Caring for your hair whilst it's in protective style is absolutely essential as it will ensure that you get maximum benefit from the protective style.
Braids
When I have installed the braid style of my choice and its always medium braids, for the first week I make sure that, I do not tie my braids up, as that will cause more pressure on my hair line as braids tend to pull on the hair line even if they are not too tight. I always make sure I treat the areas around my hair line very gently, I will apply oil to my scalp around my edges to make sure that braids in that area start to loosen up and are not too tight, this is the time for all the JBCO lovers to add this oil to their edges. I have never seen the benefits of JBCO so I use ordinary castor oil. I thin out my castor oil with Jojoba oil as I find it to be too thick for my scalp, but feel free to use which ever oils or edge treatments you like.
I moisturize my braids as if its is my hair but instead of the LOC method that requires cream, I like to use my homemade spritz, I seal in the water with a light oil like grape-seed oil, or Jojoba oil.
WASHING
Is very important when you have braids, as build up from products will clog up your pores, this can irritate your scalp and lead to itching. The rule is always keep you scalp clean so that your hair can grow. I wash my braids every 10 days. I apply the shampoo to my scalp and massage my scalp for a good 15 minutes, this helps to loosen any build up. I follow this with a light conditioner or I will dilute my regular conditioner with some water. I have found it impossible to do a deep treatment on my hair whilst it is in braids as most deep treatments are very thick and leave a residual on the braids which is a mission to clean out. I never leave my braids in longer than 8 weeks as it is impossible to de-tangle my hair when I am taking the braids down and the risk of breakage is very higher.
Weaves
I am not so big on weaves so I rarely have a weave on and if I do it never lasts longer than 2 weeks. When I do wear a weave I make sure that I spritz the tracks with my water based spritz and use a light oil to seal. I will co-wash the weave once and week and make sure none of the silicon used to make the weave nice and shiny gets on the tracks. I also try not use a blow dryer when I have weave on as the pulling tends to pull on the tracks on my hair, instead I use a flat iron to get the weave hair nice and straight or a curling iron for curls this just ensures that there is no un-necessary pulling on my hair.
Corn Rows
These are my favorite and are the easiest to take care off, I spritz my hair literally every night when I have these on. I make sure I use an oil with tea tree oil on my scalp to keep it nice and healthy. I wash once a week and I actually manage to deep treat my hair when wearing this style as it is easier I find to get all the conditioner off than with braids. This style will last me up to 3 weeks.
How do you take care of your hair in its protective style?
XXX
Isabel
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