Natural Bantu Twins

For my knots, I did a 1-strand twist...and for hers, I did a 2-strand twist!

Stay tuned for our twin twist outs.

New Bantu Knot Set - Getting Bored

I was getting a little bored with my braid outs, and revisited my Bantu Knots. This time I did it a little differently. The last time I tried the knots, I only twisted them as I was making the knots. This time I did a 2 strand twist before I wrapped the knots. I've been rocking my Bantus for 4 days now (much to my husband's chagrin), and I will be untwisting tomorrow hopefully to take me through to Christmas (wishful thinking?). I've kept my scalp oiled every other night with my silk scarf on to sleep and under my hats (um, it's fricken cold out!), and I really hope this turns out ok.

It's been 6 months since my last perm and I'm dying to take a blow dryer and flat iron to my head and rock my length, but I know it's too soon to give my head any heat. I do all of my styling wet and then sit under the dryer. But I'm missing running my fingers through my hair, it's not the same when I comb out my braid-outs and my flattened and straight tresses.

Sigh...but at least I haven't had any urge whatsoever to do the BC!!! Whew. As long as my new growth keeps coming, I'm praying I'll never have to cut anything but dead ends!!!

What Is The Natural Girls Hotline??

First, I rocked my curly ponytail today with my really cool hair tie from the Antic, but forgot to take a pic of it from behind so you all could see the cowrie shell design. Ah well.

Today's frustration comes from realizing that next week marks the "no turning back point" - 12 weeks since last perm. That's 3 months! The longest I ever let my hair go before a touch up (minus baby having, of course). I have this anxiety from the ever growing list of questions I have. I'm hoping some sistuh in bloggerland will have pity on me and help me out. Ready, here we go:

1. Do you remember when you used to have a perm and right before you were about to get a touch-up your scalp itched like crazy? You could always tell cuz you'd be patting your head until your appointment. As you began your quest and reached your own point of no return, did your scalp itch insanely? What did you do to remedy it?
2. In the research that I've been doing I've seen that most naturalistas tell you to avoid petroleum based products for your hair. Prior to stopping the chemical madness, I used Triple Gro Anti-Breakage Cream Gro on my scalp and hair. It did wonders (or maybe I'm imagining things?) for my scalp and hair. But now on my quest I see that one of the first ingredients is petroleum. When we were little our mothers slathered our hair with grease and our hair was thick and luxurious, where we all misguided then too?
3. I've keep reading so many regimens of shampooing hair in the shower. Why is that? I hardly ever see regimens that include washing hair in the sink - the old fashioned way. Is there a reason for this?
4. How do you combat, hm, not sure what word to use here, um, how do you handle family that is not receptive to your natural decision? You all saw Maddy's cute knot out, right? Well, whenever my mother got a moment alone with her all this week, she threatened to "take a brush to it", "blowdry it out", "comb the knots out", and basically made it clear that she didn't like it. Maddy stood up to the barrage, "But I like it this way, you haven't said anything about Mom going natural, I'm going natural too, why do you keep trying to change mine?" Sigh. Moms. I know.
5. Bantu knot outs - I loved the knots, and I loved the initial knot outs, but after the third day they became flat and stringy. Does anyone know of a way to maintain that look without having to knot back up or is that the only way?

I think that's enough for now...

...HELP!

First Attempt at Bantu Knots

Did a wash and condition in the shower, left it damp, put in a leave in conditioner, and got to twisting. Can't wait to see what it looks like tomorrow, although I don't have much confidence in the knots actually staying put throughout the night. Wrapping it in a silk scarf but just don't think I twisted them in tight...well, I guess I'll find out in the morning how my first attempt goes!!

Plus, we've got a street fair to go to and I can test out my unfurled twist tomorrow! Supposed to be a magnificent day. Then Atlantic Antic street fair on Sunday, we haven't been to it in about 15 years. We used to go religiously every year but then stopped going and I couldn't figure out why. I really think it had to do with my aunt passing away. See my mom and her sisters used to take me, my brother, and my cousins all the time. We used to look forward to it every year. But I think unconsciously we stopped going because my aunt was no longer there to go with us. Now that I'm "all growed up", I look forward to sharing the experience with my kids. Unfortunately, mom went to Florida and will miss out, and my other aunt may have to watch my grandma, so while I may not have the whole "aunty experience", hopefully I'll create a really cool "mommy experience"!!