I can NOT believe how much the African Threading process stretched out MG2's really damp, highly shrunken hair. In fact, it's still damp in the above picture, but the tension of the thread is keeping her hair stretched out. I wasn't even looking for this, but I'll take it!
I'm told by GirlsLoveYourCurls that Africans use this method to stretch out their hair without heat. I'm sold! I'll post pictures a couple of weeks from now when I take this style down so you can see how stretched her hair is loose.
Follow me step by step as I show you what I did with this combo style:
Step 1: Detangle and moisturize. I used plain water to dampen the hair to help me coax out the snarls first with my fingers followed by my Tangle Teezer brush. I locked in the moisture using my shea butter mix.
Step 2: Part the hair from ear to ear and clip away the top half.
Step 3: Make your first vertical part to begin cornrowing down. Cornrow down the length of the row you've created. When you get to the end of your row and the braid moves off the scalp, stop.
I chose to prepare the thread and lay it over my chair in advance so I could move through the process more quickly. I cut thread two to three times the length of the hair I intended to wrap.
Step 4: Grab your prepared thread and start wrapping from the base of your cornrow. You can watch a video demonstration here.
Step 5: Tie off the ends with a single knot. Cut off the excess thread.
Step 6: Repeat until you've completed the entire head.
So pretty and so easy!
Let me know if you try this--I'd love to see your attempts!
You're on a roll. And look at that beautiful head of hair!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo far HMG says she doesn't want the threading but I'm working on helping her to see things my way. I'm looking ahead to take down--it's going to be so much quicker than unraveling a braid. Also I expect the detangling to be easier too because the hair is held straight as opposed to wound together. I know I can modify this to work in a style a tween can appreciate.
ReplyDeleteThat's really, really pretty. What kind of thread did you use?
ReplyDeleteKatie, it's weave thread. The same stuff people use to sew their weaves. I got it from an Asian beauty supply store for a dollar.
ReplyDeleteI love how this looks and want to try it on my daughter. Her hair is nowhere near as long as your daughter's but I think it would be so pretty. My only worry (and I have never felt weave thread so this may be silly) but would the thread saw away at the hair over time? I watched the girls love your curls video and loved the styles she was able to create.
ReplyDeleteThat is SUCH a cute style. Maybe flat twists at the top would be nice so that it could match the pattern of the African threading?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try it on my own hair as an alternative to box braids...
Loved the idea - have to try this on my girls as well, thanks!
ReplyDelete@Lee That's interesting. Looking at GLYC's original video and the length of her daughter's hair, I'll say it probably won't saw at the girl's hair. She does it a lot and her girls have really long hair. I will keep my eye out for that though--thanks for pointing that out.
ReplyDelete@Nicki You're right about the flat twists. I plan to entice HMG with that version. Thanks for reminding me. So far she's saying the threading is too young for her. I'd try it on myself if I wasn't trying to leave my young locs alone as they mature. I have ideas for what I could do with this even with locs.
@ Salanimi--When you try it please post pictures on the Facebook!
ReplyDeletei love this one....wow..gosh..u r now a prof..and it looks so pretty on her!
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while sinve I've been by but this post caught my eye and I am loving this idea! I had MIB's hair in almost microbraids w/beads and i am STILL trying to take her hair down. I have been trying to get an alternative protective style for her hair and I think this might be the one. Hell I wishI knew about this before I loc'ed lol.
Thanks and I can't wait to get home to watch the video (it's blocked at work) to see how you do it. I'll keep you posted!
KMN
Hi Mocha Mom!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all these details and the follow up posts as well. I tried African Hair Threading for the first time yesterday and your wealth of info was super helpful. You can see my attempt at:
http://hair-raisingadventures.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-caribana-jump-up-hair.html
I used beads at the ends and can already see how sidewinders would work better (I just don't have any....yet). Online shopping, here I come!!
Good day! It was so nice to visit this personal blog and to read this post. In addition to that I want to ask you a question that is extremely curious for me. What is your opinion about guest blogging?
ReplyDeleteI think guest blogging is fantastic--especially if you can find someone with a similar mindset. I'm super busy and work hard to find moments to come here an post and make videos because I'm trying to live what I preach. If i had a good guest blogger, I could keep up with adding new content better.
ReplyDeletethanks for nice sharing
ReplyDelete