How to Stretch your Naturally Curly Hair

Disclosure: I am not a state board licensed cosmetologist. All opinions expressed are my own as a result of my own experiences.  

If you are like me and experience lots of shrinkage then you are definitely going to want to read this. I have what I believe is 3C/4A hair. It is a mix of voluminous, kinky curls and springy coils. The hair is soft, bouncy and requires lots of moisture. 

Before "Dye Stretching"

If this is your hair type or you are anything above a 3c then this method of stretching your curly hair will most likely work. This is not your typical stretch method so we won't be doing any twist/braidouts, no banding, drying with clips, bantu knots, pinning or slight blow dries. We won't be using any anti-shrinkage styling products or any other method you probably have tried. 

If you have been reading the blog for a while you know that I am currently on my second hair journey. The first time around I transitioned, this time I Big Chopped and let me just say it is not for everyone you can read about My Big Chop Experience if you'd like. 

I mention all that to say that now, 2 years into my journey I kept asking myself why my hair seemed to have so much more shrinkage than during my first journey. When I pulled a few strands for a length check recently, I noticed that the hair seem to be as long if not longer then before chopping it all off. So what was the problem? What did or didn't I do that now I have the craziest shrinkage I have ever seen on my hair? 

Then it hit me one day after lots of research ok, ok I was simply just looking at old photos trying to figure out what went wrong and then I did! I realized that I had always dyed my hair black except for that one time I decided to go red and it killed my curls and I had to big chop but I digress. I had always dyed my hair black since very early on in my transitioning phase, I remembered a beautician once told me that it was good that I had been dying it because it softens my curls - but by soften she meant it would tame them because she felt my hair was too unruly for a wash and set but again I digress. 

Any who the point is that dying my hair didn't only soften/ tame/ make it easier for this lady to do a roller set but........... drum roll please!!! IT STRETCHED MY CURLS! So guess what a few weeks ago before my birthday/ two year post big chop blow out I dyed my hair and TADA, IT WORKED!      

After "Dye Stretching" (Sorry for the pixelated image, it's my cell's front cam)

I know, I know on to the details right? 

How I Stretched my Curls with Hair Dye

• A few days before I plan on dying, I deep condition and or do a hot oil treatment (Co-Washing)
• I ONLY use Dark And Lovely Permanent Hair Color 371 Jet Black

* I do not recommend dying it a color lighter than your natural color
*Using anything that requires bleach
*Any other brand for that matter 
*Here is what I do recommend, that you do a strand test. Take a small piece of hair near the nape of your neck and try out the dye. Which is what I said I was going to do when I went red but I skipped it and well you saw what happened, 5 months later I big chopped because NOTHING brought my curls back, fast forward 2 years and they're back but still you get the point, DO A STRAND TEST!

• After dying, wash with products specific for my curly hair and yes you guessed it, deep condition! 
• Style as usual.

Here is what I learned about dying my curly hair this time around:

• Shea Moisture Hair Color system doesn't not stretch my hair.

* Not sure if it is too "Natural/Organic" for me however it is perfectly safe on your hair and probably a good starting off dye if your looking to try color and or stretching with hair dye.

• I probably won't dye and blow out/ flat iron the same week. 

* I have slight heat damage (similar to dye damage, it is when heat removes/ changes the curl pattern) and I can't say whether it was the heat it self or the combination of the dye stretching and heat.

So that is all folks! I love my hair so much more now, I should actually say I love it like I used to before the Big Chop. I had my days where the shrinkage frustrated me and I thought I was going to have to live with twist/braid outs for another year or two. But nope I am back to wash and goes and love it! I love my braid outs but the connivence of a wash & go can't be replaced.