Your experiences with braids-Good or bad?

[Mermaid0684]

Good evening ladies!I am new to the board and I would like to know how good or bad your experiences with braids (of all types) has been,if they weakened or strengthend your hair, if youre still wearing them, your regimne while wearing braids, and any other tips you might give to a fellow braid-wearer. Your replies are truly appreciated!

 

[Kitkat]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

Welcome to the board, Mermaid!

I have had very good experiences with braids, and I think they're great. I wore box braids a few times, most recently for a year last year. I retained the length that I got mainly because I was very careful in removing the braids and didn't subject my hair to any heat after I removed them. Taking time to remove them is key in my opinion, as well as combing and completely detangling the hair before shampooing. Otherwise, the hair will lock and tangle. I sprayed my braids every day with braid spray and washed them periodically.

Adrienne had good results with braids also, and Faith grew her hair out to brastrap length with them. Faith has a thread going now showing her incredible progress. Both of them have great heads of hair.

Everyone has a different regime and a different reaction to braids, so hopefully others will see this thread and post their experiences, good and bad.

Edited to add: check out Faith's thread 'Flatironed my hair . . . got pics'.

 

[legs71]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

I've been wearing braids for going on 4 years. When I got cornrows for a couple of months to change my style a bit and they MURDERED my temple areas and I'm still trying to recoop from that horror. Otherwise, when I went natural it was a very positive experience. From wearing braids I've gone from ear length on the sides and neck length in the back to collarbone length on the sides and 5 inches from the base of my neck in the back. As long as you moisturize and keep your scalp clean you shouldn't go wrong.

 

[Peachtree]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

Hi Mermaid

Just wanted to say welcome

I've never worn braids, so I can't comment

God Bless,
Peachtree

 

[kasey]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

Welcome!!!

I had good experiences with braids. The key is not to braid too tight or you will ruin your hairline and don't let individual extension braids stay in longer than 10 weeks at a time.

 

[Mermaid0684]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

Thanx for the warm welcome

 

[Kamilla16]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

Hi Mermaid...
I've had very good experiances with braids. I lov em' also cuz you can see how much your hair grew, by determining how loose the braids have become. I am getting micros (med. size) in June. I will lave them in for 2 months and will hopefully get about 2 inches of growth. As said above, the key to braids and growth is moisture!!!

HTH!

Keep us posted.

 

[Shree]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

I dont wear braids but this summer my mom says she will let me anyways Welcome to the board

> dont worry Im new too!!

 

[HOTCHOCOLATE]

Welcome to the board. My good or bad experiences depends on how I treated them. When I washed and conditioned once a week and kept the braids moisturized (braid spray or mixature of glycerin, ess. oils and leave-in conditioner), my hair looked moisturized and healthy when I took the braids out. When I did nothing, I would have dry and split ends. And I would get matting. So, should you decide to get braids take care of them.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

I have had very bad experiences with braids. I decided to try braids one more time in December because I thought it was the way I as taking care of them. I got bigger braids and I moisturized more often and my hair still came out.

I am jealous of all the people who wear braids and then have 2-3 more inches of hair when they take them out! I always end up with about 2 inches less hair. I think it is because my hair is very, very fine. I have had a bad experience with most things (braids, perms, weaves) and I think it is all due to the fact that I have the finest hair I have ever seen. Taking b5 though!

 

[Faith]

I have had good and bad experiences:

I'll start with the bad:
1. dry hair, so it splits...suggestion is to keep it moisturized. I prefer scurl spray...2-3x/week. You have to find what works for you. I have used many braid sprays and most of them left my hair dry afterwards.
2. too tight in the temple area...be as gentle as possible with this area.
3. product buildup...try and wash 1x/week or at least 2x/month. And apply some sort of oil on your scalp and roots every day to every other day to keep the buildup to a minimum (also keeps the buildup from hardening and becoming a problem). I prefer the proven oil mixture, kemi oyl or even Keracare essential oil.

Good experiences:
1. Helped me maintain my natural hair (only style I could think of..I still prefer it as the 1st alternative when looking for a haitus from my hair)
2. Longer and stronger hair
3. Protective style..helps me keep my hands out of my hair...for about 3 months at a time, which means healthier hair for me.

HTH! And welcome to the board

Edited to say: I agree with Kitkat, be sure to detangle 150% before washing. I have lost a TON of hair a few times by being impatient when detangling. If you can do it in sections..so you're not too tired and can focus on each section.

 

[nijilah]

Unfortunately, I had twists recently and I washed my hair and moisturized it, and my hair was matted when I took them out. My hair is very thick, but my Mom said that it is also fine so that is why it can't take a lot of things. I too had bad experiences with perms too.

 

[rosie]

Welcome to the board.

I have been wearing braids since October of 2002. I have been doing them myself using the C&G method.

I have had nothing but wonderful things to say about them to anyone who would listen.
I do the usual things:
<ul type="square"> [*]spray with combo braid spray/Infusium - every third day and really saturate my braids (most folks do it daily, but I like every third day) [*]Wash hair once a week, and rinse once a week (again, the rinse is something I like to do because I run 3 three times a week [*]Oil my scalp daily to every other day. I use castor oil, but I mght try to find the proven oil mixture [*]redo my hairline braids when they start to get loose [/list]

All these things have worked for me to grow about 6-6.5 inches of hair in about 8 months. Without the braids, I would have styled/relaxed/combed those inches out of my head and still only have about 3-4 inches of hair.

After the first 2 months of braids, (I just took out my third set)I realized that this could help my daughters hair too:
<ul type="square">[*]For her, I put her hair into about 40 - 50 individual braids with rubber bands at the base for neatness (all her own hair no extensions - it was only about 3 inches in december.
[*]I put colorful or clear beads (her choice) and rubber bands on the ends.
[*]I used the same method on her that I used on my hair pertaining to washing and care.
[*]I take her hair down every 4 to 6 weeks and redo completely after waiting a week in between.
[*]I redo the scalp rubber bands at the three week mark to neaten the style - her hair actually grows pretty fast.[/list]

Since starting that, her hair has gained strength, shine, and length. I can actually put her hair in one ponytial at the top of her head. Something I've never been able to do.

As her hair gets longer, I may cut back ont he beads and rubber bands, but the general maintenance will stay the same until she gets old eough to want something different. Hopefully no anytime soon.

When my youngest - 23 months - gets a little older and doesn't pull stuff out of her hair anymore, I'll do the bead method on her. Right now, it's a struggle to send her to daycare with a style that lasts the day. She always looks as though she's been in a fight when she comes home. She pulls all braids, plaits, puffs, and twists out of her hair. The child is hopeless, for now.

Sorry for rambling. BRAIDS ARE GOOD!!!!!!!!!

 

[NubianPrincess]

My last braid experience (end of 2002) was a good one because I took care of them (thanks to teh advice on LHCF

Make sure they're not too tight (especially in the temple area). Wash then at least twice per month. Massage your scalp every day with oil (jojoba worked for me). keep the hair moisturised by spraying Infusium everyday.
I got 4 inches of growth in 10 weeks.
braids are wonderful as long as you take care of them. unfortunately, some people seem to think of it as "taking a break" and stop taking care of their hair while it's in braids...

 

[ngaa]

i find braids to be one of the best protective methods for me coz it keeps my hands outa my hair for a while and also forces me not to keep measurin my hair every 2seconds.....

i keep the braids in for about 6 weeks everytime and i moisturise wit s curl activator almost every day concerntratin on the ends of my hair esp and i dont really put anythin on my scalp except spritz some water on it 3 times a week to help my pores to 'breath' and i use the no poo method to wash my hair every two weeks

lik already advised make sure that they aint braided too tight coz yo hairline WILL make u pay for it and sleep in satin bonnet or scalf coz it helps the hair remain neat.

for more info check out

www.growafrohairlong.com

 

[Mermaid0684]

WOW NubianPrincess, 4 inches of growth in 10 weeks! Thats wonderful! The last time I took down my braids I measured it and I had an inch of new growth in 6 weeks!

 

[Mahalialee4]

Rosie: I am concerned that you are using rubber bands on our daughter's hair and could I politely suggest that it would be perhaps safer IN THE LONG RUN, TO USE cut off silk or glossy panty hose. Rubber bands overtime saw and rub against the hairstrands and since they are so much stronger than the strand....breakage. I cut stocking legs in about 3" strips and they form their own band. Hope this helps and that you do not mind my 2 cents.

I really want to see your daughter have real long hair without any setbacks.

Bonjour.

 

[rosie]

Mahalialee4
Thanks for the suggestion. Believe meno one wants to see my daughter's hair grow longer and stronger than me and her.

If I could find silk or glossy panty hose that were small enough when cut to fit on my duaghter's hair, then I would by all means use them. I do use cut hosiery on my own buns, and I love them.

Believe me also when I say that she and I have gone through some stuff with her hair and it is finally paying off. I use rubber bands, because from past experiences, they have not been a source of breakage for her hair. It has only been when her hair is braided with rubber bands that it grows. (Most of that is me keeping my hands out of it.

)
The braids without any bands on the scalp were a firzzy mess after about a week. I do more than my part in keeping it moisturized and lubricated, that uch you can bank on.

And if I could find some way of keeping the beads in without using rubber bands on the ends, then I'd buy stock in the company. I'll keep a lookout for the silk or glossy panty hose that I might be able to use on her hair for the next time I do her beads, but in lieu of finding any, the rubber bands work great.

 

[Lucky]

Braids Braids Braids

I got a majority of my length from cornrows; differing styles put alternate amounts of tension on specific areas of my head so it all grew out evenly. It's a great method to add lots of length but you have to be sure that they aren't too tight. As many have said (albeit I've been fortunate enough not to experience it myself) pulling too tight on the scalp can lead to serious hair loss. Just like any other hair care method, doing it in moderation is key.

Best wishes!

 

[Mermaid0684]

Re: Braids Braids Braids

Lucky,

How long did it take for your hair to grow that long?

 

[JenJen2721]

Re: Braids Braids Braids

bump...

 

[honeycomb719]

Re: Braids Braids Braids

My hair does NOT respond well to braids. I get a whole lot of shedding for weeks after I remove them, they thinned my edges out something horrorable (and my braider didnt braid tight).
I can honestly say, I dont think they're for everybody. Plus, I can't handle seeing all that hair come out in clumps when I take then down.
Why, I think they dont work for me? I think my hair is to fine, and thin to take the stress braids give to MY hair.

 

[WaterMoccasin]

Re: Braids Braids Braids

For me, all good experiences- well maybe except the first time ( i lost a lot of hair but that's only because my dumb behind relaxed it a week after taking them out). I've had them about 6 times in the past 4 years (for 3-7 weeks at a time) and never had problems! These last two times I had some flakes though. But not a problem.
I would say for the time periods I wear them, they're great. I usually get box braids by the way (although twice I had the top cornrowed and the back boxed) and I always use synthetic hair. I think 4-6 weeks is the best time period to have them in for me.

 

[katie]

Re: Braids Braids Braids

How long after taking out braids should one wait to relax?

 

[ChoclatePrincess]

Re: Braids Braids Braids

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

[/ QUOTE ]

I have had all good experiences with braids. I am currently braided and will post some pics of the braids on Friday. I am going to take them out Friday and get them done over so I will post those pics too. Anyhoo, I usually get a relaxer the day after I've taken my braids out and have never had a problem. But if you've been scratching your head a lot I would advise against this. May I suggest, and I'm speaking from experience, after taking your braids out thoroughly comb your hair through before washing. I forgot to do this one night and my hair was so tangled to the point that no amount of conditioner would help! Currently I've had my braids in for 3 weeks and I've gotten an half inch of growth.

 

[ChoclatePrincess]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

[ QUOTE ]
legs71 said:
When I got cornrows for a couple of months to change my style a bit and they MURDERED my temple areas and I'm still trying to recoop from that horror.



I know a lot of people who experience this. When I get cornrows I tell her to start braiding with my hair then add the hair.

 

[KinksnCurlz]

Re: Braids Braids Braids

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

[/ QUOTE ]

When I use to get my hair braided, I'd wait at least 7 days before relaxing so my hair can get a break and 'air' out. That's better for the hair, IMO...

 

[KinksnCurlz]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

[ QUOTE ]
ChoclatePrincess said:
When I get cornrows I tell her to start braiding with my hair then add the hair.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's the only way to go and your braids look more natural that way. The first time my stylist did that I was like WHOA!!! it looked really nice.

 

[alliyah4eva203]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

i did braids non stop for about four years when i was growing out a previous relaxer. my hair was so thin when i finally relaxed it. but i suppose that was partly due to the fact that i wasn't taken care of my hair properly

 

[BronzeBrown]

Re: Your experiences with braids-Good or bad

I've been getting my hair braided for about 10 years, and in the past 4 years - since I decided to go natural - I've had my hair predominantly in braids. I have to say that over this period (during which my hair has been braided ~75% of the time) I've grown less and less happy with extension braiding as a painless way of growing out my natural hair. I recently realized that the length retention that I get from wearing my hair in a low-manipulation style (which is what braids are) has been mostly countered by the amount of breakage that I experience when I get my braids put in (a lot of braiders don't seem to understand that natural hair doesn't mean hair of steel) and when I take my braids out. I realize this is an explanation for why my net hair length retention is 3" per year (this is including trims), which I think is way below my potential amount. I take extremely good care of my braids, but the lint accumulation that comes with extension braids is unavoidable. Regardless of how much oil you dab on to the lint build-up spot or how much water you spray on to it, your hair gets meshed into the lint and, in my case, much breakage has resulted from me trying to remove the lint when I take my braids down.

I think extension braids are fun and can be very beautiful but after making this observation I've made plans to drastically cut down on my braiding frequency and *hopefully* replace extension braids with natural braids as my main low-manipulation style.