The Bantu Knot is an edgy, flirty and historical hairstyle that is a very individual and versatile protective hairstyle, adopted by African women of certain cultural groups and some women of African descent. This hairstyle works for almost all hair types, all hair types and lengths. Many celebrities, including Rihanna, Mel B and Beyoncé, have performed this hairstyle. So, what do you really know about the Bantu knot? Do you know how to make Bantu Knots in simple steps？ Keep reading if you're interested.

I.What Exactly Are Bantu Knots?

Bantu knots are a hairstyle in which the hair is sectioned off, twisted, and wrapped so that it stacks upon itself to form a spiraled knot. Bantu knots, frequently worn as a protective hairstyle or a no-heat stretched-out style, are also known as Zulu knots. More importantly, it has been around for over a century.

II.How Do You Make Bantu Knots on Your Own?

Here's how to do these incredibly versatile Bantu Knots on natural hair:
What You'll Need:
Shampoo;
Conditioner;
Towel;
a comb with wide teeth;
comb for rattails;
Curling cream;
Small elastic ponytail holders or hairpins;

III.Wash and condition your hair first.

Step 1: Wash your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to reduce frizz.

Because Bantu knots expose a large portion of your scalp, it must be spotless. If you have a lot of product buildup, grime, and flaky skin on your scalp, the style will become itchy and lose some of its glitz.
Not to mention that conditioner protects your hair and can help prevent breakage as you coil, twist, and wrap it into knots.

Notice:

A rinse-out conditioner is recommended if your hair dries quickly but is not prone to flyaway strands. In contrast, a leave-in conditioner is recommended if your hair becomes especially dry and frizzy when you work with it.

Step 2: Let Your Hair Dry

Dry your hair with a towel until it is damp to the touch but not wet enough to wring moisture out of it.
dry-hair-gently
Although there are differing opinions on whether to work with wet, damp, or dry hair, the consensus is that damp hair is best for setting knots and knot-outs. After all, dry hair is more difficult to set, whereas dripping wet hair may become limp due to over-saturation.

Step 3:Detangle Your Hair (Optional)

Brush your hair with a wide-toothed comb to make it as smooth and shiny as possible.

Step 4: Divide the hair into several sections.

Part hair into multiple even sections with the end of a rattail comb, depending on the length and desired look.
Keep the sections 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) or smaller if your hair is shorter.
If you have longer hair, cut sections that are 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm) wide.
If you're not sure how to divide your sections for each knot, keep this in mind: the shorter your hair, the smaller the sections should be.
When determining the width of your sections, if you intend to create knot-outs, consider the final texture of the curls you will create.
Use medium to large knots that are 1 1/2 to 3 inches (3.8 to 7.6 cm) wide for wavy hair.
Use small knots 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) wide for more defined curls.

Step 5:  Apply Curl Cream

Apply curl cream to your hair from root to tip, evenly coating the entire length of your hair, which will allow your hair to set in place quickly and eliminate frizz.
To create knots that hold their shape without becoming stiff, use a styling cream with a light-to-medium hold during the process.

Step 6: Perform Twists

Twist each section of hair for a few turns between your fingertips, as if screwing in a screw or turning a doorknob, until the hair is twisted enough to form a short spring-like coil against your scalp.
Then, gradually wind the remaining hair in the section around the base coil, making the end of each section as close to your head as possible to help hold the knot in place.
When working with longer hair, the knots will take on the shape of a pyramid or funnel. When using shorter hair, the knots will resemble rosebuds or baguettes.

Step 7: Tighten the Knots

If the coils are tight enough, the ends can be tucked under the coil to keep them in place.
If the knots are too loose, try retwisting them to tighten them. If this doesn't work, you can secure the knot ends with hairpins or small elastic ponytail holders.

Step 8: Repeat the preceding procedure.

Wrap the remaining section around the corresponding coil and tuck or pin the ends.
Note:
Apply the same styling product to each section before starting to twist and wrap the knots into place.
If your hair begins to dry while you're working, lightly mist it with water from a spray bottle to keep it damp.
The Bantu knots are now complete!

The Bantu Knots Tutorial Video

If you're interested, check out the video below. Except for natural hair, Bantu knots can be done on weaves. As a reference, there is a video on how to do Bantu knots on weaves.