6 Reasons Why Your Bantu-Knot Out is Failing

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Sabrina Perkins · Updated August 22, 2016

,0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15″>; margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% – 2px”>;” data-instgrm-version=”7″>

A photo posted by LaToya Maddox (@beautychic007″> on Oct 13, 2015 at 8:58pm PDT

Bantu knots are a gorgeous style all on their own and a Bantu-knot out (simply unraveling the Bantu knots and separating”> is a phenomenal way to get uniform waves and curls on textured hair. Many have tried and failed at this style, but we have some pointers on where you actually went wrong.

Not allowing your Bantu knots dry

One of the worst mistakes when creating a twist-out, braid-out, or a Bantu-knot out is not allowing your twists to fully dry. There are actual memes poking fun at this because it is a nightmare. Unraveling your hair while wet or damp will leave your hair limp, frizzy, and undefined. Sit under a hooded dryer or use a blow-dryer to finish the drying process. You can also just rock the Bantu knots as is and accessorize with hair jewelry or a headscarf.

Know that Bantu-knot outs work best on damp or dry hair that has been stretched, so creating them right on wash day with fully wet hair may be a failure waiting to happen. This style is great for old hair that is not ready for wash day.

Not detangling

Just as you need smooth hair to create a banging roller set, you need fully detangled and smooth hair to create the Bantu knots. Fully detangled hair allows for product to be smoothed throughout the hair and to get the right level of definition when the knots are released.

Starting on freshly washed, wet hair

No one is suggesting you must have hair bone straight, but stretched hair is ideal for an elongated Bantu-knot out. You get a smoother finish on stretched hair and less frizz. This was my mistake whenever I tried this style.

Not adding a light oil to fingers

This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it can be the difference between a smooth and lasting Bantu-knot out versus a frizz ball. Also, make sure your nails are not jagged to avoid snagging and breakage on your takedown.

Not using the right products

Article continues after video.

Just as a stellar setting lotion is necessary for a smooth and frizz-free roller set, the right styler with the right amount of hold is necessary for a great Bantu-knot out. A twisting gel or cream is ideal to ensure your knots will have superior hold. Most twisting gels or creams are non-water based and will hold the style better without reverting stretched or straightened hair. Cantu Leave-In Conditioning Cream is a cult favorite, but trial and error will guide you on what keeps your hair moisturized and frizz free.

Over-manipulate until you create frizz

Our curly, coily, and wavy hair is more prone to frizz, and when creating a style like a Bantu-knot out, one must take the knots out carefully and style without disturbing the wave or curl. The style will loosen up over time, so remove carefully and know that less is more when it comes to fluffing.

Here are two popular videos showing different twisting techniques that yield amazing Bantu-knot outs.

[prodmod]

Why Your Curls Lose Definition and How to Fix It

Learn how get the spring and bounce back into your curl pattern.

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Why Your Curls Lose Definition and How to Fix It

Image Source: @wintershairdaze

By Jessica DeFino · Updated December 25, 2024

In most cases, “loosening up” is a positive thing; it’s associated with relaxing, letting go, and having a good time. But when my curls decide to loosen up, it’s a whole different story.

Article continues after video.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Loc N Loose LLC (@loc_n_loose)

Image Source: @keilanihair

No matter what kind of wavy, coily, or curly you are, you can probably relate: curls that start out bouncy and fresh in the morning sometimes deflate, like a tire losing air, until they’re stretched, flat, and frizzy. But why?

“Curls have a mind of their own,” says Tara Love, the founder of Tara Love Hair, a salon that caters to African-American and multicultural women. “They are very unpredictable because you never know what they will do from one day to the next.”

Gravity

“Maybe the reason why curls fall or get looser is because of gravity,” she speculates. “The hair can also be heavy, as in high-density hair with thick strands. Fine, short hairs tend to curl tighter and experience no real gravity pull.”

If your hair is thick and dense, gravity is likely to blame for your stretched curls—and it’s not easy to fight a force of nature. That being said, you can make your hair less susceptible to the effects of gravity by using lightweight products that won’t weigh you down further. “For curly styles that you want to stay in place, leave-ins and oils are needed,” Love shares.

“I love an old staple called Infusium 23,” she adds. “It’s light and controls frizz. If you need a little oil, I love Jane Carter Nourish and Shine. It’s great for hair and body. Rub a bit in the palm and apply.”

It’s also a good idea to switch out your hard-hold gel for a light cream to keep curls buoyant. CurlTalk member @oh.hi.its.steph recommends SheaMoisture Curl Milk: “I find it to be perfectly moisturizing and curl-enhancing, but not terribly heavy either!”

Porosity

Article continues after video.

https://www.tiktok.com/@briaelly.curly/video/7335937593240079649?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7319876376193680927

Image Source: @briaelly.curly

High-porosity curls and waves are more likely to loosen throughout the day than low-porosity curls. That’s because high-porosity hair has large gaps and holes in the cuticle, making it very easy for the hair to lose moisture; and when moisture evaporates from high-porosity hair, it renders products less effective—which results in loose, frizzy curls.

“If you’re highly porous you might be in need of protein,” says this CurlTalk commenter. A silk protein treatment can help repair the gaps in your hair cuticles to keep your curls intact.

Article continues after video.

Since highly porous hair loses moisture easily, it’s essential to stock up on ultra-hydrating products, like leave-in conditioners and sealers. You can also add anti-humectants to your hair care routine, like Ouidad Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel, to seal the cuticle and keep moisture in. At night, try a heavy hair butter treatment—Mizani Strength Fusion Intense Night-Time Treatment is a great option—to lock in hydration and prep your curls for a new day.

The Amount of Hair You Have

Image Source: @loc_n_loose

In one recent study, physicists studying the curvature of steel rods stumbled upon some interesting findings, namely, what makes curly hair go limp. Their conclusion? “The actual number of hairs per square inch on any individual’s scalp…that greater or lesser crowding may play a role,” according to Time Magazine. In other words, if you’ve got a lot of hair, your individual strands may just be too crowded to stay curly all day.

If this is the case for you, there are two things you can do:

One, incorporate a hard-hold gel into your routine to give you the all-day definition. After smoothing Carol’s Daughter Coco Creme Curl Shaping Cream Gel through your hair, twirl individual pieces around your finger to create a defined curl pattern and diffuse dry.