Small box braids |
If you are not fortunate enough to have the time or skills to braid your own hair extensions, then paying a professional braider can cost you hundreds of dollars. Sure you can get someone to braid your hair for $50 dollars but in order to get a quality service that will last, that will cost you over a hundred dollars. No complaint here about the prices as long as the style looks good, doesn't harm your hair and it lasts for at least 10 weeks.
So you have just paid $150 for a beautiful set of kinky twist extensions, your braider instructs you to wait a week or two before you wash your braids. Some braiders tell their clients not to wash their hair at all while wearing the extensions, and that is a huge mistake. The same way your body needs to be cleansed regularly, your scalp also needs to be cleansed on a regular basis. Daily your scalp accumulates, salty sweat, pollutants from the air and cars, dead skin cells, sebum and germs from your hands touching your hair throughout the course of a day. Now you have several good reasons to clean your hair on a weekly basis.
Never sacrifice keeping a style for the health of your hair.
---Ms Vee's Natural hair rules
So what does one do?
How do you take care of your hair but get your moneys worth out of an extension style?
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3 ways to cleanse your braid extensions:
Apple cider vinegar wash
Braggs ACV is the best but any organic will work |
Supplies needed:
Braggs organic apple cider vinegar
one gallon of spring water
1 large cup
1 water bottle
Mix 1/2 cup of ACV with 1 cup of filtered or bottled water. Put the ACV wash in a spray bottle, spray wash over your scalp and gently massage wash into your scalp. Allow the ACV wash to sit for 3 minutes, then using the large cup pour spring water over your braids to remove the vinegar wash.
This works to keep your scalp clean and properly PH balanced. Although water is used, the water pressure is very low from you pouring the water over your hair, than submerging your braids under water running from the shower or sink. The pressure from the water plays a big part in lifting your braid extensions prematurely. Using a ACV wash once per week will work to replace shampooing but after 3 weeks it is recommended to go ahead and shampoo gently.
Diluted shampoo wash
Is it shampoo time again? |
Supplies needed:
a non sulfate shampoo
water bottle
large cup
one gallon of spring water.
Mix 1/2 shampoo with 1/2 water (you decide how much) in a water bottle. Apply diluted shampoo to scalp and gently massage through the braids, then take a large cup of spring water and rinse hair over sink. to remove shampoo.
This modified shampoo method can be used for the whole duration of your braided style. Once you have applied oils and leave in conditioner tie hair down asap, so it will dry with less frizz.
ORS Herbal Cleanse |
Use ORS Herbal cleanse:
You can find this product at most beauty supply stores and drug stores, it is by Organic Root Stimulator. This is a dry shampoo in the form of a gel, so it is not messy. It is easy to apply straight from the bottle. Just apply to your scalp massage in gently and proceed with the manufacturers instructions located on the bottle. No water or rinsing is necessary with this product. You scalp will tingle and feel alive when you finish. It does not dry your scalp out and has PH balance of 6. This is a product I have used for many, many years. One bottle should last the duration of your extension style, if you use it no more than twice a week.
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hi I have my hair Nubian twist are you suggesting that I do either acv or the ors the first two weeks and then on the 3rd week do a light shampoo and then the remaining of the time go back to the ACV or ors? Thanks
ReplyDeleteNo I am not suggesting that particular order. My first recommendation will always be to wash your hair no matter what style you have, But I wrote these suggestions for those who do not wash their braids for fear of messing up their extensions. These are alternatives so that people will keep their scalps clean. My recommendation is to start washing your hair using the diluted shampoo method one week after you receive your hair extensions.
ReplyDeleteHello i think its been a month i have had my extensions andi havent been washing it, should i start now r should i wait till next time?
ReplyDeleteSorry I am just seeing this post, but it is always a good time to wash your scalp. So although you had already gone a month, it would benefit you to still wash your braids and care for your scalp. This is essential to getting the best growth increase while wearing extensions.
DeleteWith the ors herbal cleanse, eventho you don't have to wash it out,do you wash it out? I don't see how the scalp is clean if all of that isn't rinsed off.
ReplyDeleteNo you do not rinse it out, this is a no rinse cleanser, meant to be used on occasion, when you do not want or cannot submerge your hair under water. The ingredients cleanse without water, when you wipe the scalp you will see dirt being lifted off. You would need to google the ingredients for more understanding. But it does clean been using it for years.
DeleteAlso remember I offer 2 other ways to clean your scalp while wearing extensions, you can choose one of the other two.
DeleteWould seabreeze suffice instead of the ORS?
ReplyDeleteNo it is to harsh but it will clean and refresh. It may also throw the PH balance of your scalp off and cause dryness issues in the process. Much better solutions than seabreeze, ORS is better.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts on seabreeze, and cotton balls, to clean the scalp? Years ago, I actually paid someone to do this, and since I somewhat adopted this approach with braids. I have always been leery about washing synthetic hair. I want my 220.00, 6 hours to last!! But, I want my scalp to be healthy as well!
ReplyDeleteSea breeze is not a good choice for the scalp to harsh. Choose one of the solutions above or make your own with aloe vera and some tea tree oil.
DeleteDo these take care of smell as well?
ReplyDeleteHello, Just come across this site. I use Rubbing alcohol (Dab it in cotton wool) to clean my braids, twist etc, What is your recommendations on that? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI do not recommend using rubbing alcohol on your scalp. You will throw off the PH balance of the scalp. I recommend adopting one of the cleansing methods I mention above instead.
DeleteHello ...I love your site and hair:)...QUESTION_ What kinds of leave in conditioners do you recommend(brands) that dont create build up and also would you recommend adding a mouse(to harden) to braids after shampooing since braids become soft after shampooing??
ReplyDeleteAs I am leave in conditioner, Karens body beautiful sweet ambroisa leavein, Shea Moisture curl smoothie, SM JBCO leave in, Taliah Waajid curly curl cream, Miss Jessies curly custard.
DeleteDo you follow the same the same cleansing process if you choose two strand twist with your natural hair?
DeleteDo you follow the same process for cleansing scalp if you choose two strand twist with your natural hair?
ReplyDeletewhat do you mean by tie your hair down?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a brilliant detox, I am very tempted to try this for myself
ReplyDeletealoe and mucus cleanser