I don't put anything in my hair when it's braided. I just keep it clean and spray with plain water whenever I need moisture. I wash it once every 2 weeks. I find that all the sprays and oils and other stuff makes the braids smell and I just can't STAND that, nor can I stand to have oil/grease sitting on my hair and scalp. YUCK! I find that plain old water provides enough moisture for my hair and scalp and thus allows me to go 2 weeks between washes because there's noting up there to smell or go stale.
I wash braids as follows: I dilute nexxus therappe shampoo or some other moisturizing shampoo (CON is good 2nd choice for me when I have braids) with a bit of water in a cup and on dry hair, apply to my scalp in between the parts and message in well, trying not to disturb the braids too much (this works well whether its cornrows or individual braids, just apply the 'poo to the scalp as best as can, messaging in gently). Once 'poo applied to entire scalp, then apply down the lenght of braids, NOT up and down 'cause will disrupt braid, but smooth gently DOWN the lenght in order to keep braids in place as much as possible. Then, get in shower and allow water to run through hair, gently squeezing out the shampoo, try not to rub or move hair in different directions, but allow the water to run DOWN hair and squeeze braids, messaging scalp and squeezing braids so that the shampoo is rinsed out. Once done rinsing, I'm done. That's it for 2 weeks. When I remove braids, that's when I do the deep conditioning, etc. I do not use a conditioner or anything else because that's too much manipulation of the braids and they will look to "worn" if I keep washing. This is where a conditioner/'poo combo may work for some but I found therappe to be excellent for cleaning without drying hair out. I tie my braids up immediately after washing so that they "lie down" and dry flat. I sleep with a scarf and every few days, spray with distilled water to "freshen up". That's it. My hair grows like weeds with this method.
