Braids and Healthy Ends

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Question:

How do I moisturize my hair while in Kinky Twists?
Advice: While wearing braids our main goal is to retain some, if not all, of our growth. Right? Well, leaving braids in for a few months is an excellent way to retain length, however; if not done correctly, it can do more harm than good!

When I used to wear braids, for 2-3months at a time, I was excited to relax my hair to see how long it grew, unfortunately my ends were always in bad shape resulting in me getting a massive trim. I then ended up where I started :( I never understood the problem until years later....my ends were LACKING MOISTURE!!

While in braids, we often pay attention to the scalp because it's visible and it's been embedded within us that the scalp is the "most important" when it comes to hair care. Truth be told, we fail to realize that our ends (raveled in the braid) need the most care. Yes, the style is easy to maintain and yes you are giving your hair a rest, but you cannot neglect your hair underneath.

I'm a firm believer in moisturizing braids 2-3 times a day since the braid hair has a tendency to draw moisture from the hair (you have to work harder in putting moisture back into the hair). Make sure you saturate the braid from root to tip. Moisturize the length of the braid all the way down to where your hair ends, within the braid.

The best/easiest way to moisturize your braids is with a spray moisturizer (i.e. Scurl No Drip Activator, Sta Sof Fro Spray or Africa Best Braid Sheen Spray with Conditioner) or make your own (i.e. Water & Glycerin mixed with a moisturizing leave-in conditioner, Aloe Vera Juice, Glycerin & Coconut Oil) and put it in a spray bottle.

Don't forget to spray the length of the braid, not just the scalp. Protect and keep your hair underneath healthy!

Sunshyne

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20 comments

  1. thanks for the great info! i've never really worn braids because i always thought they'd do more harm than good. but its great to know you can still moisturize your hair while braided. i think i will try it because it'd be nice to have a change it styles. even with the moisturizing and sealing, is they're still a possibility that damage still could be done?

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  2. THNX SUNSHYNE, great post...i am currently in braids and i do moisturize and seal daily...may try to do it twice a day as u suggest...thnx:)

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  3. oh thankkkk you i've been trying to figure this out for weeks now lol. I've never worn a weave or any artificial hair and i saw kinky twists and i was so attracted to them and now i know i can get them and not damage my hair.

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  4. Omg I've been wondering about this recently because lately I've really wanted to get some braids. Do you think that if you go through normal regimen for example yours. That it will mess up the style quicker? I do some type of washing to my hair 3 times a week and I wonder if that would be too much for when braids are worn?

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  5. great post!!I'm glad to say that I've been doing that while my kinky twists are in...I did get something from this =)instead of spraying my hair every other day I'll make sure to spray my hair at least once a day.

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  6. I'm really glad you talked about braids because I have individual braids right now and it reassure me that I'm doing the right thing!!! And I'll make sure to spray all the length of the braids!!! Thanks again!!!

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  8. Thanks for the tips!!! It was my mistake for the last 10 years! No wonder I couldn't pass SL even though my new growth was so long! Now i'm doing the right thing!God bless!

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  9. tHANKS i nEDDED tHIS i wAS wONDERING hOW 2 pROTECT mY hAIR wHILE iT'S bRAIDED AND hERE iT iS rIGHT hERE THANK U SO MUCH

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  10. Thanks Sunshyne. I'm about to get my hair braided (in two days) and I was wondering what to do to maintain my growth as I've been following the hair advice on this site. I can't believe the advice would be in this week's post!

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  11. go to growafrohairlong.com and she will give you everything you need to growing long hair through braid extensions. Her moisturizing routine is so simple a mix of african pride or afican royale braid spray and Infusium 23 to moisturize your hair daily and I have been doing this and have retained so much length while minimizing breakage.

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  12. I plan to get my hair braided as well. After my last two relaxers due to product buildup, my hair is very underprocessed. I have a ton of new growth. I have to wait another 7 weeks before I can get my hair relaxed again(to avoid over processing my hair). I really like the 2nd model(one with the curly braids). Do you know what type of hair is that? Also, is it safe to get my hair braided with the amount of new growth that I have?

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  13. Thanks Sunshyne! I may have to try braids soon so I'm gonna gather as much info as possible

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  14. great information. thanks a bunch!

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  15. This information is vital to all sisters who wear braids! Unfortunately for me I found this way too late. I had to cut my SL hair to NL because of the damage done to my hair after taking out my briads. All in all it was a lesson learned! I'm sure this will definitely help someone else!

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  16. Thanks for this I've been wearing my hair in braids for years and still struggle with keeping it moisturised. I'd like to try making my own. How much of each product would you recommend I put in the mixture.

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  17. I was moisturizing sealing once a day (faithfully) I am still in braids I guess I gotta step my game up to 2 to 3 times a day =) Great info!

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  18. I wish I would have known that last year when I got my hair braided. Otherwise, I wouldn't be fighting this fight so rigorously now with my hair and the lack and of moisture AND protein.

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