Your experiences with braids-Good or bad?

[JenniferMD]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

I hope I have the type of success some of you have had. I'm wearing braids now, and I have significant growth already (2months now) but taking them out will be the real test. I think I'm doing a great job of keeping them clean and moisturized, so all I can do is keep my fingers crossed. I have no idea how my hair will respond since this is my first time having braids. I'll make sure that I detangle my hair carefully after taking them out. I thought you had to wait a month before relaxing? My nape area seems to break very easily so I might wait an entire month before I relax once I take my braids out in April. I'll have about 9 months of newgrowth so I'll tame it with a blow-out from a salon. I'll keep everyone posted...but you can check out my braid progress in the link below.

 

[inthestars]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

I just finished wearing braids for 5 weeks. When I took them out, my scalp was so greasy!! I had to wash my hair twice. So be aware that your scalp will be majorly greasy when you take out the braids.

 

[WaterMoccasin]

Re: Braids Braids Braids

[ QUOTE ]
katie said:
How long after taking out braids should one wait to relax?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would say at least 2-4 weeks after treating/deep conditioning etc.

I guess my hair came out because I relaxed in June and my previous relaxer had been in February and I hadn't been doing anything to help it/taking care of it. I guess it was just damaged (or the stylist wanted a reason to cut off all of my hair)...

 

[DragonPearl]

I have a sensitive scalp and my experience with braids has been mixed.

It's been negative when I had other people doing my hair because they usually did the braids very tight, leaving my scalp sore and I could not sleep on a tight scalp so after I spent the whole day at the hair salon, I'd come home and spend 2 more hours trying to loosen the roots so they would not be so tight. Then, since I tended to have dandruff so I shampooed weekly and really washed my scalp, of course, I'd be back at the salon 1 month later because my braids were coming off. And the braider would scold me, "I told you so! That's why the braids have to be tight!"

When I got fed up and started experimenting and braiding my hair myself, it became a very positive experience. I never did them too tight. Yes, as a result, some of the extensions would come out when I shampooed weekly, but I would just braid them back. It was no big deal. After 2 years of this, when I finally removed the extensions for good, my hair had grown tremendously and was extremely healthy and my scalp was in great condition because I had been able to keep it clean through weekly shampoos and I had not subjected it to the chemicals from relaxers.

 

[happylocks]

anyone what experiances without extensions, I keep my hair braid I dont have a choice, twist, cornrows plaits, I cant braid that well, but my hair will get very matted if I dont keep it braided,

 

[alliyah4eva203]

i had braids for about 3 years when i was growing out a previous relaxer. it made my hair thin and my hairline weak.

 

[dontspeakdefeat]

My hair thrives while in braids. I am just sure not to wear them back to back to back as my hairline starts to thin out with extensive braid wear.

 

[Trica]

It\'s all good

I've always been able to get length while wearing braids. However, I never took care of my hair while it was in the braids. I would take the braids out after several months then immediately relax then wonder why all my hair broke off.

Since coming to this forum and committing to the braid challenge, I've noticed a remarkable improvement in the condition of my hair.

I do my own individual braids and have to periodically redo a few in the back. I've noticed that my hair in the back that needed redoing is so moisturized and soft NOT DRY AND BRITTLE.

Thanks so much to the girls on this forum to waking me up to the proper care of my hair.

 

[jade3]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

I've been wearing braids for a year and a half while growing out my relaxer and I have managed to keep 9-10" of natural hair. Before my hair wouldn't grow any longer than about 4-5"

I spray my hair twice a day with S.Curl.
I wash with shampoo once a week
Once every two weeks I give my hair a hot oil treatment and
I massage my scalp whenever I happen to remember....about twice a week

I used to wear braids fairly often about once a year when I was relaxed. My hair would always break because I never did anything to it. With the regimen that I've listed, when I take my braids down, I don't lose any length and my hair is soft and unbelievably moist. Good Luck.

 

[tryn2growmyhair]

Does anyone have any more tips? TIA.

 

[aminata]

I don't have any tips--but based on my experience I end up with matted hair when I have braids.

 

[HoneyDew]

I wear micros with human hair. Synthetic dries my hair out. Well, if I keep them saturated they synthetics are fine. Bu I prefer the hair loose on the end, and too much product on the ends make it hard to style. So with human, I get less drying. I treat my scalp and massge profective Root health along the braided part. I use that since it does not drip. There are some leave-in and braids sprays that are great and I miss using them. Many people like better braids. For me, that was the only one that prevented scalp itching that occurs after a weeks or so.

Also, with micros, I must get a perimeter touch up every 2 or 3 weeks or so. When I wore bigger braids, I did not have to do it so often. Micros just seem to need it more or they break my temple areas because of too much buildup and tangling.

Cornrows I got once. I hated what they did to my temple area. After a week or so, I could see the little white bulbs from hairs that had been pulled out. I am never getting those again. Back in the day, I got braids and failed to keep them moisturized. As a result, my hair hardly ever seemed to grow. I don't have that problem now.

 

[Diane71]

I can't beleive I missed this thread. I love braids!! I have been wearing box braids done by myself for over 4 1/2 years. When I started wearing braids back in April 2001, my hair was short, about 4 inches in length falling just below my ear. Now, 4 1/2 quick years later my hair is 2 inches past brastrap and thick and healthy. I am currently wearing cornrows(done with all my own hair!) and I just love them but after these I am going back to box braids, in my opinion, they are less stressful to your hair than cornrows. I will always go back to my braids as long as I live and they make your hair grow super long if you take care of them and not leave them in too long.


____________________________________
http://public.fotki.com/Diane71
Hair goal for 2005: 5 inches past brastrap by December
MTG challenge for 6 weeks till touchup time.
Next relaxer touchup: September 5th, 2005 (Mizani)
Current hair length and texture: 2 inches past brastrap (blown out)
4b thick and course strands

 

[controlFreak]

I had braids in the winter of 2003/2004 and lost almost half my hair. The braids were bra-strap length, and relatively thick (not jumbo tho). I used synthetic hair (huge mistake). My hair broke off so badly I was forced to have a fringe.....

 

[atl_mulattamami]

my experiences with braids have been terrible...the first and second time they were done sloppily and didn't last long at all...they were frizzy after one week

the first time after i took the braids out my hair matted up all over...im not talking tangles...im talking full blown mats and knots...i'd say 80% of my hair was locked up and i lost about half of both my lenth and thickness...this is what led me to a quicker BC

 

[carletta]

I love braids! it's the only way I can get lenght. I do the crown & glory method " my 2nd favorite site www.growafrohairlong.com " my hair has lenght that I have never been able to achieve doing this

 

[Jewell]

Up until June of this year, for years I have had positive results with braids. This last go 'round, I had those cornrows in for 1 WEEK, and about a handful of hair came out (mostly shedding). I was using Glover's during that week. Needless to say, I won't ever do braids again.

 

[HoneyDew]

Up until June of this year, for years I have had positive results with braids. This last go 'round, I had those cornrows in for 1 WEEK, and about a handful of hair came out (mostly shedding). I was using Glover's during that week. Needless to say, I won't ever do braids again.

I agree about the cornrows. I had a lot of hair fall out after having those in. The last time, I got my hair braided, I saw them cornrow a girls hair. It was so tight, I could see her forehead getting red! I would stay away from them or only get them a few times taking big break in between.

 

[RabiaElaine]

I can't beleive I missed this thread. I love braids!! I have been wearing box braids done by myself for over 4 1/2 years. When I started wearing braids back in April 2001, my hair was short, about 4 inches in length falling just below my ear. Now, 4 1/2 quick years later my hair is 2 inches past brastrap and thick and healthy. I am currently wearing cornrows(done with all my own hair!) and I just love them but after these I am going back to box braids, in my opinion, they are less stressful to your hair than cornrows. I will always go back to my braids as long as I live and they make your hair grow super long if you take care of them and not leave them in too long.


____________________________________
http://public.fotki.com/Diane71
Hair goal for 2005: 5 inches past brastrap by December
MTG challenge for 6 weeks till touchup time.
Next relaxer touchup: September 5th, 2005 (Mizani)
Current hair length and texture: 2 inches past brastrap (blown out)
4b thick and course strands

Hi Diane,

Can you describe your braiding regimen for me please. I am starting one for myself but can use a little help. Did you relax in between sets of braids? How long do you wait to put in a new set of braids? How do you deal with the 2 textures when you have a lot of growth?

Thanks in advance .

 

[Stormy]

I have had good and bad experiences with braids. Mostly good though. Here are mine:

Good: When I do them myself
Use human wavy hair (hair stays moisturized better)
When I don't wear micros, but individuals a little smaller than a pencil
I get major newgrowth!
I've gone from above the ear to shoulder length in 8 months before.

Bad: When I let the so-called professionals do it at the salon. They braid too tight, and use very thin pieces of my hair in the braids.

Use the Kanekalon hair for individuals. My hair doesn't stay moisturized
enough. I've learned that you have to do extra moisturizing with this
hair making sure you do the entire hair strand. Still too much work.

When I wear the Kanekalon hair for too long. Dries my hair out.

Still the Kanekalon is neater, where as the human hair gets messy after a while.

I CAN wear the Kanekalon hair with cornrows. Which by the way my hair does very well in cornrows. No problems in my temple area. Again, I braid my own hair. So, as long as I wear the human wavy for individuals and just use the Kanekalon for cornrows my hair thrives everytime.

 

[Belle Du Jour]

Stormy, I agree with you. I'm starting to think that the secret to retaining your hairline (if you're sensitive to that kind of damage) is braiding your hair yourself or finding someone who can braid loosely, and using human hair whenever possible.

I came across a girl's album who used braids to get to brastrap in 2 years by wearing braids for the entire two years. She said she started off with 2 inches of new growth.

 

[RabiaElaine]

Stormy, I agree with you. I'm starting to think that the secret to retaining your hairline (if you're sensitive to that kind of damage) is braiding your hair yourself or finding someone who can braid loosely, and using human hair whenever possible.

I came across a girl's album who used braids to get to brastrap in 2 years by wearing braids for the entire two years. She said she started off with 2 inches of new growth.

Can you point me in the direction of where to find this? Thanks

 

[Belle Du Jour]

Can you point me in the direction of where to find this? Thanks

Check your PM.

 

[tryn2growmyhair]

Check your PM.

Can you please point me in this direction too? TIA.

 

[tryn2growmyhair]

I have had good and bad experiences with braids. Mostly good though. Here are mine:

Good: When I do them myself
Use human wavy hair (hair stays moisturized better)
When I don't wear micros, but individuals a little smaller than a pencil
I get major newgrowth!
I've gone from above the ear to shoulder length in 8 months before.

Bad: When I let the so-called professionals do it at the salon. They braid too tight, and use very thin pieces of my hair in the braids.

Use the Kanekalon hair for individuals. My hair doesn't stay moisturized
enough. I've learned that you have to do extra moisturizing with this
hair making sure you do the entire hair strand. Still too much work.

When I wear the Kanekalon hair for too long. Dries my hair out.

Still the Kanekalon is neater, where as the human hair gets messy after a while.

I CAN wear the Kanekalon hair with cornrows. Which by the way my hair does very well in cornrows. No problems in my temple area. Again, I braid my own hair. So, as long as I wear the human wavy for individuals and just use the Kanekalon for cornrows my hair thrives everytime.

Thanks for this information, Stormy. It's very helpful. I am a little bit confused about what type of braid hair has worked well for you.

 

[tryn2growmyhair]

I had thought that cornrows were healthier than braids that will flop about. I always hated seeing little white bulbs at the base of my braids or other people's braids. It sounds from what people are saying that cornrows have been really bad for some of you. Why are cornrows so bad? Is there a way to avoid breakage with cornrows?

 

[Stormy]

You're welcome tryn. It depends on how I'm wearing my braids. The human hair works well for me whenever I wear individuals. When I wear cornrows, I can wear the human hair, but as I get more new growth I prefer the Kanekalon because of the new growth that shows more, it blends in better. It's also much cheaper, which also works well because I re-braid 1-2 weeks depending on how much new growth I have. But, the Kanekalon only works well when I wear cornrows. It's so drying, and I'm not leaving it in as long when my hair is in cornrows, plus I can moisturize it easier, and fewer braids to moisturize.

If I use the human hair for cornrows when I have a lot of new growth, I definitely have to take them out weekly.

 

[Stormy]

Stormy, I agree with you. I'm starting to think that the secret to retaining your hairline (if you're sensitive to that kind of damage) is braiding your hair yourself or finding someone who can braid loosely, and using human hair whenever possible.

I came across a girl's album who used braids to get to brastrap in 2 years by wearing braids for the entire two years. She said she started off with 2 inches of new growth.

Wow! I'm thinking I should keep wearing mine for an entire 2 years too. I know when I was doing the Crown & Glory method before I even heard of it, I got to shoulder length real soon in less than a year, then I went to the salon, and my hair went down hill from there. No more of that. Now, I'm back on my little program.

 

[Stormy]

I had thought that cornrows were healthier than braids that will flop about. I always hated seeing little white bulbs at the base of my braids or other people's braids. It sounds from what people are saying that cornrows have been really bad for some of you. Why are cornrows so bad? Is there a way to avoid breakage with cornrows?

I'm with you. In my opinion they're better because you can moisturize your hair easier, and since you take them down sooner you can wash your hair more thoroughly. Even though I wash mine weekly when I wear individuals, I still don't feel like I'm getting my hair as clean. On the other hand, when I wear individuals, since I wear them for about 6-8 weeks at a time my hair does well because I'm leaving it alone. The less I mess with it the more it thrives. So, I'm experimenting to see which one works better. So far I'm having no problems wearing cornrows. It's been a month now. In the past I wore them for two months with no problems.

Edited to say: Not 1 or 2 months straight. I take them down after 1-2 weeks at a time. Wash, then rebraid.

 

[wilmaty]

Mermaid,

I have worn a number of styles in the past and a big part of them has been braids. I cut all of the relaxer out of my hair in 2002 to less than an inch. I wore a TWA for about 6 mos and then went to twists. I then went to micros and wore them off and on for 2 1/2 years. I then wore my hair in an Afro that was approx 6 inches long. I went to the Dominicans and got the mess scared out of me when the heat hit my scalp. It caused me to fall off of the fence and finally loc my hair.

I will be having braids in my 14 year olds hair to grow out he relaxed hair and kinky twists in my 13 year olds hair to help her with her transition. I think that as long as you moisturize your hair the braids will do you alot of good!