Can we talk about Braids for a minute?

[Social.Buttahfly]

When you wear your hair in box/human hair/individuals (depending on where you are from). Do you find that it thins your hair out? I hear many mixed answers so I am wondering what you have experienced. Please share.

Thanks

 

[AfroKink]

Hasn't thinned my hair yet. I wear braids or twists with extensions almost every winter.

Lys

 

[fluffylocks]

Im not really sure myself. I know my edges have thinned out for sure from wearing braids over and over again from the tension in the past before i knew not to get them too tight and to take a break inbetween.

But as for the rest of the hair, when i take braids out, i think my hair appears thinner, ---and since learning about haircare i always do protein treatments and such for a while after.----and my hair seems to return to its normal self.


But im not sure if my hair looks alittle more thin from being used to seeing my hair with more volume and length from the braids, or because it actually is

 

[Social.Buttahfly]

Hasn't thinned my hair yet. I wear braids or twists with extensions almost every winter.

Lys

Okay thaks, I just had my hair braided last weekend because I normally just do wash n go's even in the winter but i'm tired of that. Decided to do a protective style with the braids and the comments I am getting about how my hair will look once I take them out are . I am planning to get them re-braided throughout the winter.

 

[LovedAlot]

Is your hair relaxed or natural? I think if you treat your hair just like would if it were not in braids you will be ok. I have been wearing braids for 1.5 years now and my hair has gotten so much thicker. I am natural by the way. As long as u mositurize and seal with oil I think everything will be alright. Are u using growth aids? U might want to incorporate castor oil into your routine though. It has helped me tremendously.

 

[remnant]

No thinning for me I'm currently wearing box braids with extensions

 

[Anancy]

Braids have been good to me, i find with braids it's easy to moisterise and to continue doing the things to my hair that i normally would if i hadn't had them in. Therefore my hair comes out just fine and with added benefits from being protected for a few months - retained length and in better condition.

I've only had a problem when i had a weave, i lost hair around my edges from it, probably because it was too tight.

 

[KinksnCurlz]

Although I haven't had my hair in micros in a minute, I didn't have a thinning problem, and I would do micros back to back.

 

[Social.Buttahfly]

To all who responded: My hair is natural. When you say do what you do if your hair was not in braids do you mean wash and condition as normal? When I had box braids once before when I washed my hair as normal it came out frizzy as my natural hair was sticking out the braids. I had to take them out immediately.

Incorporate caster oil how, as in keeping my scalp oiled?

 

[tyte curlz]

To all who responded: My hair is natural. When you say do what you do if your hair was not in braids do you mean wash and condition as normal? When I had box braids once before when I washed my hair as normal it came out frizzy as my natural hair was sticking out the braids. I had to take them out immediately.

Incorporate caster oil how, as in keeping my scalp oiled?

I dont wash my hair in braids either because i'll have to take them out. sometimes i might do an astingent rinse two days before i take down my hair but thats as far as i go with a wash. but i only keep them in for a month at a time.

 

[Social.Buttahfly]

I dont wash my hair in braids either because i'll have to take them out. sometimes i might do an astingent rinse two days before i take down my hair but thats as far as i go with a wash. but i only keep them in for a month at a time.

Exactly. I too only keep them in for a month at a time, never longer. I do conditioner washes on my scalp a couple of times a week with a spray bottle.

 

[keluric]

My hair doesn't thin out from wearing braids. I usually do a henna treatment beforehand. I also put my finger on the knot (?) when they are braiding around my hairline so it doesn't pull or add any undue tension to my scalp.


I know a lot of people don't keep braids in very long. My hair grows fast and well, I stretch my dollar. I will wear braids for two and three months, easily. Slap a wide headband on the front and it looks fine.

I washed every week (diluted, no-sulfate shampoo), maybe even twice a week with box braids. When they get fuzzy, I use a heavy gel. This might not seem like a good idea but I never had any problems.

Now I prefer styles like kinky twists or senegalese twists with kinky hair so the contrast in textures isn't as apparent.

 

[Spongie Bloom]

as u can c from my siggy i have been wearing braids for quite some time infact i have some on now taking them down next week, well the only time my hair thinned out cause of braids was cause of these ill fated micros n they also thinned my edges bur regular braids are fine actually my hair twists

 

[Social.Buttahfly]

as u can c from my siggy i have been wearing braids for quite some time infact i have some on now taking them down next week, well the only time my hair thinned out cause of braids was cause of these ill fated micros n they also thinned my edges bur regular braids are fine actually my hair twists

This is what I am constantly hearing

 

[Social.Buttahfly]

My hair doesn't thin out from wearing braids. I usually do a henna treatment beforehand. I also put my finger on the knot (?) when they are braiding around my hairline so it doesn't pull or add any undue tension to my scalp.


I know a lot of people don't keep braids in very long. My hair grows fast and well, I stretch my dollar. I will wear braids for two and three months, easily. Slap a wide headband on the front and it looks fine.

I washed every week (diluted, no-sulfate shampoo), maybe even twice a week with box braids. When they get fuzzy, I use a heavy gel. This might not seem like a good idea but I never had any problems.

Now I prefer styles like kinky twists or senegalese twists with kinky hair so the contrast in textures isn't as apparent.

Henna sounds like a good idea. Do you wear micros?

 

[a_ caribbean_dream]

Braids make my hair thicker and I retain length.

However, recently I have noticed certain areas around my edges are getting shorter.

 

[Nonie]

To all who responded: My hair is natural. When you say do what you do if your hair was not in braids do you mean wash and condition as normal? When I had box braids once before when I washed my hair as normal it came out frizzy as my natural hair was sticking out the braids. I had to take them out immediately.

Incorporate caster oil how, as in keeping my scalp oiled?

That's why it helps to learn how to braid your own hair. I wash my hair at least twice a week in extension braids. I once shared a pic of how my hair looks after a wash. Wearing a braid-out helps disguise the frizz, but also because I can braid my hair, I simple redo the ones that really look bad and that are on top when I style so they can cover the ones underneath. Then gradually I retouch the others as time allows. This way I'm able to keep braids in for a year+. Touching up the braids as needed also ensures that my hair doesn't break from the strain of extension hair weight being exerted on the same starting point of my hair weeks on end. By restarting the braid on newer stronger hair, I find my hair doesn't get any damage from braids.

To answer your first question: no, my hair doesn't thin from wearing braids.

 

[BeetleBug]

My tree braids didn't thin my hair out. I took them out yesterday. My hair is more thicker (like I needed the extra thickness,hair is already thick enough) and I didn't have any breakage. My edges are intact. They are thicker than ever (I just told the braider to make sure she does not braid tightly). Yeah!

With tree braids, you cannot wash your hair. I know, eww. But what I did was take a spray bottle filled w/ water and saturate my scalp and braids everyday. That's the only I did, no spraid spray or anything. My hair was still moisterized after I took my braids out.

I have to say I will be getting tree braids again in the beginning of January. They are an excellent protective style as long as you are taking care of it properly.

 

[tkj25]

i'm natural too & braids don't thin out my hair. i find that as long as you treat them with the same tlc you'd treat your regular hair with, they are a great protective, retaining style. i redo my yarn braids about every 2 months, and i've been doing this for a year & a half now. but as far as not washing hair in braids, from my experience, that is a recipe for dryness, breakage & thinning hair. the lack of moisture will turn any set of braids into tiny razors in a heartbeat.

 

[tkj25]

oops, double post

 

[LovedAlot]

The castor oil can be applied directly to the scalp. I personally use it in my growth concoction, which I why I asked if you used any growth aids. As stated previously, treat your hair with tlc and it will be fine. I wear box braids also and as long as they are braided all the way to the end my hair does wonderful. Hope this helps.

 

[chicacanella]

I've been wearing braids since May 2006, about 75% of the time and I find that my hair is uber thick when I take them out and soooo soft. Like unbelievably soft, softer than Indian Remy hair.

I found that when I gave my hair a break and just moisturized with the braids, washed and deep condition, my hair seem to regain its thickness that wasn't there a year early from bad care habits. It helped me grow out the overprocessed relaxer and slowly cut the ends off.

 

[chicacanella]

My hair doesn't thin out from wearing braids. I usually do a henna treatment beforehand. I also put my finger on the knot (?) when they are braiding around my hairline so it doesn't pull or add any undue tension to my scalp.


I know a lot of people don't keep braids in very long. My hair grows fast and well, I stretch my dollar. I will wear braids for two and three months, easily. Slap a wide headband on the front and it looks fine.

I washed every week (diluted, no-sulfate shampoo), maybe even twice a week with box braids. When they get fuzzy, I use a heavy gel. This might not seem like a good idea but I never had any problems.

Now I prefer styles like kinky twists or senegalese twists with kinky hair so the contrast in textures isn't as apparent.

With the bolded comment: We are so >here<. I do the same thing when my braids start to look a little unruly and it looks completely fine.