AFTERCARE ADVISE FOR BRAIDS
It is important to maintain your braids. The biggest mistake most women do is to ignore their braids for the eight 6-8 weeks they have it on. The below tips are very essential.
MAINTAINING YOUR BRAIDS
1. AVOID CONSTANT UP DO'S WITH YOUR BRAIDS
Constantly styling your hair into high ponytails pulls at your hairline. This constant pulling and tightly weakens the hair along your hairline . Be gentle with your hairline. Limit updo styling to 1 or 2 times a week rather than everyday.
2. Keep your scalp moist.
Spray your scalp with water. Our hair is no different than any other living thing. It needs moisture to survive - and the best type of moisture is water. Our roots get thirsty and they need watering and not heavy gels and oils - those clog our pores and make it more difficult for our roots to absorb moisture. Our roots need plain old water to thrive and survive.
3. Clean your braids once every 2weeks minimum.
I know this sounds like a pain but build-up of sweat, dirt, and everything else that happens throughout your day can be damaging to your hair. Thankfully, you don't need to hop in the shower and douse your braids in water if you don't want to. You can always dry-wash your hair with a cloth, shampoo, and some water. Dampen a wash cloth with warm water and your shampoo of choice. Part you hair and wipe your scalp down in sections. That's all! Follow this process once every two weeks to keep your scalp smelling and feeling fresh. No one likes braid stank.
4. Protect your hair at night.
Wear hair net or cover your head with a silk wrap/ headscarf or cap at night. Not only does it keep your edges looking fresh it also protects your roots from drying out when asleep.
5. Let your hair rest.
As tempting as it may be to put in another set of braids right away, don't. Your scalp and hair need to rest. When you wear a braid, a small amount of stress is placed on the scalp from the extra weight of the braids, and your scalp needs time to recover. This ensures a healthy scalp and hairline.
6. Don't avoid moisturising your scalp.
Your own hair needs to get some type of moisture beneath your weave. Even with regular shampooing, you may find using a moisturizing spritz helpful. Use it as needed; this may be every day for some or just twice a week for others. Focus the spritz on your scalp. Some moisture will reach your braided hair this way, keeping your natural tresses hydrated.
7. Don't go to sleep without covering up your hair.
After all the hours of sitting down for your braids to be put in, don’t you want to keep them looking nice? Exactly. Tie your hair up at night to avoid the frizzes and excess lint.
8. Don't tie your braids up all the time.
This refers to ponytails, updos and anything else that will create tension on your scalp. Your hair is already pulled back with certain amount of force as it is. Not letting your braids down for the majority of time, would put extra stress on your edges and hairline which could lead to gradual hair loss (traction alopecia)
9. Don't pull your braids up too tight.
10. Dont leave your braids in for too long.