Combating Hair Shrinkage

One complaint of women with natural hair is shrinkage. Because of the tightness of our curls, our hair appears to be shorter than it actually is. One way to combat hair shrinkage is to find styles that will stretch the hair. Below are three tips (with videos) that can help stretch your hair if shrinkage bothers you.

1. Flat twists: this is achieved by parting the hair to your desired thickness, taking two strands of hair (again, to your desired thickness), and then twisting on the scalp (pulling the hair strands around each other until you reach the ends of your hair). Repeat this all over you head. Here's a video of flat twisting by a natural hair blogger, Naptural85. You can find her on YouTube where she posts many more natural hair tutorials.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkjM-bNPbN4

2. Two strand twists: this is similar to flat twists except you don't twist on the scalp. Part a section of hair (with your desired thickness), split the section into two pieces, and twist by pulling the two strands of hair around each other until you reach the end of your hair. Repeat all over your head. Check out this video by MsVaughnTV and follow her on YouTube for more tutorials! 

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COAkFNggn7o

3. Banding: part your hair to your desired thickness. Next, grab a lot of hair ties and/or rubber bands. Starting at the top of your head, near your scalp, wrap the hair tie around your hair. Then, about an inch lower, wrap another hair tie on your hair. Continue to do this process until you reach the end of your hair. Repeat all over your head until finished. See the video below by LaBellaNatural for an visual aid of banding! :)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEYjdKq0n28