From skeptic to a believer

[delitefulmane]

Soooooo, ok when I first join here in '07 my mom was like "why are you always on that hair board. Its not like your hair is gonna grow like the women on there. Plus all of their hair is fake." Anywho, now she has seen the progress and growth of my hair and she told me to come on here and ask "the experts" a question for her!

Ok to the question. She has had braids in her hair every month for three months (i.e. taking them down, washing her hair and getting it redone). She wants to know if its ok to get it done for a forth month or not?

I told her no because she needs to let her own hair breathe for a while plus her hair is fine and I don't want braids to make her hair break off.

What do you think? Sorry for the long post!

 

[bedazzled]

She needs to take a break. Her edges + nape will evaporate & she won't know what happened. Theres no point of having a BSL crown with a nape & front hairline that looks like its been shaved down...unless people are still trying to get on that shave half my head/random spots on my head steez.

 

[delitefulmane]

She needs to take a break. Her edges + nape will evaporate & she won't know what happened. Theres no point of having a BSL crown with a nape & front hairline that looks like its been shaved down...unless people are still trying to get on that shave half my head/random spots on my head steez.

Thanx a lot Bedazzled! I your siggy pic!

 

[vkb247]

Is she having any problems with the braids so far? Is her stylist gentle on her head? I don't see why she has to take a break. The crown and glory method has helped quite a few ladies grow long hair and that is technique is based on braiding almost all the time. If she feels like the braiding is putting too much stress on her hair than maybe braiding without extensions, braided updo's, or twists might be a nice change. HTH

 

[delitefulmane]

Well she is letting a woman who is African do her hair! She also goes to this lady's friends. My only problem is that they braid really tight and I know she would not be the type to tell them that they are braiding to tight!

 

[BlackMasterPiece]

There nothing wrong with going to the African's for braiding I went to them to get my braids done when I first started my transition and it was just right, not too tight and I slept just fine n dandy that night. It's all about going to an African braider that is has a good reputation and has been recommended by a friend.

That being said, I HATED the takedown, took forever it was soooo annoying. I prefer senegalese twists much more, its less stress on your hair, they can do it in slightly larger sections then braids and still have it looking nice and the takedown is SUPER easy. I only had to watch the stylist do my hair in twists once and from then on I knew how to put em on myself.

Senegalese twists were a great protective style for me. You don't have to use expensive human hair for it, the kanekalon is just fine its very little stress on your hair you retain nice growth and theres very little stress on the edges if done right. I like them much better

 

[jamaraa]

I'm amused that your mother thought the long hair here was fake considering how much of it is natural and how so many women are standing around in bras to show it to ya. If they'd be honest enough to show themselves fairly nude, why would they lie about their hair? LOL Honestly...

Anyway, I'm glad you guys over your skepticism.

Sorry, but I can't recommend anyone keeping their hair in braids for a full financial quarter. Not only are there obvious problems w/ how it looks...they look ratty, no matter how tightly they were initially done (OUCH) but there's you scalp health to consider. If she's doing this for growth while adding fake hair to it (you didn't say about fake hair either way) it's very liable to think her hair out, not just at the nape/ edges, but all over. Besides, how will she ever learn to style her hair in it's natural loose form? (I'm assuming she's natural or transitioning)

The place to be REALLY careful (I'm assuming she's got micros) is in the take down. It's gonna be a long process and you have to be very cautious w/ snarls and tangles. You can loose tons of hair if you aren't careful.

 

[shunemite]

It's better to take a break and do some protein treatments to take the tension out of the hair. I did that one year, maybe 4 years back? The whole back to back braiding with no break and I lost my edges completely. If she can compromise for about 2 weeks her hair will be in better shape for it. I read that on the grow afro hair long website with the whole crown and glory method of growing hair with braids.

 

[Desarae]

Yes she should take a 1-2 week break between braidings to Deep Condition and make sure her hair is in tip top shape.

As long as they are not braiding too tight she should be good to go!

 

[lboogie2679]

I would take a short break to give the hair TLC. Maybe for 2 wks in between.

 

[delitefulmane]

Thanx so much ladies for all of your responses! She does not have micros 'Jamaraa' but she is using fake hair! I told her that she should take at least a two week break and she just said "go ask the experts"