Braids are a great option if you want to try out something new and different with your hair. They can be fun, stylish and super easy to do. But, if you want your braids to last longer than a week or two, there are a few things that we would recommend you do.
Here are some tips from us for maintaining your braids:
Cover Your Hair at Night
If you are going to bed with your hair in braids, do not forget to put on a silk scarf or bonnet before you turn in for the night. This will help keep your scalp moisturized. By doing so, you also prevent slowly damaging your braids overnight as they rub against your pillowcase. If you want to avoid using a bonnet or scarf every night, consider using a satin pillowcase, as it will cause less friction than a cotton one. To be on the safe side, you can use both, in case your scarf comes off at night.
Keep Your Scalp Moisturized
Having braids is not a reason to neglect your scalp. In fact, your scalp may end up being more exposed than it normally would without braids. This will make the scalp even more susceptible to becoming dry and flaky. This will have a negative impact on how your braids look. It is therefore crucial that you frequently tend to your scalp to give it the moisture it needs.
To keep your scalp moisturized while wearing braids, use natural oils like coconut oil or tea tree oil, among others. The natural oils in these products will help seal moisture into the skin and prevent dryness. A simple way to go about this is to use a spray bottle. Add a mixture of water and your moisturizing oil of choice and spray it evenly on your scalp. Alternatively, you can spray water on your scalp and then dab some oil afterwards.
Wash Your Braids Regularly
A common misconception that people have about braids is that you are not supposed to wash them. This is usually in belief that washing will cause more damage to the braids. To your surprise, washing your braids regularly is the healthier option when it comes to maintaining your braids. The only thing you need to be more cautious of is to be gentle about it so as not to ruin your style.
Washing your braids regularly will help prevent dirt and product buildup. It will also enable you to keep them for longer, as you will be able to keep your braids clean without removing them every time.
An easy way to clean your braids is with a mild shampoo and conditioner and simply rinsing each off with warm water. There is no harm in water running through your braids. However, you have to ensure that you dry them properly afterwards.
Try to Wear your Braids Down
How you wear your braids every other day also has an impact on how well they age. This is something that you need to consider as you style your braids in the morning. If you are the kind of person that likes to style their braids in an updo or pulling got back, then it is likely that your braids will age quickly. The reason for this is that when you wear them up, it puts stress on the roots of your hair, and will start to loosen quickly. This will cause more damage than if you had worn them down in the first place. Hence, you are advised to wear your braids down as often as you can if you want to maintain them for longer. If you must contain them, try to tie them back in a loose manner.
Redo your Edges and the Braids along the Hairline as Needed
A great tip when it comes to maintaining the look of your braids is to redo your edges. Your edges are mostly made of baby hair. Hence, they are light and sensitive. Typically, you will find that we may leave out this part of the hair during braiding to prevent them from being pulled and eventually being plucked off. However, to keep you looking smart and neat, we, your hair stylists, may perform some edge control to keep them laid down. Still, to maintain them, you will need to redo the edges on your own after every few weeks.
Another hack that you can apply is to retouch the braids that are along your hairline. We typically call it a touch up. These are the braids that are the most visible and, therefore, have the greatest impact on your overall look. Also, they are on the most sensitive area of your scalp thus more prone to break off should you keep your braids for too long.When your braids start to age, and you are not ready to remove them, you can simply remove only those along the hairline and have us redo them. Redoing these braids helps keep them tight , healthy and neat, which makes it easier to maintain a fresh look over time.
Summary
Just like any other hairstyle, maintenance is key if you want to keep your braids in pristine condition for a longer period. Otherwise, they will age quickly, and you will not get the best value. In as much as the above tips will help you with braids maintenance, it will all be fruitless if you do not get quality braid work in the first place. This is why you want to visit our professional hair salon, the Braiding Palace, where you are guaranteed the best.
Liliane Badawu,
Founder of The Braiding Place