Sew-iners...do you dry your braids after a cowash?

[justnotsure]

Is it ok to let the braids air dry now that it's cold outside and they don't dry as quickly? I just don't want to be doing anything that is going to make it worse when I take the sew in down. I have only had it in for a couple of weeks so it hasn't been very long. I wanted to find out the answer to this question early in the process just in case I was doing something wrong.

Thanks ladies!

 

[yaya24]

BUMP..........

 

[Vintageglam]

I use my hooded dryer on low to medium heat to dry my braids underneath. It worked out really well for me as I took down my weave the other day and I had no matting (AFTER thoroughly detangling) when I washed my hair. I washed my hair EVERY week that the weave was in my hair (5 weeks in total). So you could try that?

Also you don't want to catch a cold?

HTH's

 

[justnotsure]

Bumping...I have a kinky curly install so it kind of makes my hair a frizzy mess when I use heat...Besides, I don't have a hooded dryer.

 

[sydwrites]

I agree with the hooded dryer because it takes a loooong time for the braids to airdry and they might start to sour (mildew) if not fully dry, plus I dont want you to get sick. There are alot of sales going on for the holidays so I would suggest being on the lookout for one; even when i go to the salon with a sew in they put me under the dryer for awhile. Otherwise dont wash as often and only do it when you have at least 12 hours to be in the house. Also since you have kinky hair that i'm guessing is thick try to separate it into like four ponytails to help the air get into the braids instead of the hair blocking the drying process.

 

[justnotsure]

Well that's the thing...in order to style the hair, it works best if the hair is wet before putting on any products. Otherwise I can't define the curls and it's just a big poofy mess! I'm not worried about gettin sick...I wore my hair wet all the time in the winter and it's never been a problem. I hardly ever get sick (knock on wood).

 

[PPGbubbles]

ABSOLUTELY!!

I use a handheld but you definately wanna dry the braids.

Nothings worse than the smell of mildewed weave

 

[TheCoilWhisperer]

On average how long does it take to dry your braids under a hood dryer?

 

[justnotsure]

I guess I will have to dry the braids under my bonnet dryer or with the hand held and then re-wet the length of the hair to style it. I have washed once and co-washed once and I didn't dry the braids first, and I didn't have a nasty smell or anything. The braids were wet for a long time, but there was no smell...my SO hates bad smelling hair! I'm not so concerned with the smell because that does not seem to be a problem for me. I am more concerned with whether or not the constant dampness of the hair will weaken it or cause it to become unhealthy? I use Infusium 23 leave in spray on the braids a few times a week and it seems to be doing fine. I just don't want to take out this install in 2 months and find matted hair!

It would take at least an hour for the braids to dry under a hooded dryer BIA...(this is a total assumption and estimate).

 

[AMAKA127]

I dont have a hooded dryer either (im working on getting one) but a great sub. is a Gold 'N Hot Professional Conditioning Heat Cap i think they are about 20 or 30 dollars ... I sit under mine for about 30-40 minutes and my braids are dry. I wouldnt suggest air drying either ... especially in the winter time when theres very little moisture in the air. It will most likely dry out your actual hair...

 

[polished07]

I usually sit under my hooded dryer or take a handheld dryer in between the braids if I need to, I wash every 7-10 days though

 

[amerAKAn_dream]

I've always been confused about this. I thought heat was a no-no, so for all of the co-washing and shampooing/DC-ing I do, I thought it was better to just dry my weave and let the braids airdry.

Is it ok for me to use the hooded dryer 3 times per week to dry my braids?

 

[AMAKA127]

I've always been confused about this. I thought heat was a no-no, so for all of the co-washing and shampooing/DC-ing I do, I thought it was better to just dry my weave and let the braids airdry.

Is it ok for me to use the hooded dryer 3 times per week to dry my braids?

Direct heat is a no no (flat ironing, blow drying...etc) but hooded dryers are really touching your actual hair/braids ... but as far as the part that I leave out, I braided them after moisturizing with NTM, lacio lacio, infusium 23 and EVO and let that air dry. I wash my hair once a week sometimes every 2 weeks ... Idk about 3 times a week with sew-ins

I hope that makes sense...

 

[amerAKAn_dream]

Direct heat is a no no (flat ironing, blow drying...etc) but hooded dryers are really touching your actual hair/braids ... but as far as the part that I leave out, I braided them after moisturizing with NTM, lacio lacio, infusium 23 and EVO and let that air dry. I wash my hair once a week sometimes every 2 weeks ... Idk about 3 times a week with sew-ins

I hope that makes sense...

Thanks for the info! I thought I had to co-wash a lot in addition to my weekly shampoo and dc.

 

[justnotsure]

I only co-wash because it makes it sooo much easier to wear this kinky curly hair. How do I dry the braids and then style the hair. I use Knot today and KCCC, which you are supposed to put on soaking wet hair and then let the hair air dry with the product on it....and it works brilliantly! I guess I'll have to go back to the drawing board and try the drying the braids first and then re-wetting the hair without soaking the braids again.

This is a little harder than I thought it would be.

 

[Fine 4s]

I wanted to add that EXTREME direct heat is a no-no. Using a hand held dryer on cool or medium to dry your hair (unlike using a hand held on high hot heat right on the scalp and hair) should be ok. Just make sure that hair is dry.....

 

[LadyPaniolo]

This is the main reason I can't mess with sew-ins any more. My hair is so thick and getting pretty long, so the cornrows are very thick no matter how small I part them. It's almost impossible to get them all the way dry without being a slave to the blowdrier. And my cornrows end up getting loose so quickly from all the jostling around to get to the scalp.

And I did get a sour weave that I tried to correct with vinegar... with disasterous results

 

[amerAKAn_dream]

I wanted to add that EXTREME direct heat is a no-no. Using a hand held dryer on cool or medium to dry your hair (unlike using a hand held on high hot heat right on the scalp and hair) should be ok. Just make sure that hair is dry.....

I completely forgot that the last time I used a hooded dryer (outside of a salon), I just set it to the "cool" setting and sat under it like that. I also only use the "cool" setting on my blow dryer for my leave-out. I'll just need to remember to dry these braids!

 

[justnotsure]

Thanks so much for all the advice ladies!