Naturals -- How do you stretch and elongate your hair?

[gimbap]

Lately I've been using a blow dryer on warm (sometimes hot ) to stretch out my hair. I don't want to do this anymore because I'm afraid of heat damage. But my shrinkage is a BEAST. Plus I deal with single strand knots. How can I stretch my hair without heat?

 

[gimbap]

 

[coolsista-paris]

what i do and it works : in the evening (hairstyle to sleep) i spray my hair with my mixture (water, glycerin ,sweet almond oil or anyoil of your choice) depending on your length do flat braids( cornrows). Now i can do 4 big ones ont my hair. i spray quite a lot then braid (don't braid tight till the end to avoid those tiny knots when trying to undo) put a little of castor oil on the ends. the next morning undo your braids you'll see. i should try and take a pic some day. (my phone is broken for the moment no camera).

forgot to mention: im a 4b type (i guess)

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

Two strand twists

Air drying in 10 or more tight medium sized braids for a braid-out

occasional presses

 

[BlaqBella]

subscribing.........

 

[glamazon386]

I usually plait it while it's wet and let it dry overnight. Then in the morning take each braid loose and brush it out. Then I proceed to style it while it's stretched. I usually do my twist outs this way.

 

[Nonie]

By plaiting it. That stretches it best for me as seen here.

 

[Fhrizzball]

Plaiting stretches it more for me than twists does. Also washing in sections ensures that it doesn't shrink too terrible in the process of washing.

 

[RubyWoo]

I usually plait it while it's wet and let it dry overnight. Then in the morning take each braid loose and brush it out. Then I proceed to style it while it's stretched. I usually do my twist outs this way.

This is what I do.

 

[beans4reezy]

Thanks for the thread OP. A month ago, I washed and conditioned my hair, then air dried and put it in bantu knots for the night, thinking this would keep my hair stretched. It didn't and I ended up getting terrible tangles...I will stick to braids when I need to keep my hair stretched for a couple of days.

 

[MsMillionaire]

I love your hair on this picture.

I usually plait it while it's wet and let it dry overnight. Then in the morning take each braid loose and brush it out. Then I proceed to style it while it's stretched. I usually do my twist outs this way.

 

[HeavenlySkies]

Ok and if you dont know how to braid?

 

[mscocoface]

I twist a lot and at night I will plait them in medium to large braids or one french braid in the back.

Wake up in the morning take it or them down and the twists are elongated. I was a very frustrated natural until I figured this out. I have some severe shrinkage and I mean seeeeveeeeeerrreeeee!

 

[Rei]

plait your hair at night. As each day goes past, it will elongate further Right after I wash, I apply leave in, seal, then plait it up. In the morning its elongated enough to go into a bun.

 

[MsLizziA]

subbing.......

 

[yaya24]

Blow dry 1x a month (before cornrows)

 

[Fhrizzball]

Ok and if you dont know how to braid?

here's a youtube link that shows a simple plait on a mannequin. I suppose just searching braiding or plaiting would turn up more results.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2hLXQyxE0

For me it's just simply laying the outermost strand over whichever is the middle strand you alternate using the outer strands each time. I'm left handed it would be different if you were a righty I suppose. Just practice on your hair or yarn or whatnot until you get it right. It doesn't have to be perfect just good enough to stretch the hair.

 

[MizzBrit]

like that..every night and after washes(when my hair is out)

 

[glamazon386]

I love your hair on this picture.

Thanks

 

[naturalmanenyc]

Plaits on wet/damp hair works best for me. I also have tried Teri's Curly Primer method. I found that the coating of conditioner stretches out my hair for a few days.

http://public.fotki.com/RegsWife/curly-primer-method/

 

[supermodelsonya]

I am lightly texlaxed so I'm keeping my eyes on this thread...

 

[Filmatic]

I band but now that my hair is long enough I am trying single plaits.

 

[cutenss]

A banded ponytail like this:

This is my bony pony. I tie a satin scarf at night to protect and for smooth edges. Please excuse my wide back

 

[Vonnieluvs08]

I wear my hair in twists 75-85% of the time. This week I did 3 strand twists and then wore a twist out today. I wear my twists in different styles. I'm going back to dry twists since it elongates my hair so that i can wear more styles since my hair is longer now. I'm trying to make APL by the summers end so PS is my friend until then.

 

[She-Ra]

* Multiple braids while damp then crown braid them and leave to let dry.
* French braid multiple plaits.
* Nightly dry rebraiding.
* Quick: After DC, Smooth hair into ponytail and tight braid.
* Roller sets.
* Slightly damp tight braiding with silk cloth strips(Smooths a little but takes too long to dry).

 

[kmn1980]

Well, I never let my hair shrink up completely. Every 7-10 days, I take down my twists, wash/co-wash and then re-twist while wet.

 

[HollyGolightly]

I do flat twist or braid outs. My hair stretches out each time I braid it up for the night (without washing it). I have to re-wash it after a week or else the ends get too straight and stringy looking.

 

[Truth]

Plaits..alllll day. ALLLLLLLLLDAY ...nah not all day..just at night..

 

[Pooks]

Post wash loose hair stretches best when I follow my Mum's old school way of taking it out and restyling it every few hours after washing. After moisturising and sealing I usually chinee bump (bantu knot), then a few hours later add some more lubrication if needed and canerow, then at bedtime do 2/3 big canerows - by morning my hair will be almost fully stretched. Time consuming, but it works for me.

Everyday loose hair stays stretched by either doing 2/3 big canerows or flat twisting before bed. If I do twists on their own without stretching them into a bun, my hair will shrink up in the night.

 

[Determined22]

I twist a lot and at night I will plait them in medium to large braids or one french braid in the back.

Wake up in the morning take it or them down and the twists are elongated. I was a very frustrated natural until I figured this out. I have some severe shrinkage and I mean seeeeveeeeeerrreeeee!

I never thought about braiding my twists...that's a great suggestion, thanks!