Looking for a healthier way to grow out your hair? As more women press, curl, blow dry, dye, and weave their hair, more black women are looking for ways to grow healthier hair, especially without more heat. One style, bantu knots, is good for women who have natural or relaxed hair. They allow you to take a break from heat, grow out your hair, and look good while doing it.
1. On dry hair, start with the top of your head. Fingerpart a big “U” from the left to right temple This part should only take up about 1/3 of your head.
2. Tie hair you’ve just parted back with an small, ouchless hairband or scrunchie. You know you’ve separated your hair right, if the part looks like an upside down ‘u’.
3. Below the U-shaped part, separate the second third of your hair horizontally from ear to ear. Tie it back with a hairband.
4. Since this last third is by itself, just gather it into a hairband and tie it up.
5. Now, untie your first part (the crown with the U-shape). Keep the other two sections of your hair tied.
6. After untying the first hair section, squirt a quarter-sized amount of instant conditioner, such as Suave or V05, into the palm of your hands, then gently rub the conditioner into your hair. Add more conditioner as needed, a dime to nickel-sized amount at a time.
Because you’re using an instant conditioner, it will make the hair softer and easier to deal with.You’ve added enough when you can feel your hair is softer without being dripping wet or conditioner showing through the hair.
7. Get a comb. The ideal comb for making this style, is a medium to large comb with 7 to 12 teeth. Remember though, less teeth means less hair ripped out of your head, which is good to know if you want to grow out your hair.
8. After rubbing in the conditioner, slowly and gently comb through the hair until knots are gone. This may take anywhere from about 5-15 minutes for each section, depending on the thickness, length, and condition of your hair. If your hair is extra thick or long, the time may be longer.
9. After rubbing in the conditioner and combing, re-tie the part away from your face.
10. Repeat steps 4-8 for the remaining thirds of hair.
11. After your hair’s been rubbed in with conditioner and combed, tie each part back up, except the U-shaped part.
12. Lightly grab the hair from this part. From about 2 to 2.5″ inches from the temples, fingercomb a mini row from one side of your head to the other.
13. Within that row, make vertical parts side by side. These parts within the row will each section look like a mini square, about 1″ wide.
14. Take one mini-square in that row, separate it in half with your fingers, and twist both pieces of hair together around and around loosely. The twisting should look like a candy cane (with how how the red and white twist around together).
15. After twisting the hair, take the whole strand (the two twisted hairs together), and twice them around into a little ball. You know you’re going in the right direction if the twisted hair stays tight and doesn’t loosen as you twist.
16. Secure the ball with your hair ends or with a hair band.
17. Repeat step 13-16 for all mini squares along that row.
18. For the rest of the U-shaped part, especially on the top of your head, keep making square-shaped parts that are about 1″ wide.
19 . Repeat steps 13-16 for rest of U-shape.
20. Separate the hair. Twist. Twist the sections on the top of the head a little tighter so they’ll have more body up top. (Note: If your head hurts, you’ve twisted too tightly These balls of hair should be comfortable and snug).
21. After finishing that first section, untie the second section.
22. Repeat steps 13-16 until all of second section is done.
23. Repeat steps 13-16 until last section is completed twisted into little balls.
24. Tie your head with a silk scarf and let your hair set into the style. You’ll know your style’s set completely when it’s dry. In air drying, set aside 3-12 hours for your hair to set and dry* (I have thick, shoulder-length hair; it takes me about 7-8 hours to dry and set).
25. Untie your scarf.
26. Allow your hair equal time in untwisting it as it took you to twist it.
27. Untwist each section carefully. 28. After untwisting sections, separate twists apart, to your desired style.
29. Freeze style with hair spray*
Extra Tips: If you accidentally twisted your hair too tightly, rub dime-sized amounts of hair lotion into the tight parts. Then gently tug on them to loosen the curls. Be patient. As the day goes on, the curls will gradually loosen and become beautiful waves. Also, look at this article’s comments, for my article on how to maintain this style when going to bed.
Congratulations you’ve made curls and waves without direct heat!
