Style of the Week: Bantu Knot Out!

Hey ya'll! My style of this week is the bantu knot out! I absolutely LOVE the style and it produces beautiful results. The pros are the versatility, the ending result is almost always consistently beautiful once you learn the correct technique and the style lasts for a few days (on me, the max for any style is 3 days). The one and only con is the sacrifice of sleep you make lol, it's soooooo hard to sleep with the knots in your hair but it's worth it!

1. So first I prep my hair by spritzing with my water/leave-in/aloe vera/glycerin mix. This style is best done on stretched and/or old hair. I use this style as a way to stretch the time between shampoos. Since my hair already has product in it, the spray mix is all i need to set my style,
2. I then begin a knot by grabbing a random section of hair (I start in the back, idk why) and twisting the hair around itself until it collapses into a knot. You can do a two strand twist then knot but I find that the single strand works best for me.
3. Continue to do this on all sections of your hair, twist each not to stand straight out from your head. A taller knot makes a more defined curled while a flatter one makes each not a little more "messy", if you like that look. Smaller pieces of hair also makes a more defined curl while large pieces of hair make a more wavy curl pattern.
4. My hair never stays raveled upon itself like some people's does so I secure mine with a rubber band, natural hair TABOO lol but bobby pins don't work either :/
5. I usually let my hair stay in knots for about 2 days....making sure not to go ANYWHERE! I really don't like wearing the knots out in public lol.
6. When it come times to take out the knots, make sure they are completely dry or you'll be sorry, I put a light oil, like coconut oil, on my hands and unravel the knots and fluff!
7. Voila! Beautiful bantu knot out!
8. For maintenance I usually sleep on a satin pillowcase and I really don't ever re-twist unless absolutely needed.

After I complete all the knots.

After I take the knots out and fluff! Day 1 Hair is always gorgeous!

Day 3, after a little coaxing.

Day 5. By day 5 my curls are limp and lifeless so I often spritz with water and pin in the loose curls to create a faux min fro! I embellish with random accessories :)

Flat Two Strand Twists

Hello again! I have a style that I absolutely adore and is easy and quick to complete and dry! So many people have heard of flat twists and I was highly skeptical because I figured it would take forever AND it wouldn't last, to my surprise, my flat twists last longer than my bantu knots or twist outs! Go figure!

1. To begin, I wash/ co-wash my hair and deep condition it.
2. I apply my leave-in conditioner and apply my product of choice for twisting. NOTE: Using a butter-based product will result in a twist out with a loose hold, I always use a gel like Eco Styler or KCCC.
3. I part my hair on either side or down the middle, depending on how I want my hair to lay when I take it out.
4. I part my hair with a rat tail comb, spritz with water and begin twisting. To twist, grasp two pieces of hair and begin to twist, picking up hair as you go, make sure the hair is tight and lays flat to the head.
5. When I get to the ends, I place an end paper on the end and wrap around a perm rod but this is optional.
6. To dry quicker, I sit under a a hard bonnet dryer, but for a more natural look let your hair air dry.
7. I usually let my hair stay in twists until I'm going somewhere.
8. To take out, apply a small amount of olive oil (or any oil of your choice) to your hands and take out the twist slowly, starting at the bottom, working your way up.
9. You have achieved your flat twist out! To stretch your hair, you can take a blow dryer, set on low heat, and place at the scalp and slightly pull your  hair.
10. ENJOY!

3rd day

For maintenance, I sleep on a satin pillowcase and spritz with olive oil or a leave-in conditioner.