How to Lock With Bantu Knots
Many people, women especially, form their mature dreadlocks into Bantu knots as a styling option. The style is a neat option that protects hair ends from the elements. Bantu knots are functional during the budding process as well. Before hair starts to become matted and develop into dreadlocks, a small bud of matted hair develops from hair that is kinky and tightly wound. Creating Bantu knots with coiled or manually twisted hair helps facilitate the budding stage. The knots allow hair to grow undisturbed for a longer period of time without having to manipulate and twist the hair repeatedly. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Begin with Twists
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1
Use the tail end of a rat-tail comb to part your hair into 1/2 inch square or box-shaped sections. Apply hair oil to the scalp in between parts.
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2
Apply a dot sized amount of dread wax or gel to each section of hair immediately before twisting. Gel is sufficient for naturally kinky hair while wax supplies the texture straighter hair strands needs to lock.
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3
Take two strands of flaxen or straight hair and overlap them to make two-strand twists. This method is better for hair that is not very kinky and easily unravels. Twist tightly together and apply wax to the ends of each twist.
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4
Loop strands of kinky hair around your finger like a piece of old gum. The loop creates the twist. This is much faster than a two-strand twist and works well because kinky hair is less likely to unravel. Make sure dread gel is applied throughout the entire length of the twist.
Coil the Knots
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5
Grab up to ten twists at a time to form into a Bantu knot.
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6
Form the group of twists into a neat coil. The twisted hair will follow the coil format more naturally than loose hair strands. The hair will look like the coils on a slinky,
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7
Coil the hair close to scalp. Use a lot of tension to keep the strands close together. Tuck the ends of the coil under the knot close to the scalp. Secure the knot with bobby pins if your hair ends are prone to unraveling.
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8
Repeat Steps 1, 2 and 3 until your entire head is covered with knots.
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9
Leave the knots in your hair as long as you can without washing or manipulating the hair. Use witch hazel or spritz lime juice and water on your hair scalp to keep it clean during the budding process.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Your hair will bond together while up in the Bantu knots.
When the knots appear to get bigger or puff up, this usually means that locks are forming or budding in the middle or at the ends of the twists.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
