Natural Hair: So You Want to Keep Your TWA?

Hey Curlies,

I hope you all are having a very happy holidays and a Merry Christmas! I was talking with my Mother the other day and as you all know, she has been completely natural for about 5 months and she loves the look. She has a TWA(teeny weeny afro) because she transitioned for a very short amount of time.

Although her hair has grown, she does go to the barber shop every now and then to get her hair lined up and trimmed. She has no intention of growing her hair out, and nor does she have any other hair goals beside healthy hair.

Do you feel the same way? Do you want to keep and maintain your TWA? I have a few tips for a simple regimen for you.

My TWA Summer 2011

• Maintain your moisture levels. This means that you should probably moisturize your hair daily. You will know when more moisture is needed so two times or even three times a day may be needed. Try your own D.I.Y spray bottle mix or a light leave in conditioner. Using a cream/water-based moisturizer can also help. To seal in the moisture, try using your favorite oil (coconut,olive oil, tea tree etc)

• Finger detangling will cut down on time rather than using a comb. Since your hair may not be as long, you will have the pleasure of experiencing easier detangling sessions.

• Co-washing and deep conditioning are your friends! Co-washing your hair once a week can help your hair maintain moisture. If co-washing isn’t your style, always remember to wash with a sulfate-free shampoo, condition and deep condition. Listening to your hair is the key, but usually washes are done every 3-7 days.

• Come up with creative styles. Depending on how much hair your have, you can get really creative with styling. Usually three inches or more of hair can be styled. Try twists, twistouts, and coils. Wearing your ordinary afro is always cute. Add cute accessories to your style to spice it up.