First, my fine strands don’t do well with daily manipulation and nightly re-braiding/re-twisting routines. So, I need a nighttime routine that involves minimal hair handling. But, the “pineapple,” high unicorn horn ponytail just never worked well for me. I mean, I gave it the ol’ college try! Really I did. Over and over again. But, my curls just don’t defy gravity *sad face* (don’t you love that song though?). So, they would just flop all up in my face, or fall back down onto my neck (no matter that I started the night with them daintily draped over my satin pillowcase). Inevitably, I’d end up sleeping on and crushing at least half of my curls. Not only that, when it was time to take the pineapple down in the morning, my less curly nape hair “tail” would be even longer (ughhh!!! Yes! The dreaded curly mullet) and my hair would be frizzy. So, finally, I gave up on the pineapple and just started bunning my hair instead. I still had to deal with flattened curls and ends, but not so much frizz, no excessive tail, and no face-flop for sleepy time.
Then, a couple of months ago, I accidentally discovered an alternative to the pineapple that really works for me! I just wanted to get to bed as quickly as possible and threw my hair up with a barrette. Well, the “technique” ended up keeping my hair up and off of my face and neck, prevented excess frizz, and preserved my curly ends! I was also able to swap out my satin scarf for a sweatband and get my morning workout on with minimal damage too!! Eureka!!
Anywho … that’s enough lead up … so, wanna hear it? Here it go!!!
BEDTIME UPDO
- Gather hair into a low ponytail.
- Twist the ponytail up head one to two times like I am doing a French twist, leaving the curly ends free.
- Secure the twist against my crown with a Goody Comfort Flex barrette and with the curly ends loose at the top of my head.
- Wrap a long, oblong satin scarf around the back of head towards the front and back around again, tying a knot at the nape.
- Leave the curly ends peaking out at the top or pull the scarf up and tuck in the curly ends to cover them (in the pic, my ends are covered; in the video, they are out).
- “Anchor” the scarf with two to three large “doobie” pins to prevent slippage while sleeping.
And for those of you who are visual learners …
And that’s it. Super simple. Super easy. Super quick! That’s a winner in my book!
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Have you found an alternative to the pineapple for preserving your curls at night?
hairscapades 
Im going to try this tonight!!! The pineapple has never worked for me either
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If you are looking for discounted, no tax items you might want to try Willner in New York City(two locations;rk Ave. & a block from Grand Central Station). http://www.willner.com
I purchase 100% pure oils, such as coconut and avocado (not olive oil), along with sage, rosemary, and other essential oils.
Thanks for all the tips and alternative to retwisting at night.
On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 7:57 PM, hairscapades
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Willner is right down the street from my job! over by Chambers. I didn’t know they had more than one. I buy oils from them too
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A quick question. What is the best method to get a trim or hair cut without having to go through the damaging blow drying, hair pulling, and flat ironing process?
The heat and having my head and hair jerked around just doesn’t do it for me.
Would love to hear suggestions…a Fan!
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Thanks! I get my hair cut wet. Both Ouidad and Devachan trained stylists are able to cut curly hair in its natural state without blowing it out and straightening it. That’s how I’ve been getting my hair cut for the last several years. You can also blow out your hair yourself and just get it trimmed in that state. I’ve done that as well. If you don’t wear your hair straight, then you don’t necessarily need it cut that way for blunt/even ends, unless that is what you want.
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Great tip! When my hair gets long enough, I will try this!
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Thanks for the video and thanks for mentioning where you got the scarf! I opened another tab while you were talking to look it up. 🙂
Have an awesomely blessed day!
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Reblogged this on LiveLocs and commented:
Very helpful advice
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Aww now I really understand one of Wei’s post. You have an amazing smile but anywho. Thanks a ton because me & the pineapple don’t seem to work like it does for others. I have to wash & condish tonight so i’ll def be trying this. I also need to peep your Henna steps again because it’s that time!
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did Wei really just say go? LOL. ok so i know this was probably filmed with your iphone right? turn it horizontally and that black border is gone! poof!
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Every time Michelle! I keep telling him, “Say “go” BEFORE you hit the record button!” LOL!! And yes, I did! Really?!?! I didn’t know that black border would appear until I uploaded the video! I was like, “Why did it do that?” But question, won’t the video be vertical then? I just tried recording with the phone horizontal and when I did the playback, the video was on it’s side.
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Love this idea! I haven’t been wearing my hair loose lately because I hate to re-twist/re-braid at night, but this may be extremely helpful to my process!
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Shelli:
I’m trying this TONIGHT as I did my first cornrow braid out, well truthfully the first time I’m done ANY braid/twist outs actually!!! Thank you for reconstituting my love affair with my own head of hair – I am now a henna/indigo head, and haven’t had a relaxer in 2 years w/7 inches of new growth in that time, and it all started when I happened upon your blog! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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PS – I’m also doing the cool conditioner rinse out thing, so I apologize for the HORRID things i say about you during THAT process – i.e., Shelli you must be losing your _____….. fill in the blanks O_O
Sowwwwyyyyyy – but the water is shocking EVERY TIME!!!!! 🙂
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Bwahahahahahahaha!!!! How cold are you making the water?!?!? And, are you doing it while showering?!?! When I do that final cool rinse, if I’m in the shower, I turn it off and put my head under the faucet. Otherwise, I rinse in the sink. And, I only make it as cold as I can tolerate. If you can’t stand ice cold, just do lukecold (not warm ;)). As long as the water is a little cool, it’ll work. But, the colder, the more shine you get too :).
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Yes, the water is cold, and while I do use the faucet for those, when it hits my scalp, it’s like WOAHHHHHH — O_O!!! Suffice it to say that while an increase in temp might help with the shocking nature of it all, since I cannot abandon my thoroughly shiny “hurr” 🙂 , you’ll just have to know that my words belie my heart, and I canNOT be held accountable for the comments just spew forth when I’m in the process!!!!! Take a few for the team Shelli – Batman would! 🙂
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Thank you soooo much for this post! I too get the tail with the pineapple method and your pin technique to get the scarf not to come off during the night has been an awesome addition to my nighttime routine 🙂
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Awesome!! So glad that you found something helpful in this post!!
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I do wash and go’s everyday. I love the way it comes out, but it takes forever. The pineapple never worked for me. I have been searching for a long time for an alternative. Everyone on you tube/ blogs loves the freaking pineapple, and it works for them. I look a hot mess after doing the pineapple 😦 basically, I sincerely want to thank you for sharing your idea.
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Awesome!!! I hope that this technique works for you!!
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