Drop The Dryer: Flat Twists On Natural Hair

This week Nikita of My 12 Month Natural Hair Challenge tackles the flat twist-out. Check out her styling & results:

I had never flat twisted all of my hair before, but I heard great things about the results from friends. I decided to give it a try and below is a part of the process and the results!

Step 1: I flat twisted my hair straight back while my hair was still wet from having just been washed and conditioned. It wasn't soaking wet, but still damp enough that I didn't need to use a spray bottle to re-moisturize. I did my normal moisturizing regimen, which is Coconut oil, Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk-Touch Leave In Conditioner, shea butter and Mizani True Textures Moisture Stretch or MoroccanOil Intense Curl Cream.

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Drop The Dryer: Pin-Up Tutorial On Natural Hair

Some days you jut don't feel like dealing with the "wash & go" or the twist-out or anything that requires curl control. On lazy days or on those days when you need just a touch of sophistication, here's a go-to style that requires little effort with chic results. Nikita of My 12 Month Natural Hair Challenge shows us her pin-up look sans heat-styling...

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Drop The Dryer: Mini Twists Tutorial

This week Nikita of My 12 Month Natural Hair Challenge is breaking down "The Process" and "The Product" of doing mini twists on her natural curls. Mini twists are no small feat. Check out how she breaks hers down: [CONTINUE]

Drop The Dryer: Bun Styling on Natural Hair

This week's Drop The Dryer hairstyle is all about the high bun. Nikita of My 12 Month Natural Hair Challenge shows us how she remixes the traditional high bun with a chic twist. Check it out:

Who loves Pinterest?! ::raises hand enthusiastically:: It's a hub of ideas and I saw this hair style on there and thought it was a great protective style as well as a cute one.

1. Pin up the hair at the front of your head (I parted it right behind my ears)

2. French braid your hair starting from the back going upwards until you reach the part (yes, you might have to bend over to do it. I did lol). I finished the plat/braid just to make sure the whole braid wouldn't unravel.

3. Brush up the hair you had pinned in the front and along with the extended braid from your French braid and wrap a ponytail holder around it. Pull-out/unbraid the extended braid.

4. Separate a piece of the ponytail that's now on top your head (it's going to get wrapped around the bun for a finished look). Take the rest of the hair and form a bun anyway that you would like (I just pulled the hair up and back and pinned it).

5. Wrap the piece of hair you left out around the entire bun and pin it securely.

Viola! Bun Remix!

Have an awesome heat-free hairstyle to share? Send us pics and a description at DropTheDryer@gmail.com and we'll feature YOU!

Cece's Curls: My Blowout Month & 3 Tips for Growth

So as you guys know, I've been natural now for almost a year and a half. I know I don't nearly spend enough time talking about my hair journey on here, but I promise I'll get better at it. I did my Big Chop in November 2010 and since then I've restricted myself to heat styling only once every 4-6 months and to continuously doing protective styles. Here's where I started:

November 2010

I have to say, my steady regimen of low heat and protective styles has been working! I wanted to show you guys some comparison shots from my very first blowout in October 2011 (one year post Big Chop) and my most recent blowout in April 2012. My hair has grown out alot!

Above is a pic of my very first blowout on natural hair in October 2011, just 6 months ago. I got it styled at the Hair Rules Salon with head stylist Dickey. See here for that post with video!

Above is a picture of my second blowout & press (April 2012). I took a few "length check" photos. I'll share those with you soon.

Updo on pressed hair (April 2012). This was about a week after my press. I got tired of wearing it out in pin curls so I pulled into this updo for a Saturday of shopping. I'll do a follow up post with more pics of this style as well.

Bantu Knot out on blown out hair (May 2012)

I have more pics to share in some follow-up posts but my main reason for sharing this post is to encourage all of you out their in the beginning or middle of your hair journeys. Your hair will grow, trust me! My hair is now the longest it's ever been in my life and I'd have to attribute that to the following three things:

 3 Best Practices for Natural Hair Growth 

1. Limit heat-styling.

It's hard, yes. But you can do it! As someone who has been addicted on & off to the creamy crack, press & curls,  and blowdrying, I know it's a hard habit to beat. But letting your natural curls grow without applying heat is a great way to protect them from damage and breakage. Do a heat-free challenge for a few months and you'll begin to notice a clear difference in your hair's texture and strength. And there are TONS of cute styles to get into that don't involve heat at all.

2. Do more protective styling.

I actually just wrote a whole post for Carol's Daughter Transitioning Movement site about this very principle. Protective styling isn't just braids, weaves and wigs. Believe it or not, rocking a turban out one day is a protective style! Wearing your hair in a loose bun is another protective style. As long as your ends are being covered and shielded from the harsh elements, you're protective styling. And more of it leads to less breakage and therefore more length retention.

3. Condition, condition, condition.

I live by my weekly deep conditioner. Whichever deep conditioner you choose, try to make sure it incorporates natural ingredients that will nourish your hair and scalp. You can also make DIY deep conditioners (there are tons of YouTube vids for this). Making sure your hair is properly conditioned is the best way to assure proper length retention.

Any other tips for growing out natural hair? Share them in the comments section!