silkii_locks
Well-Known Member
Hi Ladies, We here at LHCF love overselves some braidouts, so I decided to share a few tips that I've learned over the 5 years that I've been doing this style. Hope somebody gets something out of it. Here goes:
1. Clarify Hair.
This ensures that there will be no gunky buildup to weigh your down.
2. Don't towel dry.
After final rinse, simply squeeze excess water from hair with your hands then place plastic cap over hair. Its very important that the hair remains very wet for the silkiest sets.
3. Lighten Up!
Meaning go easy on the leave in's. Nobody likes a dry crispy braidout, so many of us try to compensate by piling on the leave in's before braiding. But this can actually have an adverse effect. Too many products make the hair heavy, dull and stiff and can even cause more dryness. Your best defense against dryness is a good deep conditioner and no more than 2 maybe 3 leave in's in small amounts. I use a few squirts of a liquid leave in condtioner and a few pumps of a good moisturing wrap foam then I use a nickel sized amount of serum to seal it all in, that's it.
4. Detangle, detangle, detangle.
Now I know the thought of combing wet hair strikes the fear of God in most of us. However, if you've used a good, slippy condtioner, keep the hair wet and be very gently you should have no problems. Part the hair into the sections that will be braided and detangle one at a time. Re-wet hair with spray bottle filled with water only if it starts to dry out which it probably will. Start from the bottom and work your way up first with widetooth comb then with small tooth comb. Please keep in mind that you will need some patience but it's well worth it. Make sure that you continue with the small tooth comb during the entire braiding process this is what creates the smoothness once the hair is dry. Very important.
5. DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT undo braids until the hair is completely
and thouroughly dry.
I can not stress enough how important this is. If the hair is even a little damp it will be frizzy. Thouroughly drying the braids also locks and sets the style, making it last for days.
6. Don't add oils until hair is dry.
This goes back to tip #3. If you add oils and moisturizers while the hair is wet how will you know if you're adding to much. We want light, fluffy braidouts that blow in the wind and swing back and forth with the slightest movement of the head. Not weighed down, juiced up, jheri curlesque helmet hair!
7. Invest in a good satin bonnet.
My braidouts now last for atleast a week without rebraiding anything. I just add a little coconut oil and serum each night and sleep with satin bonnet on. Wake the next morning, fluff, style and go.
So Ladies I hope this post wasn't too long but I'm sure if you follow these few simple steps you'll fall in love with braidouts all over again.
1. Clarify Hair.
This ensures that there will be no gunky buildup to weigh your down.
2. Don't towel dry.
After final rinse, simply squeeze excess water from hair with your hands then place plastic cap over hair. Its very important that the hair remains very wet for the silkiest sets.
3. Lighten Up!
Meaning go easy on the leave in's. Nobody likes a dry crispy braidout, so many of us try to compensate by piling on the leave in's before braiding. But this can actually have an adverse effect. Too many products make the hair heavy, dull and stiff and can even cause more dryness. Your best defense against dryness is a good deep conditioner and no more than 2 maybe 3 leave in's in small amounts. I use a few squirts of a liquid leave in condtioner and a few pumps of a good moisturing wrap foam then I use a nickel sized amount of serum to seal it all in, that's it.
4. Detangle, detangle, detangle.
Now I know the thought of combing wet hair strikes the fear of God in most of us. However, if you've used a good, slippy condtioner, keep the hair wet and be very gently you should have no problems. Part the hair into the sections that will be braided and detangle one at a time. Re-wet hair with spray bottle filled with water only if it starts to dry out which it probably will. Start from the bottom and work your way up first with widetooth comb then with small tooth comb. Please keep in mind that you will need some patience but it's well worth it. Make sure that you continue with the small tooth comb during the entire braiding process this is what creates the smoothness once the hair is dry. Very important.
5. DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT undo braids until the hair is completely
and thouroughly dry.
I can not stress enough how important this is. If the hair is even a little damp it will be frizzy. Thouroughly drying the braids also locks and sets the style, making it last for days.
6. Don't add oils until hair is dry.
This goes back to tip #3. If you add oils and moisturizers while the hair is wet how will you know if you're adding to much. We want light, fluffy braidouts that blow in the wind and swing back and forth with the slightest movement of the head. Not weighed down, juiced up, jheri curlesque helmet hair!
7. Invest in a good satin bonnet.
My braidouts now last for atleast a week without rebraiding anything. I just add a little coconut oil and serum each night and sleep with satin bonnet on. Wake the next morning, fluff, style and go.
So Ladies I hope this post wasn't too long but I'm sure if you follow these few simple steps you'll fall in love with braidouts all over again.
