How long do you leave your braids in for?

NotsoKinky

I did the Bc and I'm using braids as a protective style until I reach a comfortable length. My scalp gets itchy and dry and I have to wash it. But when I wash it my braids last for a lesser time. How often should I wash them?

ohtash

Box Braids are my #1 protective style especially while transitioning. I normally wash my braids 3 times a month only because I don't get a lot of build-up. I use human hair (wet & wavy hair) not synthetic hair, so when I wash my braids, it not that bad. I just put my hair in 2 pigtails so the braid ends don't get messed up. And it works!

It does get very itchy so I make sure I moisturizer my hair daily with coconut oil. If it gets too unbearable, mix tea tree oil and water in a spritz bottle and spray the scalp or the areas where it itches the most. It should calm the itching.

I normally leave my braids in for 3-5months (that's with tightening them once a month). But since I'm transitioning, I'm only leaving them in for 2 months. I just took mine out yesterday and when I washed my hair my permed ends got so knotted!!! So I said I'm not gonna leave for too long.

Being that you BC, you should see how long you can go! If you don't mid wearing braids for a while you should try keeping them in for 2-3 months and if you get comfy go longer (3-5 months). But it all depends on how long YOU can go with them being in your hair.

NotsoKinky

@ ohtash. I try to leave them in for as long as I can but it starts to look so bad after a while. I haven't used went and wavy hair because I don't know how to put them in. I do my hair myself because I'm too cheap I guess.( I don't have a job) So do you think my hair will be less itchy if I stop using synthetic? I think my hair is growing faster now that I BC'd. So it really last for about 2-3 weeks but I try to stretch it out. I can tell people are looking at my hair when I talk to them!

ohtash

NotsoKinky wrote: »

@ ohtash. I try to leave them in for as long as I can but it starts to look so bad after a while. I haven't used went and wavy hair because I don't know how to put them in. I do my hair myself because I'm too cheap I guess.( I don't have a job) So do you think my hair will be less itchy if I stop using synthetic? I think my hair is growing faster now that I BC'd. So it really last for about 2-3 weeks but I try to stretch it out. I can tell people are looking at my hair when I talk to them!

Once your hair starts to look messy that's when you have to redo them (tighten them). Braids are braids. Whether you use synthetic or human hair. That's why it's important to keep your hair very moisturized. I use coconut oil and castor oil. Not only does these 2 oils provide great moisture, they also makes my hair grow I hated coconut oil. But now I love it because of the great benefits. An itchy scalp is common when you're transitioning. When I used to get perms, I would grease my scalp, now that I'm going natural, I find myself greasing my hair NOT my scalp (this is when I don't have my braids in). Even though you BC'd, you're still going to experience an itchy scalp. That's why you see a lot of threads on here saying that cowashing and keeping your scalp well moisturized is very important. If you're going to keep the braids in long, just redo them once you see they start to look messy. You don't have to take them all out and put them back in. You can redo them in sections. You can do the front one day and then the back another. Or you can do the edges all around, and leave the middle for another day.

NotsoKinky

Otash it's been like 3 weeks and my hair looks like crap. I know u said when it starts looking ughhhhh to tighten it but every 3 weeks! Is there any other protective style you'd suggest that would work for my hair?

ohtash

it's been 3 wks and already it looks ugh? do you tie you head at night? Normally when I'm tired of the braids, I just take them out and put my hair in 2 french braids. Right now I don't have braids so I'm giving Bantu Knots a try. Idk about other protective styles cuz I just use braids as mine but you should try something that you don't mind wearing for a while. A style that you can look at and won't get annoyed because it doesn't suit you or didn't come out right.

NotsoKinky

Yeah they look bad I'm taking them out as I type. But I just big chopped so my hair isn't really long enough to do Bantu knots or anything else really. I would love to do French braids they're so cut but I can't. but good luck with yours:)

Aerogirl530

NotsoKinky wrote: »

Yeah they look bad I'm taking them out as I type. But I just big chopped so my hair isn't really long enough to do Bantu knots or anything else really. I would love to do French braids they're so cut but I can't. but good luck with yours:)

have you tried twists ?

NotsoKinky

Know I haven't but I'm thinking about it .Do you think that will work?