If your shampoo is too drying, only use it on the scalp. When you rinse, the shampoo will travel down your hair, gently cleansing the strands without removing all the moisture.
If your hair tends to break off, use a conditioner with more protein. This gives your locks a boost of strength. Wear a shower cap to trap heat. The heat allows the conditioner to better penetrate the hair shafts, infusing your tresses with even more moisture.
Starting at your scalp while detangling risks hitting a huge knot and tearing out entire strands of hair.
You can use a blow dryer on a low heat setting, but repeated heat use can cause damage to your hair. If you don’t want to apply heat, try the banding method. On clean, damp, and detangled hair, take a 1–2 in (2. 5–5. 1 cm) section of hair, then apply a small ponytail holder at the root. Place another band about 1 in (2. 5 cm) down from the first. Keep placing bands down the section at equal distances. [5] X Research source
The comb will make your parts more defined, but the lines might not be straight since you’re parting your own hair.
Don’t pull too tight on your roots. Excess tension can cause hair breakage and headaches. Plus, tight and painful braids can cause trauma to your scalp, which can lead to hair loss. [8] X Expert Source Shun PittmanMaster Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.
Your fingers should be holding the middle of the hair extension strands, not the ends. One end of the hair will fall to the left; the other should be on the right. Synthetic hair is cheaper to purchase and won’t frizz up due to humidity, making it great for tropical climates. Make sure that the hair extensions aren’t more than 2. 5 times longer than your natural hair. Heavy extensions can put a lot of strain on the hair follicle, which can lead to both hair breakage and hair loss. [10] X Expert Source Shun PittmanMaster Cosmetologist, Global Salon Educator & Author Expert Interview. 7 September 2021.
This can be tricky to do alone without a mirror, so be patient while you work. Practice the feed-in method on a doll or a wig first to get the hang of hand placement. Search YouTube for video tutorials on “feed-in braids” for a visual example.
Really thick braids will likely stay in place on their own, especially if the hair is more coarse or textured.
Remember to cornrow from the left side of your head to the right side. On the sides of your head, try adding hair every 7 or 8 stitches to keep things sleek rather than bulky. This could take several hours, so take breaks if your arms or hands feel fatigued.
Be gentle with your roots, especially at your temples. Too much tension could cause hair breakage or even headaches.
Really thick braids probably won’t need an elastic. If you’d like to add some braiding hair for length, do this before starting your three-strand braid. Loop a small section of braiding hair around the strand. Add the left side of the extension to your left braid strand, and the right side of the extension to your right braid strand. Complete a few stitches to secure the hair.
