Kinky hair often gets a
bad rap. It’s either too dry, too thick, too dull, or too frizzy and doesn't
curl. There are some fixes to all of these problems. If your hair is too dry,
moisturize it. If your hair is too thick, be happy because I know a handful of
women with thin hair that would love just a patch of your thickness. If your
hair is dull, let’s get the oil out. If your hair is frizzy and doesn't curl … I
have a few tricks up my sleeve to help you out.
Kinky hair can be
manipulated with twists and braids to give you various styles options that can
also create curl definition. Since my hair doesn't curl naturally, I have to
create curl definition if I want a curly look. My favorite way to create curl
definition in my kinky, natural hair is to install twists or braids; after
several hours I take my twists or braids down to reveal luscious curly hair. The
final result is referred to as a twist-out or braid-out.
When doing a twist-out or
braid-out, you will get the best curl definition if your hair is wet to soaking
wet. Really wet hair will allow your hair to take the shape of the twist or
braid pattern as it dries. This technique allows you to create beautiful curls
without applying any heat to your hair or using any old-fashioned rollers. For
best results, I allow my hair enough time to dry to prevent frizzing after
taking down the twists or braids. Starting with soaking wet hair will give you
the curls that you desire, but you will also have to accept that there will be
lots of shrinkage, because wet kinky hair will typically equate to shrunken
hair.
If you prefer a more
elongated look where your style will show more of your true length, I suggest
styling your hair while it’s damp to dry. Styling your hair this way eliminates
the shrinkage because your hair is being manipulated while nearly dry. This
allows your hair to stretch with each turn of the twist or braid. There is also
very little drying time when working with damp to dry hair, so if you only have
a few hours to spare before you need to wear your hair out, this is the way to
go. The only drawback with styling your hair when it is damp to dry is the
exact opposite of styling your wet hair. While you’ll enjoy the length of your
hair, your curl definition won’t be as defined.
There will be some instances
where it doesn't matter how wet your hair was when you styled it or what product you used, because the environment will affect your hair over time. Can
you say humidity? When the humidity is high, your hair will become frizzy and
there is very little you can do to prevent this. Your hair will naturally be
affected by the increased amount of moisture in the air and this can alter the
way your hair looks. Rainy days, foggy days, snowy days, and very hot days will
all cramp your style, but if you learn to style your hair in a variety of ways
you will become a pro at styling your hair for any weather.
Jenell Stewart is the founder and Editor in Chief of www.KinkyCurlyCoilyMe.com
Jenell Stewart is the founder and Editor in Chief of www.KinkyCurlyCoilyMe.com
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