Want to spice up your cut and give it a little bohemian edge? Quick, make yourself an ateba!
Ateba (or atéba, you will find both spellings) immerses us in summer, in hippie festivals, Caochella style, reggae concerts, parties on the beach, and other festivities that definitely seem to be part of the 'world of'. before ”. Very fashionable and in the hair of the time in the 90s, these braids (also called Brazilian braids when their origins seem to be more from the Cameroon side) have never been completely forgotten. Moreover, by following the hashtags #ateba, or #atebas on Instagram, you will be greatly inspired to pimp your cut! Usually reserved for the youngest, atébas can also give a lot of freshness to long hair lacking shine!
What exactly is an ateba?
It is a strand of hair wrapped in woolen or cotton threads of one or more colors.
There are also different styles of atbas: more or less long, more or less numerous, more or less discreet, more or less thick. In short, everything is a matter of taste and desire … and of the thread available!
You also choose the harmony of the colors, the desired patterns (with or without braces) and the addition or not of accessories and jewelry at all prices, such as pearls, bells, feathers, stars, ornamental stones or charms to refine your hairstyle.
You will find a wide selection of hair additions on sites like Etsy, Amazon, Octopus Face dreads for the home delivery option or in specialty macrame or embroidery shops if you prefer to travel. You will also find on the reference sites removable atébas to pose quite simply. The good news ? You don't have to adapt your ateba to your clothes, it's just a question of the overall style. Note: with the removable, personalized or unique version, easier to apply than classic extensions, you can change them as often as you want!
Braids or dreadlocks?
DIY question, you can make an atéba quite simply by wrapping the threads around a wick, but in general, the wick is braided or shaped into dreadlocks first. This allows the wires to hang better.
As a reminder, if you want to make dreads, you just have to tie knots in your hair rods for the most express method. Another option: with the classic creping technique.
If you opt for the solution without the braid (or dread) underneath, a piece of advice, do your ateba braiding on slightly dirty hair (as for home coloring). In any case not completely clean and washed from the day. Indeed, if the hair is too clean, the threads will tend to slide more easily.
Another tip if your hair is too smooth: remember to slightly backcomb the hair concerned to make them more eye-catching and especially do not wrap on the affected area! On short cuts (but not too short otherwise it will not hold) it is also possible to make atébas (starting from the hairline and letting the wire braid protrude). Finally, it's easier to do it on a different head than your own! So remember to ask a friend to help you!
Also read: the Dyson AirWrap test for hair
What are the origins of atébas?
The origins of atébas are quite mysterious. One thing is certain Ateba is a fairly common male proper name in Cameroon. He says that in the 1980s, a bass player aptly named Ateba was part of a Cameroonian music group. His nickname ? Atebass (Ateba and bass). His trademark ? The most extravagant hairstyles. The origin of the word Atébas would come from there …
Where to place your wick?
You have the choice between the option very visible on the top of the head, or more discreetly near the nape of the neck. This second option will allow you to hide it more easily if needed (for example at the office).
When choosing the location, also remember that you will probably have to cut the wick when you want to part with it … Also avoid the region of the fringe, the result is not that great. Also adapt the thickness of the wire to that of your wick: thick on a large wick or a dread, thinner on a more discreet wick. Also consider whether or not to add hair jewelry.
How to make an atéba?
You must first collect a little material: colored threads (wool or cotton as you want, knowing that wool is more expensive), between 4 and 6 balls, scissors, a small piece of cardboard (for keep the wick well at the root) and a fairly fine elastic.
Little tip: you can also use DMC type embroidery threads with a very wide choice of colors. Just avoid mixing textures (cotton, wool, etc.) to keep a certain final harmony. Pro tip: you can try the threads between them for the first time by making like a bracelet to do a first test and see if it suits you.
Step one: choose a bit and its location. Hold the rest of the hair with an elastic or a clip so it doesn't get in the way.
Step two: position the cardboard (round with a hole in the middle) like a scrunchie at the root in order to maintain the top of the braid.
Step three: gather the wires, bend them in the middle. For the length of the threads, it all depends on your own hair length. In general, it takes four to five times the length of your hair. Is it finally too short? No big deal! Add thread of the same color by making a knot on the initial thread, it will not be seen. Insert a rubber band or tie a knot to hang them over the top of your wick. Tip: it is essential to properly attach the atteba to the top otherwise the result may slip … and it will not look very nice.
Step four: have fun ! Now, according to your desires and your degree of creativity, you just have to wrap the threads around the wick (or the braid)
– With a single thread of the same color over a few centimeters (taking both the hair and the rest of the threads at the same time), tightening firmly.
– With two threads, by creating braces: make a strip in one color, choose a darker thread and go up and down on the strip crossing the threads.
The hardest ? Do not entangle the threads and tie knots between them!
Step 5: make a first knot at the end of the wick with a thread, then a general knot with the remaining threads, cut the excess and remove the cardboard. You can also lengthen the ateba by wrapping your chosen thread around the other threads. But be careful, the result will be slightly less thick than the rest of the wick, unless you make several turns.
You can also, if you wish, insert beads along the ateba when braiding with the threads. Again, everything depends on your desires: one or more pearls, knots on a regular basis or not.
How to remove an ateba?
To remove it, nothing could be simpler: just cut dry at the base. Hence the importance of choosing the right strategic location! You can keep it as a souvenir! Don't want to cut your atéba? You just have to be patient and unwind each thread after cutting the knots at the end of the ateba. Our opinion ? Save this hair fantasy during the holiday season! The plus: if you have children around you, it can be a lot of fun too!
Its lifespan: from one to several months. It's up to you. When it comes to washing, it is important to wash your hair as usual (especially at the root of the atébas) and also rinse the braid a little longer to remove product residues such as shampoo or conditioner. shampoo. Finally, before and after, remember to take care of your hair with natural care to strengthen it because the trapped hair will still be damaged. Our advice: remove the atébas when the visible growth makes the result less clear, about a month.
Read also: rice water to take care of your hair
How to personalize an atéba?
Have fun with the nuances of the chosen threads and pay particular attention to its end, for example by placing a feather, or an accessory-jewelry, such as a seashell. Just be careful not to get the accessories wet at all so as not to damage them in the long run. It is suddenly less practical on a daily basis with the shampoo … What is also particularly pretty is to tie up your hair dotted with atebone which twirls freely, it allows to give another life to updos!