Brazilian Kinky Straight Hair: Natural Looking Tresses

When I was contemplating summer vacation hairstyles there was one thing I knew for sure: I did NOT want braids or twists.

Despite me being the “natural queen,” I didn’t think braids would coincide with the look I was going for during all of my tropical excursions. There’s only so many ways you can style braids, and I normally resort to a large bun because of my facial structure. With the outfits I had in mind and the skimpy bikinis I was dying to flaunt around the beach, a bun just wouldn't do my Instagrammable moments justice.

I’ve been rocking nothing but braids and crochet braids for the past four years. Prior to that, I was the sew-in guru, but decided to switch to longer lasting styles. I was eager to try another sew-in for my sun-filled travel plans, but I’d been out of the “weave world” for so long and was nervous to jump back in. I tend to prefer looks that appear as if the hair actually grows from my scalp versus the silkier weave options. So, when I stumbled upon Mayvenn’s Kinky Straight bundles, I knew it would be a match made in heaven.

I love hair that’s long in length and large in width. To give more perspective, my hair icon is Diana Ross. For the dramatic look I was going for, I ordered four bundles of the Brazilian texture in lengths 16”, 18”, 20” and 22” (one of each bundle length) for a layered and true to form look. And yes, all four bundles were installed. I’m going on vacation, so why not do the absolute most!

The bundles came with a care guide, complete with step by step instructions on how to install, wash and treat the hair for optimal use. I knew from the 8 page pamphlet that this was a good investment.

For starters, my hairstylist Cynthia was flabbergasted that I had even booked a sew-in. But when I told her the brand and curl pattern I was using, she was excited.

“Mayvenn has the best bundles,” she said. “The kinky straight is the most natural weave you could ever get. They are unmatched.”

Once the sew-in was complete, she informed me that the minimal leave out I had didn’t need to be straightened with a flat iron, but could simply be brushed or combed to blend perfectly because the hair is designed to match your natural texture. Since I was in her chair, she straightened the leave out but told me not to worry about doing it on my own; just simply brush it and lay it down with a scarf at night to maintain the look. The care guide also demonstrates how to protect the hair at night with either a silk scarf or bonnet, but my stylist gave me one tip that saved my life: section the hair into four parts and braid it into four loose individual braids before wrapping it with a scarf or bonnet. It keeps the leave-out in tact and blended properly while also honoring the natural texture of the hair. Cynthia assured me that no matter how much time I spent in the ocean, pool or sun that the hair would bounce back.

Day 1, Post Install

My vacation was 8 days - a packed itinerary that began with the Roots Picnic, an all day music festival in the park, in the sweltering heat. Next, I was headed off on a 6 day experience in the Sunshine State (West Palm Beach, FL) that included a three day cruise to the Bahamas and an extended stay in Florida. Once I returned home to Philly, I had an immediate turnaround to work at the Philly PRIDE Parade & Festival, for another whopping 12 hours in the heat. Despite Cynthia’s promises, I knew that my hair would be subjected to a ton of humidity and ocean water so I was nervous about how it would hold up.

To my surprise, it held up marvelously! As the days went by, the more natural it appeared. The hair care guide explained that when wet, the kinky straight hair is at its best and reverts back to its natural state. That proved to be true. There wasn’t one day that I did not get into the water, and to me, I was pushing it. I just knew that after diving into a chlorine filled pool in between being in sea water all day, coupled with the extreme heat and humidity (the weather did not go below 90 degrees...the humidity was even higher) that my leave-out would eventually refuse to cooperate. But following my hairstylist’s rule by brushing it and braiding it before tying it down definitely did the trick.

The lesson is this: if you’re looking for a good weave for your upcoming vacation, try Mayvenn’s kinky straight line. For proof of how amazing this hair is, look below for a peak into how well it lasted for my trip. I plan to use this hair all summer, as I have four more big vacations booked: two in the states and another two in the islands. I’ll be sure to provide all of my Mayvenn girls with an update!

Day 2, Roots Picnic