Braiding for Afro Hair

[1karina1]

I searched for a similar thread and couldn't find one and anyway this is a specific request.

I been blessed/cursed with afro hair and have been relaxing it for 10 years and maybe I'm just having a bad hair week but I've reached a point where I'm exasperated dealing with my hair, especially with the crazy, windy weather that has suddenly descended on London.

Anyway, I'm considering having my hair braided. So here are my questions:
- Should I have my hair relaxed before having it braided?
- How long do braids last before you need to have them re-done?
- How are the ends of the braids secured? Burnt? Glued?
- How do you look after braids? What products do you use?
- Are there different styles of braids?If so, could someone post pics?
- For those who live in London, where's a good salon to get hair braided?

I appreciate any help you wonderful tfs members have to offer.

 

[skyred]

Umm I don't live in London, but these are my answers and maybe a question.
When was the last time you had ur hair releaxed?
I know some people who get their hair releaxed then two- three weeks later, they braid their hair. I have never tried it, but i think the hair comes our less tangled.
The amount of time you keep in braids depends on how u take care of them. U still have to wash and take care of ur hair under the braids. I keep mine in the most for two months. I know people who keep them in longer. It's really up to you.
The end of the braidsdepends on the style. Like boxbraids and other style, the ends are left loose and unburnt. But I have never heared of glued ends.

There are a bunch of different styles, braiding salons have braiding books where u can see the styles, try googling braiding styles.

Good luck. I know Braids are really good to have for winter-ish weather, so the ends can stay healthy.

 

[1karina1]

Umm I don't live in London, but these are my answers and maybe a question.
When was the last time you had ur hair releaxed?
I know some people who get their hair releaxed then two- three weeks later, they braid their hair. I have never tried it, but i think the hair comes our less tangled.
The amount of time you keep in braids depends on how u take care of them. U still have to wash and take care of ur hair under the braids. I keep mine in the most for two months. I know people who keep them in longer. It's really up to you.
The end of the braidsdepends on the style. Like boxbraids and other style, the ends are left loose and unburnt. But I have never heared of glued ends.

There are a bunch of different styles, braiding salons have braiding books where u can see the styles, try googling braiding styles.

Good luck. I know Braids are really good to have for winter-ish weather, so the ends can stay healthy.

Thanks so much for your advice!
The last time I had my hair relaxed was about 2-3 months ago.
Btw, I lot of people say that braiding hair is good to help it grow. Did you find that your hair grew more when they were braided?

 

[skyred]

I think it did, because everyday we spend so much time, bushing ,combing, and pulling the hair. That causes stress on the hair and it can make it weak. i remember reading that we should only bush the hair oncce a day and if a stand moves out of place, just use the hand to bush it back. i don't no if its true or not. U notice the growth more I think when ur hair is braided.

 

[laRenta__x0]

I searched for a similar thread and couldn't find one and anyway this is a specific request.

I been blessed/cursed with afro hair and have been relaxing it for 10 years and maybe I'm just having a bad hair week but I've reached a point where I'm exasperated dealing with my hair, especially with the crazy, windy weather that has suddenly descended on London.

Anyway, I'm considering having my hair braided. So here are my questions:
- Should I have my hair relaxed before having it braided?
- How long do braids last before you need to have them re-done?
- How are the ends of the braids secured? Burnt? Glued?
- How do you look after braids? What products do you use?
- Are there different styles of braids?If so, could someone post pics?
- For those who live in London, where's a good salon to get hair braided?

I appreciate any help you wonderful tfs members have to offer.

1.) Heck no, you don't need a perm.
2.) 3 months if done well.
3.) Burnt, definitely.
4.) You look like someone with.. braided hair? lol. As for products I would just use a good moisturizer or any other good braided hair maintenance products. I would also wear a silk scarf at night.
5.) Nappurality.com has a ton of good advice on hair braiding and goes even as far as to post pics.
6.) Sorry I don't live in London.

 

[1karina1]

Thanks! I'll check out that website!

 

[Scyene]

Just be careful about hairloss and damage AFTER the braids are to be taken down. Everyone has a different strength of hair...curly or not. Because it would suck to lose some hair just to keep from the style battle.