Help Me Transition: Braids

This was one of my summer favorites! Tiny braids. I loved to wear this style while transitioning because it was fun, easy and very protective. It wasn't a deal to go swimming, or go bogey boarding in the ocean :) If I wanted a fresh look I would wet them, rub some conditioner through them, rinse, moisturize and that was all. I did lots of cool styles such as:

• Braid outs on my braids
• Bantu knots on my braids
• Buns
• Pin curl up do's....

The possibilities are endless!

How do you do it?

• Braids on wet hair: the advantage to this method is that it is a faster way to achieve the style and it is low maintenance.
1. Wash, condition and deep condition your hair
2. Moisturize like normal
3. Part your hair into 4-5 large sections
4. Taking it one section at a time, grab a small section of hair and braid to the bottom - or as low as you choose. I generally don't braid all the way down to the bottom
• Braids on dry hair: the advantage to this method is that you cleaner braids and your hair is stretched.
1. Follow steps 1-2 for braids on wet hair
2. Part your hair into 10 sections and braid them. Allow your hair to dry overnight
3. The next day, taking it one section at a time, grab a small section of hair and braid. 

How do I keep my hair clean if it stays in 2-3 weeks?

You can wash your hair while the braids are in. They will get a bit frizzy. However, you can still wash. Just focus mainly on your scalp. Avoid rubbing up and down the braids as they will frizz! Try to smooth them down in a downward direction.

Tips to making them last longer?

Be sure to tie up your hair every night with a silk bonnet or a silk scarf (silk pillowcase). Keep your ends moisturized as often as they need it. If you start seeing frizz, try re-braiding the braids in the front, and back of your hair. Wear more up-dos in the last week. It will hide frizz :)

 They take a while to do, but they last 2-3 weeks if you keep them in good shape. I liked to let the ends go free most of the time. You can see in the picture below that I still had relaxed and dyed ends. These braids were done on wet hair.

In this photo I was about 3/4 of the way done with my transition process. Braids were still a good friend of mine even then. These braids were done on dry hair.

Here is are 2 throw-back videos made when I was transitioning! Hope you enjoy!