Braid styles are designed to last a couple days up to a week or more, depending on your hair texture and the style you choose – the more hair is braided or pinned up the longer it tends to stay.
Your braids will stay in until you’re ready to take them out! Following these care instructions will help you keep flyaways and strays to a minimum keep it looking good as long as possible.
quick version:
– remove decorations (especially pearl pins)
– smooth your hair with a comb or pick (not a brush)
– wrap your head with a silk or satin scarf for sleeping
– smooth in the morning and put on a bit of spray or gel, if you wish
– put decorations back in if you removed them
– Keep your hair dry as possible, blot with paper towels if it gets wet.
– you can use a bit of dry shampoo – go lightly and focus on your scalp.
detailed version:
- Carefully remove flowers or other decorations, especially pearl pins that can slide out easily. Hair rings and charms can stay in while you sleep, if you’re not ready to remove them.
- Smooth your hair gently with a comb or a pick (not a brush though, it can grab part of the braid), moving from your hairline and part lines toward the braid. Show your scalp some love by gently pushing the comb underneath the braid and moving the ends around – a happy scalp will help you keep your style longer!
- Wrap your head up with a silk or satin scarf, or use a satin pillowcase – you want to use something with some slip so it won’t grab flyaways while you sleep. Another old trick that works is to use a pair of stockings or tights – Stretch out like a cap with the elastic around your hairline, drop any braid tail(s) into the legs and then tie or wrap them up. Pictures if it happens 😉
- In the morning, you’ll want to comb smooth again. You can use a touch of hairspray or other product you like to tame the flyaways and put decorations back in if you wish.
- If your style has a hanging tail, you may want to roll the elastic off the end and smooth or rebraid the tail, then put the band back on or even move it up a bit if you’re starting to get a lot of pop-outs.
And you’re good to go for another day! A couple more handy tips:
- Hair tends to stay cleaner while it’s up in a braid and you won’t be washing it until you take your braids out. Keep your hair dry as possible in the shower – if it should get wet, blot gently with paper towels; let it air dry or use a blow dryer on low setting with a diffuser, then smooth again with a comb or pick.
- Yes, you can use a bit of dry shampoo, just go lightly and focus on your scalp.
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