Late last year, I wore my wig for a few months, and I did it because I wanted my natural hair to rest. I have told you several times how I have no idea what to do with my natural hair. I watch several videos on YouTube, and I try some of them, but it never ends up like it is in the video. Those people in the videos use some kind of juju, I tell you. But I digress.
So I braided my hair in January, a couple days before my birthday, and it was beautiful. This particular kind of braids is my ultimate favorite. I love them because they have everything I like in hair: not too long, curly, low maintenance, and a little big. I put up the picture below before in my birthday post, and I’m putting it up again because I don’t really have a better picture to show the hair (although I stole this version from my Instagram).
When I went to braid my hair, I told the lady not to make them small. I mean, I specifically told her NOT to make them small. Beyond my hair being natural and my edges still recovering, I have never really liked tiny braids. After the hair was done, I noticed that she did the ones on my edges really small, but I wasn’t mad cause I figured I didn’t have much hair in front anyway.
However, Igwe took the braids down for me the other day and some of them were so tiny that my hair was just twisted and tangled. Arrrgggghhh! Even the braids in the middle of my head (where the hair is longer and thicker) were really tiny. I think some of them only had three strands of hair, walahi. I canceled the appointment I made to rebraid my hair (in box braids, this time). My hair needs to recover again, so it’s back to the wigs — which I do not like!
Lost hair. All lost.
When I washed my hair, this is the amount of hair that fell out (before combing it). This is the ball of hair that I formed from the little knots that were hanging from the tips of my hair. I was so angry that I told Igwe to give me a skin shave. He refused. If he had agreed, you’d be reading from a very bald-headed
I bought myself a jar of unrefined, extra virgin coconut oil. Let’s see how it goes. I’m going to commit to washing my hair every weekend, and while I’m at that, I’ll be going wig-shopping after work today. I want something big. The one I have right now is not the one at all. I need a wig that’ll have me feeling like a diva.
P.S. I was already washing my hair every weekend, except for a few times that I went two weeks before washing.
P.P.S. I’m going to watch more hair videos. Again.
I wouldn’t go back to the same lady ever!!! She can’t listen to simple instructions. Do you take care of your hair while in braids? Other than washing do you use a moisturising braidspray everyday or every other day? Also when taking out braids do you oil or use a braid spray on your roots and scalp beforehand? If you don’t that will contibute to knots and tangles on takedown. Next time make sure to untangle each individual braid as it is being removed as well so that when you finally detangle the entire head you have less tangles to deal with. I suspect most of the hair in your hand is shed hair which is normal if you have been in braids since January it is said we shed about 100hairs per day (i wonder who did the counting lol) so everytime you take down a long term protective style like braids or weaves you will have a lot of shed hair to deal with.
“When I washed my hair, this is the amount of hair that fell out (before combing it). This is the ball of hair that I formed from the little knots that were hanging from the tips of my hair. ”
Please tell me you did not wash your hair before combing? That is a no no you have to detangle first before washing now I get where all the knots came from. Taking braids, cornrows or weaves down breakdown:
1. oil hair or use braid spray before taking out hair
2. take down untangling each braid or cornrow as you go on
3. finger detangle entire head when done use more oil if you need to it gives great slip less painful experience
4. wide tooth comb detangle
5. wash
6. detangle in shower with rinse out conditioner
7. Deep condition at least for 30 minutes
8. rinse out deep conditioner
9. pat dry using a t shirt or “good” towel
10. use a leave in conditioner
11. seal with a natural oil
12. comb, moisturize and style.
The braids is gorgeous though. What extension did you use?
That’s not a lot of hair that you shed…
vera, Igwe took the braids off for you. I’m sure that contributed to the shedding jooor
Loved the braids. What type of braiding hair did you use?
I agree with everyone else, that’s just shed hair. I lost more hair after I took down my two month old kinky twist. Washing your hair, on the other hand, every week will dry your hair out. Wash it every two week and moisturize in between.
Gorgeous hait….is this expression and did you roller-set itto achieve the curls? Nwanyi oma