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THE BRAID IT UP 2011 CHALLENGE -anyone?

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@Jozze thanks!
Ladies this is what I found in Ediese's blog hope it helps:
Anyway, these are my lessons learned that I hope will be helpful to someone else. If anyone else has other tips, please list them, I'll compile it all to make a huge list.
After you take out your sew-in, DO NOT WASH YOUR HAIR before you properly detangle and get out ALL shed hair. (Trust me, you will have a MAJOR setback if you do not listen to that one rule). I learned the hard way. My cousin advised me against it, and I told her that I have that 'good' hair, so my hair will surely not tangle. Well let me tell you...as soon as water hit my hair, it formed locs and got really matted. I had to chop out huge chunks of hair.
Do not let the stylist braid your hair or sew in the weave too tight. You'll know because aside from the major migraine that you'll experience, you'll see a lot of white bulbs on the tip of many strands along your hairline. This means that hair has been pulled out because of the tension. Also, tiny bumps will form in the back of your head. Silly me...I already know this, but I'm suffering from this right now. I need to listen to my own advice. I have two months to nurture my hairline.
It is not recommended that you wear your install for more than three months. I wore an install for four months this year, and thankfully I took it out when it first started to matt up, so I didn't lose any hair. The longer your leave the install coupled with the frequent washing + airdrying, shed hair, etc. will cause your hair to matt up over time.
Do not trust just ANYONE to take out your install. I always take out my installs by myself. I can't say that I don't trust her, but I don't even let my sister take it out. This way, if I happen to mistakenly cut my hair...oh well...at least I was the one that did it. Also, I'm much more patient, and can afford to take the extra 2+ hours to carefully take it down. I doubt a stylist will be that careful.
If you are planning to leave your install in for three months, you might want to rethink frequent washing and cowashing. I usually wash once per week, but sometimes I change it up to once every two weeks. Again, frequent washing and airdrying, product buildup, etc, might cause your hair to get matted..eer on the side of caution. (this is especially true for those with natural hair)
If you are getting a full sew-in with no hair left out, ask your stylist not to braid the baby hairs or the really short strands around your hairline. Trust me..this is the first time that I've had a full head sew-in with everything braided, and my hairline is missing. She braided every strand, and now I"m having to baby that area.
It is normal for you to see lots of hair in your comb after you take out your sew-in. Remember, you did have your hair braided for x time, and what you're seeing is most likely shed hair.
Try to do a protein treatment prior to the sew-in, and when you take it down. This helps to strengthen your hair.
It's also recommended that you at least wait 1-2 weeks before you reinstall another sew-in. This gives you an opportunity to give your real hair that much needed TLC.
Have fun with your weave! Remember there are so many different styles that you can achieve with a weave without damaging your real hair. Do you want some blonde highlights, a curly or wet n' wavy look, or perhaps a pixie cut? Go ahead, and weave it up! Um..you might want to stick with something that will look more natural though. If you're 4a or 4b, you might want to stay about from silky straight hair.
Oh yeah...please stop patting your weave in public! If you haven't noticed, the whole weave moves like it's a wig.
If you're relaxed, this is a good way to stretch your relaxers. You don't have to keep relaxing your entire head when you take down an install. If it's going to be braided up anyway, what's the point?
 
Ok, I just had to share my foolishness with you guys. I decided I couldn't wait two weeks in between braids, because I like to play in my hair too much. So last Sunday I started braiding my hair. Now, knowing that I am slow as molasses I started braiding in the front so that I could hide my hair the next day to go to work. The plan was to keep braiding it at night until my whole head was done, which probably would have taken me two more days (I started Sunday at 9am and gave up at 11pm)..... why is it Thursday and I still have not gone back to braid my hair???? I decided I really didn't feel like doing them so I have been pulling the front over the rest of my hair and wearing it in a ponytail all week. Last night I just moisturized with the QB Amla butter, and braided my own hair to hide it under the extensions. Lol, I told ya I had issues. I think I may just have to let the African hair salons do it next time. I will be in pain for a couple of days but at least it will be done in a day and last longer than when I do them.
 
Thanks for the information about sew-ins bibirockz. I have decided that I'm going to try crochet braids. I can have a natural look and have full access to my scalp. I can still co-wash, poo and DC. I looked at bmp blog (www.blackmasterpiece.com) and loved her looks. These cornrows unnderneath my wig are driving me insane. I have to redo them every few days and I'm ready for a new look. Once I leave work I'm headed to the bss to look at my options. Hopefully it will turn out cute.



 
I just couldnt wait until the end of the monrth to braid up after my Dec Retouch. I co-washed on Tuesday Dec 4, and braided my hair in big cornrows. Since I'm on maternity leave I just kept a satin bonnet on during the day. When I left the house I wore a wig. I'm going back to work on Monday so I'll continue to wear a wig with my hair cornrowed and baggied under.

I'm scheduled to get my next extension braids on Jan 28. I will keep that in for about 5 weeks then redo.
 
I'm hoping to get an inch in my 6 weeks of braids. I've been taking mega vitamins for the hair and I think I have half an inch at 3 weeks. Hopefully it keeps up.
 
I took my braids out this past weekend, I tried to wait until later this month but I missed playing in my hair. :look::lol:
I made them a bit smaller than I normally would do (don’t know what I was thinking) coz it took me foreverrrR to take them out a good 5-6 hours, I’m soo glad they’re out. It feels good to wear my hair loose (twistout) in the meantime. Once my half-wig arrives in the mail I will twist my hair up and rock the wig for awhile.
 
I wash my hair every 2 weeks with Giovanni Smooth as Silk
DC with an Aubrey Organics Condish ( I have 5/6 different ones)
Giovanni Leave in( Which i smother my hair in)
Then Giovanni Straight Fast, Warm blow dry, till its dampish-straight
I'm plaiting my hair with Hollywood beauty olive oil cream and castor oil.

Daily I'm using up any and everything i can find.
Currently , African Pride Braid spray, Lacio Lacio(PJ buy) and jojoba oil to seal

When I un-plait my hair I oil with whatever oils i can find. Sometimes I use shea butter, too. Cover leave in as long as i feel like. Then put some condish on- currently HE hello hydration. and detangle.

Repeat the process



I'm also going to play with this some
texasbeautysupplycom_2136_58865651

HHG:grin:
 
Took my cornrows out this morning poo and dc then applied a little moisturizer and oil to seal. My sister is rebraiding tomorrow. A little upset because I wanted crochet braids before school started but I cant find the Freetres hair at a bss in Nashville. Anyone know of any other type of hair that will do well for crochet?
 
I got my weave installed on Monday. The majority of my hair is hidden except for my edges and bang area. I use Capelli hair in the mink yaki which you can only get in Cali and I must say it is fabulous. It should last me about a year according to the company. My weave installer told me that she had the same kind of hair for about a 1.5 year. I love it...so far.
 
Took my cornrows out this morning poo and dc then applied a little moisturizer and oil to seal. My sister is rebraiding tomorrow. A little upset because I wanted crochet braids before school started but I cant find the Freetres hair at a bss in Nashville. Anyone know of any other type of hair that will do well for crochet?

I use a lot of different brands for my crochet braids. Just make sure that you use 100% kanekalon synthetic hair from a reputable hair company -soft water waves and curly styles work best imo. I actually prefer LA Trend's Softer Curl (see my avatar) to anything by Freetress. It looks realistic, it stays soft even after swimming and it last a full 8 weeks without matting or losing it's curl. HTHs!:)
 
@LadyBelle

Hey lady I need some advice from you. Well, Im rocking my hair in my own cornrows with the wigs. Im kind of getting tired of that wig. Anyway, I was wondering if Im braiding up my own hair with no extensions do I need to have a long break....like undo the cornrows and wear my hair without braids for a while....I mean would it break my hair if I did back to back cornrows or just left my hair unbraided for like a day? Help me out!
 
Thanks Jozze. I went to the bss yesterday and tried batik deep wave. The style came out great but took forever. I like the wavy look but the knots won't stay in place. Maybe next time I do this I will look for another type of synthetic hair. I will post pictures later this evening once I leave work
 

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Thanks Jozze. I went to the bss yesterday and tried batik deep wave. The style came out great but took forever. I like the wavy look but the knots won't stay in place. Maybe next time I do this I will look for another type of synthetic hair. I will post pictures later this evening once I leave work


Awwww I'm sorry you're having trouble with the knotting. Here's a link to the knotting technique I use: YouTube - My Crochet braids Freetress loose deep 24" (just skip to 2.21).
I find using a small amount of hair from each side to tie the knot works best no matter what hair I use -the silkier the hair texture the less hair I use to knot. I also make my knots underneath the loose hair so they're invisible. HTHs!

Btw, I love Batik! I think it was one of the first brands of synthetic hair I used for crochet braids. It lasts and lasts and looks really natural. I'm sure that once you get the knots to stay you'll be really happy you used it. I can't wait to see your pics!:D
 
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Checking in,

I co-washed and deep conditioned my hair on Saturday. Braided my hair in big plates and will be wigging this week.
 
@LadyBelle

Hey lady I need some advice from you. Well, Im rocking my hair in my own cornrows with the wigs. Im kind of getting tired of that wig. Anyway, I was wondering if Im braiding up my own hair with no extensions do I need to have a long break....like undo the cornrows and wear my hair without braids for a while....I mean would it break my hair if I did back to back cornrows or just left my hair unbraided for like a day? Help me out!

So sorry for the delayed response, but I think if you are braiding your natural hair (with no extensions) i think it would be okay to braid back to back as long as you are gentle with the edges & not braiding too tight. I'm sure you are doing a good dc treatment after each time you take them down, right?:yep:
 
I have two more weeks before I have to take these kinky twist out. I usually rent several movies & make a day out of it.
 
Hello, I pre-poo with a castor oil treatment this past saturday, left it on for two hours. Washed out my hair with Biosilk Hydrating shampoo, Steamed with anita grant Babassu conditioner, used DB peach leave in conditioner, sealed with castor oil and have been wearing my hair in cornrows under my wig. Will be getting Kinky Twist at the end of this month.
 
Hi all,
I took out my crochet braids yesterday. Today I've washed; henna'd; DC'd under my steamer and my hair is now air drying with leave-in (KM's recipe) in Bantu knots. I will put it into fifteen to twenty natural plaits (no extensions) tomorrow for a week and repeat the same process before putting it back into crochet braids in two weeks.
Btw, I bun while in plaits to protect my ends.
 
I would like to join this challenge pls. I braided all last yr and would like to continue this yr for 2011. Thanks:grin:
 
I would like to join this challenge pls. I braided all last yr and would like to continue this yr for 2011. Thanks:grin:
Me too, I got my box braids in on December of 2009. I haven't taken any breaks and have been wearing braids now for one year and one month. I intend to wear braids until the end of 2011 or June of 2012.
 
Hey ladies! Im still wearing my crochet braids. I spray with braid spray in the evening and put my bonnet on. My hair is starting to tangle a bit so I finger comb and then twirl the hair to keep it looking nice. I really love this style its low mantience and I'm keeping my hands out my hair. I cant wait to see the growth I have after I take this down in about a month
 
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