What You Need To Know About Braids...

Braids are easy, and fun, and GREAT for hot weather. However, braids should not become long term plan. ESPECIALLY if you are trying to grow your hair out. Have you noticed that people who have been braiding their hair up for years trying to get it to grow, STILL don't have long healthy hair?

First of all, the tension of the braids is damaging to the hair especially if you are pulling them in a ponytail all the time. Not only are the braids tight, but now they are also pulled back in a ponytail causing further tension. Each section used for one braid is supporting the weight of double, triple, quadruple the amount of hair.

Let's say you have 20 strands supporting the weight of 40 strands of added hair. Your hair sheds daily and and by the time you are ready for the braids to come out there may be 10 or 15 hairs left supporting the weight of those SAME 40 strands. Constant tension on the scalp causes what is called traction alopecia. Under tension the hair follicles become inflamed (which is why sometimes you see bumps). That is why a lot of people have very thin, short or non-existent hairlines. If you keep damaging the hair follicles. By constantly wearing braids, your scalp won't get a chance to heal and those spots will develop into scar tissue. They will become smooth & hair will stop growing in those spots.  Once you have alopecia, even with cortisone shots and scalp treatments there is a very slim chance that your hair will ever grow back the way it was, if at all.

      

(These three women have permanent hair loss from years of wearing braids...)

(This baby is bald already from tight ponytails & braids)

Alopecia is not the only thing that you have to be mindful of when you have braids. Many people get braids (esp. for their children) because they want to swim all summer and not have to worry about their hair. The water not only makes your hair heavier (heavier=more tension=more breakage), but the chlorine builds up in your hair making it brittle. Chlorine is a mineral. In order to get it out of your hair you need to use a special deep cleansing shampoo and then follow up with a deep conditioner to replenish the moisture. AND YOU KNOW you're not doing that every time you get out the pool... if at all.

I'm not saying DON'T get braids ever (because I do get braids occasionally... and I don't want anyone to assassinate me when they see me on fb or in the streets with my individuals lol). I just want to give you some precautions.

1. DO NOT GET BRAIDS (ESPECIALLY INDIVIDUALS) WITH SYNTHETIC HAIR!!!! The hair is soooo much heavier than human braiding hair; and again the weight will break your hair and damage your scalp. Also, the tension of the braid itself and the rough texture of synthetic hair almost slices your own hair throughout the length of the strand; giving it that permanent crinkled look. But if you must, DO NOT keep them in as long as you regularly would. Maybe like @ weeks TOPS.

2. If you come out of braids and want a relaxer, you need to wait 24 hours between taking out the braids and your touch up. Otherwise your scalp will probably be too irritated for you to get a successful relaxer.

3. You need to comb all the dead hair out before you relax or shampoo! Think about how much dead hair you have on your head. Your hair sheds daily but it can't fall off your head because it was braided up. If you don't comb ALL of that hair out, when the water hits it, it's gonna turn into a huge dreadlock, and it's EXTREMELY difficult to comb that out without breakage or cutting it all off.

4. Do not wear your braids in tight ponytails or cornrowed styles.

5. Do not keep your braids in months at a time. I would recommend keeping your braids in NO LONGER than 4- 6 weeks. It's not healthy for your scalp anyways to go that long without shampooing your hair. (See my post about "Greasing Your Scalp"). 


6. Take a break in between and let your scalp recuperate.

7. Examine your scalp regularly!!! If you see any signs of breakage or hair loss.... TAKE THEM OUT! Abort mission!!

(Unacceptable... She knew her hair was bad when she put these
braids back in!!! She has braids hanging by threads... SMH)

I hope this helps! Have a great summer and see you soon!

Love,
Nia