How to Wrap Relaxed Afro Hair

Wrap your hair to get a relaxed look.

For countless African-American women with relaxed hair, wrapping is the choice styling technique by which they achieve a sleek, curled head of hair each day. The basic principle of the wrapping method is to comb the hair into a beehive and tie it with a scarf overnight. In the morning, the hair is smooth and straight with a slight bend at the ends. Though the technique itself can take a bit of practice to master, it will not only leave the hair looking elegant but also protect hair cuticles from the damage that sleeping directly on a cotton pillow can inflict.

Things You'll Need

• Bobby pins
• Wide tooth comb
• Bristle brush or paddle brush
• Extra-wide scarf or do-rag
• Leave-in hair conditioner/moisturizer
• Setting lotion/hair gel

Instructions

1. Wash the hair if it is not already clean. Use a regular conditioner followed by either a leave-in conditioner or a moisturizing lotion.

2. Apply a small amount of setting lotion or styling gel to the hair, making sure to saturate both the roots and the tips.

3. Part the hair down the middle if it is longer than chin-length, so it will not impede the wrapping process.

4. Comb the hair in a clockwise or counter-clockwise motion around the head. If you divided the hair into two sections, then choose one of them to begin combing first. You should swirl the hair around the head in a shape that resembles a beehive or a cone, making sure to smooth down all fly-aways and hairs that are out of place. Continue combing until all hair is wrapped around the head. Then go over the hair with a brush to further smooth out each strand.

5. 

   Silk scarfs are ideal for tying up hair due to their gentle and smooth textures.

   Clip the ends of the hair with bobby pins so that the beehive does not fall apart. Cover the hair with a do-rag or wrap it with a scarf.

Tips & Warnings

• When you remove the scarf in the morning, do not immediately comb or brush the hair. Rather, let the hair begin to fall by itself while you go about other tasks such as eating, getting dressed or brushing your teeth. This will allow the hair to naturally taper down, which is one of the purposes and benefits of the hair-wrapping technique.

• Due to their often coarse, tightly curled hair, African-Americans possess the most fragile hair type of all ethnicities. Special care should be taken whenever a brush is used because rough handling of the hair will often lead to massive breakage and eventual bald spots.

References

• Long Healthy Hair Advice: The Cross-Wrap Method
• Treasured Locks: How to Create a Wrap Hair Style
• Black Women Beauty Central: Want to Learn How To Wrap Black Hair?