Caring for your braids keeps your hair healthy and helps maintain your style longer. Caring for braids requires cleansing the scalp, moisturizing the scalp and braids, applying product, and sometimes re-braiding the edges to keep the style looking fresh. What style of braids you choose to wear determines the amount of maintenance necessary.
Washing Braids
Some braided styles can withstand a thorough hair washing. Box braids are usually burned or bonded at the ends to keep from unraveling. With this style or similar styles, wash your braids just as you would your normal hair. Keep shampoo to a minimum, using fingertips to massage scalp. Scrubbing your scalp can create frizz. Rinse your hair and apply conditioner to scalp. Thoroughly rinse scalp and braids. Apply leave-in conditioner when finished.
When drying any braided style, a hooded dryer is best. Water adds weight to the braids, which can cause breakage. Minimize the weight by pinning hair to top of head, or in a high ponytail. Be sure braids are completely dry. Excess water can cause the hair to sour and allow fungus to grow.
Cleaning Without Water
Styles such as micro braids are not always bonded at the ends. Shampooing the hair would unravel the braids. Styles such as dreadlocks last longer if washed less. Instead, apply astringent to a cotton ball and gently wipe the scalp only. Do not apply astringent to the braids.
Or apply a small amount of shampoo to a damp washcloth and gently rub your scalp. Rinse the washcloth with water and wipe off any remaining suds. When finished, apply leave-in conditioner to the roots and throughout the braids. You might find "braid spray" in beauty stores to keep the hair conditioned.
Moisturizing
Keep your braids moisturized. If hair becomes too dry, it can break or have split ends. Moisturize the scalp daily with a light hair dressing or moisturizer specifically for braids. Too much product can cause dirt to build up and dandruff to form.
Spray or rub a moisturizing product throughout the style. Work it into the braids by running fingers through your hair or gently patting the braid. Use products made especially for braids or locks, which keep the style moisturized without added buildup.
Touch Ups
Some styles last up to three months. Styles such as micro braids, box braids and Senegalese twists can be referred as individual braids. When individual braids are fresh, the parts are clear. When new growth comes in, the hair can look matted. When this happens, you need a touch up. To touch up, remove the braids around the edges of your hairline, comb the natural hair out, and re-braid. Because edges are the first braids to show, it gives the illusion that the entire head was re-braided.
Touching up protects the little hairs around your edges. When braids start to grow out, the weight of the braid pulls on the hair. Touching up your edges will prevent this from happening and help your fine hairs stay strong.
Managing Frizz
Styles such as locks or individual braids eventually start to frizz. Manage frizz by applying mousse, braid spray, different hair balms or gels. Apply a minimal amount and gently stroke the products through the style.
When braiding hair with synthetic hair, sometimes hairs will stick out of the braid. This is because synthetic hair does not have the flexibility that human hair has. Apply gel or wax to help the hair lay better, or simply cut off the frays.
Bedtime is usually when braided styles are ruined. Tie your hair up at night with a scarf, hair wrap or covering.
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