Braids are considered a protective hair style by many and often also a convenient go-to hairstyle in general. This can be especially during the wintertime or perhaps even when going on a summer vacation. Braid styles often don’t require much maintenance. Plus, they can be versatile, they look good and they are absolutely fun to wear. With braids you don’t need to do much to make yourself look cute, the stylist has done the work for you.
Now on that versatility note, there are so many braid styles out there these days. We find Bohemian, Knotless, Fulani, Cornrows, Twists (yes, I said twists) etc. A lot of these styles require additional hairpiece to be used for the style to last longer, and for our hair to appear long but essentially the hairpiece (or fibre) is really what makes the style. Right?
While I don’t believe that all braid styles are “protective”. I do believe that there are a few things we can try to do to keep our hair protected and healthy, regardless of the type of braid style we pick.
Here are five hair care tips for before getting braided, during the braids and after taking down the braids:
Before getting braids:
- Prep the hair and get a good stylist: Make sure your hair and scalp are clean and go to a stylist you are comfortable enough to talk to. I don’t know about you, but I have sat quietly in a salon chair before while going through the most excruciating pain – because I was too afraid to shout “Ouch”. But we don’t do that anymore, we are grown. A good stylist will not respond with a bad attitude. They will listen to you.
During the braids:
- Continue to wear your doek, aka your silk scarf: This will help prevent friction while you sleep and will result in less frizz. That way your braids can stay looking fresh for longer.
- Maintain natural hair while it is in braids: Hydrate and condition your natural hair often and oil your scalp. A common and very useful tip is to combine water and your favourite leave-in conditioner in a spray bottle and to spray the mixture onto the length of your hair. However, there are many other braid sprays on the market that should also do the trick.
- Wash and condition your hair while it’s braided: If you intend to keep your braids in for about a few months, it will benefit you tremendously to clean your scalp at least once a month (twice a month is even better). The trick here is to concentrate on washing the scalp and allowing the rest of the shampoo to fall onto the length of your hair. No pulling, no rubbing, just a gentle ol’ scalp massage. And once you’ve finished shampooing and conditioning, give your hair a chance to dry and follow step 3.
Post braids
- Take your time when taking down your braids: Normalize making an event out of this. Get comfortable, watch your favourite TV show, ensure you’re in a good position and good mood, take breaks in between or simply get someone else to help you (someone who likes you 😊). It is of vital importance that you gently detangle your hair before washing it again (i.e. post takedown). If this step seems tedious and futile to you, forget about getting braids and rather pick another style.
I’d also like to add that the best way to wear your braids is to let them hang loosely. Avoid tight buns and up-dos that can either cause harm to your hairline or cause your hair to snap (Hair accessories used for some up-dos can do that).
There are great braid care hair products in our store, have a look and try them out.