STRETCHING NATURAL HAIR

Greetings, Team ATON!! Lets chat about SHRINKAGE and some quick tips that can help elongate those tresses. As we all know, shrinkage is an inevitable part of our O'Natural journey. Though many or most of us just embrace it, Every now and then we wish to rock our naturally beautiful tresses awith a little more length. So here are some quick tips and methods that have been beneficial for stretching the hair.

HAIR STRETCHING TIPS

BANDING

• BANDING: Banding is a method where you place small bands down the length of your damp or wet and sectioned hair beginning from root to tip. Once the hair is completely dry, you remove the bands and the tension of the bands have left you with stretched hair. You can find many youtube videos in banding, just type banding natural hair in the search engine.

BRAIDOUTS/TWISTOUTS

• BRAID OR TWIST OUTS: This technique of simply braiding or twisting the hair while damp, wet or dry will elongate the hair and especially elongates as the style grows older. The older the style, the fuller and longer it becomes. On hair that is wet, the braid or twist out will be shorter than if braided or twisted on hair that is simply damp or dry hair that has been moisturized. For medium to longer length hair, you can take your medium to large sized twists or braids and pull each one (one by one) to the opposite side and bobby pin. The tension from bobby pinning the hair stretches the hair allowing for a longer style. I did this method in video form on youtube, check out my page at YOUTUBE. You can also moisturize your twists or braids and pull them into a bun which stretches the hair as well.

THE BUNNING METHOD

• THE BUN METHOD: This is a technique that you may hear me speak about often in regards to how I stretch my hair. You simply gather all of your hair and pull into a low or medium bun.

CURLERS/FLEXRODS/CURLFORMERS

• CURLERS OR ROLLERS: The use of Curlformers and rollers give the curls a sleek elongated tress. Visit your nearest Sally's beauty supply or google Curlformers for more information. Flex rods are also helpful with stretching curls. These can be found at almost any local beauty supply store or Target.

USING HEAT 

• HEAT: Using this method, this is where low to medium heat is used on 80-90% dry hair to stretch the hair. Proceed with caution when using this method as hair can become irreversibly damaged where the hair's protein bond has been damaged and the damaged hair no longer reverts back to its curly state. Before using this method, feel free to check out my blog post on the Do's and Don'ts of using heat. USING HEAT

Final tip, for any style or stretching method, be sure to moisturize the hair then lock in the moisture with a butter or oil..and protect with a silk/satin bonnet, scarf or pillow at night.. Hope this helps, Team.