Really good suggesions here. Here is a post I made a long time ago about a braid regimen I was planning on applying. I'm transitioning now so anything about a relaxer no longer applies for me, but maybe it'll help you some.
Ok, I took in to count some of your resposnes and from other sources and this is what I've come up with as far as a braid routine. I know it's long so if you don't have time, skip this for later Any suggesions?....
braid CARE
6 MONTHS (plus in between waiting time)
Goal: Grow 3/4-1 inch a month
MONTH 1
PRE braidS-
*Cut one inch off hair for a clean palette of no split ends.
*Start a good diet, exercise, and vitamin routine.
*Make sure hair is NOT freshly relaxed. Wait at least 2 weeks after relaxer.
*2 weeks before braids, pretreat with mayo, egg, honey, and olive oil, wash, deep
condition for 30 minutes under dryer, and leave-in, moisturizer and oil and style.
Repeat in same week.
(If doing daily rinse, apply moisturizing conditioner after rinse for 10-30 minutes, rinse
out, and proceed to style)
*One week before braids, pretreat, wash hair, light protein condition under dryer for 30
minutes, moisturize condition, put in leave in, moisturizer, and a few drops of oil and
style.
*3 days later in same week, pretreat, wash, deep condition, leave-in and moisturizer, and
style
braidS-
*braid in pretreated Kanekelon hair. Make sure hair is not too tight!
To pretreat hair: Use a twister to hold the hair together. Run a sink full of hot water. Pour
a cup of vinegar in and stir. Swish the kanekalon hair around in it and leave it for 10-15
minutes. Take out of water and rinse under warm water. Hang to dry. Then sprary with
braid spray. Allow to dry overnight. Spray once more lightly before you apply to hair.
*Leave braids in for 1 month0 only.
*Wash braids once weekly with regular shampoo. Be very gentle as not to fuzz up braids.
*Condition with diluted hydrating conditioner after every wash and rinse gently.
*Spray some Infusium 23 on hair. Apply a GENEROUS amount of braid spray on towel
dried hair and scalp. Start with scalp and spray lightly, then move on to hair and saturate.
Put a few drops of olive oil throughout braids to lock in moisture.
* Daily spray braids with braid spray in morning and before bed at night.
* If braids get fuzzy at crown, brush 3 or 4 strokes back very gently with boar bristle
brush
*Style ends of hair (that are left out) with hot water to curl or blow dry or curl on VERY
low heat when hair is wet. Hot curling when hair is wet is another option.
*Be very gentle in braid updos. Never pull braid in tight ponytail and be careful with
bobby pins, clips, and other hair accesories.
*Wrap braids nightly and sleep in satin or silk bonnet/scarf.
POST braidS-
*Take braids out carefully and comb through each section with a wide tooth comb as it
comes down.
*Pre treat, wash with clarifying shampoo, then a detangling shampoo, deep protein
condition (45 minutes follow with a moisture condition).
*Add leave-in, moisturizer, and oils, and style in protective style for one week (follow
regular routine, deep condition with every wash and take special care of ends)
*After week is up, relax new growth only
*Wait 2 more week to put in braids again (follow regular wash routine, deep condition
with every wash and take special care of ends)
*Always check for split ends and trim.
MONTH 2
Follow procedure for month one except:
*Do not use a protein when braids are taken out. Instead deep condition under dryer for
45-60 minutes. (Alternate protein and deep condition with every time braids come out)
*Don't relax after braids are taken out. (Relax every OTHER time) Instead, simply wait 2
weeks before adding braids again.
PRODUCTS FOR braidS
1. clarifying shampoo- KeraCare 1st Lather Shampoo or Nexxus Aloe Rid
2. regular shampoo- Creme of Nature Moisturizing Formula
3. hydrating conditioner- Nexxus Humectress
4. leave in- Infusium 23
5. oils- jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, castor oil, rosemary oil
6. braid spray- African Pride
7. vinegar- Apple Cider Vinegar
8. deep conditioner- LeKair Cholesterol
9. any sharp pair of trimming shears
10. pre shampoo treatment- mayo, egg, olive oil, honey
11. boar bristle brush
12. wide tooth comb
13. spray bottle for infusium
14. satin bonnet
15. gentle hair accesories and clips
MONTH 3-6
*Continue all of steps and keep up with good diet, exercise, and vitamin routine.
*In this time, decide whether to continue with the braids for the entire 6 months or if hair
has grown enough, stop braids and begin to take care of natural hair again.
