The proper hair care for braids and weaves
A resounding question among many women continues to be ‘what is the proper way to take care of hair braids or weaves?’
First, don’t be afraid to let your hair rest. This works for both braids and weaves. The less handling you do with your hair, the better it will be. This decreases breakage and allows you to keep the length of your hair. Maintaining that length is the reason why braids and weaves are known as protective styles.
Once your braids are finished, you have to be just as careful not to neglect your hair. Doing nothing to your hair can also cause breakage. It’s important to treat your braids or weave with the same care you would use on your natural hair. That means setting aside time for your hair. Some women like to call it ‘me and my hair time.’
Even when it is ‘me and my hair time’ there are many common mistakes women make. Women who suffer from aloepecia or breakage often run into problems when it comes to the upkeep of their hair. Women who experience those conditions make the mistake of adding extensions or heavy braids to their hair.
Remember that trying to hide your hair problems will not resolve them. By doing so, it actually adds to the problem and make for more problems in the future.
Here are some free tips you can do at home to get your hair ready before next visit to Elom’s.
Wash and use a deep conditioner on your hair.
Moisturize your hair and oil it with essential oils/ We recommend olive oil, carrot oil or shea butter.
If you have significant newgrow or natural hair, blow dry your hair with cold air. This will limit the damage. Some salons may actually hurt your hair when they are unable to comb out your hair. They often wind up pulling out some of your hair due to the use of an inadequate comb.
At Elom’s, we will never hurt your hair. We respect your hair and use the proper tools to make sure your hair gets the best care possible.
Here is another free helpful hint you can take with you ion your next trip to the salon:
Make sure your stylist has her nails done. A poor set of nails can cling to your hair and cause unnecessary breakage.
Another popular question most women ask nowadays is ‘what is the best way to maintain extensions?’
The best way to accomplish this is with the use of shampoos and care. Whether you have braids or a weave, we strongly recommended cleaning your scalp. That can be done rather easily with the use of alcohol and a cotton ball.
We also recommend coming in every two weeks to shampoo and condition your hair. That can also be done at home. It is very important to avoid any accumulation of residues in your braids. Residues can build up when using regular shampoos. Avoiding resides can be done by diluting your shampoos and conditioners with water. Just mix a little of the product with some water in a bottle that has an applicator tip. The applicator tip will effectively distribute the product between the rows of your hair, whether you have braids or a weave.
Prior to shampooing, remember to rinse your hair with warm water for about two minutes. This will get rid of any dirt. Then, pour the diluted shampoo into your hair but remember not to rub the braids.
Once you have finished the shampoo, thoroughly rinse your hair and perform a deep conditioning. Next, rinse your hair with fresh water. The fresh water will help close the cuticles in your hair.
That leads to the final rinse step which is crucial. An incomplete rinse will leave product residues in your hair and they will become stuck in your braids. That can lead to future problems such as the proliferation of bacteria in your hair, odor and itching of the scalp.
Once you are finished, make sure that your hair is properly dried. Particularly with weaves, make sure the braids are dried under the weave. You may even have to use a dryer at low temperature between each of the rows. And in the case of a firm weave, insist on the point of closing.
Also don’t forget the importance of daily hydration. There should be a certain level of moisture in your hair every day. The best way to achieve that is by using leave-in conditioners. These conditioners penetrate your hair. You can also use a home-made moisturizer lotion which could consist of olive oil and water. Always be sure to put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray a little on your scalp every day. You could also spray some in your hands and then rub and slowly drag along each braid.
Lastly, wear a satin scarf to bed or lay your head on a satin pillow when sleeping. This will prevent any of the braids from rubbing on your pillow.