For quire some time, braids have been painted as the enemy- they cause hairlines to thin out, right? However braids themselves aren’t the problem. Do them right and your hair will flourish.
How you install the braids is important. Make sure your stylist is gentle. Tight pulling, combing and parting weakens the strands thus causing breakage. Hair around the perimeter needs extra gentleness since it tends to be the weakest.
Prepare your hair adequately before installing the style. Wash and deep condition the hair to infuse it with moisture. This gives you the needed nourishment and makes the strands pliable. Since your hair will be ‘away’ for an extended period of time, a protein treatment is needed to strengthen your hair. Keep your hair stretched after you wash it to make parting easier when it’s time to style.
When your hair is in the protective style it still needs tender care. Use a water-conditioner spritz to hydrate the strands every few days. If you’re worried about the braids acquiring a nasty smell, use a braid spray such as the Dark and Lovely Hair Refresher to keep your hair odour-free.
Wear a satin bonnet or scarf to bed to preserve moisture. If holding braids in a ponytail or bun, be wary of pulling them tightly. A cotton pad soaked in diluted apple cider vinegar is amazing for removing buildup from the scalp. Follow through with oil such as castor oil to soothe the scalp.
Leaving our hair alone for some time encourages length retention, but having a a style in for 6 months is unhealthy. The strands begin to mat at the roots, your hair dries out for lack of deep conditioning leading to breakage, your hairline is strained. Four to six weeks is the recommended time frame for long-term protective styles.
Taking down the protective style is another crucial step. Allocate enough time and be gentle. Use diluted conditioner to coat your hair for a few hours. This softens it significantly saving on takedown time and reducing breakage. With proper use of protective styles, our hair stays truly healthy.
