As one of my goals is to learn how to care for and style my own hair, I've been playing with my TWA over the past month. Here are a few of the easy styles that I did and liked....others I tried & failed (and ladies you will have hair style disasters, but I've learned it's nothing that a good headband and a little water & gel can't fix!) All styles were created on freshly cleansed hair shampooed (yes, I use a sulfate free
shampoo) with Curls Creamy Curl Cleanser and conditioned/detangled with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturing Conditioner. I use Giovanni Direct Leave In Weightless Moisture Conditioner as my leave in and seal with Organic Coconut Oil.
The "Wash & Go" (w/ecostyler gel)
While this style seems to be a staple style for most individuals with a TWA, I haven't fallen in love with it. It seems the gel used to define my curls leaves my hair a little crunchy. I'm going to keep working with different products until I get the curls defined without the crunchiness.
Any suggestions? In this picture, I added the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and then put on a good helping of Eco Styler Gel with Olive Oil and rolled my finger tips over my hair almost in a massaging motion to make my curls pop.
Faux Puff with Finger Coiled Bangs
This has been my favorite so far! I love it because my hair in the puff is sooo soft. I say this is a faux puff becuase my hair isn't really long enough to put in a puff but with the headband, I'm able to sorta create one. To achieve this look I added about a quarter size of the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie all over to damp hair sealed with Organic Coconut Oil. I used a pic to fluff my hair out. I sectioned off my bang area and put on the headband. Then I used Jane Carter's Wrap and Roll setting lotion to finger coil the bangs. It creates sheen and a very soft hold.
2 Strand Twist Out
This style was a win and a fail. It was a win because it looked great the first day. It was a fail because I haven't mastered retaining the wavy pattern for more than 2 days :( For this style, I saturate my hair with Jane Carter Wrap & Roll Setting Lotion and then 2 strand twist with the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. You'll see 2 different days in the pics below. I love the definition and my hair is still soft and well moisturized.
Finger Coils
My finger coils were also a win and a fail. I use the same combo of the Jane Carter Wrap & Roll Setting Lotion and Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie just coiling the section of hair around my finger tightly and releasing. Unfortunately, my roots puff up leaving just the ends coiled. So I wouldn't just wear this style without an accessory, but with a headband, it looks pretty cool!
I'm currently wearing my hair in a semi-protective style so I won't be manipulating it quite as much. I went back to visit Taji and got a partial two strand twist out with a few extensions in the bang area. I'm going to try to leave this in for two weeks. I'm maintaining this style by misting with Oyin Handmade Greg Juice and sealing with Coconut Oil in the morning. I'll retwist my hair at night as needed and sleep on a satin pillowcase at night.