Braids may appear to be a simple hairstyle that requires little maintenance. However, to maintain the health and smoothness of your braids, it is essential to moisturize them regularly. Use a moisturizer and sealant to protect your locks and keep them hydrated. Moisturize your braids after washing or at least 2-3 times a week to ensure optimal results. With time, you will develop a habit of moisturizing your braids, which will help maintain their health and appearance.
Making a leave-in moisturizer
Choose a conditioner
When selecting a conditioner, opt for a leave-in type that's lighter than the one you rinse out. The purpose of this product is to add moisture, and smoothness, and improve the overall health of your hair. It's important to choose a conditioner that suits your specific hair needs, whether it is dry, color-treated, curly, etc.
In case you have synthetic braids, it's recommended to use a protein-enriched conditioner. This can help strengthen your natural hair.
Gather your moisturizer supplies
If you want to create a lightweight moisturizer without buying new ingredients, you can make it at home using items you may already have. You will need your regular hair conditioner, water, glycerin, a measuring cup, and a spray bottle. Mix these ingredients and then spray the resulting mixture on your hair every day to keep it moisturized.
Add conditioner and water to the bottle
If you want to make a spray for your braids, start by taking a spray bottle and pour 1/2 cup (120 ml) conditioner into it. Then, add three tablespoons (44 ml) of water to the bottle and screw the nozzle tightly onto the top. Shake the bottle well to ensure that the water mixes properly with the conditioner. Adding water to the conditioner helps to dilute it, making it easier to spray onto your braids. If the mixture is too thick to spray through the nozzle, you can add more water gradually until the mixture reaches the desired consistency.
Add glycerin
To reduce frizz and keep your hair moisturized, unscrew the nozzle of a spray bottle of diluted conditioner and add two tablespoons (30 ml) of 100% pure glycerin. After adding glycerin, screw the nozzle back into place and shake the mixture till the glycerin is fully mixed in.
Applying a leave-in moisturizer
Spray the braids near your face with the homemade moisturizer
To start, take the braids at the back of your head and bring them to the sides of your face. Next, use a spray bottle filled with a mixture of leave-in conditioner, water, and glycerin to spray the braids that are closest to your face.
It's important to focus your spraying mainly on the braids near your scalp if you have synthetic braids. For those with natural braids, you will eventually need to spray the entire braid.
Rub the moisturizer into your braids
To moisturize your braids, first, grab a handful of braids near your scalp with one hand. Loosely grip them and run your hand down the entire length. While doing so, take your other hand and alternate applying the moisturizer down the braids. Keep running your hands through the braids until you can't see the moisturizer anymore. Remember not to rub the moisturizer up through your braids, as this can create frizz and damage your hair.
Spray the middle and ends of your braids
After spraying your scalp and the top of your braids, it's important to continue by spraying the middle section of your braids. Next, run your hands down the entire length of your braids to ensure that the ends are fully moisturized. This is particularly crucial for natural braids, as hair that is not moisturized is more likely to split or frizz.
Moisturize the rest of your braids
When moisturizing your braids, work in small sections and ensure you spray and rub each section properly. Don't forget to moisturize the braids at the back of your head as well. Pay special attention to your edges as they tend to dry out easily. Moisturizing your edges will help your braids last longer.
Seal your braids
To moisturize and keep your braids frizz-free, start by squirting a natural oil, such as coconut or almond oil, into your palm. Rub your hands together and loosely grip a section of braids near your scalp. While holding the braids loosely, run your hand down the entire length of the braids. At the same time, use your other hand to apply the moisturizer down the braids.
Repeat this process until you have worked through all of your braids. As a result, you should see no frizz once you have sealed the braids.
To keep your braids well-moisturized and frizz-free, it's recommended to moisturize and seal them at least once or twice a week.
Deep-conditioning your braids
Choose a deep conditioner
When searching for a conditioner, it's best to choose one that contains a light oil such as coconut, jojoba, castor, or almond oil. Be sure to select an oil that hasn't been mixed with cheaper oils like mineral oil. Lighter oil can be easily absorbed by your scalp and hair.
It's important to avoid using a thick or heavy conditioner that will just sit on your hair as it can cause product buildup on your braids with repeated use.
Apply the conditioner
To make the application of oil to your scalp and braids easy, keep the oil in a squeeze bottle. This will allow you to directly apply the oil to your scalp and edges, followed by a gentle massage. To avoid applying excess oil on your braids, you can put a small amount of oil on your palm, rub your hands together, and gently massage the oil onto your scalp. Alternatively, you can buy a bottle with a dropper to control the amount of oil you apply. Remember to apply oil to the tips of your braids as well.
Wrap your braids
To protect your braids, try putting them into a protective hairstyle. One option is to twist them into a bun and secure them to the top of your head. If your braids are short, you can tie them back or to the sides of your head. Cover your scalp completely with a plastic cap to keep your braids in place. If you don't have a plastic cap, you can use plastic wrap to secure your braids. However, this trick may work better for shorter braids.
Let the conditioner dry
To effectively absorb the oil, it is recommended to sit under a dryer for about 20 minutes. Allow your hair to air dry for another 10 minutes, while keeping the braids intact. To maximize the oil absorption, you can keep the cap on for up to an hour after applying heat. However, it is important to avoid heating your hair for more than 30 minutes, as it will no longer absorb the oil effectively beyond this point.
Rinse out the conditioner and let your braids dry
To release your braids, remove the cap and gently spray your braids and scalp with your daily leave-in conditioner. This will lock in the moisture from the deep conditioning treatment. Rinse your braids and scalp with clean water and allow your braids to air dry completely. It's important to note that wetting your braids will add weight, especially if you have long hair or extensions. Leaving a small amount of conditioner in your hair after rinsing will provide extra moisture to your braids.
Repeat the treatment every week
To keep your hair and braids looking great, perform a deep-conditioning treatment once per week. If your hair becomes greasy, reduce frequency to bi-weekly.
Original article: How to Moisturize Braids on wikiHow.