I have this shrinkage thing DOWN.....

I've been natural for 6 months now!!!!!!! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] And I am lovin every day of it. Right now my hair is 3 inches long (Thanks Nubie Natty) and I have NOTHING BUT SHRINKAGE!

I have tight coily ringlet curls, and it typically looks like I'm rocking a TWA. Do any of you have any recommendations on how to elongate my curls without actually losing any of the curly/coily look? I'm just looking to switch things up a little with the 'Do's.

I do a twist out (my avatar pic is an example). It elongates and keeps my coil pattern. I cowash and let my hair air dry. Then I apply a water based leave in, oil and hair butter. After it dries, I take the twists down and retwist the hair while fully dry (this stretches my hair). Then I fluff like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwJADC1U2fU

I do this over the weekend and it lasts all week. Some nights I retwist, some nights I just put on a bonnet, wake up and fluff.

First of, let me say Thank You for the info.

Secondly...... OMG your hair is gorgeous!!! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] I was looking at it yesterday as I read something else that you were chatting about.

I typically wear my hair just like you have it in your avatar (less the length... more like the curly fro/TWA!!) I will definitely try your suggestion and see what happens.

Quick question though: How do you "smooth out" the front of your hair to make it look so sleek? I usually end up screwing this part of my hair up so I just let the waviness stay vs trying to get a nice sleek look.

Thank you for the kind words I use 2 products for the front:

Carol's Daughter Hair Milk and Ken Paves Curl Balm-- this curl balm is amazing!! Try to find it at TJ Maxx because if you buy it direct you will pay $30 for 4oz.

After I put on the milk and curl balm I just tie on a headband (the leg of a stocking is the only thing that doesn't give me a headache), don't need a comb or a brush. Hope that helps!

* I will probably do a youtube giveaway for a bottle of the curl balm so subscribe and look out for it. I'll post it on CN when I do the giveaway.

You're more than welcome! Thanks for the further info. I'm definitely gonna check these products out.

That is why I love this site! Shrinkage is my buddy, won't go away lol, but the twist definitely do the trick! Good stuff E! Good luck Koily!

If you want to send me some of your shrinkage...I will gladly take it!
I LOVE SHRINKAGE!!!!

just wish I had some more....le sigh....

Yes, shrinkage is a good friend!! I love it, but some times I just want to switch things up a little as it grows out. I can't wait to get some length to it so have the "big hair look"!!! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]


Thanks for the well wishes SweetDrk1. Luvin your hair girl.....

Blondie, if I could send you some shrinkage, I would. You are rockin those blonde locks Lady!

Erica5417 wrote:I do a twist out (my avatar pic is an example). It elongates and keeps my coil pattern. I cowash and let my hair air dry. Then I apply a water based leave in, oil and hair butter. After it dries, I take the twists down and retwist the hair while fully dry (this stretches my hair). Then I fluff like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwJADC1U2fU

I do this over the weekend and it lasts all week. Some nights I retwist, some nights I just put on a bonnet, wake up and fluff.

This is an excellent idea! I never thought out twisting wet and then drying and then retwisting. I know it will work cuz sometimes with my HIH syndrome I retwist a twist or two and they stretch so much that I have to re-wet to get it to look back like the others. I will definitely be doing this technique on my next set of twists. Thanks a bunch!

instead of doing twists -- which on my hair due to the thickness + length takes about 2 hours -- I set my hair in about 12 braids all over my head before bed and then take em out in the am spritz and fluff. works like a charm to combat shrinkage AND I find that braiding doesnt mess with my curl pattern like twists to. I'm putting up a Fokti album with before and after pix in it so you can see...

these are all great tips, thanks ladies

I tried! I tried henna, twist outs, bantu knots, everything. I was so frustrated. After visiting my granmother and saw her weird looking rollers, I snoke (borrowed, lol) a few and tried them. They are LARGE felxi rods, she got them from Sally's and they come 4 to a pack. They are LARGE grey ones. I can only fold them in two, not like the small ones I could twist in a circle. Well I did my ususal condition and such, put my Castor Oil on my roots, Argan oil on my ends, Karen's Body Beautiful Hair Milk all over and rolled while wet. Once dry (Almost 8 hours later) I took them down and I finally had looser curls, FINALLY I Say, lol. I wanted something of a 3c style and I finally got it.

Good luck