Crochet Havana Twists Protective Style Update

This post is to bring you up to speed on what I have been doing to my hair so far and how my current protective style is holding up.

I've been trying to moisturise my hair and oil my scalp at least once in three days. "Trying" because sometimes I get busy and totally forget. Still I ensure I moisturise more than once a week. I moisturise by spraying Luster's S.curl curl activator moisturiser and I oil my scalp with my mix which mostly contains castor oil and coconut oil. I also added some drops of tea tree oil to my s.curl to prevent/reduce itching.

I have washed just once since I installed the crochet havana twists.
Wash day recap:

• I poured warm water directly on my scalp to dampen it. Then I applied diluted Creme of Nature Moisture and Shine Sulphate-free Shampoo to my scalp following the partings of the cornrows. I rinsed it out and repeated the process.
• I then applied Motions Protein Reconstructor (this works as a balanced deep conditioner for me, left it in for about 5 to 6 minutes. Then I rinsed out thoroughly with cool water. Note that I also focused on the cornrows when applying the deep conditioner not the extensions.

• I squeezed out excess water from the twists and wrapped up a soft towel. I removed the towel after about 1 hour and applied Megagrowth Profectiv Daily Leave-in Strengthener and HairvolutionbyBee Whipped Shea Butter to the my hair and scalp respectively. I blow-dried on low heat till the cornrows were 80% dry. I sprayed some S.curl and left it to air dry.

I have had the crochet havana twists in for exactly three weeks now. The style is still looking so good as you can see in the photos below. The twists are holding up quite well despite the cheap price (700 naira per pack). People! cheap does not always mean bad or sub-standard.

However, I prefer keeping my protective styles in for just 3 weeks. Any longer, the tangles, knots and especially matting would drive me crazy. Hence! my crochet havana twists will be coming down any moment from now. I plan to re-use the Naomi Boom hair (twists) for an unravelled havana twists style on a later date.

Relaxer/Texlax prep washday coming up next.

How do you maintain your hair while in protective styles?

xx,
Bee.

New In: Hand Dryer with Comb Attachment/Pik

I've always wanted to be able to blow dry using a comb attachment. I just knew it would make life easier for me plus a lot of ladies use it in youtube videos to get great silky and sleek blow-drying or straightening results.

Unfortunately my Babyliss hand dryer did not come with a comb attachment. I bought a universal comb attachment but it didn't fit. So a hand dryer with a comb attachment/pik has been on my wishlist for a while, but I just was not ready to splurge on an expensive hand dryer with the comb attachment.

As luck would have it, I stumbled on this one in the market ( Aleshinloye, Ibadan). I got it for just N3000, I was so happy. Very good bargain. I squealed with delight when I found out that it also had the cool setting. I rarely use high heat on my hair so this was a major plus for me. This means I can use the dryer on normal wash days not just when I want to flat iron.

The hand dryer with the comb attachment 

The hand dryer and the 3 nozzles in the box

I have used the blow dryer once and I really loved the results.

Results on 17 weeks post relaxer hair

xx,
Bee 

Style Post : Easy and Pocket-friendly DIY Crochet Havana Twists

So KLP of SavingOurStrands guessed right! I installed crochet braids after my last wash day. Crochet braids are my second favourite protective style after wigs. So this time I decided to do Crochet Havana twists but on a budget. I had always wanted to install crochet twists, havana twists preferably but each I put off by the availability in Nigeria and the cost when you eventually get them. Havana twists currently go for about 3000 per pack and you would need 4 packs or more. That's at least N12,000 for a full head excluding shipping cost.

I was so happy and excited when I read a post by Leeznijis on African Naturalistas about Havana twists (Naomi Boom) made by Xpression. They are readily available and very pocket - friendly.

I found them in a beauty shop in my area. 700 per pack and I bought 3 packs, making a total of N2,100. Each pack contained 2 sets of twists and each set had 12 or 13 twists. So, you would get a total of 24 to 26 twists per pack.

1 set of twists  (12 individual twists)

Preparation
Read how I prepared my hair HERE

Installation

• I moisturised my hair with Cantu Shea Butter Natural Hair Creamy Lotion.

• I parted my hair from ear to ear and held the back section with a ponytail to keep it out of the way.

• I made 9 cornrows in the front section while putting into consideration where I wanted my parts (middle and left side).

• I continued with the front cornrows into the back. I joined two front cornrows to make one in the back especially where I wanted my parts. I made 6 cornrows in the back.

• Using my latch hook I installed the twists. It took me about 1 hour and 30 minutes and I ended using 2 and a half packs ( about  60 twists in total).  

If you need a proper tutorial on how to self-install crochet braids, please check youtube. There are several videos that would help.

Here's the final look and I'm seriously loving it. I've been getting loads of compliments.

What do you think ladies? you like? Would you try this?

Xx, 
Bee

Related Posts:
Crotchet Box Braids: 13 weeks Post Relaxer Touch-up
WashDay Post : Protective Style Prep

WashDay Post: Protective Style Prep.

I was amazed by how easy my last washday was. I was sincerely prepared for a tangle nightmare since I was 17 weeks post relaxer touch-up.  But...I was pleasantly surprised.

Here's what I did and what I used.

Pre-poo : I spritzed my hair with water just to dampen it, then I applied HairvolutionbyBee Whipped Shea Butter and I finger detangled. I further detangled each section with a wide-toothed comb. I made about 8 sections and twisted each detangled section up to keep it out of the way. I pre-pooed for about 10 minutes.

     

Cleansing/Washing : I used Creme of Nature Moisture and Shine Sulphate-free Shampoo and lathered twice.

Deep conditioning: I wrapped my hair in a tshirt while I grabbed my Aphogee Keratin Two Minutes Reconstructor. I felt it was time for a protein treatment, especially because I wanted to install a long term protective style. I left the Aphogee Keratin Two Minutes Reconstructor in for about 15 minutes  (with heat). I rinsed it out and I followed with generous amount of V05 Herbal Escapes Free Me Freesia with aloe extract Moisturising Conditioner. I used this rinse out conditioner to restore some moisture after the protein treatment. Although my hair felt quite soft already but safe than sorry. I detangled my hair under running water. I usually do this whenever I have a lot of new growth.

Post-wash care: I used Megagrowth Profectiv Daily Leave-in Strengthener, followed with Fantasia IC Hair Polisher Carrot Growth Serum, detangled and then blow dried on cool setting with the comb attachment of a hand dryer I recently purchased. I'll update you on that later. I did all these working in small sections.

Here's a picture my blow-dried hair.

Blow-dried hair @ 17 weeks post 

It looks like I've retained length, but my ends.... aarrggh... they look awful. I can't wait for texlax day so I can do a proper trim . This was a wonderful washday, despite the fact that I'm 17 weeks post. Happy hair ! Happy Bee!!!

                                     

Can you guess the protective style I installed? Style post coming up next. *winks*

xx, 
Bee