In September, I told you guys that I was going to do my own protective style challenge (read the post here). Here’s what I was going to do:

• Keep my hair in protectives styles (kinky twists, two-strand twists, wigs and I’m going to attempt a bun before I have to start wearing a hat! It will mean that I have to lightly straighten my hair. I’m hoping not to do it with heat)
• Wash scalp with shampoo and co-wash hair weekly
• Deep condition with heat as needed
• Oil scalp with castor oil/olive oil mix 3x week
• Moisturize daily and seal with oil
• Wear kinky twists at least twice from now until December 4

So here are the updates:

I did try a bun over Thanksgiving weekend (see the pics here). I enjoyed the bun very much — so much that I wore it one week and then washed my hair and put in another bun. I was just concerned about the tension on my hair. I don’t think I found that my hair broke anymore than normal, but I really didn’t enjoy the amount of gel that I used to keep my hair under control. That being said, I probably will do the bun once more this year and will retire them until 2011.

I just put another set of kinky twists in my hair on October 31 and they came out 100 times better than last time. Why? I used different hair. The twist hair that I used the first time was, clearly, horribly bad quality. The hair that I used last weekend was soft, curly and didn’t tangle up as much. I used a whipped shea and cocoa butter mix to twist the hair and it came out great! So, I’m hoping to keep these in until December 3. That’s five weeks from now — a total of six weeks of my hair in a protective style.

Lord! That’s a LONG time! I’m determined — and it’s nice not to have deal with my hair every day. I love my hair, but in the mornings when I have to go to work, doing my hair can be a pain. Just pure laziness.

But, I’ve found a new style for the new year! I’ve been hearing all about crochet braids and I’m planning to try them out in February. Don’t know what they are? Check out this video:

Isn’t that amazing? Now, the method is called crochet braids, but you don’t use a crochet needle. It’s a latch hook or rug hook tool. I got mine at Michael’s for $6.99, but they were selling them for as low as $4.99.

I’m not sure what type of hair that I will use — I like:

• Outre Batik Synthetic Weave – Body Twist 10
• Outre Vibe Human Hair Blend Weave – Grammy Wave
• Sensationnel Kanubia Synthetic Weave – Body Twist 12″
• Sensationnel Kanubia Synthetic Weave – Romance Curl 14″
• Sensationnel Kanubia Synthetic Weave – Spring Curl – I’m not too sure about this one, but I think it could work… I’ll consider it depending on what type of mood I’m in when I decide to do it.

Now, I just have to learn how to do cornrows!

Ed. note: There’s been some discussion about how to remove crochet braids and any possible breakage. I’ve been doing some research — well, watching YouTube videos — about removing crochet braids. From the videos that I’ve watched, you shouldn’t get any more breakage than if you were to weave your hair. I think that the biggest thing that I’ll have to do before I install these braids is to ensure that I’ve done a good protein treatment and deep condition before I get started. Also, while my braids are in, I’m going to have to keep my hair moisturized with a spritz of some sort — I don’t want anything heavy because of my scalp issues and I doubt I’ll be able to wash my scalp how I would like.

What do you guys think?