Mallorie is teaching us that protective styling isn’t just for curlies with long locks! Check out how she maneuvers her TWA (teeny weeny Afro) into a beautiful updo:
Hi Nikki,
Every now and then I notice that you offer tips for TWA styling. Lately, I have gotten tired of the wash ‘n gos, and I can’t seem to preserve a twist out for the life of me… probably because my hair is not long enough to pineapple 😉 Since the weather is getting colder, and my hair is growing a bit, I have been on a protective styling quest. I wanted to share this protective style that I developed for TWAs, inspired by NaturallyLeslie’s twisted updo.
I wash, deep condition, detangle, and twist on a Sunday. This style lasts the whole week. I take the twists out on Friday night or Saturday, and wear a cute crinkled look until Sunday evening rolls around. This is my 5th cycle of doing this, and I have been getting so many compliments. People can’t believe that I did it myself. To twist, I use Cantu Shea Leave-In and then dip my finger in Carol’s Daughter Loc Butter, Raw Unrefined Shea Butter, or Aloe Vera Gel (I have tried each one on different occasions and they all work equally great). I make small to medium twists all over my head, and then strategically pin them back with bobby pins to the desired look… basically until they are all up and accounted for. By day 3, I like to add headbands like the Goody Stay-Put athletic bands, or even fun regular handbands with feathers or jewels.
I encourage all of my fellow TWAs to try this… who says that we can’t play around with protective styling this fall too?!
1st pic–shows the length of my hair untwisted
2nd pic–is shrunken and curly
3rd, 4th and 5th–pics of the twist style
6th pic–my day 6 and 7 twist-out look
Learn how to submit your TWA Styles, and other CurlyNikki spotlights, HERE.
gorgeous hun, hopefully my TWA is long enough for this protective styling once winter rolls around
I'm sooo late! I needed this!
Omg, my hair is about the same length your's is in these pics. I have recently twisted my hair all over like yours, but never thought about pinning it back. Very cute, I will give this a try.
You look great in all of the photos, but the twisted up-do is so elegant! 🙂
YOUR HAIR IS BEAUTIFUL!
I WILL BE TRYING THIS COME WINTER 2010
How do you keep you hair moisturized? The other problem I have is the shrinkage, what can I do to stop the shrinkage or control it?
Very beautiful!
ooohhh I read Mallorie's annoymous about bobby pinning her twists into the updo. Thank you for sharing!!! This style is not only great for a corporate environment…I feel that it would be great as a style to wear as a trainer at a gym! I can't wait to test it out. 🙂
I love the beach hair! I have come to love rocking my hair similar to that style. I adooooore the side and rear pic of picture #4 and 5…being a newbie…i'm still working on a style that is right for me. Just to make sure……Are those two strand twists tied packed and braided in the rear??
hello,
maybe i am slow, but can she do a tutorial of how she pin her twists into this style??? it would be very helpful!! thanks!!!
Very, very cute styles!!!
Mallorie,I am sending you the biggest cyber hug ever! It's getting a bit too cold for my wash n go up here in CT and this hairstyle is an awesome replacement. I just finished my twist and I love them. I'm excited that it'll be even lower maintenance than my wash-n-go during the week. Hopefully they last the whole week since I work out daily and sweat a lot. Thanks for the tip. I love the CN community!
These are beautiful! She is also a very pretty lady. I'd just like to warn everyone about the headbands. PLEASE make sure that they aren't too tight and have smooth material at the bottom where it touches your hair. I've been doing similar styles and discovered that the headbands have been rubbing and causing my hair to break off. I now have short hairs all around my head in a circle. AWFUL. Please please be careful.
So pretty! I'm going to try this!
So very cute. Thank u 4 sharing.
I don't have a TWA but that is a GREAT style for that 'awkward' length. Love it!
Great look! I will definitely try this one!
such good looks!
that looks so good, im def gonna try that when my twa isnt sooooooooooo tiny
Thanks for the tips! Beautiful!
I can't wait to try this! Her hair looks so lovely
I love this hair style. My hair is about the same length and I have been trying to figure out what to do with my hair. Thanks for showing us girlies w/ TWAs something new.
Love the twist hair style…I agree with anonymous who said its a perfect corporate hairstyle.
she is beautiful. so is her hair…love it!
thanks so much!!!
im tired of the wash n gos also and needed something new!
thank you mallorie very nice i am also going to try this .
Thanks for posting this Nikki, and thanks for your comments. To anonymous, this is great corporate hair. I work in a corporate setting, and that is where I received the most compliments. @ Tiffany, I have not noticed any problems with the bobby pins pulling my hair. I only use good bobby pins that still have the bulb in tact on the ends. Also, the pins are not placed in there with a lot of pressure. I gather several twists and twist them into themselves to make the job of the pins much easier and so I don't have to do as much. I also don't place the bobby pin directly on the ends of my hair, more so about half an inch to an inch up the twist. The only problem that I have is with the pins sticking into my scalp if I don't place them well. However, that can be easily rectified by repositioning the bobby pin till I don't feel the feeling anymore.
Mallorie
This is great- I was lookig for a way to protect my hair during the upcoming winter months. My question is – do you have problems with the bobby pins pulling your hair? If so how do you stop the pulling?
Thanks
I totally do this too!!! Im in my 20th..ish cycle. My hair has grown so much with this styling technique!
I love this! It's perfect corporate hair. Thanks so much for sharing.
Very cute! My hair is longer than a TWA but I still plan to try this. Thanks for the tips. ~KF519
cute gal! thanks for the tip:)
Super cute styles!! I like!