a satin bonnet and avoid over manipulating my hair. It is tempting to play in your curls but you don’t want to cause tangles or breakage. I do not use gel, petroleum or mineral oil in my hair.
Styling products include conditioner, coconut oil, shea butter, and aloe vera.
I’ve only had 1 trim in the last year and my hair seems to be growing fine. I don’t have any split ends.
I just did my BC so I have a TWA. I’ve just been doing wash-and-gos, and some days wearing a headband or hairband to pull it back. I co-wash everyday and spritz my hair in the evening. I haven’t been DCing though, so I’m going to reincorporate that into my regimen.
I would really recommend the conditioner only (curly primer ) method to do your coilies if you can! I love comb coils, but dont like gel or they way they can look too scalpy at first. I like them when they have swelled and filled out a bit. Recently I’ve been doing the curly primer and just finger twirling my coils recommended for shorter hair. It turns out GREAT- it looks like comb coils but it’s faster and the results are softer and thicker looking. NO GEL. It lasts all week if I do a few mini pineapples and cover lightly with a silk scarf. This will be my go to low manipulation style as my hair grows out.
WHAT ARE COMB COILS? i have TWA too, and i only do wash and gos. my only 2 attempts at a twist-out were lukewarm. im dying for something new!
I normally wear my twa in comb coils. I use a minimal amount of clear gel to form the coils and then thru the 2nd and 3rd day I moisturize with coconut oil. I tie my hair up with and silk scarf at night, when I wake up they are normally a little smooshed, so I put the coconut oil on my hands and gently pull them out a little. I’ve seen much growth in this one month since I BCed and I consider this a protective style. On occassion I do two strands, but they take longer and my arms get tired so I don’t like to do them.
HEY! I’m a twa girl too!i mostly where my hair out, but i where it in chunky fros so it still is sorta seperated so the the end are clumped together and are protected!
What I do with my braids and twist wen i DO wear them out is coil the end on themselves and coat with castor oil OR shea butter.
Hope that made sense!! Good Luck Finding a style that works!!
I’m with Claudia. I didn’t do much “protecting” until my hair was longer. Growth takes awhile but if your body’s healthy, it WILL happen. Just be careful of too much manipulation…if you twist and tug your hair too often it will break.
Comb coils are another option, if you are judicious about using healthier gel options (nay no to brown gel or Let’s Jam…too drying for most hair).
Hey ladies!!
Thanks for your input. Lately, all I have been doing is putting it a puff and rocking a headband (come to think of it, thats all I do LOL!!) but my hair became so dry over the winter months and my hair began to shed and split ends were all over my head. So I had to cut it. I think my my problem was not keeping my ends moisturized. I’ve been doing a lot better with keeping my hair moisturized but was worried about doing to much manipulation.
I’ve been doing two strand twist and pin curling the twist every 2 to 3 days to keep the “little knots” at bay but I was worried I might by doing too much manipulation to my hair.
But like Claudia said, since it’s not down to my shoulders I shouldn’t worried about it. Just as long as I keep it moisturized is key.
As a twa wearer myself Ive exclusively been doing wash n gos. Sometimes when I want to give my hair or myself a break I put it in a puff or pull it back with a headband. The only protective styles I know of are braids or if your hair is long enough to smooth back with gel, you could smooth it all back and wear a fake pony.hth I would also recommend youtube, there are alot of women on there with different styling ideas for twa’s. Goodluck!
Hey girl, I feel you 🙂 I'm in the TWA stage too.
To be honest, I don't use any protective styling, since my ends don't reach my shoulders. They don't touch anything, so there is no friction. I do keep them very moisturized, though!
I carry my Juices&berries everywhere and spritz my hair with it a couple of times a day. This keeps my curls moist all day. I tie my hair in a silk scarf at night after moisturizing.
Since it's so short, I simply cowash several times a week, about every other day I think. I just do a wash and go, I cowash, rinse, add my leave in, seal and I'm out the door.