As the brutal cold weather reared its head, I said to myself, Devri–it’s time to let your natural hair hibernate for a while.
No, I didn’t big chop. I just opted for another protective style… Havana Twists!
What are Havana Marley Twists?
Similar to Marley (Kinky Twists”>, Havana Twists are created with the same type of hair but secured into the scalp using the Invisible Root Method. One cannot tell where the added hair begins and my real hair ends. And I love it. In true protective styling form, my natural curly texture is completely sealed and tucked away, thus preventing breakage (split ends”>, and over-manipulation that I tend to do to my hair. It’s getting a real treat with these twists, let me tell ya.
Installation
I used about 7 packs of Zury marley kanekalon braiding hair in 1B (jet black”>–at 5 bucks a pop plus $80 installation, you definitely will get your money’s worth with this super versatile protective style. My beautician separated each small section of my hair into 2 equal pieces, placed the braiding hair in the middle through my natural hair’s two-strand twist. She separated the strands to help them blend in with the added hair, and then two-strand twisted the rest downward in a clockwise motion. With the ‘bend’ of the added hair, she started twisting down in the opposite direction for about 2 or 3 inches. She repeated on the other side of the twist in the opposite direction as well–this lets the twist look as natural as possible.
If you’d prefer your ends to look more natural and not just bluntly end, dip them into boiling water, or sleep with flexi rods overnight for a natural curl. Since I wanted my ends to be straight, I simply used the flame from a lighter to seal them together so that they do not unravel.
Maintenance
As mentioned above, I used a lighter to seal my ends. However, after many days of sleeping on the twists, they are sure to unravel or loosen up over time. Use a spray bottle with water to mist the unraveled ends and take a dollop of a gel or edge tamer to retwist the hair down. Twirl the very end around your finger to ensure that it does not come apart again for a while.
It’s important to let your natural hair breathe, every once in a while–especially if your ultimate hair goals include the healthiest, longest hair possible. This style takes little manipulation in keeping up with your hair, and allows it to grow in peace for up to 3 months if maintained properly.
Have you rocked a protective style this winter? I’d love to hear your experience. Let us know in the comments below.
