DIY Ribbon Hair Ties For Natural Hair

Have you ever struggled to find the right hair tie for your high puff or low bun? The new hair tie is too tight. The old hair tie has been stretched out too far. Let's not even try to count how many hair ties your hair has destroyed. The struggle is so real. But I have GENIUS solution for you: Make your own hair tie that is the perfect size and stretchiness for your 'do.

RELATED: How To Get The Perfect High Puff

Ribbon Elastic Hair ties are stupid easy to make; literally effortless. If you can tie a knot---then you can make a boat load of hair ties. Personally, these are my favorite hair ties for banding my wash and go. Banding with these hair ties doesn't cause breakage and prevents those weird indents that I get from regular hair ties.

RELATED: Perfecting Your Wash and Go with Banding
 

Benefits of Ribbon Elastic Hair Ties

• No metal to snag your hair on
• Ceaseless
• Incredibly gentle
• Stupid cheap
• Comfortable
• Always the perfect size
• Customize your color

Here's what you'll need:
5/8" (or larger) Fold Over Elastic
Fabric Scissors
Ruler/ Measuring Tape
Optional: Candle flame/lighter to seal the ends

How To Make Ribbon Elastic Hair Ties

1. Measure your fold over elastic. For medium hair ties, I used 11" of elastic. Large (think for your high puff) I used 20". And for headbands I used 28". 
2. Cut your desired length. Regular scissors will due but fabric scissors are best. Fabric scissors are very sharp which will give your cut a clean edge.
3. Match the ends together with the shiny side up. 
4. Make a knot at the ends then slide the knot closed leaving about 1/2" at the end. 

Optional: You can use the flame from a candle or a lighter to seal the ends of the ribbon elastic to keep it from fraying. In my experience, this step isn't really necessary. Because I use very sharp fabric scissors, the ends of the ribbon rarely frays, even after heavy use.

Viola. You're done.  No more headaches from your headband being too tight and your puff or bun will still be slicked for the 'gawds.

Have your say! Would you use DIY Ribbons Hair ties?

Besitos!
KLP

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Wash and Go FAIL | The #WashDayExperience

Last spring, I attempted my first wash and go. It was pretty terrible. My hair took hours to dry, my curls were stupid frizzy, and by the time that it dried---my hair felt like straw. I tried a couple more times before I gave up and moved on to curlformers.

But the problem is---I LOVE my curl pattern. My curls are tiny and stupid coily and ever so kinky. And when moisturized my curls pop like crazy. Ugh...Do you guys understand how much I just wanna wake up like this? Perfectly moisturized, just the right amount of shrinkage, and curls for ddaaayyyssssss....

So I gotta find a technique + product that will help my curls hold this pattern instead of frizzing up completely. (No shade to frizz---I do love a good fuzzy frizzy high puff every now and again...lol)

So I'm determined to figure get this wash and go situation right for the summer. And how perfect is this week's #WashDayExperience theme: Summer Prep!?!

Here's what I used:

Deep Condition- DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here) + Jessicurl Deep Treatment Conditioner (review here)
Leave-Ins- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Why EVCO is AMAZING here) + Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner (why I love this stuff here) + EccoStyler Extra Virgin Olive Oil Gel (buy it here)

And here's how I did it:

I started my spritzing the ends of my hair with my DIY Moisturizing Mist (tutorial here). Then I slathered my hair in Jessicurl Deep Treatment (review here). My hair was super dry so I sealed in the conditioner with a little Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (here's the kind that I use $) then left it in overnight.

RELATED: Why I Deep Condition Overnight

The next morning, I rinsed the conditioner, t-shirt dried for a couple of minutes then applied little more Extra Virgin Coconut Oil + Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner (why I love this stuff here) as my leave ins.

My Wash and Go Technique #1

I put my hair into 5 sections then secured each with a hair clip. Starting with the back, I spritzed it with water until it was soaking wet then finger detangled until my hair clumped into curls. Then I smoothed a little gel on the roots. Next, I raked a little more gel through all the way until the ends and gently shook out the curls. (aka the rake and shake technique)

The application process took me about 35-40 minutes to do. Then used a diffuser to dry the ends and the concentration nozzle to stretch the roots.

Everything seemed to be going well. Until I realized two things:

FLAKES and MORE FLAKES

That gel cast is NOT a joke.

I also noticed that I stretched my roots a bit too much which made the top of my hair really flat. It was impossible to get a presentable pic of how bad it really was.

So I pulled it up into a high puff and called it a day.

I'm thinking that I'll try a new gel next week, do a clay rinse (to get those curls re-hydrated), and try not to blow-fry my roots again. Do you have any tips on getting your wash and go just right? Dimelo!

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

That One Time They Came For My Edges...

I live unbothered. Low key, happy go lucky, tunnel vision focus on my hubby, kids, and keeping my house from looking like a tornado hit it.

People, places, things---they just don't irk me or my high puff. We sit. We play. We chill.

Until that one time they came for my edges.

So here's the story:

I posted this volume check pic on social media with the caption: "Progress"

Less than 30 seconds later someone wrote:

"I can tell especially the edges"

Hold up bruh...

I had to look at what I posted again...just to make sure that I wasn't tripping. That some trolling computer gremlin hadn't switched up my post with somethang cray cray.

Nope...no gremlins, no glitches, no vampires...no mistake.

That comment was meant for ME...and MY EDGES...

Then I am like...DID HE JUST COME FOR MY EDGES???

Nah...He couldn't have come for my edges...

That before pic doesn't have edges laid by the GAWDS.

Those sideburns won't swooped for days.

There ain't nothing sleek or slick about it..

But honey, I'd rather have thick full frizzy edges than not have any at all.

Yes...THAT was a READ. 

The worse part:

After his rude boi unmerited shady comment...

I got a TON of questions asking how I grew back my edges...

*hangs head*

I politely answered, reiterating that won't nothing wrong with my edges before here's a link to my regimen, be blessed and highly favored blah blah...

But I'm still kinda salty.

When did slayed and laid edges become that IT thing? Do my baby hairs have to be sleek and slick in order to sit at the healthy hair table? Is that what we consider progress? And does that mean that if you don't---folks have the right to come at you for your edges?

Idk y'all...

I'm just not feelin it. And for my laid edge social media quality control brotha...

I don't wanna sit at ya table cuz you mean and rude anyway...

RANT OVER.

Whew...Glad to get that off my chest. 

Now I'm gonna go play in the rainbow glitter and positive pixie dust storm that that unicorns left in the backyard.

What's your take on "laid edges?"

Besitos!
KLP

10 Quick and Easy Updos For Natural Hair

I LIVE and DIE for a quick and easy updo. Especially since I stopped relaxing my hair. I just don't have time for crazy complicated hair styles.

I'm guilty of hitting the snooze button one too many times. I often forget to set my hair the night before. And don't get me started on all of my failed wash and gos. Nonetheless, I refuse to walk out of the house looking a hot mess. So instead of giving you a boring #washdayexperience this week, I decided to share 10 of my favorite super  quick and easy updos: 

1/ SWIRLED CROWN BRAID (tutorial)

The perfect way to elevate a humble dutch braid. The key to this style is gently fluffing the sides of the braid to give it volume and make it look thicker.

2/ KNOTTED UPDO (tutorial)

Not a braid. Not a bun. All protective. Stupid simple. This Knotted Updo is perfect for any length hair. I used a technique called banding to stretch my curls.

RELATED: How to stretch natural (and transitioning) hair without heat! 

3/ TWO STRAND TWIST UPDO (tutorial)

The final chop of my texlaxed ends left my bangs super short which made styles other than a high bun difficult. After a little trial and error, I realized that two strand twisting my bangs first + a few well placed hair pins was all I needed to create a cute "not a boring bun" look. 

4/ FLAT TWIST BUN (tutorial)

I love using curlformers to stretch my hair then pulling the curls up into a protective style. And this Flat twist Bun is the perfect example of that. This style is chic but simple and the longer that you leave it in, the more voluminous it makes your hair look. So if you have hair on the finer side---this style is for you!


RELATED: How to use Curlformers on Natural Hair

5/ FISHTAIL BANANA CLIP (tutorial)

Banana clips are a fun way to put your hair into a quick updo. Then you can pin your ends up to turn the updo into a protective style.

6/ SWIRLED FLAT TWIST BUN (tutorial)

Make one large flat twist then two single twists then BOOM you gotta super cute hairstyle! Again, the length of your hair doesn't matter for this style.

7/ HIGH PUFF (tutorial)

Of course this list wouldn't be complete without my high puff. It's the style that I love to hate. It's the epitome of easy but it makes me soooo lazy with my hair. 

8/ FLUFFY TOP KNOT (tutorial)

As I got deeper in my relaxer stretch turned transition, pulling my hair into a high bun got harder and harder. That is until I worked my hair into this gorgeous fluffy top knot.

9/ HEAD WRAP SCARF BUN (tutorial)

This style has two steps: Bantu knot your bangs then wrap your hair in your favorite printed scarf. Easy peasy!

10/ CURLY UPSWEEP (tutorial)

Necessity is the mother of invention. All I had was a failed twist out, 5 minutes, and a stretched out hair tie; and it was all I needed to create this style. I pulled my hair into a high puff leaving down a large section to give myself a curly bang.

What's your favorite updo? Link it up below!

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

How To Get The Perfect High Puff on Natural Hair

In honor of lazy day hair style week, I'm sharing with you guys my laziest boringest style ever:

The high puff.

Yes, yes, I know that I swore off my high puffs in my Worse of 2015 list. But...

I just can't quit it.

This must be what Cookie Monster feels like when he goes on a diet...

The good news is that I figured out a way to rock my worse/best style without damaging my hair (so far).

But first, I had to promise myself was to never NEVER...

Like ever...

Go more than a day without re-moisturizing my curls.

I'm just so prone to laziness...

Anywhos---here are my secrets to the perfect high puff:

1. Start with stretched hair- My hair was previously stretched using curlformers.
2. Moisturize- I lightly mist my hair with my DIY Hair Moisturizer and applied my favorite leave-in conditioner.
3. Seal with a oil or butter- Because I know that my ends dry out fast, I liberally added this hair butter to my ends.The butter also defines my ends so that they don't get tooo frizzy.
4. Lay your edges- I'm not much of an edge control girl, but when I wear a puff, I like my edges neat and laid. Today I used a little Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste.
5. Gentle metal free extra wide hair tie- my secret to a giant high puff is to center it at the very top of my head with an extra wide hair tie. The density of my hair keeps the hair tie in place without it being too tight. This is my current fave hair tie.

Viola. My stupid easy uber lazy high puff!

What's your lazy day style? Share the dets in the linkup collection below!

An InLinkz Link-up

[Hairstyle] Turban + Curly Puff | The #WashDayExperience

Remember that one time that I told y'all that I wasn't going to wear my hair in a curly puff that often?

Hmm...

Well...

I lied. Remind me never to say that mess again... You see---the puff is just insanely easy. So easy that I'm struggling NOT to do it daily. Call me lazy. I am. Call me bland and boring. I am. It is what it is.

Because I do this style sooooo much, I've been jazzing it up with jeweled clips, headbands, flowers---almost anything so that I actually look like I'm trying. Today, I went with a turban.


Here's what I used to wash my hair:

Extreme Deep Condition- Jessicurl Deep Treatment + Almond Oil
Leave Ins- Almond Oil + Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter + Jessicurl Curl Confident Coils Styling Solution

And here's how I did it:

First, I started by finger detangling in sections with the aid of Jessicurl Deep Treatment . I love love love deep conditioning on dry hair. Especially with Jessicurl's Deep Treatment. My curls absorb this stuff almost instantly and (I know that I say this EVERY week but...) I swear it revitalizes my hair! Per the usual, I sealed all that moisturizing goodness with a little Almond Oil, covered with a plastic cap, and left it overnight.

I know that there are tons of people who hate deep conditioning overnight---and they have legit reasons why they do. I get it. But look---my hair LOVES IT. My texlaxed hair loved it. My transitioning hair loved it. My natural hair LOVES IT MORE. So my suggestion to you is---don't knock it until you try it!

*steps off soap box*

Umm...back to my #washdayexperience... In the morning, I rinsed my my hair then while I was in the shower, I applied a little almond oil, Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner, a dab of DIY Hair Butter to seal and some Jessicurl Confident Coils Styling Potion. The styling potion is a {sorta} new addition to the #washdayexperience. I really want a curl defining product for my wash and go puffs that's not a gel but that also elongates my curls. (Girl...don't get me started on the 5 million reasons why I'm not about that gel-life) This is the second time that I've used Jessicurl Confident Coils and I realllllly like it. My hair stays crazy moisturized for days and my curls be POPPIN'!

I used a stretched to hair tie to pull my hair into this giant puff then accessorized with my fave turban. Like I said before, call me lazy. I am. Call me bland and boring. I am. It is what it is. But with the 10000% humidity and temperatures that top 100 almost daily here at the beach---I'm just trying not to spontateously combust and look cute. Haha!

How was your #washdayexperience?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

[Tutorial] Bentonite Clay Mask + Meet My High Puff | #WashDayExperience

 

It's no secret that I prefer to wear my hair stretched. But on the days when I really need to wash my hair but don't have the time (or energy) to do much to it afterwards, I co-wash and then rock a high puff.

High puffs were difficult for me before my mini chop because I still had a few inches of texlaxd hair on my ends. After my mini chop---I still struggled with the high puff because my curl pattern is much looser in the front than the back. The front of my puff looked really frizzy while the back would be curly. Considering how great my first experiment with Bentonite Clay was at defining my curl pattern, I tried it again. And I took pictures this time!

Here's how my #washdayexperience went:

Pre-Shampoo: Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Conditioner
Clay Mask: Aztec Healing Bentonite Clay (+ Apple Cider Vinegar & Aloe Vera Juice)
Leave ins: Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner + DIY Hair Butter + Jessicurl Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion

I started by applying Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Conditioner to my dry (unwashed) hair and detangling. Although I hadn't detangled in 3 days and my perm rod curls had completely frizzed out, I actually didn't have any knots plus my hair felt moisturized. I love how defined my hair looks with the conditioner weighing the curls down.

I let the conditioner sit for about 20 minutes before hopping into the shower. Here's what my hair looks like once the conditioner has been rinsed. As my hair starts to dry--especially without product, I loose the definition.

And then my puff looks pretty frizzy instead of curly.

Next, I applied the bentonite clay mask in small sections to my lightly t-shirt dried hair. To make the mask, I mix 4oz of clay with 1oz of apple cider vinegar and 3oz of aloe vera juice. I add all of the ingredients to a medium tip applicator bottle and shake it like a Polaroid picture. *plays Hey-ya chorus in her head* #dontjudgeme #ibetyoustarteddancingtoo Ha-ha! I covered with a plastic cap and let it sit for about 20 minutes. I'm not sure if I'll experiment with additional ingredients in the future because I'm really digging the results that I get from this mix.

I rinsed the mask in the shower then applied Jessicurl Too Shea Conditioner, then my DIY Hair Butter and lastly a newbie Jessicurl Confident Coils to soaking wet hair.

I can definitely tell the difference in my conditioner only puff versus the bentonite clay puff. The kinks and curls are more defined plus my hair was softer. I'm totally penciling in a weekly bentonite clay mask in my regimen! Whilst, I'm still playing with my high puff leave ins, I have to say that I love the way that this cocktail keeps my hair moisturized for several days without me having to do anything else.

What new masks, treatments, or leave ins are you trying this spring?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up