A Safe Way to Stretch Natural Black Hair

A good, heat free method to extend natural black hair for wear and styling.

via NaturallyCurly

Naturally coily and kinky hair is known for its ability to shrink up to 80 percent of it’s actual length and many try to combat shrinkage by using using heat to stretch their natural hair. The issue, though, is that heat styling poses the risk of damaging the hair and as a result naturals are not left with many options for stretching natural hair that can fully elongate their curls.

The Damn Salon, based out of Atlanta, specializes in a 100 percent heat free technique that uses thread — yes, as in sewing thread — to stretch tightly coiled hair to its maximum length. The technique called ‘Nwele’, which means ‘hair’ in Swahili, originated in Africa and is a safe way to lengthen hair for wear and styling. It is also known as African threading.

Before seeing the Nwele technique executed in person, I was skeptical that the process could lengthen as much as heat styling, but let me tell you, seeing is believing — and so is having it demonstrated on my own hair.

Check out these pictures of the Nwele technique!

A Damn Salon stylist demonstrates the Nwele technique. Here, thread is wrapped around the base of a section of hair.

Thread is wrapped around the entire length of hair from root to tip using a special technique.

Mushiya holds up a finished Nwele next to the model’s loose hair

A side by side comparison, Nwele-stretched hair and shrunken coils on a model.

Elongated and smooth two-strand twists after removing the thread.