Whenever I see a person with locs walk by I always check out how their hair is styled. Usually, it’s some funky style that makes me want to run to a shop to get my hair styled. Since I’ve made the decision to go natural, and due to a bad experience when I first came out of my braids and was fully au naturale, I always tried to maintain my own hair. I loved trying new styles and finding new ways to style my hair.

Once I locked my hair I couldn’t really figure out what to do with it outside of a few styles. I always said, “I can’t wait from my hair to grow so I can start playing with it.” Well, it has grown and I still haven’t done anything with it outside of a few attempts at styling it.

This week I had enough of the two styles I have and posed a style question to the Natural, Nappy, and Crafty forum board on Ravelry for a style intervention. It was suggested that I head over to YouTube for styling how-to’s. Best suggestion ever! I found some really great and easy styles I can do myself and last night made my 1st attempt at the braided bun.

This styling how-to comes courteously of Shawnta716.

Things you will need:

• elastic band
• tiny rubber bands
• bobby pins
• hair bobbles (optional)

The first thing you do is make a ponytail using an elastic band.

Then take some loc strands (about 9) and plait them. When you get to the end, close it with a tiny rubber band. You will have uneven ends sticking out the bottom, so turn up the bottom and add another rubber band to hold in place. Do this with the rest of the strands in the ponytail.

Next, comes placement. Find the 2 shortest braids and tuck them into the bottom of the elastic band. This will be your base. Then one by one, wrap each braid around the base and either tuck or pin in place. That’s it!

For me, the most time was in placement and making sure there weren’t any spaces in my bun. How does it look? Do you have a style to share?

As the owner of a handmade aromatherapy products business, I make natural products all the time.  The problem is, I normally make products to sell and always put things for me on the back burner.  Of sure, in the beginning I was my best guinea pig and items were usually created from a needed I, or a family member had.

This year I decided to take a break from the business after 10+ years of creating in one area or another.  This year I’m going to have fun experimenting with different ingredients, crafts, projects, etc.  This year is going to be my fun year because I get to go back to what I love to do most.  Create!

Last week I washed my hair and knew I was going to palm roll it since I had fizzy roots.  Before I did, I prepared a light weight loc butter to help moisturize and set my hair.  The base was soy butter.  I know that soy is a great skin and hair moisturizer, but I also know that it’s a lot lighter than shea butter (which I love).  Remember, the purpose for this butter was for moisture and to take the place of using a loc gel.

I made the blend, added essential oils and washed my hair.  I was happy to see that the "goop" was light, loose and really felt good on my dry hair.  I put it all over my head before I started the palm rolling and it took about 1 1/2 hours from start to finish.

True to form, I didn’t add anything else to my hair this week and yesterday I notice that my hair was still soft to the touch…yeaaa.  I normally have to add an oil blend I made to my hair everyday or every other day, so it doesn’t get that brittle feeling.

So far so good with this new concoction.  What are some ways you keep your locs moisturized?