Edges

I realized something about myself recently. I've never do anything to my edges. I don't brush them up, or do anything to try to keep them neat - except retwist my first row of twists when I think that they look raggedy. Generally I just haven't cared. Even when I used to do my puffs, I just smoothed my hair up with my hands, and it would look however it turned out. (For an example see my post: So I Ended Up With a Wash-n-Go). I am blessed that absent a few times when I did my extensions too tight and I lost a few patches of hair, and the time that I was five and decided to experiment with my Dad's razor (long story short, I wanted to shave like my father and since I had limited choices regarding hair removal, I shaved both sides of my head), I've had a fairly even and full hairline.

I only noticed because I've had a few conversations about edges recently. One of my co-workers and I were talking about our hairlines, or edges, and she suggested a post about them because there are people who have hairlines that are further back, or thin edges. When someone is in that situation, I am a big fan of keeping any twists along the edges looser at the root, so that there is minimum stress on those strands.  I also suggest that instead of pushing the hair back into puffs or ponytails, that you flat twist or cornrow the edges, so the hair will be under less strain. There is a whole collection of YouTube videos discussing the use of an Emu oil and Jamaican Black Castor oil concoctions. Last year when I was reading Mop Top Maven's blog I also learned about Ayurvedic massage using oils infused with horsetail, nettle, hibiscus, and other herbs to thicken hair and stop breakage. It can definitely stimulate growth, and hopefully even help fill in some of the thinner pieces.

When I went to the Bronner Bros. Hair Show last weekend I purchased some products, including a sample size of a product that a friend asked me to buy (in bulk). I had heard of the product and knew that it was a popular fix for smoothing down one's edges, so I wanted to try it out. I had also spoken to one of my running friends about edges, because we were talking about the work involved in the various aspects of haircare. I thought it was too much work to put in product smooth my hair down and tie my hair up in order to get smoothed down edges, she thought that doing a full head of small twists was too much work, but that keeping her edges smooth wasn't, and that it just made her natural hair styles look better.

I decided to try again - here are some before and after pictures.  I don't know that I will do it consistently, but I will smooth my edges down...more often.

 

Before

   

After

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Write by: Unknown - Saturday, August 27, 2011