Knowing how to stretch natural hair after washing is an excellent way to get rid of that shrinkage that you know is all too real. It is ideal for showing off the length you have worked so hard in growing.
By stretching your hair, you can show off your length until your next wash day. This saves you from having to do it during the week.
It is best to do it on freshly washed, moisturized and partially dried hair. This minimizes the chances of damaging your hair.
If you stretch your hair when it is soaking wet, unnecessary stress is put on the hair which can cause it to break off. For curly looks, try twist outs, banding, Bantu knots or braid outs.
For straight looks or to prepare your hair for further styling, high ponytails and buns are excellent techniques.
How to stretch hair overnight
If you rather style your hair the next day, you will want to know how to stretch your hair overnight. Stretching your hair overnight is another method, and it prepares your hair for a quicker styling process the next morning.
To stretch your hair overnight, dampen your hair with water, oil, and conditioner mix in a spray bottle, then seal in that moisture with a curl stretching cream or your favorite styling cream.
Go ahead and work your stretching style then wrap your hair in a satin scarf or cap. Leave it on overnight. It is that easy.
In the morning, all you need to do is take out the your twists, braids, knots or bands and style your hair as usual. Another benefit to stretching your hair overnight is that it helps to keep the hair from tangling as you sleep.
This saves time from having to do it the next day.
How to stretch short hair
If you have short hair, you too can enjoy the benefits of longer length once you learn how to stretch your hair. Usually flat twists end up having a better definition than twist outs, but it depends on your type of hair.
Another way to stretch short hair is with a high ponytail. This type of stretching is ideal if you would like to have a blown out look which will prepare your hair for a smoother look like a French twist.
Bantu knots are a great way to stretch hair that’s very short and can be styled into a fun afro with the definition. Keep in mind that using a stretching product helps the curl to relax, which can reduce the stretching time.
Stretched hair styles
The amount of stretched hair styles is nearly limitless, and the added length achieved by stretching your hair can give you more styling options. This is definitely the option of choice for the queen who loves her bouncy curls, flat twists or large chunky braid outs.
If you are looking to do more with bun styling, stretched hair offers more options for you as well. Twisted and braided buns are just a couple of examples of the styling versatility stretched hair offers.
For those who like to combine the control of a ponytail and the movement of curls, a high drawstring ponytail gives you the best of both worlds. Stretching hair using rollers leaves the hair with larger curls depending on the size of the roller used.
This means you can leave your hair long with luxurious curls or you can style it up the possibilities are endless.
How to stretch short hair without heat
Do you want to know how to stretch short natural hair without heat? Not only is it possible, but it is a popular way to add that extra length without damaging your hair.
The style that works best for your hair length will depend on the texture of your hair, but here are a few suggestions. Braids are an excellent method of stretching short hair.
The results are usually more defined if this is the look you were trying to achieve then braids are the stretching style for you. If you are looking to style your hair in a fro, Bantu knots should work correctly for you.
Once the knots are removed, you can select your level of curl definition depending on how much you comb, pick, or finger separates your hair. It is always a good idea to use a defining product before stretching your hair for the best results.
How to stretch natural hair with heat
When it comes to knowing how to stretch natural hair with heat, the fastest way to do it is with a blow dryer on a cool or warm setting. If you are going to use a blow dryer to stretch your hair, it is best to start with clean and moisturized, and detangled hair first to avoid setting in any knots or tangles.
Apply a heat protectant this can not be stressed enough; you want to make sure you are not damaging your hair in any way by using heat. Direct the air from the roots and work down the hair towards the ends while stretching the hair.
If you want to keep a bit of curl definition, use your hand to stretch the hair, otherwise use a wide tooth comb.
Also, using a directional attachment helps to focus the heat exactly where you want it. If your hair is very dense, it may be necessary to section the hair in tiny sections.
Be sure to move the dryer frequently, so the hair does not burn. If you see smoke, then your dryer is set to a temperature that is too high, and you are burning your hair.
How to stretch 3a hair
The best techniques in knowing how to stretch natural 3a hair are simple. For the 3a Queen, banding, Bantu knots, and chunky braids are ideal if you do not want to apply heat.
As with any stretching style, larger sections produce larger curls and tend to straighten the hair more from the root. These stretching methods result in beautiful, springy curls.
Another way to stretch 3a hair is to add hair clips to the ends of your curls. This is an excellent technique if you have layered hair and the nape of your neck is particularly difficult to stretch.
Keep the clips in until the hair is completely dry. If heat is not an issue, blow drying only the roots on cool is a wonderful way to add length; yet this is only recommended to do every other month to keep the amount of damage to your hair at a minimum.
By drying only the roots, the curls are preserved while the length is added. With a little picking at the roots and touching up, you will be left with beautiful volume and movement.
How to stretch 3b hair
Understanding how to stretch natural 3b hair is very similar to the techniques used for 3a hair. If you are not going to use heat to stretch your hair, divide your hair into sections, then continue with either large cornrows, Bantu knots, banding or flat twists.
Be sure to add a little stretching cream to help loosen those curls and to add length and definition. Remember that the bigger the section of the hair the bigger the curls will be.
Because 3b hair tends to have looser curls, putting your hair into a ponytail or bun on top of your head adds volume as well as length. If you are looking to keep your curl pattern use only your hands to put your hair up and avoid any styling tools such as brushes or combs as these can make the hair frizzy.
If you are not opposed to using heat, using a blow dryer to stretch your hair should give you excellent results. You can blow dry the entire hair from root to tip or if you just want to add a little length while preserving the curl, just blow dry the roots on a cool or warm setting while using a diffuser.
Don’t forget to use a heat protectant to keep your hair from damage.
How to stretch natural 3c hair
For those of you wondering how to stretch natural 3c hair, there are some excellent options for you. Roller sets are a great way to stretch 3c and 3b hair alike.
If your curls loosen relatively quickly, stretching your hair with rollers can add soft and springy curls along with the added length. While using rollers to stretch your hair can be done on dry hair, the best results come from setting your hair with stretching cream and when the hair is damp or even wet.
Other methods such as banding, braids, and twists are also effective means for stretching hair. When time is an issue, and you do not want to invest the hours it takes to naturally stretch your hair, blow drying your hair after applying a heat protectant always an option.
If you focus only on the roots, use a directing attachment. If you dry the entire length of the hair, use a diffuser while pulling the hair straight.
How to stretch 4a hair
Since type 4a hair has a tighter curl, learning the different techniques on how to stretch natural 4a hair is important.
Bantu knots in larger sections are a wonderful way to stretch 4a hair and leave lovely bouncy curls. To make Bantu knots, apply a curl cream then divide the damp hair into three or four-inch sections.
Twist the hair until it twists on itself then secure. Allow it to completely dry and remove the knots.
With oiled finders carefully separate the curls until you achieve the level of separation you like. To add a little more stretch, you can secure each section with a hair tie close to the head before twisting the hair into the knot.
When the knots are removed, the hair is beautifully curled but. The key to adding length is not to make the sections too small.
Remember the smaller the section, the tighter the curl. While this is a beautiful style, it may not give you the length you are looking for, but the results will be stunning.
How to stretch 4b hair
For the queen who wants to know how to stretch natural 4b hair, here are a few suggestions. If you want to keep defined curls with spring and bounce, twists that are stretched and pinned are the way to go.
However, if your goal is to get the most stretch possible, banding and African threading are recommended. Banding and threading, when used with stretching creams, allow the curls to relax which helps with the stretching process.
This results in longer hair that you can easily style. While these techniques are a little more time intensive, they only require quick touch ups and allow you to switch your styling throughout the week or until the next wash day.
How to stretch 4c hair
If your hair is type 4c, you may be wondering how to stretch your hair. You may be familiar with banding which is tying sections of hair with elastic hair ties about every inch or so down a small section of hair.
While this is an effective method for stretching 4c hair, African threading might give you better and longer results. African threading is done by taking a small section of damp and moisturized hair then tightly winding thread down the entire length of the hair to the ends.
When using the African threading technique, leaving open spaces between the thread results in a crimped look, where not leaving any spaces leaves the hair with a little curl and only stretched hair remains. After the threading is complete, leave it to dry for at least a day.
Make sure to secure your hair with a satin scarf or cap while sleeping to protect the hair from any damage. When the hair is completely dry, remove the thread by gently pulling the end of the thread closest to the end of the hair.
The hair will unwind quickly. When all the thread has been removed, simply style your hair as usual.
Hey Curl Friend, I’m Patrina Haupt the creator and author of Natural Hair Queen. I hope you find my healthy hair care tips helpful in your hair journey. Healthy hair care practices are definitely, what helped me to achieve waist length hair.
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