Everything you need to know before getting any kind of braids done.
So, you’ve been scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest and you’re seeing all these pretty girls with amazing looking braids in different colors, sizes, length and styles and you’re thinking, hmmm I think I should get some braids too. Yasssss hany YAAAASSSS! If it’s your first time here, welcome to my world where I eat, sleep and breathe braids lol.
I don’t know any other better way to tame our afro hair than to put it in some super fly looking box braids, cornrows, faux locs….you naaaaaaame it. I’m sure you could use that extra free time you’re about to get from not having to worry about combing, styling and all the craziness in the morning for at least 2 weeks or even up to 8 weeks depending on what style you get and how well you manage to maintain it.
But just before I get you excited, I need you to know how to prepare yourself for a great protective style, how to maintain it and how to take it down.
1. What do you want exactly, and can you get it?
As a hairdresser, sometimes my worst nightmare is a client who doesn’t know what they want but doesn’t like anything you suggest lol. I always advise people to look through Pinterest and google, the ideas are endless. Pick a style, or two or even three and consult your hairstylist. Ask her/him if they can pull if off, or at least do something close, if the hair needed for the style is unavailable where you are, what would be the next best option, also can your hair handle the style you want. Take faux locs for example, I strongly believe that it’s a style that would work best for people with thick hair cause of the nature of the style and how it’s installed. if you are tender headed maybe you should stay away from this one. Another example is the jumbo braids. The challenge I have with a lot of clients is that they want jumbo braids but want them full (packed) on the head. Big, long and packed only means one thing…. hair breakage. Always stick to whatever will protect your edges. You need those edges sis.
2. Are you ready to sit through the process?
Doing braids is an art, it takes time. Some styles like the jumbo braids and short afro kinky styles take about 1-3hrs but there are other braids like the micro braids and the small cornrows that can take about 6-12 hrs so always prepare yourself to sit through this process,
3. How do you get your hair ready for the braids?
You need to wash your hair thoroughly before getting your braids done. Its always good for you to have a clean and fresh scalp before tucking your hair away for a while. Its also good for your hairstylist cause trust me, no one would like to work on a dirty head. Shampoo and condition your hair and you can do a treatment as well, all though sometimes depending on what kind of style you plan on getting it would be best to ask your stylist first before putting a leave in treatment cause some of these products don’t favor quick moment in the fingers. Make sure the hair is properly and fully de-tangled. If you don’t mind using heat, blow drying would be a great idea but if you’re not a heat person just thoroughly de-tangle the hair, section it and do some simple plaits while it’s still wet and put them in small buns the day before. When you take it out and comb, the hair will be good to go. I insist on the de-tangling and most importantly, stretching out because it makes parting the hair to install a braid is less painful and stressful for both the hairstylist and the client.
4. After getting the braids, then what?
My mum always says, there are some people you meet weeks after you’ve done their hair and they still have the same exact ponytail you put the braids in for them the day they came to do their hair lol. Getting braids done doesn’t mean you should completely forget about your hair, it still needs to be taken care of. There are lots of amazing braids sprays to put on your scalp like, better braids spray, sulfa 8 braids spray and other essential oils and hair products to keep your scalp moisturized and hydrated. Spraying water and olive oil is also really good.
You can also wash you’re your braids every now and then to keep your scalp clean. Not too often maybe even just once or if you can handle it, never wash cause sometime if not washed and dried properly the braids might frizz or age faster. Do it just enough to keep you feeling fresh. Use a diluted shampoo or apple cider vinegar mix, focus on your scalp and rinse thoroughly. The best way to dry is air-drying.
5. First day with the braids?
The firsts few days after installing braids can be weird. Your scalp is experiencing something different, maybe it’s a little tender but after day one or two you should be OK. I always tell people that your braids don’t have too be too tight for them to stay long, they’ll be just fine, you don’t need that pain, it will only cause the hair to break.
Oh! Forget that silk scarf at night to keep everything in place. If you hate the idea of wrapping your head then satin pillow cases should work perfect for you.
6. Give your hair a break
Please don’t be like me, your hair really needs some time to breathe so it can stay healthy. So always give yourself about a week to one month or even more before getting new braids. Also don’t keep your braids in for too long, advisable time is 3-6 weeks depending on what style you get.
7. How do I take these things down?
What I normally do is put a lot of moisturizer on my scalp the day before I take down the braids and then spray water and olive oil on the braids. It makes my life easier and the take down process is faster. Then to de-tangle the hair, I normally just use conditioner, it works perfectly.
Hope you were able to learn a thing or two, let me know what else you’d like me to talk about, lets have fun on this website <3
xxx
Tshani