6 ways to maintain your braids

A lot of clients worry about their braids. Sometimes they simply want to increase how long they can carry it without it losing its appeal. This was especially because, there was not enough time to visit the salon regularly and making braids are not so cheap. While you spend less time on styling before the mirror in the morning before you step out to work, the time you spend at the salon may not be easy to come by. Simple maintenance tips that you could carry out on your braids to extend longevity as well as improve your overall scalp and hair health are summarized under the following points.

Here are 6 Tips to maintain your braids.

1. Protect your Hair at Night. It is pretty easy to go to bed without covering your hair if you aren’t used to it. It is not even just about braids but a general hair maintenance tip. So, when you go to bed, it is important to wear a silk or satin scarf to keep your hair from frizzling. Because of the texture of satin, your hair is able to flow or slide over it with ease. It also prevents your hair from drying out at the roots. Doing this keeps the edges of your braids keep looing fresh relatively longer than when you do not use headscarves. Some people find using silk or satin scarves discomforting. If you do, then the other option is to lay a satin pillowcase over your pillow.
2. Keep your Scalp Moist. Moisture keeps the rooks of the hair alive. All you need is a few minutes of spraying daily. Avoid using heavy oils or gels on your hair or scalp. They clog the pores and make it difficult for the roots to absorb moisture. They also contribute to the growth of dandruff-causing fungi. To moisten your scalp, use a spray bottle to spray plain old water on your hair. This should not take more than 5 minutes to accomplish.
3. Use Only Natural Moisturizing Products For your Braids. Do not use products that contain mineral oil on your braids. Use only natural oils like coconut oil, almond oil and apricot castor oils. These oils are gentle on the scalp and encourage retention of important moisture. If you want to use a non-oil base moisturizer, use a natural leave-in conditioner. You will keep your braids looking fresh with a good shine to it.
4. Wash Your Braids Bi-Weekly. It is important to wash your hair a minimum of once every two weeks. Your hair builds up debris from scalp, dust, sweat and other particles that could cause pores to clog. Washing at regular intervals ensure that your scalp is free of accumulated debris. To do this, use a dry shampoo or dry- wash your hair by dampening a t-shirt towel with warm water and shampoo. Part your hair and wipe your scalp down in sections.
5. Avoid Constant Up-Dos. Reduce the urge for constant up-dos and styling. Yes, these up-dos gives you new looks, I used to enjoy doing them myself, but they pull on the hairline. This constant pull weakens the hair along the hairline. So, just reduce how the number of times you updo. Anywhere between 3-4 times a week is fine.
6. Do Not Leave Your Braids For Too Long. By too long, I mean no longer than 8 weeks. There is no point doing stuff that will damage your hair in the long-term and for a long time. Protective styling is meant to be temporary. Wearing braids for too long allows for new growth to stretch and eventually break. It also leaves room for excessive undergrowth and eventual hair loss.