How to Stretch Natural, Transitioning and TexlaxedHair Without Heat

Faux Banding

I'm 4 months (eek!) into this stretch and I don't see it ending before the ball drops on 2014. I've been using banding for about a month to stretch my stretch. (Say that 10 times fast. Ha-ha!) Here's a breakdown on how I get my big fluffy "straightened" air dried hair.

1. Start with damp hair: If I've just finished washing, I wait until it's anywhere from 75-90% dry before trying to do anything to it. Why? Wet dangling is the devil--to me. If you prefer to detangle while soaking wet--use caution. Wet chemically treated hair is weaker when wet and can break even with lower force.

2. Everything in sections: My hair laughs at me when I try to comb through it all at once. The smaller the sections, the more "straightened" your hair will be. I usually end up with 12 sections. 

3. Cocktail: Detangler + Creamy Moisturizer + Oil/Butter. Use whatever your hair likes. Today, I'm crushing on this combo: Aloe Tea Spray + Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner + my kitchenista Tangerine Vanilla Whipped Hair Butter. Whether you LOC or LCO or ABCD---it really doesn't matter. As long as you've equipped yourself with products that will detangle your super curly roots, that don't leave an icky residue, and that play well together you'll be fine. Gently finger detangle removing your shed hairs working from the ends up then comb through. If you need a good wide tooth comb try my fave-- Magic Star Jumbo Rake

4. How to: Everyone and their mama has a different---yet totally the same---hair banding technique. Whoissugar is my all time fave YouTube "personality" and her technique is on point. If you need a few laughs--just listen to her video without watching it. *Hilarious honey*

 
Real Banding- Take your detangled, moisturized, and sealed section then secure a hair band at the base of your hair. Grab another hair band and secure it about an inch or so below the first continue adding bands until you reach the end of your hair. Repeat on each section until complete. Let dry for a few hours to overnight.

"Faux" Banding on Texlaxed Hair

My "Faux" Banding- Instead of using a hair tie (who can find that many hair ties anyway?!?), I secure the detangled section with two Colortrak Safari Croc Clips on each side at the base of my hair. I usually add another set on each side about 2 inches down and then just one clip to tuck my ends under. Once I finish detangling the next section, I gently add it to the previous banded section and repeat until complete. Total amount of clips: 5. My hair dries in about an hour or two.  

5. Troubleshooting: I started "Faux Banding" before I even knew what real banding was as a way to stretch my roots because shrinkage ain't no joke! I'm BSL in the shower then neck length within an hour if I let my hair dry without assistance. I noticed that if I secured the clips with a little tension at the base of my hair I could get voluminous fluffy air dried hair, keep tangles at bay, and stretch my hair. But I had a few epic fails in the process:

• Poor product selection- I can not stress this point enough. Use what works for your hair. While choosing your products think about your desired results and what you hair needs at the moment. Notice some breakage? Spritz a little Chi Keratin Mist in with your detangler. Did your hair feel too heavy or coated in the end? Ease up on the amount of product that you use in each section. Were your ends not smooth enough? Roll them like you would do a pin curl next time.
• Fuzzy Roots- When you're done, slap some Aloe vera gel on those edges and get your silk scarf to lay it all down. This should smooth down your edges and take a little volume out of the crown of your head.
• Used sucky clips- So you tried to use those metal prong clips and poked yourself. Or better yet they were sliding all over the place and didn't provide enough tension. Yep. That's why I use croc clips. No slip. No tangles. And super cute. Be careful. Friends, cousins, and children will try to steal them. Ha-ha.

If banding doesn't work the first time, know that you're totally not alone. One of those metal clips got lost in my roots once. I found it--2 days later. Smh. But when you're rocking that giant doughy bun or using your stretched hair as a base for bantu knots---You'll be happy that you gave it another try. 

Besitos!
KLP

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Mini Wash

One of my goals for 2013 was not to stretch beyond 12-16 weeks. Yet, here I am, 16 weeks post with no time, energy or desire to relax. (Does anyone else get tired just thinking about what a chore relaxer day or is it just me?) My hair has been ridiculously manageable, my shedding has decreased, and I feel like I'm keeping breakage at bay. My hair loved Jessicurl Deep Treatment so much last week, that I felt a protein wash was in order this week to keep my line of demarcation/ends resilient and strong.

1. Detangled- with my fingers.
2. Extreme deep condition- with JBCO and Philip Kingsley Flaky Itchy Scalp Toner on my scalp, Jessicurl Deep Treatment on my unprocessed hair and then a 3-1 ratio of Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner: Roux Porosity Control Conditioner on the length of my hair. Then I covered with a plastic cap and relaxed under my heat cap for about 2 hours. 
3. (Aloe) Green Tea Rinse- After rinsing the conditioner, I applied 4oz of steeped green tea + 4oz of Aloe Vera Juice, using a narrow tip applicator to my strands. I let it sit for a few minutes then rinsed. 
4. Smoothing Treatment- with a large dollop of Matrix Biolage Detangling Solution.
5. Air Dried- 90% with silk scarf.
6. Leave-Ins- Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner and my kitchenista Tangerine Vanilla Whipped Hair Butter.

Results:

What a giant fluffy bun like this? Air dry!

I lost about 5 strands pre-wash, none during the wash, and a pea sized amount during post-wash detangling. Who's a happy chica?!? >>>This chica!<<< I only used the Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Conditioner mix on the processed section of my hair because it's the most susceptible to breakage and the more porous. The bottle is finally finished, so I guess that I owe you guys a review. I'm really digging this idea of layering the strength of your protein conditioner as a way to reinforce weak ends. I probably won't know if it's helping until I straighten again. But what I do know is that so far, it's not hurting. 

I have a 5k on Saturday, so my hair has another simple but sassy week ahead. A parade of fluffy buns are in order. Starting with this giant doughy air drying one. Look Ma! No mesh donut for me! 

Mil Besitos!
KLP

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