1. Protect Your Hair At Night!
Many black women were taught since we were young that tying our hair up at night is GOOD PRACTICE. Covering your head with a satin bonnet or headscarf at night not only keeps your edges looking fresh it also protects your roots from drying out when you're asleep. You can also place a satin pillowcase over your pillow for a similar type of protection! I recommend this for women of all races/nationalities.
2. Apply moisturizing products to Braids!
Apply your favorite sealing product to your roots at least once a week. I usually apply jamaican black castor oil, but oils such as peppermint oil, tea tree oil, etc work too. It soothes the scalp, protects from hard UV rays, and seals in moisture. A hair oil will give you added moisture and nourishes the hair with essential vitamins and minerals.
3. Dry Shampoo your braids once every month!
You can always use a dry shampoo with a washcloth, and some water. Dampen a wash cloth with warm water and your dry shampoo of choice. Wipe your scalp down in sections. This process once every month will keep your scalp smelling and feeling fresh. No one likes braid stank.
4. Avoid constant up-dos & tight pulling!
Constantly styling your hair into high ponytails pulls at your hairline. This constant pulling weakens the hair along your hairline and you end up with weak, pulled off edges. Be gentle with your hairline & limit updo styling.
5. Extend your style time - Redo edges!
Often, after a couple of weeks your roots have grown out and it's time to freshen up your look! Rather than rebraid your entire head - go back to your stylist and ask her to re-install the braids along your hairline. After you take out the braids along your edges, (and before you head to your stylist) take extra care to clean and detangle before reinstalling your braids again. Remember that your edges are already fragile, they need a little bit of extra care and attention.
6. Don't leave your braids in for too long!!
Protective styling is meant to be short-term; temporary. Stylists recommend protective styling for 1 - 2 months maximum. this depends on the service, the clients hair, and the clients everyday routine. Any longer than that and your new growth will stretch and damage; this completely negates the point of protective styling. Protective styling is to give your fragile ends a break and focus on attaining new growth!!!