These kinky twists are driving me mad.

I had committed to keeping them in until at least Thanksgiving weekend (October 9). I have two weeks to go, but I’m already dreaming of pulling these things out. They are getting loose and looking a bit rusty – probably because it was my first attempt to put them in. When my trusty braider does them, it’s a good four to five weeks before I start thinking that my hair isn’t looking as fresh.

There have been positives: my scalp is under control thanks to washing it weekly with liquid black soap and oiling my scalp regularly with a castor oil/olive oil/jojoba oil mix. I have a lot more time on my hands because I’m not styling my hair weekly. The negatives? I don’t get to play with my hair anymore because it’s twisted up – a very minor negative.

I spent about eight hours twisting my hair on Labour Day weekend. People, we are still in September. I cannot rationalize taking these twists out until at least October. Really, it would have been a waste of my time and energy.

My protective styling challenge is to keep my hair under wraps until December 4 and I’ve committed to doing kinky twists at least twice during this time. If that’s the case, I should keep them in for at least a month at a time to make it worthwhile.

So, I’m keeping them in until Thanksgiving come hell or high water! I’m thinking, I’m going to try buns for my rest week and spend the weekend of October 23 twisting my hair again. My friend volunteered to be a twisting guinea pig, so I’m hoping I can do her hair at the end of the month.

I know that protective styles are necessary for maintaining growth, but it’s a pain! I guess that’s why they call it a challenge 😉