Keeping Your Edges Intact When Wearing Braids?

[CarLiTa]

How do you? especially if you have fine hair?

My edges took a beating the last set of braids I had. The braids were past my waist, and I exercised very regularly. The other thing is that I have fine strands. Seems my temple cannot handle the weight + the constant styling (I got knots at the roots of the braids), and the vigorous exercise.

Any advice?

 

[Coilystep]

I'm totally no help. I love the look of braids but I've kind of decided I don't want to get them anymore. I love edges more. In the past I've always gotten them in the summer. I used to just try to not have the braider braid tight.

 

[julzinha]

Ask the braider to not braid the edges tight. They should not hurt when you're done.

Ask for larger parts around your edges. More hair per braid makes it easier.

Also, try shorter braids, the longer they are the heavier and more of a toll they will take on your edges

 

[Guinan]

I second the not braiding the edges too tight. I just recently put braids in my hair and I tried not to braid the edges too tight and I did make the parts alittle bit bigger. I'm hoping that my edges dont suffer too much.

 

[HaveSomeWine]

This could also apply to chronic bun wearers, right? I have to wear my hair in a low bun for work and I'm afraid of my edges being snatched clean off because of the constant identical daily hairstyle. Besides not pulling the hair back too tight and wearing a different hairstyle when I'm not working, I haven't come up with any other edge loss prevention techniques.

Besides not doing anything too tight, making sure to keep our edges moisturized should ward off breakage from dryness.

 

[Harina]

Lol do the braids yourself or at least the critical areas.
Rubbing castor oil on the edges while wearing braids has brought mine back from the dead.

 

[discodumpling]

The only way ive avoided edge loss while in braids is to simply do em myself. For some reason the braiders i used to go to didnt get it. You alone know how much tension your edges can handle dont leave it up to your braider to decide for you.

 

[LeftRightRepeat]

I tell them up front that I don't want them tight. I am vocal if they do start pulling it too tight. Also I use light(er) hair in terms of weight, and I don't get long braids. The take down process is also important, I get someone who knows what they're doing to take them out - I don't do it myself.

eta: i got crochet braids put in yesterday. The (African) braider had the most gentle hands

 

[CaraWalker]

i wonder if certain types of hair is just more sensitive to braids because i used to wear them all the time when i was younger and never had any damage to my edges.

 

[LeftRightRepeat]

dp

 

[ajargon02]

How do you? especially if you have fine hair?

My edges took a beating the last set of braids I had. The braids were past my waist, and I exercised very regularly. The other thing is that I have fine strands. Seems my temple cannot handle the weight + the constant styling (I got knots at the roots of the braids), and the vigorous exercise.

Any advice?

When I braid my hair with extensions I only do mini or micro braids because anything else is too heavy for my hair. I leave my edges out and gel them down. I refuse to have no hairline for the sake of my hair looking perfect.

 

[CarLiTa]

Bump.

Thanks for the responses.
I thought the braider I use has gentle hands. My head is a little sore the first day, but after that I'm good. I do always state that I don't want them tight.

What happens at my edges is this: sometimes I part the braids to the right or left side. All the parting (intentional or accidental, aka BC of sleeping or exercise) causes the braid to tangle at the root over time. Does that make sense? Not sure how else to explain it.
As a result, by the time I take out the braid, perhaps because of dryness as well, the fine hair there breaks.

VERY MUCH considering keeping that section unbraided and just gelling it down. I think I might have seen pictures on Pinterest where people do that, but @ajargon02 do you have photos you'd be willing to share?

 

[TwistedRoots]

In addition to having them not braid tightly I have the front redone every son often and have the parts changed.

 

[jamaraa]

i wonder if certain types of hair is just more sensitive to braids because i used to wear them all the time when i was younger and never had any damage to my edges.

When you were a kid, how long did you wear a given style for? Did you wear cornrows or individual braids?

 

[discodumpling]

In addition to having them not braid tightly I have the front redone every son often and have the parts changed.

Yaaaasss! This is also key. Re-braiding sensitive areas sooner than later is essential. It allows you to assess and nip any potential damage in the bud quickly! For me that entails most of the perimeter of my head.
Thank you YOUTUBE for teaching me how to install my own extensions!

 

[ajargon02]

Bump.

Thanks for the responses.
I thought the braider I use has gentle hands. My head is a little sore the first day, but after that I'm good. I do always state that I don't want them tight.

What happens at my edges is this: sometimes I part the braids to the right or left side. All the parting (intentional or accidental, aka BC of sleeping or exercise) causes the braid to tangle at the root over time. Does that make sense? Not sure how else to explain it.
As a result, by the time I take out the braid, perhaps because of dryness as well, the fine hair there breaks.

VERY MUCH considering keeping that section unbraided and just gelling it down. I think I might have seen pictures on Pinterest where people do that, but @ajargon02 do you have photos you'd be willing to share?

I am so sorry I don't have any pics. I haven't braided my hair in years. Maybe someone can come in and show pics.

 

[ajargon02]

I am so sorry, I have no pix. I haven't braided my hair in years. Maybe someone can post pix for u.

 

[shasha8685]

I agree with the stated suggestions.

I am also very vocal about braiders NOT braiding my baby hair. There have been instances where they've done it anyway and I promptly went home and took those braids out. I'd rather just gel that hair down.

I also try to wear my hair down (not putting it up for a few days) for awhile after my braids are installed. That way I'm not putting more tension on my hair right after the braid install.

 

[ilong]

A month or so ago I was considering getting braids again, but after realizing the effect they had on my hair - I will NEVER get any kind of extension braids/twists again. My edges remained in tact, but my sides paid the price. I would always get cornrow braids, braided flat to my scalp, an inch or so past shoulder length. My hair was already thin and weak on the sides and when the cornrows got loose the weight and movement of the braids pulled on my hair. Also, I sleep on my side(s) and when I didn't secure my hair up (more stress on sides) and go to bed, I (or my SO) would lay on the braids. When I attempted to move my head - the braids and my hair at the roots/follicles would get pulled.
@CarLiTa - I would follow Harina's recommendation to apply castor oil to your edges faithfully. The downside of that is build up.

 

[CarLiTa]

Thanks for this, @ilong. Perhaps I should consider getting mini twists with my own hair going forward. I've never done that before.

 

[movingforward]

Even when I had my braids professionally done. I would re-braid my edges. Always baby (oil & moisturize) your edges. It doesn't help that synthetic hair is so flipping dry.

 

[ilong]

@CarLiTa - you are welcome. I get too many knots when I twist my own hair. I have to wig it until next year this time. I'll decide at that time what my next hair plans will be.

 

[ilong]

I saw a young lady today (~25 years old) with very very sparse edges. On one side , approximately 3" of scalp was visible. Her scalp isn't shiny and there are hairs so I'm not sure if her damage is severe, if it is vellus hair or if she is growing out of a Mohawk. I hope it's the latter. I may inquire the next time I see her and if it isn't growing out a Mohawk - I will gift her some castor oil.

 

[girlonfire]

With me, I used to be very self conscious about my edges. I HAVE edges but because they are much coilier than the rest of my hair when my hair is natural you can see my scalp but not that much. But I also have a tenancy to run my fingers though my edges...no where else . However when I press my hair you can't even tell that my edgees look weird.
I got this tip from sisterwithrealhair on yt. Get a rag in hot water, wring out the excess and just place that on your edges. If reversion is a issue to you, used a plastic bag to hold the rag. definitely helps to soothe and open up the follicles to receive nutrients.
Stay away from boar brushes.