How to take care of your natural hair under braids
Hello lovely people, Hope your week but most importantly your month is off to a good start 
Box braids are beautiful and easy to handle. They are a great protective style and can maintain a great growth if you take care of them. If you don’t know how to care of braids the right way, you’re guaranteed to regret it when take down time comes.
Always take care of your natural hair even when wearing extensions. This means that you can shampoo, condition and moisturize your hair as you normally would. If you do not wash or cleanse your hair regularly, dirt will build up in your pores and slow down hair growth. It is not just a case of putting in braids and leaving you hair for a couple weeks. You have to treat your hair the same way you would if they were out of protective styling.
Prepping and Installation
Before braiding, hair is always washed,deep conditioned and moisturized on the previous night. After washing, I put my hair in medium sized braids ‘matuta’ to stretch it.
Tip :While braiding, make sure the braids are moderately loose at the roots and at the hairline so that the hair doesn't pull off. This prevents breakage.
Cleansing
I put my shampoo in a spray bottle mixed with water and spritz the mixture on my scalp, gently massaging it with the palms of my fingers , don’t rub to avoid frizz. Afterwards I rinse it all out in the shower, repeat the same process using conditioner, towel blot and let the hair air dry.
Tip: Dilute the shampoo and conditioner in water so that they are easy to rinse out and you avoid product build up.
When I’m too lazy to do the above, I use a cotton ball soaked in diluted ACV ( Apple Cider Vinegar) and run it through my hair and scalp, Keep in for about 20 minutes then rinse. ACV removes product build up and acts as a dandruff and itchy scalp reliever. Since edge control is my best friend, hehe , cleansing my hair and edges to remove product build up is a necessity.
I tend to wash my hair once every two weeks. Different naturalistas have their methods of cleaning their hair while braided.
Moisturizing
Do not forget to moisturize your hair and scalp. Dry hair will result in breakage especially when removing the braids.Just because the hair’s hidden, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t need moisture anymore. I massage this mix of coconut, olive, rosemary oil from my applicator bottle on my scalp after washing the braids.This helps to prevent dry scalp and flakes forming. I recently purchased the rosemary oil from amazon after I ran out of my ajani Peppermint and Rosemary essential oil elixir .
Tip :You can choose any natural oil or even combine two (or more) if you want to. You can also add a few drops of essential oils ( tea tree, peppermint, rosemary ) especially if your scalp itches.
I also moisturize the braids using water, aloevera juice, glycerin mix in my spray bottle as seen here making sure I’m misting the roots as well as the entire length of my own hair and rub a bit of that oil mix to seal in the moisture.
My spray bottle mix
Night Time Routine
I cover the braids with a silk or satin scarf every night to keep them frizz free, smooth and looking neater.
NOTE: I usually spray my water, aloe vera juice, and glycerin mix on my scalp & hair every day and massage JBCO ( Jamaican Black Castor Oil) on my edges and scalp after every two days to promote thickening and growth of the hair at the roots and edges.
Alternative products you can use
Shampoo ( sulphate free)
Naturaz Moisturizing Shampoo – Naturaz Hair
Creme of Nature Moisture & Shine Shampoo with Argan Oil- Super cosmetics
Conditioner
Tresseme Naturals -Nakumatt, Super cosmetics ( This has not been on the shelves for a month now.. Sigh)
Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner
Aussie Moist Conditioner – Now available at Nakumatt
Suave Naturals – Nakumatt, Tuskys
Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter – Nakumatt, Tuskys
Oils
Jojoba – Healthy u, Ciku Beauty
Grapeseed oil- Cooking section at Nakumatt
Almond – Healthy u
Peppermint and Rosemary Oil Elixir- Ajani
Tea tree – Healthy u
How do you care for your hair while in braids? Share you techniques and tips below
Love ,Love, Love
Sheila