I went digging through my old YouTube videos and found a braid-out routine from 2013 — and Curlfriend, tell me why this routine still eats today?
The hair was BIG, bold and bouncy. The ends had movement. The definition was soft. And the part that really made the whole style work was something I still love: the tension method.
With cooler weather on the way, this one is officially going back into the rotation.
From the Tree Naturals vault: watch the original braid-out videos that inspired this throwback.
The 2013 routine
I stretched my hair with the tension method, then layered the same kind of moisture-and-style routine I still recommend today:
- Stretch with the tension method.
- Leave-In Conditioner for moisture and slip.
- Whipped Curl Creme for soft definition.
- Natasha’s Growth Butter to seal.
- Braid the sections.
- Add sponge rollers to the ends for a little extra bounce.
That was it. No 14-step routine. No chasing every new technique on the internet. Just a good stretch, moisture, definition and a sealed finish.
Why the tension method is the key
If you have never tried the tension method, the idea is simple: instead of brushing through the hair while blow-drying, you gently hold the section stretched with your hand and direct the dryer along the length.
The goal is not bone-straight hair. You are just stretching the curl pattern enough to give the braid-out more length, shape and movement.
That stretched base is what gave this old braid-out so much body. The braids could set on hair that already had some length to it, instead of shrinking all the way back up before the style even started.
If you use heat, use a heat protectant that works for your hair and avoid using more heat than you need. The tension method is about controlled stretching, not frying the hair straight.
The moisture routine still makes sense in 2026
The funniest part about watching this video back is that the product order still makes sense.
Leave-In → Curl Creme → Growth Butter.
That is basically the same LCO thinking we teach now: water-based moisture first, then your cream/styling step, then seal when your hair or ends need it.
The products were doing different jobs:
- Leave-In Conditioner: moisture + slip.
- Whipped Curl Creme: softness + definition.
- Growth Butter: sealing + protecting the finish.
And because this was a braid-out, the Curl Creme was the styling path. No Flaxseed Gel needed here.
The sponge rollers were doing more than being cute
I added sponge rollers to the ends of the braids, and that little extra step gave the finished style more movement and bounce.
Instead of the ends drying stiff or hanging flat, the rollers helped curve the ends so the whole braid-out looked fuller and more finished.
It is such an old-school natural-hair trick — and I mean that as a compliment.
Why I am bringing this back for cooler weather
Fall is perfect for styles like this.
You get the fullness and drama of a stretched braid-out without needing to wear the exact same wash-and-go routine all year. And when the air gets cooler and your hair starts asking for a little more moisture and protection, the Leave-In + Curl Creme + Growth Butter combination makes sense all over again.
It is giving:
- BIG hair
- soft definition
- stretched length
- bouncy ends
- a little 2013 nostalgia
Would I change anything now?
The biggest difference is that now I understand the why behind the steps even better.
Back then I knew the routine worked. Now I can explain exactly what each step is doing and why the order matters.
That is one of my favorite things about having been in this natural-hair game for so long: trends change, names change, algorithms definitely change — but a good routine is still a good routine.
Want to try the moisture-and-style trio?
Shop the Tree-O Kit for Leave-In Conditioner, Whipped Curl Creme and Natasha’s Growth Butter in one routine.
So yes, Curlfriend. I tried my 2013 routine again in my head before I even finished watching the video and immediately thought:
Oh, this still eats.
The tension method is going back into rotation. The sponge rollers are coming with it. And if you see me outside this fall with a big, bold braid-out, mind your business. 😂
