:::when wearing braid extensions question:::

[Anew]

How do you wash your hair? Do you dilute your shampoo, how often, etc...

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[Avaya]

When I used to wear cornrows, I used to cleanse my scalp with Organic Root Stimulator's Herbal Cleanse

Then I started to wash my hair and scalp with diluted shampoo. I would just put some shampoo in a spray bottle add water, shake it up, and spray my scalp and work up a lather and rinse it out. Then I would spray my braids with a leave-in conditioner and put on a scarf and let it air dry.

My braids never got unbearably frizzy. I would keep them for at least 6 weeks, sometimes 8. I'd wash my hair once a week.

 

[Maracujá]

When I had braid extensions in february last year I washed every two weeks and used an instant conditioner, I'm currently sporting braid extensions too but I'm planning on only washing once a month and dcing once a month also, I do not dilute my shampoos.

 

[lilsparkle825]

i just washed my box braids last night. i diluted my favorite DC in a spray bottle and applied it to my hair, then covered it with a conditioning cap and went about my business for a few hours. i got in the shower, rinsed, and shook up a small amount of ORS olive oil shampoo and water in an empty container. i then poured that over my braids and massaged, then rinsed again. when i got out, i sprayed african royale braid spray on the length of my braids and put gel on my edges/roots to control the fuzzies. then i covered them with a scarf until dry.

i have done the wash process without spray bottles/diluting my products before, but i think i ended up using too much and not being able to rinse my braids properly.

 

[Anew]

Its been two weeks I think with these braids and I haven't washed yet. The plan was once a week, but I guess it may be twice a month.

Thank you ladies for answering. I think I may do a DC. I was wondering if I should use heat or leave it on for a few hours

 

[Nonie]

I don't dilute. I shampoo twice a week. I pour undiluted shampoo onto my fingers and then feel through the hair to my scalp where I apply it and massage well to clean the scalp. Then I turn on the shower head and spray my head and as the now diluted shampoo runs down my braids, I squeeze them to get the dirt out out of the braids. If the suds are brown, I repeat the scalp shampoo and braid squeeze. Usually one shampoo is enough because I don't use any leave-in products and I wash every 3 or so days so my hair doesn't really get dirty.

 

[julzinha]

I slightly dilute. I pour the shampoo onto my hands and run it under water for a moment then put it directly on my scalp. Then I massage it in and focus the water on my scalp. The amount of times you want to wash your hair is up to you, but trying a growth regimen in which I rotate between growth mixes and one of them is MTG and it has a pretty bad smell so I wash my hair after I use it, the following morning, which is twice a week. But I also use Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner after i wash the shampoo out but I only focus on the braids and I leave a little in. Also use a GOOD shampoo. The shampoos with harsh sulfates are not meant to be used often because they will dry your hair and irritate your scalp. I use Giovanni Tea Tree Shampoo (it was on sale for 5) and it cleans very well and it is organic so I have no problem using it twice a week.

 

[MyAngelEyez~C~U]

I do the same thing Nonie does.

 

[a_shoe_6307]

I wash every two weeks with diluted shampoo. I put the poo in an empty water bottle and add water and shake. Then I pour it over my head concentrating on the scalp and then rub my scalp and rinse. However, I do that because my hair in braids does not like a lot of shampoo.

 

[hothair]

I dilute shampoo in a bowl / colour applicator bottle and apply, same with DC but I don't make it as runny. See Robin's site here for more braid care

 

[Determined22]

First I put my individual braids into 4 big braids. Then I spray African Pride Braid Shampoo on my scalp & do a little scalp massage & then rinse. I then condition by diluting a cheapie conditioner with water in a pitcher and pouring that over my braids and scalp. I let that sit for about 10 minutes, then I rinse. I usually dry my braids under my Pibbs until they are about 75% dry and then airdry the rest of the way.

 

[my1goodnerve]

I don't dilute shampoo. Recently I've been using my DC before shampoo alternating between Strinillah w/heat and the yogurt-coconut cream-coconut oil w/out heat as a DC. I wash with Sally's Hair One cleansing creme in the shower and I use VO5 Strawberries and cream for a quick rinse at the end. I apply castor oil to my edges and nape every night before bed, and I check those areas to make sure that there is no added stress or pulling because I wear my braids in a bun or pony tail.
I wash and co wash my braids way more often in the summer to combat any sweaty head smells. And I generally try to treat my hair the same whether in braided extensions or not.

 

[LivingDol1]

i wash once a week with slight dilluted shampoo. I put it in my hands and add some water from the shower, get my hands all soapy and get in between my braids as best i can.

i use an anti residue shampoo to prevent build up...

 

[Avaya]

Does anyone use a stocking cap/panty hose to cover their braids when they wash? I've heard that cuts down on the freeze but I never tried it. Tying my hair down with my scarf while it dried worked well for me.

 

[amwcah]

I wash and DC once per week with undiluted shampoo. I pretty much wash in the same way Nonie does.

 

[my1goodnerve]

I remember reading somewhere that washing braids with a stocking cap on defeats the purpose. Although there may be some reduction in frizz, the dirt and oil are trapped and end up sitting on top of the braids. What looks like frizz reduction could be hair that is weighed down with all the crud you were trying to wash out. It probably makes more sense to tie down the hair with a scarf after washing.

 

[Urban]

I haven't warn braids with extensions in almost a year. But when I did, I washed with diluted shampoo once a week. I'd just pour the dilute shampoo over my scalp and sort of massage. The run off would clean the length of the braids. I also DC'd under a hooded dryer once a week. I'd just coat the length of the braid with the DC.

It was definitely easier than washing my own hair loose. But my braids got frizzier a lot faster with the frequent washing.

 

[Anew]

Ladies, how did your hair feel after taking the braids down?

 

[Nonie]

Since I wash/condition twice a week with one of those conditions being a DC, and I baggy all the time. My hair feels soft and is stretched. I also redo my braids regularly and don't use products so I don't ever get that matting knotting residue lump at the base of the braids. This sort of shows you how each section looks like when I take the braids out:

And you can actually witness the removal here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j68_fk46rNk

I usually plait the hair from a few extension braids into bigger plaits to keep them from getting tangled as I undo the rest:

And this is what the hair looke like when I undid those braids:

 

[B_Phlyy]

I wash and DC once per week with undiluted shampoo. I pretty much wash in the same way Nonie does.

Same here. I just make sure to rinse extra well to get everything out.

 

[Avaya]

Ladies, how did your hair feel after taking the braids down?

Very soft and there was little to no crud at the base of the braids.

 

[Ramya]

I got a set of kinky twists put in almost 3 weeks ago. I've washed once but my scalp is drying out. I think the twists are sucking up my moisture. I've never had dry hair or scalp before. Usually it's oily. Their already fuzzy too. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

 

[Nonie]

I got a set of kinky twists put in almost 3 weeks ago. I've washed once but my scalp is drying out. I think the twists are sucking up my moisture. I've never had dry hair or scalp before. Usually it's oily. Their already fuzzy too. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Ramya, do you whole head baggy? My scalp is never dry but I baggy every night. I think it encourages sebum production so that the scalp is never dry. You could try that. If you baggy with Saran wrap, it works like a scarf and helps to tidy up any fuzz.

I don't think you're doing anything wrong as far as them getting fuzzy. Washing has that effect, but I'd refer you to Mook's Hair, Queen of Kinky Twists for advice on maintaining them.