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Twist & Braid Outs
How it works: While your hair is damp, separate a section of your hair to begin. The larger the sections, the less stretching (and longer drying time) you will get. Then braid or twist the section from the roots down through to the ends of your hair. Keep the braids or twists taut as you go. Allow it to dry thoroughly, then let it loose and rake your fingers through your hair to relax it.
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Bantu Knots
How it works: After moisturizing your hair thoroughly (we love Miss Jessie's Conditioning Creme), divide your hair into sections to detangle. Once you do that, separate a section of hair and twist it tightly down through to the ends. Roll it around the base of the section and tuck it to secure, using a pin to hold as necessary.
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Roller Sets
How it works: On freshly washed, detangled hair, apply a moisturizer from your roots down to the ends of your hair. Then divide your hair into sections, wrapping your hair around a roller or flexi-rod from the ends up to your roots. Allow it to set for several hours, remove the rollers or rods and let your hair loose.
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Hair Milk
How it works: Chelsea of Naturally Curly shares her DIY recipe for her Coconut Milk Treatment:
1. Mix a can of coconut milk, 2 tbsp of honey, 2 tbsp of coconut oil, 4 tbsp of plain yogurt and lime juice altogether, slowly adding in teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken. Apply the product throughout freshly washed hair and let sit for about 30 minutes. Then, wash it out using a sulfate-free shampoo and style your looser, more elongated curls as usual.
Celebrities have done it. Runway models have done it. Even fiercely chic socialites have dabbled in the natural hair movement. If there's anything the big and beautiful trend has taught us, it's that it doesn't matter if you're a budding beauty blogger or the kid sister to Beyoncé -- embracing your God-given kinky hair and curly spirals is inspiring. Some who've grown tired of chemical treatments and damaging weaves say the hairstyle trend has even helped them to identify their true self.
But letting your curly hair roam wild isn't without its challenges -- namely, shrinkage. Instead of a mane of long sexy spirals, your hair becomes a shrunken pile of coils matted to the base of your scalp. And all the time you put into growing out your long natural hair can feel like a waste.
So we did the dirty work to find the best hair care solutions for the shrinkage phenomenon. For the same reason you'd hang dry your washed clothes to prevent wrinkling, you can use these methods to prevent your curls from shrinking. Whether you want to steer away from heat or head straight for the hair milk, here are the best tips to showing off your long natural hair.
But letting your curly hair roam wild isn't without its challenges -- namely, shrinkage. Instead of a mane of long sexy spirals, your hair becomes a shrunken pile of coils matted to the base of your scalp. And all the time you put into growing out your long natural hair can feel like a waste.
So we did the dirty work to find the best hair care solutions for the shrinkage phenomenon. For the same reason you'd hang dry your washed clothes to prevent wrinkling, you can use these methods to prevent your curls from shrinking. Whether you want to steer away from heat or head straight for the hair milk, here are the best tips to showing off your long natural hair.
