Are you scared to braid your hair because of the potential damage?

Many people have experienced hair damage from braiding their hair. While some people have experienced bald spots, others have severe breakage. These experiences may lead you to ask one question:

Does braiding damage hair?

Braiding on its own does not cause direct damage to your hair. Braids are protective hairstyles that are installed using hair extensions. These hair extensions help to protect your hair from environmental factors that can damage your hair.

Daily activities expose your hair to harsh weather conditions and contact with materials that can cause damage to your hair.

While braiding your hair may not cause direct damage, it could indirectly be the reason why your hair is breaking

How your braids are installed, the hair extension you use, how you style your hair, and the state of your scalp or hair before braiding can all be the root causes of braid-related damages.

The truth is, braids are meant to protect your hair, but you can only get the best out of them and prevent damage if you follow the right precautions.

How to Prevent Braids from Damaging Your Hair?

No doubt, braids are beautiful hairstyles that can easily make you look sophisticated and natural at the same time. If you have short or naturally curly hair, it may be impossible for you to stay away from braids.

If you have experienced damage from braiding, then these tips will help you prevent braids from damaging your hair.

Don’t hold your hair too tight

Whether you are installing the braids yourself or going to the salon, make sure your braids are not too tight. Braiding your hair gently reduces the tension on the scalp which will eventually prevent damage.

Making your braids tight may appear to be a strategy to make them last longer, but it can cause severe damage like tractional alopecia, breakage, etc.

Give your hair some time to rest

It is good to give your scalp and hair some time to rest. Manipulating your hair often exposes it to damage regardless of the level.

Spacing your braids and alternating the styles allows your scalp and hair some time to rest. If you often braid your hair, consider giving two weeks’ space before installing the next braids.

Installing the same braid hairstyle consecutively can cause damage to some parts of your hair. For example, if you braid your hair backwards consecutively, you may start to notice bald spots along your edges.

Giving your hair some time to rest and breathe gives weak or damaged hair some time to rejuvenate.

Choose hair extensions that work with your hair texture

If you want to prevent damage resulting from braiding your hair, then you need to choose hair extensions that work well with your hair texture.

While some hair textures can withstand pressure, others can’t. Thick hairs withstand weight/pressure from extensions more than fine/thin hairs.

If you have soft, fine, or thin hair, then a lightweight hair extension will work better for your hair. Putting a heavy-weight hair extension on your thin/fine hair will add too much pressure to your hair and scalp which will eventually cause damage.

Another important thing you should note as regards hair extension is the amount of hair extension you use (natural hair to hair extension ratio). The size of the hair extension you add to your hair can cause damage.

We understand that jumbo braids are trendy, but the weight of the hair extension might be too much for your hair. To reduce the bulk of the hair extension, make sure the size of your natural hair is equal to the size of the hair extension.

Create a haircare routine for your braids

Creating a hair care routine for your braids is a great way to prevent damage. Ensure that your hair is clean and remains healthy while wearing braids. You can wash your hair while it is braided once in two weeks.

Asides from washing your hair, you can keep your hair moisturized while braided by adding light-weight oils and leave-in conditioners.

You can include protecting your hair from external factors in your hair care routine. Always wear a satin scarf or cap to protect your hair from damage caused by direct contact with other materials.

Remove your braids gently

If you have followed strict precautions when installing your braids and maintained your braided hair, you may still experience damage when removing your braids.

The way you remove your braids will determine the results you would get. You should spend as much time removing your braids as you spent installing them.

Make sure you follow this process:

• Sectioning your hair

• Cutting the hair extension

• Carefully taking down each braid

• Detangle

• Comb

• Wash and condition

Also, avoid pulling too hard on your hair when removing your braid to prevent damage. You can also use braid removal to carefully remove your braids.

Avoid trimming loose hair to neaten braids

You might be tempted to use scissors or heat to trim flyaways to neaten braids. As much as you want your braids to appear seamless, you should also consider the health of your hair. Instead of trimming frizz with scissors or heat, you can use holding products like styling gels to tame stray hairs.

Also, using hair extensions that are close to your hair texture can help prevent frizz and the need to trim after braiding.

Avoid packing your hair too tight

Packing your hair too tight can cause damage to your hair and scalp. It might be tempting to put your newly made braids in a bun or other styles to switch things up. Packing your hair too tight will increase the level of tension on your scalp and hair which will eventually damage your hair.

Just like we said earlier, braiding does not damage the hair, but how you go about braiding can cause damage to your hair. Holding too tight, using the wrong extensions, or tugging hard while removing your braids can cause damage.

Always get your braid done by a professional that understands different hair textures or insists on the tips mentioned above to prevent damage.

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