Box Braid Wash Day

Wash days when protective styling are the easiest wash days ever! After about 3 weeks or so with my box braids, I decided it was time to wash them - more like my scalp decided it was time to be washed. I used my usual method of washing box braids. Here's how the day went:

{1} Divided my braids into 6 sections and braided each one. Secured each braid with a small rubber band.

{2} Cleansed with a mix of CON Moisturizing Argan Oil and a small amount of ORS Creamy Aloe shampoos watered down in an applicator bottle. I focused on my scalp and the roots of the braids. Lathered twice.

{3} Watered down TRESemme Naturals in an applicator bottle and applied that from the roots of the braids down the length to where I believed my hair ends. Massaged it in and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Rinsed with cool water.

{4} ACV and aloe vera juice rinsed spraying both my scalp and the length of my hair. I didn't rinse this out.

{5} Towel wrapped the braids to soak up excess water for about 20 minutes.

{6} Unbraided each section and applied some coconut oil to seal in the moisture.

{7} T-shirt wrapped the braids to let them finish air-drying.

Once the braids were completely dry, I decided to re-braid around the perimeter of my head to freshen them up a little. I felt like I had about half an inch of new growth with some of them. I didn't make them as tight as I did initially though. After that I put my hair in the big, high bun at the beginning of this post.

Braided sections

 
4 weeks is usually my limit for these types of styles, but I've been trying to figure out a way to get a couple more weeks out of this style. My hair is doing well in them, it's easy, and I'm still not sure about what to do with my hair when I take these out. So, I figure keeping it put away for a little while longer will be good for me.

How was your wash day this week? Be sure to check out other Wash Day Experiences over at SavingOurStrands and JustGrowAlready!

9 comments box braid maintenance, protective styles, wash day, washing in braids

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Wash Day - Crochet Box Braid Takedown

So, I came in a little under 3 weeks with my crochet braids, again. I was totally fine with that until I took my hair down and had NO idea what to do with it... sigh. I think protective styling has won me over ladies. I can't believe it. Either that or it's spoiled me too much. Maybe a little of both? Anyway, here's how my wash day went:

{1} Cut the braids a few inches from my scalp and unbraided. Easiest braid removal ever.

{2} Pre-poo - coated my hair with Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Moisturizing conditioner and a mix of oils (olive, safflower, grape seed & a few drops of peppermint) overnight under a plastic cap & scarf. 

{3} Took braids out, removed shed hair, detangled and sectioned into 8 braids.

{4} Shampooed with CON Argan Oil Moisturizing shampoo.

{5} Deep conditioned with L'oreal Damage Erasing Balm under a plastic cap & scarf for a few hours.

{6} Rinsed then did an ACV & Aloe Vera juice rinse. I let this soak in for a bit, squeezed the excess, but didn't rinse it out.

{7} Towel wrapped my braids to soak up more of the excess juices for about 20 minutes.

{8} Section by section - I removed each braid and applied my leave-ins: grape seed oil, Whipped Creme Ends Hydration, my DIY shea butter mix. Not much detangling needed *woot woot!* 

{9} Tension blew dry my roots

{10} Applied Eco-styler gel on my edges, tied them down with a scarf and let it air dry the rest of the way.

The big hair is back! I'm pretty sure once I get to the point where all my bone straight ends are gone, I will totally be able to pull off a fro lol! And I will love it!! Never would've guessed that would happen. My roots are becoming a serious matter, but the braids throughout my wash days are keeping tangles to a minimum. *happy dance* I'm loving these easy, peasy wash days. AND keeping my hair in braids for washes has liberated me from the multiple shower trips. That's cause for a whole nother *happy dance*! Ha! It's so much easier to be able to just rinse my hair in the sink without worrying about it getting tangled from me flipping my head upside down. For now, I'll just be letting my hair rest for a bit before relaxing. 

Yaaay for awesome wash days! How was your wash day this week? Be sure to check out other wash day experiences over at SavingOurStrands and Just Grow Already!

11 comments 14 weeks post, acv, aloe vera juice, taking out box braids, taking out crochet braids, washing in braids

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Wash Day - Crochet Braid Prep #2

After having my new growth coil up on itself for the last two weeks, I decided to revisit washing my hair in braids. I hoped that this would make for a lot less time spent detangling my hair. 

{1} Sectioned my hair in 7 sections. Detangled each section.

{2} Pre-shampoo with Aubrey Organics Island Naturals conditioner and a mix of grapeseed, olive, and safflower oils. After applying, I braided each section and put on a plastic cap & scarf overnight

{3} Shampooed the next morning with CON Argan Oil Moisturizing shampoo (hair still in braids) using applicator bottle

{4} Towel wrapped my hair to soak up excess water

{5} Deep conditioned with L'Oreal Damage Erasing Balm. At first, I was going to just apply the conditioner right on the braids, but I ended up actually unbraiding to apply my deep conditioner and rebraiding. I am sure it probably would have done a fine job the other way but... yea I wanted to be sure it was done thoroughly. Put on a plastic cap and my scarf for about an hour and a half.

{6} After rinsing with cool water, I tried something new - ACV rinse diluted with aloe vera juice and I didn't rinse it out. I let it sit for a few mins before squeezing the excess out. OMG my hair was SO SOFT!!!!! 

{7} While my hair was still wet from the acv/aloe vera, I unbraided each section and sealed with grape seed oil, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, and my shea butter mix. Knowing I was going to braid my hair up for another set of crochet braids, I wanted to really make sure my hair was moisturized and sealed well beforehand.

{8} Tension blow dried on cool/low. My hair was pretty much still detangled from step 1 which I was very pleased about. 

{9} Braided it up for my next set of crochet braids. 

That ACV & Aloe rinse was ah-mazing!! The only thing about it is I tried two new things at once: leaving the ACV in my hair and using aloe instead of water to dilute it. So I don't know exaaactly which made it so great or if it was the combo of both. I should know better, right? Either way the softness of my hair from that point on was delicious! I just wanted to play in it! It might just be a new staple step in my wash day, taking my beloved ACV rinses to a whole new level. I also loved washing my hair in braids. (Except the unbraiding/rebraiding was probably unnecessary.) I think I'm going to keep that up for the remainder of this stretch. It made for a no hassle wash day.

How was your wash day this week? Be sure to check out other wash day experiences over at SavingOurStrands and JustGrowAlready!

8 comments 10 weeks post, wash day, washing in braids

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