How to Care for Micro Braids

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parts

1Preparing Your Hair for Micro Braiding

2Washing and Conditioning Your Braids

3Maintaining Your Micro Braids

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Expert Q&A

Tips and Warnings

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Micro braiding is a popular hairstyle among black women and some men as well. Micro braids keep hair neat and contained with countless tiny, delicate braids woven tightly against your scalp. If you’re interested in trying this style for its stylish and sleek appearance or easy maintenance, keep in mind that it is a long-term style and requires proper care. To keep your hair healthy and your micro braids in place, moisturize your hair before the braiding process, wash and condition your micro braids once a week, and regularly moisturize your hair.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing Your Hair for Micro Braiding

1. 
   1
   Consult with a stylist first. If your hair is dry or brittle, micro braids could cause serious damage and hair loss. Have a stylist assess your hair and tell you how long the braids will last. The stylist can also estimate how long it will take to complete the micro braids.

   • It’s important for black women to find a hairstylist that specializes in black hair.
2. 
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   Perform a hot oil treatment several days before braiding. This will help replenish your hair’s moisture and prepare it for the strain of the micro braiding process. The oil will also strengthen the hair’s cuticle and lock in the moisture.
3. 
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   Deep-condition several times before you have the micro braids done. Applying a deep conditioning product a few days before the micro braiding process will keep your hair healthy and provide some final moisturizing.

   • You can either purchase a deep conditioner product or make your own with natural ingredients such as avocado, banana, coconut milk, honey, and egg.
4. 
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   Trim off any dead ends several days before. Cleaning up the tips of your hair keeps it healthy and you’ll want your hair as healthy as possible for micro braids. Try not to get your hair trimmed on the same day as the micro braiding process—freshly trimmed edges are harder to blend. Get your hair cut several days beforehand to clean up any split ends and damaged tips.
5. 
   5
   Cleanse and clarify your hair the night before. Because micro braids are meant to be worn anywhere from two weeks to over a month, your hair will not receive proper cleansing and conditioning for an extended period of time. On the night before braiding, cleanse and clarify your hair to remove any build-up and start the braiding process with clean hair.

   • You can purchase a natural clarifying cleanser, or you can make your own at home with vinegar and warm water. Pour the mixture over your hair, let it sit for two to five minutes, then wash it out with cold water to seal.
   • For more buildup, use a mixture of baking soda and castile soap to cleanse your scalp. Massage the mixture into your scalp, let it sit for two to five minutes, then wash it out with warm water. Finish with a rinse of cold water to seal.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Washing and Conditioning Your Braids

1. 
   1
   Don’t wash or condition your hair for four weeks. Stylists recommend that you don’t wash your hair until four weeks after your hair has been micro braided.
2. 
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   Wash and condition weekly after waiting four weeks. After four weeks, wash and condition your hair once a week and make sure not to skip conditioner.
3. 
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   Shampoo your micro braids carefully. To wash your braids correctly, dampen your hair first, then gently massage shampoo into your braids and scalp. Try not to rub your braids too much, as this can cause frizzing. Rinse with warm water until the shampoo is gone.
4. 
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   Dilute your conditioner before applying. Heavy conditioning products can make your scalp flaky, which is hard to get rid of with micro braids. If you need to, dilute your conditioner with enough water to make it easier to rinse out.

   • Dilute your conditioner with some water in an applicator bottle with a pointed tip for easier access to the scalp. The conditioner should be watered down enough to easily pour out of the bottle’s tip.
   • This technique can also be used with shampoo if your formula is thick and difficult to rinse out.
5. 
   5
   Deep-moisturize and condition immediately after taking out braids. Wash with a deep moisturizer and conditioner right away. You can also use a protein treatment to restore moisture back to your hair and keep it healthy.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your Micro Braids

1. 
   1
   Moisturize the ends with an oil treatment once a week. To keep the ends of your braids looking healthy, dab some oil on your fingers and pinch the ends gently. Work the oil in until your ends look shiny and moisturized.

   • Use natural oils, such as olive, coconut, jojoba, and sweet almond oil.
2. 
   2
   Dust dry shampoo on your micro braids if they start to look greasy. The cornstarch in dry shampoo products will absorb the grease without damaging the micro braids. Spray the dry shampoo over your braids, then gently work it through with your fingers.
3. 
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   Don’t sleep with wet micro braids. Going to bed with wet hair can make your braids smell like mildew and can even cause breakage. Make sure your hair is dry before going to bed.
4. 
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   Wear a satin or silk scarf over your braids when you go to bed. The scarf will protect your braids from frizzing and keep them neat. Covering your braids every night will help you maintain the overall health and appearance your braids so you can keep them in longer.

   • You can also use a satin pillowcase to cover your braids.
5. 
   5
   Remove the braids or schedule stylist maintenance after 2-3 months. After several months, daily wear and tear can make your braids look frizzy and unkempt. If you’re ready to remove the braids, go to a stylist that specializes in micro braids and have them removed. If you’d like to keep the style longer, go to a stylist and have the ends touched up.

   • While two months is the ideal amount of time to keep your braids, three months is the maximum. The longer you keep the braids in, the more fragile and brittle your hair will become.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  Can you put conditioner on braids?

  

  Ndeye Anta Niang
  Hair Stylist & Master Braider

  Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.

  

  Ndeye Anta Niang

  Hair Stylist & Master Braider

  Expert Answer

  Yes! It's important to use a nourishing conditioner with either oil, vitamins, or both. That way, your hair and scalp can absorb the nutrients they need, and your hair will be healthy and strong.

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• Question

  How long will microbraids last in my hair?

  

  Community Answer

  Never go longer than 2 months at the most. If you see breakage, immediately remove them as soon as possible.

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• Question

  Can I wash my hair two weeks before braiding?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes, but definitely use a conditioner immediately after. Also the week of, do a co-wash to strengthen the hair as much as possible to prevent breakage upon and after micro braiding installation.

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Warnings

• Make sure your braids aren’t too tight. If the braiding procedure is too painful, ask the stylist to loosen the braids. Tight braids can result in traction alopecia and even permanent hair loss.
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• If you already have brittle, thin, or damaged hair, do not get micro braids. The tight nature of the hairstyle could cause hair loss and damage.
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• Do not braid your baby hair. The wispy hair at the edge of your hairline is especially delicate and can be ripped out due to the tightness of the braids.
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• If you style your braids, be sure to switch up your hairstyles. This will keep you from putting too much tension in one spot on your head and prevent hair loss.
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