Shrinkage is an issue that most Naturalistas deal with. However, just as all people are different, so are the opinions on shrinkage.
For instance, some hate shrinkage with a passion. I can relate to this, because one minute you are rockin a fierce twistout, or bantu knot out, and people are asking if your hair is a wig*, or they are incredulous as to how much hair you have.
Then, after wash day, and shrinkage, those same people are like, “What?! Did you cut your hair?” And then you have to explain shrinkage to them. Meh. I know, I know. You worked hard to get and keep the length you have, and you want to show it off. You gon’ witcha bad self!
Then there are others who don’t mind shrinkage. I have a friend loves, loves, loves her shrinkage. She says that it’s just what her hair does, and she doesn’t mind it because she knows how long her hair is.
Then, (because I asked, of course), she tells me about the dangers of heat styling and blah blah blah. (Sorry, I love her, but that drives me nuts.)
Personally, after I detangle my hair and dry it, I stretch it out. I don’t mind shrinkage, but when I let Claudette (my hair’s name) shrink, she goes nuts. She curls into my scalp like an angry fist.
And after about one day, she’s tangled, she’s dry, and hard. I find that when I stretch her, I can manage her better, thus keeping her happy and healthy. During my hair journey, I have stretched my hair with heat and without. I have found what works for me, and perhaps I can help you find what works (and what does not work) for you.
So, beautiful ones, let us discuss the 2 methods of stretching hair that I am familiar with – Heat and Heatless.
1. Heat
Yes, lovelies, you can certainly stretch your hair with heat. You can use a heat protectant, then put a comb attachment onto your blow dryer*, and stretch it out. You could also do it without a comb using the tension method of blow drying.
Be sure that your hair is detangled before you use the blow dryer*, and do not dry saturated hair. Let it dry about 70%. DO NOT use the highest setting and I can not stress enough the importance of a heat protectant* otherwise, you will fry your strands.
Alternatively you can put your hair in twists, dry completely, and then flat iron* the hair straight. Once again, a heat protectant* is crucial.
embrace the so called “shrinkage”… nothing wrong with
There is nothing wrong with it ….I just laugh at the folks who thought I was bald headed …baby the faces they make when I blow my hair out !! Lmao
I hate shrinkage only cause the white people at my job always ask me if I cut my hair!!!!!
Women are starting to look like crackheads like they dont feel like like combing their hair. I’m not down with that nappy “natural look”..in every white group, there is one blk girl with a nappy ass fro trying to “keep it real” and I’m always like “Girl bye, get you a weave or something”
nonsense if u have problems just kill urself
u hate natural hair so why u have post “like” in this page ffor natural sisters??? get i live and learn to respet the people
or ur mama dont educate u well?? or mayby shes like u a nonsense person.
LAWD HAVE MERCY! Was tellin’ ol’ girl 2 kill herself, and talking about her mother REALLY necessary?! Geez!!!
When I was growing up. I learn that everybody will have there opinion and will judge me but it is my choice to not care because god created me and he love me just the way I am. If you feel that way, that’s your opinion. The only thing I can tell you is that not everybody is like me and will take things to the next level so be careful of what you saying or how you posting things on social network.
I embrace it. I can’t complain at all. It’s how I was created. I could question God…but I’ve already know his answer.
I don’t like it.. But I put up with it… It’s a product called curls unleashed.. It helps keep my curls semi full lengthy
Blowdry
I don’t bother with stretching. My hair refuses to uncurl! I tried it a couple of times…didn’t agree with me.
Well, it is a natural occurrence that you can’t really do anything about. I don’t worry too much about it. I stretch my hair with two strand twists sometimes because I like the style.
no thats not tru. yes is natural but u can do something i just braid my hair and guess what: no shrinkage and that u do also is a way to combet i shrinkage a natural way.
At this point of this walk for me….but to deal…lol…#stilllearning
Not
Guess what I’m proud to be me ppl need to stop trying to be some one else now thts keeping it fake buying so called human hair what yo hair ain’t human ?
I use the banging method to deal with my shrinkage
I love the fact I can leave it or stretching go wid the flow I say.x
Whenever my hair shrinks, it tangles up on itself. I have a baby and haven’t been able to spend a lot of time detangling and stretching, so now it is just a mess. I have tangles, I have post pregnancy shedding so it’s falling out, but sometimes the loose hair is stuck within my hair and just gets tangled back in. I really don’t want to cut it, but it might be easiest to have a TWA with a baby. Any suggestions are welcome.
honey just brsid ur hair or use marly or senegalese twist and u will be fine or if u want so bad just cut it less work thats true. but find some time for u and deal with ur beauty
With my 4c hair the shrinkage is real…I let it do what it wants to do…
I focus on having healthy hair so hair shrinkage does not bother me:)
Shrinkage is shrinkage….I could really care less.
I twist then band my daughters. It works well!
Just read a comment on here. Smh. There is absolutely nothing “crackhead” looking about well taken care of natural hair. A lot if us are just brainwashed into thinking straight hair is so much “prettier”, BEAUTY is in the eye of the beholder. And natural is “keeping it real”. 100%
Preach!!!
I have what seemss to be 75% shrinkage if there is such a thing (j/k). I usually twist my hair in individual braids and once they dry I re twist (helps with my ocd) and or untwist and blow dry the roots whilst stretching the hair out, extending away from my head.
Shrinkage – isn’t that just what our hair looks like naturally. It doesn’t shrink, it just “is”. And it certainly is not a problem. <3
I have 50 percent shrinkage and the only time I stretch is when I’m getting braids or Senegalese twists. Other than that it’s whatever.
A blow dryer and round brush works for me. Nothing wrong with being natural and switching it up sometimes.
Blow dry it then do a twist out or braid out, make sure u moisturize. Its ok to be annoyed with shrinkage, it comes with being natural though.
Also roller sets can bring a lil length
Nice!!!!
I’ve embraced shrinkage.
she’s really pretty
I embrace if but rock twist out to minimize knots & tangles… I know my hair is long even if my curls shrink up to my ear lol
Is it just me we hate shrinkage when our hair is short or medium but as our hair grows longer we begin to say stuff like” i embrace my shrinkage” ” i love my shrinkage” lool am one of those when my hair was shorter i hated shrinkage bc ppl will constantly ask me if i cut my hair now i begin to love it most especially when i blow dry or flat iron my hair or even stretch it they are like 😮 is that ur hair
I’ve never had a problem with shrinkage. Even when my hair started growing back from getting shaved bald I didn’t have a problem with it. I let my hair do what it wants to do.
I just embrace the whole journey..I flat iron once a year..blow dry maybe 2x a year..
I don’t mind shrinkage at all because I love how coily my hair is because it makes my fine hair look thicker. If I had one complaint, it would be the SSKs. Sometimes I stretch by twisting or braiding it though.
Like, I always say shrinkage is a “beautiful surprise.” I love mine and the secret what it holds is awesome. Compact hair doesn’t mean short hair. Shrinkage is proof of that… 🙂
I HATE shrinkage but as my hair grows, it won’t even matter. I stretch it by leaving it in twists or braids for days after detangling. So pretty!
For the comment about weave, I like weave. It’s an important part of my TRANSITIONING journey. You can screw off!
Pineapple and a pick are my best friends. Hate shrinkage !
I embrace it.. It’s natural. When I want to achieve another look I stretch it usually by blow dry it with grape seed oil of course.
Marlaina Anderson thank you for your post! I LOVE my shrinkage! A lot of work but well worth it. People talk but won’t contribute to the cause. I am blessed to have friends that love the natural look. It has taken me a long time to get to this point. I use leave-in conditioner and water, mixed in a spray bottle to detangle my hair. I then add a shea butter moisturizer and twist hair all over.
Dont like it, never will. I HAVE to stretch mine by braiding it while damp otherwise there are so much tangles and pain if I let it dry completely.
finali someone like mi uff… yes u rigth thats hapen to mi when i was a little girl now i dont let shrinkage win no no nooo… i wash my hair normaly and there is a shrinkage ok..what i do to deal with it: just mousturize my hair in secions and do my braids normaly and after 2 or 3 days i have my lenght back with no shrinkage with no problems a dont have problems with shrinkage cos i know very well how i can deal with
mami u are doing very well
Joyce Killedthemessenger Williams you’ve got to be one of the most ignorant people….take them chains of your enslaved mind! Smh…
Shrinkage is part of having natural curls. I didn’t know people purposely did styles to stretch their hair, I just thought it was another hairstyle to try. I get the tangles argument, but stretching it just because you hate the shrinking? We’re not white, what did you think was gonna happen to your hair?
Joyce, I will pray for you. You are a people pleaser, it is so apparent in your thinking. Yes, you are entitle to your thinking, but, when you voice them, the the negative way you just did, you sound like a damn fool. Sometimes, silent is better. Don’t be so vain.
Have it both ways.
I don’t.
My hair only knows shrinkage.
Amazing
It’s just the natural design if our texture. It also symbolizes healthy happy hair. My shrinkage doesn’t bother me because I knw the lenth of my hair and that’s what I care about. The health of my curls is more important than showing”the world” my lenth. Embrace ur shrinkage because it’s a part of embracing ur natural.
i deal with no problem just stretch braiding my hair and its ok sooo i dont have problms with srinkage cos i know sooo much to deal with that srinkage and pass 2 or 3 day i have my lenght back normaly
TWIST OUTTTT!
I do the banding method
I embrace it also and I think it should be looked at more positively – after all, that’s what gives us our curl and texture! We should instead ask “how do you stretch?”
I love my shrinkage. However, I tend to keep my hair stretched 80% of the time to keep my hair from tangling and breaking. I use the double stretch african threading method. I deliberately wear my hair shrunken when rocking a bantu knot out to give me that twa look whenever I want it.
Shrinkage is good….keeps everybody else mind wondering….it shows your true fair texture…
Wtf is going on with ppl n they negative energy so early in 2014?!?! If u can’t say anything positive pertaining towards the question asked then get da eff off this page. Smdh at the classless women in these groups. OAN, the braiding technique does work n I have to do it at least 3x a week. I can’t do the baby fro, it’s not for everyone but twist out all day.
I did care for shrinkage at first. But it’s been 2 years and I love it. I can have it short or stretched. But I think I’m going to stick to a natural stretch instead of pressing it.
People are always surprised when they find out how long my daughters’ hair is! It reaches down their backs btw the shoulder blades. People don’t realize that their hair coils tightly so it appears shorter than it really is.
I like to do the pineapple method it works great in stretching my curls
Well I have a TWA and my hair shrink to the Max…. I hot combed it twice and it grew than I thought…
I have a head full of long natural hair I do not mind shrinkage!!!
My daughter who is 12 her hair is just like da lil gurl n da pic …please help me she going 2 high school nxt nd i hve ran out of hairstyles nd its Thick ..
I love my shrinkage but a twist out is my fav
@ Deirdre Campbell wow very nice.
@ Joyce killedthemesse I know you did not mean all women with natural hair. Lol I know what you mean not everyone looks good wearing the natural hair.
Because I have seen a lot of women with there hair looking dry, flaky and not looking right.
I’m a natural head but my hair is well moisturized and I don’t care for the shrinkage look.
Deal, that our natural beauty!!!
I just perm it.
It is annoying. It lies!!!!!!! I like length and for my hair to rest on my shoulders but God said Black woman you have enough on your shoulders as is I will help you out by not letting your hair weigh you down! It will be lifted like your spirits It will be round like a crown because you are a Queen!!!!!
Preach Ms. Reynolds! That’s one way to help and put into perspective why its important to be natural. I like that. Put that on a T-shirt or a poster!
why do we even call it shrinkage when that is the hairs natural state? shrinkage as opposed to what? its not like it will ever change to a looser curl pattern or strait hair. its just the texture of our hair
When I first went natural I transitioned. Since I had to textures. It was easier for me to heat stretch. But then I started noticing heat damage on my hair even though I used heat protectant, so I stopped doing it about a month ago. Wow what a journey. I had no idea what type of hair I had, but with the help of the lovely Felecia Leatherwood. I have mainly 4a with a splash of 3c 4b in spontaneous places. So at least now I can look at products that is compatible with my hair type. I would try twist and braid outs and I don’t know what happens, but every time it just comes out SO WRONG! But then I realized maybe I should just flat twist and cornrow and see what happens. I agree with you about being able to retain the moisture when my hair is wet. I discovered African threading when I just want to set it and forget it. It last for an entire week which is cool. I’m still in the learning curve and I love that you hate rules because I do too. Everyone’s hair is different and every one has a different regimen. Thanks for the post.
I use heat often and I got mid back healthy natural hair. I prefer either straight or blown out hair because my curls so tight and kinky I get lots of knots and breakage so this has helped along with protective style’s to help retain length and overall health. I never had heat damage or thinning hair either it’s all about how to properly protect your hair while using heat.
Flat ironed straight during the winter, curly during the summer. Between workouts, swimming, and plain old heat, no possible way I could pretend to stretch my curls. So I just let it grow.
Don’t care, my hair just shrinks, long as it’s healthy I’m good
I’m trying to grow my hair, so shrinkage really doesn’t make sense to me in the long run; the extra length coiling onto itself will just leave it susceptible to tangles and knots. I let it stay shrunken for the most part when it was a TWA, but now that I am getting some length, I will be experimenting with stretching methods.
I’m always wearing a protective style so shrinkage is not a problem