**2010 Braid Challenge**........sign-up here

[djkforeal]

Okay, so I removed my lace wig on Saturday night and washed and deep conditioned with Jason's Biotin Shampoo and African Blends Carrot Creme Conditioner along with some Moisture Milk. That combonation detangled very nicely and gave me great slip while I detangled with my extra wide tooth comb. I then applied Profectiv leave in treatment conditioner all over my hair then Profective temple, crown and nape balm to my scalp and sealed with JBCO and Jojoba oil. The next day, I put coconut oil on my hair then braided in about 9-10 cornrows to the side in the front and to the back from the crown to nape. I did not take pictures because I did not do a great enough job, but I did get the job done and reapplied my lace wig. I was sure not to pull to tightly and I know I acheived that because I did not have a headache like I do when licensed stylists braid my hair! I don't remember when we should do length checks but I am aiming for every 3 months or so so that I can see how bad I need a trim also. Not looking forward to that. I just trimmed about .5-1.0 inch and the results are my current avatar picture. Who said growing long hair was easy?

 

[mstar]

Well ladies, I might be rethinking my participation in this challenge.

I LOVE my braids, but I went to a new hairdresser last week for a press, and he pointed out that I'm missing a nice chunk of hair on my right hairline. I hadn't even noticed! erplexed I have a 1-inch section that's smooth and bald like a baby's behind.

My braider is very good--and I take excellent care of my braided hair--but somehow, this still happened to me. I will spend the next couple weeks figuring out how to proceed.

I'd really like to stay in braids until I hit APL in the spring, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my edges.

 

[destine2grow]

I have been wearing my hair in braids underneath my wig until I get my sis to do my hair in micros. I have a question before I get them done. For the ladies that get micros what spritz do you use on your braids to help them stay? I hate pump it up! It dries out my hair and makes it itch like crazy. I need your suggestions. I want a spritz that does not have any alcohol. TIA

 

[Laela]

Maracujá... your hair is GORGEOUS! I'm nowhere near that length but I hope to be ! whew...

Bad news. The person who was supposed to braid my hair just cancelled on me *sigh*.

 

[NJoy]

Hmmm. I see my hair peeking out of a couple braids. I think I'm going to rebraid those. Ah well...

 

[Jozze]

Well ladies, I might be rethinking my participation in this challenge.

I LOVE my braids, but I went to a new hairdresser last week for a press, and he pointed out that I'm missing a nice chunk of hair on my right hairline. I hadn't even noticed! erplexed I have a 1-inch section that's smooth and bald like a baby's behind.

My braider is very good--and I take excellent care of my braided hair--but somehow, this still happened to me. I will spend the next couple weeks figuring out how to proceed.

I'd really like to stay in braids until I hit APL in the spring, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my edges.

Aww sorry that's happened to you but don't fret, I had a similar thing happen after wearing a tight corn row for several weeks. I used Mega-Tek on my bald spot and it filled in within a few short weeks. I still use it a few times a week and the hair there has caught up with the rest of my edges, now you can't tell I ever had a bald patch. Give it a go!

 

[Foufie]

I want to join! I got my crochet braids last week. I'd like to keep them till the end of February. Ill be using Nioxin Shampoo and Conditioner for chemically treated hair.

Totally forgot about crochet braids.....i think I want those next. yea.

 

[Foufie]

just checking in. Been doing okay with c & g so far. I have noticed they are looking a bit frizzy already from a week ago. I am gonna try and go another two before redoing any.

 

[determineddiva]

Ok ladies I have my braids in since 1/1/10. Just have to get them upload to computer. I dont have my digital camera. Oh I know I will use someones camera phone. Ok I will post them sometime today

 

[Twix]

You're welcome sweetie, anytime! I finally finished my twist last night, thank The Maker! I'll take a pic sometime this week and upload it. How about you? Have you tried the aloe vera gel and shea buttter yet? It really helped me so much.

I am now trying to decide if my twist are too long or not. They are hip length and everybody loves them but I find they are getting in my way so I'm bunning instead of wearing them loose. They aren't heavy because I used Arelle softex hair, which is very soft and light weight like human hair. I want to grow my hair to this length eventually so I guess wearing my twist this long gives me an idea of what it will be like. Anyway, I'll try it out for a week or two and see.

Well, my hair is currently cornrowed under my wig. Me and it weren't getting along, and I had to go back to work this week. But the good news is that I've gotten better at cornrowing! And that I have enough hair to cornrow!! Lol. My edges are a little :| though, so we'll have to see what's going on.

 

[orangepeel]

Is it too late to join? I'm going to spending the next few days doing my braids and I will be good to go.

 

[NJoy]

picture of new twist in signature..

Your twists look awesome!!!

 

[*SkolarStar*]

I have new braids! (Pics Attached) They were put in Dec 30th. Something I find easy to do that keeps my moisture level up (winter dry in the north) is baggying my braids every night. When I wake up I seal with evoo. It's really helping me with the itches.

 

[Marhia]

I have new braids! (Pics Attached) They were put in Dec 30th. Something I find easy to do that keeps my moisture level up (winter dry in the north) is baggying my braids every night. When I wake up I seal with evoo. It's really helping me with the itches.

i find that moisture is my friend too, i baggy at night as well, with EVCO. when i redid my edges I had minimal shedding a very little build up, it was great.

 

[Firstborn2]

Your braids are cute SkolarStar, did you do them yourself?

 

[My-Foolish-Heart]

I took out my tree braids last weekend and am having some more micros installed until March. Can't wait to get back to hardcore C&Ging!

 

[Anew]

I'm in if not too late. I'm getting some individuals done on the 13th.. I think I'll keep those in for maybe 2 months then I "plan" on doing the BC and growing from there. The plan is to stay in braids/twists with extensions for all of 2010 for 2 months at a time, 1 month out. While out, plait my hair or corn row it and wear a half wig until its time to braid again.

Here's my starting pic, taken in November. Same as my siggy obviously but I doubt I had much growth, if any its probably not that noticeable. At any rate, it doesn't matter what it looks like now since I plan to BC in a few months. So as to follow rules, here it is

Blow dry and flat iron (4 months post)

This was more recent, just a blow dry

 

[trinigal27]

Welcome on board ladies.................

 

[Anew]

Thanks for the add trini!

 

[ycj1]

Do you think the matting is from product buildup or rinsing your hair too much?

Yes I definitely think it's from the product buildup being me oiling my scalp every day and spraying it with the braid spray! But I can't go without oiling my scalp! It is really very dry. Even when I had a relaxer in I tried not oiling my scalp but my scalp had other plans!

 

[Foufie]

Do ya'll think it is okay to use a MN mixture (applicator bottle of course) while in braids??

 

[Arian]

Yay! Thanks for adding me....ok, I will post my first install on Jan 16.


Kinky twists!

 

[trinigal27]

My starting point and braids are in my sig. I just have to even out the braids a bit, shall do that over the weekend.

 

[Arian]

Uh oh---I'm sorry I missed this. I didn't know it had already started. I'll edit my siggy...

 

[larry3344]

i want to join
ive had my braids since before jan 4

 

[Fhrizzball]

Well I had in my box braids with no extensions for two weeks before some were matting up (I made them too small I suppose and washed them too often). So now I'm giving my hair a break in a nice rollerset (curlformers I luv them- I have pictures of them in my album) for a week. After that it's back to braids.

 

[trinigal27]

Uh oh---I'm sorry I missed this. I didn't know it had already started. I'll edit my siggy...

i want to join
ive had my braids since before jan 4

Welcome on board ladies.................

 

[ycj1]

Here are my starting pics! I don't really know how to incorporate into my original post.

 

[NJoy]

9-1-1!

I am a hot mess! I've had my braids in for 5, going on 6 days now and am ready to take 'em out already. I keep thinking that the weight and movement of the braids are breaking my hair off one strand at a time. And, the last times I've had braids (only had 'em done twice. ) it seemed like SO much hair came out and it was so tangled.


Whatcha waitin for? Bring on the support! Help a sistah out, somebody....please!!!

 

[ycj1]

9-1-1!

I am a hot mess! I've had my braids in for 5, going on 6 days now and am ready to take 'em out already. I keep thinking that the weight and movement of the braids are breaking my hair off one strand at a time. And, the last times I've had braids (only had 'em done twice. ) it seemed like SO much hair came out and it was so tangled.


Whatcha waitin for? Bring on the support! Help a sistah out, somebody....please!!!

What helped me out with fresh braids are getting in a hot shower and letting that water hit them as though you are in a water fall! It will get heavy when wet, but once they are dry they will not feel so heavy. And believe it or not it definitely loosens them up immensly! It works for me all the time. As a matter of fact I look forward to doing it once a week on fridays!

Just hang in there and don't give up so easily! Rome was not built in a day you know! You can do it!