Pixie/Box Braids on Natural Hair (No Extensions!)

For a while now, I have been wanting to do pixie/box braids using my own hair, and the inspiration came from watching vids on youtube, and this past Sunday, I got the courage to try doing them.

I went about my Sunday schedule as usual, I tried prepooing with Vegetable Shortening (Crisco), which turned out to be a total disaster! I could not get water hot enough and it solidified in my hair. I eventually got most of it out, I then did a cayenne treatment for three hours without heat, with a plastic cap. I clarified after with VO5 Herbal Escapes Clarifying Kiwi Lime, conditioned with VO5 Herbal Escapes Free Me Freesia.

(Comparing VO5 Free Me Freesia to Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut, out of the two, I think I liked the Suave better. They both did fairly well at detangling my hair with the help of my wide tooth comb, and came out soft after rinsing, but Suave gave my hair a little poof/body, where VO5 FMF left my hair flat, still both very good conditoners, and cheap, VO5 Shampoo's and Conditioners can range between .79- 1.49 USD depending where you purchase, I have not seen Suave that cheap, but it can range between 1.00 to 3.50 USD, depending on what 'flavor' you get) (There are different lines on the Suave Brand which is why prices vary)


I deep conditioned with Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol for an hour, with a plastic cap, without heat. (My hair does not always come out soft after using this dc, so I'm not sure if I will repurchase, perhaps it could be better if I added oil to it, we'll see)


After dcing, I rinsed, and I oiled my scalp with a mixture (in an applicator bottle) of Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil (ABUHO), and Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Oil (L)(JBCO).

 To make use of the Softee Mango Butter that has been collecting dust on my shelf (due to petroleum being it's first ingredient) On the directions, it states that it can also be used as a heat protectant, so that is exactly what I used it for. I blow dried my hair, and then got to braiding. While blow drying, I used a comb, and made sure that my ends were dried completely, and detangled, I was able to check this by seeing if I could comb through my hair without it snagging.

Since my scalp was already oiled up, and I had a VO5 HE FMF, and Softee Mango Butter on my hair (not on scalp), I did not need any added moisture.

All I used was a comb to part. I would say it took 7-8 hours over the course of two days, of course while doing other things here and there, I could never stand/sit still for that long. I started with the front, so that just in case I did not like how it turned out, I would not be forced into completing the style. I completed last night.

I put my pixie braids into six plaits, and put on a satin scarf and just undid the braids the following morning.

Here are the Results

 Until Next Time, Naomi ~

Bantu Knot Out Results (On wet/damp hair)

I wanted to do an 'intense' cayenne treatment yesterday, so instead of my usual hour and a half, I went for three and change with a cap. It was a water only mix, and boy did my scalp pulse, which is great! lol 

I had to cowash, to get my hair clean, and aid in getting all they cayenne pepper out of my hair. I did so with VO5 Herbal Escapes Kiwi Lime. I blotted my hair with a towel, and sealed with my mixture of oils, I have in an applicator bottle, which consists of LJBCO, HHCO, and ABUHO. 

*LJBCO- Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Oil (Pure)

    HHCO- Home Health Castor Oil (Cold Pressed Cold Processed)

    ABUHO- Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil (Brand, mixture of natural oils, fragrance is only unnatural ingredient) 

The great thing about an applicator bottle is that you don't have to make parts to oil your scalp. Just use the nozzle and squeeze the bottle. I wanted my bantu knot out to have some length to it, so I did not use a leave in conditioner, I sealed again with my mixture of oils.

   *Seal- Is to seal in moisture applied to hair like a leave in, or any other water based moisturizier, by coating  hair with an oil. 

Then I used made parts as I went, and to each section I added Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion (which I normally use for rod sets) mixed with a little of Softee Mango Butter (Hair Dress). I brought this product from a 99 cent store because of it's price. Since it both Petroleum and Mineral Oil, I don't use this product too often. So I wanted to find a use for it. 

Not saying that products containing P&MO are bad, but I find the are not moisturizing, and just coat the hair, instead of providing moisture. It is because they are more so barriers, they do not allow moisture in, but it does help keep whatever moisture that is in, stays in.

I do not know how many knots I did to be honest, I would say less than 30 knots all together. My hair does not hold the knots well, so I use bobby pins at the end of the knots. I could not find my satin bonnet, so I used my satin scarf, and kept them overnight. I took them out in the morning, and fluffed, and threw on a headband. This style usually lasts 2-3 days.

Before (Ignore the Date)

 

 

Until Next Time, HHG To All! Naomi <3