Washing Your Braids?

Braiding is a hairstyle that is very popular in the black community. It has become so trendy that many people outside the black community now wear this stylish look. Braids are more than just a fashion choice. They help protect your hair from damage and breakage. Usually, braids can last between 4 and 8 weeks, depending on how well they are done and how you care for them. While braids seem easy to manage, you still need to wash them. Do not wash them every day, as this can loosen the braids and dry out your scalp. Instead, wash your braids about once a week. Your scalp still makes oil and collects dirt even with braids. So, it is important to wash your braids regularly.

Here are 10 steps on how to wash your braids at home while keeping them longer.

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Pre-treat your hair

Before you get braids, wash your hair and scalp well. Use a gentle shampoo and conditioner to keep them clean. Deep condition your hair to add moisture and keep it healthy. Deep conditioning is a special treatment done once a week, not your daily conditioner. It helps repair and strengthen your hair. We suggest using Camile Rose Algae Renew Deep Conditioner to make your hair stronger and ready for braids.

Use the right shampoo

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Be gentle to your scalp

You finally have your braids and feel ready for summer. But the hot sun is making your scalp sweat. Now, it’s time to wash your braids. Washing braids is different from washing natural hair. Be gentle with your scalp. Start washing from the roots down to the ends. Use your fingers to softly massage your scalp and slide them down each braid. This helps reduce frizz. After shampooing, you can also use conditioner on your braids.

Squeeze your braids

When washing your hair, avoid rubbing your braids. Instead, gently squeeze them. This helps the shampoo reach inside the braids without loosening them. Be sure to squeeze close to your scalp and along your hairline to clean your scalp well. Remember, always squeeze your braids, do not rub them.

Rinse without rubbing

After you have squeezed out enough shampoo, rinse your hair well. Do not rub your hair while rinsing. Use your regular showerhead and warm water to wash out the shampoo from your braids, just like you do with loose hair. Remember, avoid rubbing your braids at all costs!

Deep condition 

Deep conditioning is different from your daily conditioner. It is a special treatment you use once a week to feed and strengthen your hair. You can buy deep conditioning products at the store and use them at home in your shower. Put the conditioner on your wet hair and leave it for 30 minutes. Wearing a shower cap can help keep the moisture in.

Dry with a towel

Once you wash your braid, gently dry it using a towel. Use a microfiber towel to pat your hair dry. Microfiber is smoother, so it causes less friction on your hair. Less friction means less frizz. Remember, pat your hair—do not rub it. Rubbing can make your hair frizzy.

Dry your braids all the way before styling

Braids are already a stylish hairstyle. But how can you make them look even better? There are many fun ways to style your braids. You can put them in a bun, a ponytail, or wear them half up and half down. Before styling, make sure your braids are completely dry. The best way is to let them air dry to protect your hair from heat damage. If you are short on time, you can use a blow dryer to dry your braids.

Use astringent

You can also clean your braids and scalp using an astringent. OGX astringent works well to remove extra oil and dry skin flakes from your scalp. It is helpful to use this as a pre-treatment before braiding your hair.