For those of you who are new to natural hair lingo, TWA refers to “Teeny Weeny Afro” and it is that really cute stage of your natural hair journey when your natural hair is just starting to grow out.
I love this stage of the journey because it signifies a fresh start, it gives you the opportunity to really get to know your hair as it starts to flourish.
With that said even though your hair is really short it is very important to have a great regimen and to be consistent with it so that you can nourish your hair from the very beginning.
In this post I want to give you an example of how to build super simple regimen for your TWA using AS I Am Products that you can use to keep your hair healthy in the very beginning and beyond.
1. Start with a trim
I know your hair is short but if it has grown out a bit and you do not have a set regimen it is important to ensure that your ends are sharp when you start your regimen. With that said, make sure your ends are healthy by getting a little trim. After you trim your hair the first time, try to maintain your ends by getting regular trims every 8-12 weeks or as often as your hair needs it.
2. Figure out your products
- Cleanse – Curl Clarity Shampoo, Coconut Cowash
- Moisturize – As I Am Leave In Conditioner, Detangling Conditioner, Hydration Elation Deep Conditioner
- Sealing – As I Am Double Butter Cream
- Styling – As I Am Smoothing Gel
3. Figure out when you will do what starting with cleansing
Figuring out when you will do each process is pretty much the bulk of any great regimen and this is what I recommend. Shampoo your hair as often as you need to especially if you find that your scalp get’s build up often. If you prefer a specific period of time then do it once a week or once every two weeks.
I always recommend co-washing to replenish moisture at least one time per week especially if you are an active person and you find that your TWA needs a midweek refresher. If you your hair feels great throughout the week then you can skip the cowash until you are ready to cleanse again.
4. Deep condition
Deep condition your hair every single week regardless of how short you think your hair is. If you get into the habit of deep conditioning now when your hair is short you will master it as your hair grows out. Every week add some Hydration Elation to your curls, cover with a plastic baggy and use heat for maximum penetration.
If you do not deep condition weekly, deep condition your hair every two weeks. Commitment to moisture will only benefit your hair in the long run.
5. Styling
TWA styling is pretty easy considering you do not have a lot of hair to work with. The biggest thing to consider when styling your TWA is if your hair is moisturized before starting the styling process. Styling products should be used last after all moisture products have been added to your hair.
This means you should add your products in this order – Cleanse (shampoo or co-wash), condition, deep condition, add your leave in conditioner, add your sealant (As I Am Double Butter) and finally your gel for shape and preservation of your curls.
Once you have nailed down your simple regimen it will become second nature for you and as your hair grows longer all you have to do is tweak it.
Do yo have a TWA how do you maintain it?
Featured image – @aiyanaalewis
This post is sponsored by As I Am Naturally, all opinions are my own
