Tag Archives: nighttime routines

Nov11

Nighttime Routines – An Alternative to the Pineapple

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nighttime_updo

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

  1. Gather hair into a low ponytail.
  2. Twist the ponytail up head one to two times like I am doing a French twist, leaving the curly ends free.
  3. Secure the twist against my crown with a Goody Comfort Flex barrette and with the curly ends loose at the top of my head.
  4. Wrap a long, oblong satin scarf around the back of head towards the front and back around again, tying a knot at the nape.
  5. 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).
  6. “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?

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May1

Overnight Maintenance: Wrapping Curls?

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wrapresults_3

Over the course of the last month or so, I’ve been seeing videos of ladies using wrapping techniques to achieve heat-free, “blown-out,” natural hair. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I came across this video by Naptural85 using wrapping to maintain smooth, stretched curls overnight!

via Naptural85

Hmmmmm … interesting!! Wrapped curly hair!! Who woulda thunk?! *lol* Anywho, I had been loving the results from re-twisting/braiding my hair at night (I was getting great multi-day hair), but my strands were NOT loving the daily manipulation. So, I decided to try the wrapping technique to achieve good day two hair from the dry twist-out I’d done with Cantu leave-in and Eco Styler gel (here).

And the results:

cantutwistoutday1_2 wrapresults_1

Not bad!! By the end of the first day, my hair had frizzed and poofed just like Naptural85’s. The wrapping technique worked to smooth and calm the frizz, just like it did for her. But, the thing is, it really did stretch my hair more than I would want on day two. So, I didn’t do it again after that first night. I find that loosely bunning my hair overnight helps tame the frizz and preserve the curls, with some stretching, but not as much as seen with wrapping. Therefore, I don’t think that this will become a “go to” overnight maintenance technique for me. But, I’ll keep it in my back pocket for days where I want to achieve stretched and controlled curls! And for those seeking ways to stretch their curly styles, this may be just the ticket!!

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Have you tried wrapping your curly natural styles? If so, how did it work out for you?

Apr1

Natural Hair Girls Be Like …

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NaturalGirlsHairBeLike#truestory #realtalk

LOL!!!  I couldn’t resist!!! If you don’t get the joke … a couple of weeks ago, this meme was floating around everywhere in the naturalhairverse and became very popular:

NaturalGirlsHairBeLike_originalDang it!! I should have posed like Celie! LOL!

Anywho, since I’ve been re-twisting my hair the last few nights, this came to mind and I had to recreate it with my bedtime/daytime look!! The things we do for beauty ;).

Nighty night.

Feb7

Blensblend 100% Silk Bonnet Review

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BB_bonnet4

As some of you may know, in my early natural years, I came up with the idea of wearing a half-slip as a “bonnet” to accommodate my down and out hair. I’d put the waist around my head and cinch the bottom of the slip closed with a rubberband. I showed this to you all in A Bonnet for Every Occasion, but here it is again in case you forgot or missed it ;).

IMG_0621

Fast forward to three or four years ago. I thought about making a real bonnet that accomplished the same thing by buying silk and/or satin fabric and creating the “funnel” with drawstring closures at both ends. Even told my bestie about it and how I thought it really fit a need in the marke. Never did anything.

So, imagine my surprise when I was perusing pics in my Instagram news feed a few months ago and saw this post by MyHairFestish.

BB_bonnet_IG

“My journey has always been about sharing. So it’s only fair that I share with you what I love this week. If you’re looking for great bonnet please check her out” (sic)

DANG!!!! This silk bonnet by Blensblend ($27 for extra large) is the incarnation of an idea I had several years ago, but never executed! So, of course I started asking all kinds of questions and MyHairFetish appeased my curiosity and expressed her satisfaction by creating this video review!!

via MyHairFetish

(Skip to 5:12 if you just want to see the demo and review of the bonnet :).)

Well, of course I had to get one. I love my EboniCurls Ebonnet, which is super large and helps my hair retain moisture, bit it has no “hang time.” So, if I try to wear my hair down in it, I end up with a mushed, tangled mess with flattened and crooked curls. And, a pineapple with a scarf and/or bonnet has also never worked too well for me due to my straight nape. So, I would try the pocket bonnet like My Hair Fetish demoed in the video (but that would compress my hair too much) or revert to the slip solution.

But now, I have the Blensblend silk bonnet and have been wearing it for about a month and it is working really well!! It does sometimes slip off at night, but I think it’s because I should probably tie the hidden elastic tighter. And, I just haven’t gotten around to it.

BB_bonnet1

Here is my Day 2 braid-out from yesterday after wearing the bonnet overnight.

BnC_day2_collageNot bad, right? 

Final Thoughts
So yeah, I’m very pleased with my purchase! I’d give it 4 1/2 stars out of 5!!

The reason I gave it 4 1/2 stars out of 5 is because I could use one that is even longer to fit my hair now and as it continues to get longer *fingers crossed*. And, when I ordered this bonnet, the extra large was the biggest one available. But, when I checked the site last night, they have a new SPECIAL ORDER bonnet in 30 inches that you can get made custom for $33.10!! Ummmm, yeah, I think I found my birthday gift to me!!! And finally, though I think this bonnet is great, I do have a couple ideas about what could make it even better. So, maybe you’ll see Hairscapades silk bonnets for sale yet!! 😉

BnC_day2_1

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Have you found a bonnet that works perfectly for your hair? Do you have different bonnets/scarves for different hairstyles?

Mar7

Pineapples and Simpsons

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In the natural/curly hair community, placing the hair in a high, loose ponytail to preserve curls overnight is called a pineapple or pineappleing. Generally speaking, no matter if I’m sporting a WnG or TnC, the single pineapple hasn’t worked too well for me. My nape hair is dang near straight and pulling it into a high ponytail stretches out what little curl it does have. This typically exacerbates my situation. That being, a nape section that hangs lower than my crown and causing what I have dubbed, “The Mushroom Effect.” My crown is the cap and the nape is the stem. Some call it the mullet. No matter what you decide to name it … Not. a. good. look.

However, Monday night, I decided to venture into the world of the pineapple again as my hair essentially seemed to be hanging in a consistent pattern from crown to nape. So, I dipped my head upside down and loosely bound it with a satin scrunchie*. I didn’t wrap it at all as I didn’t want to create a crease where they ponytail was secured. Then, I dipped my head upside down again and donned my big and roomy old lady white satin bonnet and channeled Marge Simpson!

LMBO!! I frickin’ love this bonnet (the “Andre” from Sally’s). It is so ridiculous, especially the ring cinched top, that it cracks me up every time I wear it! Like, I ponder, “Did someone realllly think that adding ruffles and a bow actually makes this attractive now?!?” Like, plain bonnet … “Ewwww.” But add some ruffles and a bow. “Ooooh prettttty.” LOL!! Anyway, I wore it with a Goody Ouchless headband around the perimeter as the elastic on the bonnet has gotten loose from repeated washings.

Anywho, so this was day two hair at the end of the day (I actually pulled it back and wore it in a low, loose bun for work).

So, given that the pineappled WnG held up pretty well for my purposes, Marge is returning Tuesday night ;). Wei said, “Doh!”

(*p.s. If you are in search of satin scrunchies, I buy the Goody Ouchless Soft Fabric Scrunchies from Walmart [6 pack with 3 satin and 3 cotton].)

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Do you pineapple (single pony or modified with multiple ponies)? If not, how do you preserve your loose curls or sets (TnCs, twist-outs, braid-outs, etc.) overnight?