How to Wash Braids

For many people, braided hair is not only beautiful but also a way to help hair grow naturally without being too affected by the weather. However, without proper care, braids can also become a disaster style. Here is a tip you can help you take care of your braids in the best way.

Table of Contents

Wash your braids properly

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Choose the right shampoo and conditioner. You can use any shampoo or conditioner, but it’s best to use a highly moisturizing one, especially if your scalp is dry and itchy. You can refer to some shampoos specifically for dry scalp and thick hair such as Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo and Giovanni Tea Triple Treat shampoo.

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Apply a generous amount of shampoo to your head. You will apply the shampoo to the entire hair, gently scratching and massaging the scalp, massaging thoroughly in the itchy areas.

Rub the shampoo in the palm of your hand to create a lather before applying it to your hair for easier application.
If you want, you can use a simple (or premium) spray bottle to hold the diluted shampoo and spray it on your hair. In addition to water and shampoo, you can also mix moisturizing oils into a spray bottle.

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Bow over the tub and rinse your hair. Let the shampoo lather flow onto the braids. Avoid rubbing too much so as not to mess up the braids. Instead, focus on massaging the scalp.

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Wash again with shampoo. Only with this re-wash, after massaging to clean the scalp, you will squeeze the braids to remove the dirt hidden deep in them. Rinse again, then gently squeeze the braids to remove excess water.

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Apply conditioner. You will use your fingers to apply conditioner to the braids, taking care not to rub or twist the braids, but gently press to push the conditioner deep inside. Then, use a hair cap to cover all the braids. Incubate hair with conditioner for about 15 minutes, then remove the hair cap and rinse with water.

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Dry the braids by wrapping them in a large towel. Wrap the entire braid in a towel for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove the towel and wait for your hair to dry naturally before applying conditioner.

Take care of braids before braiding and between washes

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Use conditioner before braiding your hair. You should not proceed with hair removal when the hair is brittle, weak and affected too much. Oiling your hair (preferably one with Vitamin E) will help your hair recover and make braiding easier. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Braid your hair properly. Not only will this make it easier to take care of the braids, but it will also make your hair stronger once it’s undone. Here are a few points to keep in mind for proper braiding.

Make sure the braids are neatly divided.
Use gentle, even traction so as not to over-tighten the scalp.
Do not braid your hair too tightly.
Leave the braids on for as long as two months.
Braid your hair when you see that the hair has grown significantly.
Choose a hairstyle that suits your hair and scalp.

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Wash braids weekly. You can wash the braids once a week. Doing so will help keep your hair clean without being exposed to too many hair care products. If your scalp is oily, you need to wash it every week.

If you have very dry hair, you can wash it every two weeks. However, it is not recommended to wash with such frequency too often. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Moisturize your scalp with a low-oil product between washes. You can use products like Shea Moisture Curl and Shine Mist or Shea Radiance Moisture Milk or simply use coconut oil, shea oil, and extra virgin olive oil.

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Use a towel to wrap your hair while sleeping. This will keep the braids from tangling and sticking to the fabric. You should use satin or silk towels instead of cotton towels because cotton towels are good at absorbing moisture and will make your hair dry. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Steps

Wash your braids properly

Take care of braids before braiding and between washes

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