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Light-weight protective style

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Grand Prix

Grand Prix

Well-Known Member
Hi ladies,

I'm looking for a long lasting protective style that isn't too heavy and won't strain my scalp too bad. I tried micro-braids nearly 10 years ago and they were a disaster. They looked really cute, but they felt so heavy and they were so tight. I specifically asked to be braided more loosely, but my scalp was super irritated and my head felt sore. I took them out after two weeks and vowed never to do them again. :drunk:

Fast forward to now, in my second trimester of pregnancy and dreading each wash day. I feel exhausted all the time and hate having to wash, condition, detangle, section, just ugh! So today I went to the salon, practically ready to shave it all off, but my stylist cut my hair back to a little past APL, insisting that I'd regret cutting off any more, lol. She suggested that I get braids as I get closer to my due date, because I definitely won't want to wash my hair once the baby is here. Her own crochet braids lasted her for a good 3 months. Remembering my micro-braids, I'm not looking forward to sitting in a chair for hours only to find that the style is too uncomfortable to keep in.

Also, I've tried so many wraps and bonnets to wear over my head at night, but they all give me a headache and I end up taking them off in the middle of the night, so I don't think that mini braids or twist using only my own hair is an option.

So do any of my LHCF ladies have any suggestions for me? :bighug:
 
I wouldn’t recommend most braided protective styles if you aren’t planning to wrap your hair at night. Not only will they look frayed and old fast, but braids with hair added jostling around free at night, creating tension and friction, doesn’t sound protective to me.

I think you need a style where your hair is cornrowed flat to your head. Maybe a crochet style, a sew in weave, or a sewed down wig. And perhaps you can wear a satin edge wrap to bed.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, ladies! I think I'll (finally) get myself a silk or satin pillowcase like you suggested, @classychic1908 and see if that helps with frizz on my own hair.

Otherwise I'll look into crochets, yours look really good and natural @GGsKin. Did they last you for a long time? Since the hair is kinky/curly, did you have to do anything special to keep the texture like that?
 
Grand Prix said:
Thanks for the suggestions, ladies! I think I'll (finally) get myself a silk or satin pillowcase like you suggested, @classychic1908 and see if that helps with frizz on my own hair.

Otherwise I'll look into crochets, yours look really good and natural @GGsKin. Did they last you for a long time? Since the hair is kinky/curly, did you have to do anything special to keep the texture like that?
Click to expand...
@Grand Prix Thank you. The hair I used was a mix of synthetic curl sizes of freetress water wave, Boho, and a larger curl. Due to the length, I had to do very little but wear a scarf at night- which I've been doing since age 14 anyway. I didn't mess with curls after installing and the hair lasted for 3-4 months per install for me. This was the lowest maintenance of any hair style I've had. I even played Jouvert (paint and powder) with this hair, and went Carnival the next day- hair still looked great after.
 
GGsKin said:
@Grand Prix Thank you. The hair I used was a mix of synthetic curl sizes of freetress water wave, Boho, and a larger curl. Due to the length, I had to do very little but wear a scarf at night- which I've been doing since age 14 anyway. I didn't mess with curls after installing and the hair lasted for 3-4 months per install for me. This was the lowest maintenance of any hair style I've had. I even played Jouvert (paint and powder) with this hair, and went Carnival the next day- hair still looked great after.
Click to expand...

How did you wash your hair with this install?
 
Theresamonet said:
How did you wash your hair with this install?
Click to expand...
I washed my hair standing in the shower, like I do with my wash n go. For this style, would use an applicator bottle with diluted shampoo on my partings, massaged gently to lather, and then let the shower water rinse away. I had to do a little more massaging and smoothing action on the hair when I was removing the paint, but it was generally the same process. I just made sure that my canerows were dry, using my diffuser.

I've added a pic of my braid pattern for reference. I don't like the my canerows going straight back for crochets, so I would braid diagonally in the front with a side part, so that the hair falls more 'naturally' without exposing too much of the base.
 

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Oh wow @GGsKin, I rarely see photos of your hair and styles. I LOVE that braid base you did for your crochets!!

@Grand Prix

:congrats: :babyb::babyg:

My first thought when I read your post was "CORNROWS!" Lol.

For my first baby, I wasn't into healthy hair care and I did crochets. I also made sure to do a fresh style a week before I was due to deliver so that way, I wouldn't have to touch it for weeks after the baby was born. I too picked curly hair that I didn't separate so that it would last a long time afterwards.

For my second baby, I was into healthy hair care and I did mini braids with my own hair, no extensions, for my entire pregnancy. My hair was BSL-MBL. At that time I was backsliding in my HHJ but still maintained a few basics. I did sleep on a satin pillowcase, with my hair in a top knot bun or in a secured, but not tight, high bun, as opposed to wrapping my hair up at night. Every 2 months or so, I would refresh my mini braids one by one, row by row. Take a braid down, finger deshed and finger detangle and then braid right back up. I would start at the front hairline so that it looked fresh. It would take me 7-10 days to do it bc I wasn't pushing myself to overdo it. I wouldn't start a new row unless I was sure I would finish it. But once I was done refreshing, I didn't have to touch them again for about 2 months.

With the mini braids, I would wet my hair daily in the shower, slather on condish and then throw them into a ponytail or bun and finish my shower. I would wash them in the shower once or twice a week, instead of just wetting them, slather on condish and throw them in a bun or ponytail while in the shower. I did not do much other M&Sing. And I only DC'd maybe once that whole 14 months. And that was my hair life for my whole pregnancy and for 4 months afterwards. It's ok if the braids are not neat bc they're going up into a bun anyway and I could wear a headband to slick my edges back a bit if I needed to.

I wore those for 4 months postpartum and then followed them with straight back cornrows that I bunned for another 2-3 months.
That's exactly what I'm doing this pregnancy too! Easy peasy hair!

Wishing you a safe and happy pregnancy and delivery!! :D
 
ItsMeLilLucky said:
@GGsKin Wait just one doggone minute! Granny (I know you're not a grandma lol, it's just your name always says that in my head)you preggers?? Where in the heck have I been? Congratulations honey! :congrats:
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@ItsMeLilLucky I love you!:lachen:It's just our e-sisters @MzSwift and @Grand Prix who are expecting- Congratulations to both of you!

Also, it's funny that you call me Granny because I've always been partial to bit of granny chic. And my 'new' screen name does honour my granny!
 
Thank you ladies! :bighug: For your advice and the well wishes!

I think I'm going to give crotchet braids a shot! But well before my due date in case they're uncomfortable.

@MzSwift, thanks sharing! That routine sounds divine. I'd love to wear mini braids and be able to rinse/cowash as much as I want, but I'm afraid that they'll get frizzy very quickly because I don't want to wear anything on my head. Did the satin pillow case really help with that?
 
Grand Prix said:
Thank you ladies! :bighug: For your advice and the well wishes!

I think I'm going to give crotchet braids a shot! But well before my due date in case they're uncomfortable.

@MzSwift, thanks sharing! That routine sounds divine. I'd love to wear mini braids and be able to rinse/cowash as much as I want, but I'm afraid that they'll get frizzy very quickly because I don't want to wear anything on my head. Did the satin pillow case really help with that?
Click to expand...

How is your hair fairing now without covering your head at night?
 
Grand Prix said:
Thank you ladies! :bighug: For your advice and the well wishes!

I think I'm going to give crotchet braids a shot! But well before my due date in case they're uncomfortable.

@MzSwift, thanks sharing! That routine sounds divine. I'd love to wear mini braids and be able to rinse/cowash as much as I want, but I'm afraid that they'll get frizzy very quickly because I don't want to wear anything on my head. Did the satin pillow case really help with that?
Click to expand...

Yes, they absolutely will get frizzy if you wet/wash daily as I did. I like mine that way though. :blush2: My hair is fine and the frizz makes the style look fuller.

BUT if you don't want the frizz, there are ways to preserve the braids:
-You can wash less often. Just wetting them in the shower every now and then also shouldn't cause as much frizz.
-To moisturize instead, you could use a spray bottle of water (add condish and/or oil if you want) daily.
-Just like with loose hair, you can use a gel or moose or something else heavy if you want to make them neater.
-Also, tying them down for a short period of time while they're damp can help tame fly aways.

Yeah, the satin pillowcase for me was just to prevent breakage from sleeping friction. But if I needed my hair to lay down, I just wet it in the shower, slathered on my condish, bunned or ponytailed it and then used a yoga headband to tame my edges until I got back home. Hope that makes sense!
 
Theresamonet said:
How is your hair fairing now without covering your head at night?
Click to expand...
Now that you ask, I realize that I don't leave it completely uncovered. I didn't think to mention it but I forgot that this is LHCF. :giggle: I pineapple and baggy. It's great for moisture retention and preventing frizz along the length of my hair. I just don't wrap anything around my head, so my edges do get frizzy after a few nights. It doesn't cause any (noticeable) breakage for me, so wrapping just isn't worth the headaches. I usually keep my hair around BSL and wash-and-go weekly, using a DC every other week.
 
MzSwift said:
Yes, they absolutely will get frizzy if you wet/wash daily as I did. I like mine that way though. :blush2: My hair is fine and the frizz makes the style look fuller.

BUT if you don't want the frizz, there are ways to preserve the braids:
-You can wash less often. Just wetting them in the shower every now and then also shouldn't cause as much frizz.
-To moisturize instead, you could use a spray bottle of water (add condish and/or oil if you want) daily.
-Just like with loose hair, you can use a gel or moose or something else heavy if you want to make them neater.
-Also, tying them down for a short period of time while they're damp can help tame fly aways.

Yeah, the satin pillowcase for me was just to prevent breakage from sleeping friction. But if I needed my hair to lay down, I just wet it in the shower, slathered on my condish, bunned or ponytailed it and then used a yoga headband to tame my edges until I got back home. Hope that makes sense!
Click to expand...
I never thought about the bolded, but that makes so much sense! I'm definitely leaning towards mini braids now. :grin:
 
MzSwift said:
OMG, I'm so tired I didn't realize I spelled that "moose" instead of mousse! smh
I'm glad you got my meaning and thanks for showing me some grace. LOL
Click to expand...
Girl I wouldn't have paid attention lol. I didn't recognize you said moose instead of mousse until you just pointed it out.
 
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