The Magic of Braids
Achieving beautiful waves without heat is surprisingly simple with the art of braiding. Begin by ensuring your hair is clean and allowed to air dry until
it’s just slightly damp. Next, part your hair into manageable sections. Braid each section firmly, creating tight plaits that will encourage wave formation. For best results, leave these braids in overnight or for a minimum of six hours before carefully unraveling them. The outcome will be a head full of soft, flowing waves and curls that possess a lovely texture and can last throughout the day, all thanks to this traditional and protective styling method.
Defining Curls with Twist-Outs
The twist-out is a renowned technique for defining the natural curl pattern in African hair. Start this process with freshly washed and still damp hair. Apply a hydrating leave-in conditioner or a specialized curl cream, distributing it evenly from the roots to the tips of your strands. Now, divide your hair into smaller, manageable sections. Take each section and twist it tightly, ensuring the twist goes all the way from the scalp down to the ends. Patience is key here; allow these twists to dry completely, which might take several hours or even overnight. Once fully dry, gently untwist each section to reveal beautifully sculpted and defined curls.
Volume with Bantu Knots
For hairstyles that offer both texture and impressive volume, Bantu knots are an excellent choice for African hair. Begin with damp hair, and section it into small, uniform parts. For each section, twist the hair tightly, much like you would for a twist-out, but then proceed to wrap this twisted section around itself until it forms a small knot close to the scalp. You can use bobby pins to secure these knots firmly if they tend to loosen. Allow the knots to air dry thoroughly. Once they are completely dry, carefully unravel them to unveil bouncy, voluminous curls that add dimension to your hair.
Springy Curls: Flexi Rods
Flexi rods are incredibly effective tools for enhancing natural curls without exposing your hair to damaging heat. This method works best on strands that are slightly damp. Take a small section of hair and begin wrapping it around a flexi rod, starting from the tip and coiling upwards towards the root. Ensure you wrap the hair tightly to achieve firm coils as it dries. It's advisable to leave the flexi rods in for several hours or overnight to allow the hair to set completely. When you gently remove the rods, you'll be greeted with lively, springy curls that have a fantastic bounce and shape.
Elongating Coils: Hair Banding
The hair banding method is a fantastic way to achieve a stretched-out coil look while simultaneously imparting a curled effect to your natural hair. Start with clean, slightly damp hair. The technique involves creating multiple ponytails along your head, securing each one with a rubber band at intervals down the length of the ponytail. Continue this process across the entire head, ensuring each section is banded. Leave these banded sections in place overnight. The following morning, carefully remove all the rubber bands to reveal elongated waves and looser coils that have a beautifully stretched appearance.
