Originating in Africa, Braids have been a historical legacy in the black community since 3500 BC. Braids are a common go-to protective style, protecting natural hair from cold air, humidity, heat, and chemical damage.
Braids are low manipulation, do not require daily care, and last up to 2 months. Zoe told you all about her top 3 favorite protective hairstyles, which includes box braids. Here are the best braiding do’s and don’ts to maximize your braided crown!
Braiding Hair Do’s:
Do moisture your hair thoroughly before braids
Braiding hair can make your natural hair dry. Therefore, use the LCO or LOC method to moisturize your hair before installing your braids to ensure your hair benefits from the protective style.
Do wash your hair thoroughly before braids
A clean and healthy scalp is the best place for your natural hair to grow. People tend to wear braids for one to two months. Therefore, it is essential to install braids on a clean scalp to ensure healthy hair growth with your protective style.
Do regularly care for your natural hair in your braids
To regularly take care of your hair in your braids, you should oil your scalp 2-3 times a week with moisturizing oils. Also, wash your scalp after strenuous activities such as swimming to ensure there is no dirt and product build-up. Lastly, spraying your braids with braid refresher spray will moisturize your hair within the braids.
Braid refreshing spray recommendations:
Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Anti-Breakage Spray
The Mane Choice Tropical Moringa Sweet Oil & Honey Endless Moisture Restorative Spray
Taliah Waajid Intense Moisture™ Bamboo And Coconut Milk Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner
Do wrap your hair at night with a satin bonnet and scarf
The best way to protect your braids at night is to use a good quality satin bonnet or satin scarf to lay down flyaways and protect the bottom of your braids while you get your beauty sleep.
Do wear your braids in different styles
Have fun with your braids. Add some colorful beads, gold clips, and more to personalize your hairstyle.
Do pat your itchy scalp
Pat your itchy scalp to avoid ruining your braids and causing your scalp to bleed. Another way to prevent irritation is by soaking the braiding hair into apple cider vinegar before installing the hair.
Luckily, Founder Ciara Imani May created eco-friendly braiding hair that will not irritate your scalp. Say goodbye to apple cider vinegar rinses and hello to Rebundle. Rebundle was made to save the earth with plant-based braiding hair that reduces scalp irritation.
Braiding Hair Don’ts:
Don’t neglect your hair in your braids
Do not assume your hair is healthy just because it is in a protective style. You still need to keep up daily care. It is crucial to maintain your hair regime with braids by washing/cleansing your scalp regularly and after strenuous activities such as swimming. Oiling your scalp and spraying your hair with braiding spray helps make sure your hair is moisturized.
Avoidtight braids
Tight braids can cause a lot of tension, which is harmful to your scalp and hair’s health. It is painful to sleep in, and braids that are too tight can also cause small bumps along your hairline. Not to mention breakage! Make sure your braids are done well without too much tension to protect your hair's health.
Don’t add too much-braiding hair in small sections
Adding too much hair to a small section creates excess weight and can cause hair breakage. Make sure you use an equal amount of parts for your hair with the braiding hair.
Don’t wear your braids for longer than two months
If you wish to wear braids longer than two months, make sure you take the old braids out, allow your scalp to rest for 2-3 days then reinstall the braids. Anything longer than two months can cause excessive product and dirt build-up, which will cause matting of your natural hair.
Braids are fun and essential. They’ve been a part of the culture for years and are so adaptable. Teach your child how to do fun braid styles with Zoe. Zoe’s hair is full of curl power, it can be washed and styled just like real hair, and Zoe loves getting braids.
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FAQs
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 .
What should I do to my natural hair before braiding? ›
BEFORE YOU BRAID: 5 STEPS TO PREPARE YOUR NATURAL HAIR FOR A PROTECTIVE STYLE
- Deep Cleansing. Before you braid your hair it should be clean. ...
- Deep Condition. It's imperative to deep condition your natural hair before protective styling. ...
- Get a Trim. ...
- Use a Leave in Conditioner.
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 .
Should you braid natural hair wet or dry? ›
If you do not dry your hair appropriately, a mildew scent arises from wet braids. Just like damp clothes, wet braids have a lingering smell. It can be concluded that braiding is advisable when the hair is already dry, as compared to wet hair, as it is strongest in a dry state and weakest in a wet state.
How to care for braids on natural hair? ›
Do regularly care for your natural hair in your braids. To regularly take care of your hair in your braids, you should oil your scalp 2-3 times a week with moisturizing oils. Also, wash your scalp after strenuous activities such as swimming to ensure there is no dirt and product build-up.
What not to do before braiding hair? ›
Here's a good rule of thumb: never braid dirty hair or wet hair. This means that you need to wash your hair really well. To make sure that your hair is clean, you should use a clarifying shampoo to help get rid of all of the dirt and build-up from your scalp and hair.
Should I oil my hair before braiding? ›
Niani says to skip applying oil to your hair when preparing braids. Not only do you want your scalp to be free of product buildup, but she explains that some hair oils won't play well with braiding products and can impact the hold or appearance of your final style, leaving behind a white, flaky residue.
What to put in hair before braiding? ›
To deep condition your hair before braiding, apply a generous amount of conditioner to clean, wet hair (from root to tip). Cover your hair with a plastic conditioning bag and sit under a hooded hair dryer for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse hair with lukewarm water for 2-3 minutes.
How long should you keep braids in natural hair? ›
The longer your braids stay in, the harder it might be to maneuver around the build up. Some people end up having to cut their hair after leaving braids on for too long. So how long is safe? I'd recommend 6 to 8 weeks and if you want to go longer, you have to really take good care of it to avoid a lot of breakage.
Should you oil braids every day? ›
If you want to maintain the shine of your tresses and hydrate your scalp, a bit of hair oil can give your scalp that extra moisture. However, it's not necessary to oil your hair in order to maintain scalp health and your desired braid style. "There is a big misconception that so much oil is needed for the scalp daily.
Undo each braid, shake out your hair, and—if your hair is naturally straight—mist it with a wave spray (like L'Oréal Paris Txt It Tousle Waves Spray). Scrunch gently to perk up limp pieces, and lift your roots with a texturizing spray (try Garnier Fructis De-Constructed Texture Tease).
How to get braid waves to last? ›
It also helps to leave your hair braided for at least 24 hours if possible, it helps make sure your hair holds the wavy/curly texture you're wanting. After you take your braids out try not to pull apart or brush through your hair, you can lightly mist your hair with hair spray to give some extra hold.
How to keep braids from frizzing while sleeping? ›
Wrap box braids and cornrows in a silk or satin scarf to prevent frizz and breakage. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase to prevent friction and keep braids secure.
How to make braids last longer on natural hair? ›
It's important to gently wash your braids at once every two weeks. However, you don't need to douse your braids in water if you don't want to. Instead, use a root rinse or treatment to cleanse your scalp. You can also use dry shampoo or dry-wash your hair by dampening a washcloth with warm water and shampoo.
How to stop braids from frizzing? ›
First, apply some water to your braids to fix frizzy knotless braids. It will provide moisture and nourishment. Then, apply Controlled Chaos Curl Creme to the ends and any frizzy areas of your braids. Moreover, it will smooth and define them.
How often should I put mousse on my braids? ›
Ideally a couple of times a week or as needed for refreshment. Mousse is the unsung hero in the world of braided hairstyles, providing not just the holding power you need but also a host of benefits that look after your hair's health and appearance.
Do you need to stretch natural hair before braiding? ›
Stretching out your hair before installing box or yarn braids in it is an essential step. Your braids will go in easier and stay secure for longer when the hair is stretched out to be as straight and long as possible.
What do you spray on hair before braiding? ›
See a few of our favorites ahead.
- As I Am Dry & Itchy Scalp Care Oil Treatment. ...
- Jamaican Mango & Lime Maximum Relief No More Itch Spray. ...
- Cantu Tea Tree & Jojoba Hair & Scalp Oil. ...
- Doo Gro Anti Itch Hair Oil. ...
- HASK Tea Tree Oil & Rosemary 5-in-1 Leave-In Spray. ...
- African Royale BRX Braid & Extensions Sheen Spray.
Regardless of the style you choose, moisturizing your hair before placing it into a protective style and while it's in the style is extremely important. Not only does it keep your hair from breaking off, but it makes it easier to handle when you take your style out.
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