Texturizing, Weaves, and Braids - oh my!

[Mufasa]

Hi everyone,

Right now my hair is natural. Well, I have been doing the braid/weave thing for quite a number of years now. I do my own - it was easier, cheaper, etc. Basically, I cornrow the hair, then loop the faux hair in the cornrows. The hair was about $5 a package and I used 4. I repeated this process every 4 weeks (no more than 6). I have been doing this for about 8 years now and my hair has grown out quite a bit. At first I did the weave thing because I wanted to give my hair a rest and let it grow in peace. Now, I do it because I think I look better in it (than my own hair) and given the current length - I did not feel like fooling with it too much.

Anywho, I am now tired of the weave (after all these years) and I am doing it and am wrestling with putting on a texturizer. I have done lots of research but I can't seem to actually do the deed because I remember so many of the problems when my hair was permed: burning, scabs on my scalp, hair on my clothes, wasted Saturdays, insensitive beauticians

and tears

The thing was that even after paying an arm and a leg, I still was not happy with my hair.

Now, almost 10 years later. I see (on this site) women with beautiful hair. The *best* part about it is that they do it on their own

and come out with really great results! Truthfully, I think the most I could actually find the courage to do is a texturizer - I think I could handle having retouches every 3 months ...

Even should I actually go through with it (I've chickened out twice), there may be times when I would like to do the braid/weave thing again.

So, the million dollar question is: is it OK to braid/weave the hair after texturizing? Would doing this cause damage or breakage?

Any advice would be appreciated ladies! Sorry to be so long!

TIA
Mufasa

 

[Mufasa]

Hello again,
I forgot

Here is a link to my hair as it was a few years ago. It still is the same. It is all natural hair.
http://public.fotki.com/d0mufasa/ -
Regards.

 

[ngaa]

GIIIIIIIIIIRL!! i cant belive how much lenth u have! that is some nice hair u have there!! pliz post pics of yo hair flat ironed or pressed coz thats some mad length u got there! i was jus wondering what type yo hair is and also what yo regiment is and how much length u have there?

p.s. check out den1's hair coz i think she's yo hair twin

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=64370&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

 

[Mufasa]

Hi Ngaa,

Thank you so much for the compliments

I'm 4A mostly with some strange variant of 3C in the back of my head (or nape of my neck). I have no regimen at all. Basically, sometime ago, I got tired of working with my permed hair and just braieded/weaved it - these are the pictures in Egypt. I have been doing this for several years - at least 7. At first, I did it for convenience and because I thought I looked better in the weave than my own hair. All I did was goop the damp hair (not scalp) with conditioner and oils before braiding, take 4 hours to braid the hair - and 4 packages of $5 hair. Then, I would be done for the next 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, pretty much any shampoo would do. Of course, the only thing I could do was air dry.

Now, I do it because I am too lazy to deal with my own hair. The weaved style I normally wear is *much* shorter than my own hair. In the meantime, it grew. Of course, I always get anxiety when I pull it out because I desperately want to rid myself of the weave altogether!

I am finding some really good information on the web sites - this one and naturallycurly.com and nappturality.com too. They gave me info to give me enough confidence to make sure my hair is in *very good* condition

I found that there is a type of supplement that will make sure you have good hair, skin and nails. I need to try this!

Now if I can just get do what is necessary to have nice-looking styles MOST of the time

Here's to the challenge

Kind Regards,
Mufasa

 

[londongirl3]

One of my cats is called Mufasa lol

Anyway, you have beautiful hair. I pretty much went natural for the same reasons you did. I can see that it might be worthwhile because I'm doing the same thing too

I'm sorry to say I can't help you much on the texturizer question. I'd assume that just like a relaxer, there would be no harm in braiding the hair after. I wouldn't think it would cause breakage.

 

[Crysdon]

I just viewed your pictures Mufasa and your hair is so pretty and long. Like you, I played with the idea of a texturizer for a while. I finally did it and I think it's the best way I could manage my curly hair.

 

[TinyT]

Wow, I didn't expect to see hair that gorgeous. You are a hair inspiration. You less is more approach to your hair, really inspires me. thanks for the beautiful pics.

Tracy