African Hair Threading otherwise known as “Mabuns”

Last year before my trip to Zimbabwe, I decided to go natural and “big chopped” my hair. For some reason my hair always looked bad in a perm here in Bermuda, I think it has something to do with the humidity or something, I do not know. When I got home my sister was like you must be crazy to cut your hair. You see, going natural is really not popular in Zimbabwe unless if your hair is locked. Of the top of my head I think the only celebrity who wears her hair natural is Prudence Katomeni(an afro jazz musician)otherwise natural hair signifies having hit hard times, financial wise.

Lately I have been reading many blogs and watching many videos on Youtube about mantaining natural hair. One day I then came across African Hair Threading on Curly Nikki”s website, I burst into laughter because it was the last thing I expected to find a tutorial for. I can honestly say almost every Zimbabwean woman has had this hair style especially as a child. Yesterday for church I wore my hair in an Afro but because my hair is type is what is reffered to as “The Hard Mashona Type” in Zimbabwe otherwise known as type 4c to the rest of the world. I have to plait it every night otherwise it is a tangled mess in the morning. Initially I decided to do two strand twists and I failed, that is when it hit me, let me do “mabuns” (in Zimbabwe that is what we call African Hair Threading). This one style other than the Afro I can do successfully all by myself. I used regular sewing thread, that is what mama used to use on my hair.

I part my hair as evenly as I could and thread each part to get this

I used to rock my hair like this not many years ago, but its not quite easy to go to sleep because the style is quite stiff, but if your hair is long you can just tie it to the back.

I divided the hair into two groups and threaded it again in groups and so now it lays flat on my head.

This is what it looks like from the top.

and the back which is not even but its ok

My sister is highly disappointed in me right now for sharing these pictures with the world but she is not surprised, I have done crazy things before. Would you wear “mabuns” to work or outside your house? Let me know, leave a comment below.