Braid Chronicles
I’m someone who takes out their braids after week two. I could never seem to make protective styles last. I have friends who manage to keep braids in for as long as 6 weeks, and it blows my mind even to this day! I took it upon myself to start a protective style journey all Summer (mostly because I fried and dyed my hair so much). I currently have had my box braids in for about 3 weeks - the longest I’ve ever been able to keep them in for! This is a victory in itself! So, for those who have the same struggles as I do, I’m going to share some tips and products that have helped me so far.
Let’s start with the scalp. One of my biggest pet peeves when it came to having braids was not being able to clean my scalp the way I want to. My scalp used to itch and feel dry by day 10, and that’s usually when I would start contemplating on taking out my braids. This time around I did a little research and found a few items that kept my scalp feeling fresh.
Sea Breeze: In a spray bottle, I diluted the Sea Breeze with some water and sprayed my scalp. It has a tingly soothing feeling
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Master Cleanse Scalp Cleansing Wash: This is from Taraji P. Henson’s hair care line. The comb-like tip makes it easy to target my scalp and get in those places my fingers aren’t small enough to reach
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Oils : After cleaning my scalp I keep it moisturized with my favorite oils. Keep in mind that this step is different from person to person! What my hair loves may not work for everyone so it's important to know what works for you. My go to oil is Argan oil and the Mane Choice Multi- Vitamin Scalp Nourishing Hair Growth Oil.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Side Note: From time to time I will add some leave in conditioner to my hair if I feel like it's very dry near the new growth area. I’m still experimenting with this because I’m trying to avoid buildup as much as I can.
Now let's work our way down to the actual braids. What turned me off from my first box braid experience was the frizziness! I can be pretty picky about the sleekness of my hair, so the first sign of frizz triggers a full on hissy fit. I found two products that I really liked that helped with the frizziness and keeping my braids sleek, but the most important part is re-dipping the braids in hot water. After I re-dip I’ll go in with either of these mousses for reinforcement:
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
For keeping my edges laid, I’ve been hooked on Edge Fixer Glued x Saweetie! What’s also a plus is the different scents it comes in - right now I’m trying Sweet Lychee.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Lastly, night time care is one of the most important steps for long lasting braids. I use an EXTRA LONG satin bonnet. Emphasis on the EXTRA!!! My braids comfortably hang out in the bonnet and it doesn’t feel tight or as if there isn’t enough room. No tugging, no tangling. I also wrap my edges with a small satin headband - not necessary but I like my edges laid 24/7. The extra long satin bonnets can be found at any local beauty supply. What I also found that I didn’t know I needed was a braid shower cap! It’s not necessary to soak your braids in the shower everyday, and I couldn’t figure out how not to until I found this! It helps reduce frizz by a lot.
This is all that I’ve discovered so far in my little journey. My goal is to keep my box braids in until the end of May (I got them done towards the end of April). My next style will be trying knotless braids which seem to be a big trend for the Summer, and from what I hear are “better” than box braids...I’ll be the judge of that!