8 Steps To Wash Hair With Box Braids
After you’ve invested a lot of time and money in braids, you want to keep them for as long as possible to protect your natural hair.
But after a few weeks of athletic activity, swimming, applying moisturizers and other products to your hair, or hot summer makes you sweat. Regardless of the situation, you will face the question: “Should I wash my box braids? How do I wash the box braids and how often?”
Those are probably your biggest concerns at the moment, so keep exploring this article, we’ll help you answer your questions and provide quick and effective methods.
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Can you wash your hair with braids?
After a day of work and outdoor commutes, hair washing is essential. Even if you have braids, washing them is possible.
It is better to wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove dirt that builds up in your scalp and not to rub your braids.
Instead, wash your hair from the scalp to the ends, with a vertical angle movement, which will prevent frizz in the bases and braids.
In addition, you should also use a little conditioner to the ends of your hair.
Can you get your hair wet with box braids?
Wet braids can cause frizz or even loosen prematurely. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get them wet.
It is okay to wet your braids in case you use a mild sulfate-free shampoo, dilute the shampoo and conditioner with water.
This is because applying harsh washing products tends to disrupt the hairstyle and lead to loose hair.
How often should you wash box braids?
While the braids can last 2-8 weeks depending on the type of box braids you choose and how you wear them, you should also take care to clean them properly.
While the box braids don’t require much daily maintenance, experts suggest not to wash your hair too often. Instead, it is very important to keep hair and scalp clean.
Although with box braids, you should only wash your hair about once or twice a week, you can clean your scalp regularly.
Simply wet a washcloth, dip it in warm water, and witch hazel astringent. Then take care to separate the hair and rub the washcloth over the scalp.
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Why do my box braids smell?
It would be bad if one day you notice your braid is giving off unpleasant odors. Just like clothes, there are many reasons that your braids quickly smell.
If your braid is not properly dried, it will also allow mold to form overnight and create a smell. Therefore, you should be careful to dry your hair thoroughly to prevent mold or bad odors from forming.
In addition, dirt from dead skin cells, natural oils from the scalp, sweat, and hair products that collect environmental dirt that build-up on the scalp also causes a lingering stench on your hair.
In this case, you can use shampoos with the kind of yummy smell, conditioners, or even hair perfumes if needed.
Related: Do Dreads Smell?
How do you wash your hair when you have box braids?
A box braid helps you protect your hair and scalp as well as saves time taking care of your hair. However, after a certain time, you also need to clean them to avoid bad odors.
But not everyone knows how to wash box braids. In this next section, we will give you the most effective way to wash box braids if that’s the best option for you.
Things you’ll need:
- 2 applicator or spray bottles
- Leave-in conditioner (spray)
- Towel
- Clarifying shampoo
- Moisturizing conditioner
- Hair sheen or oil for hydration
- Hooded dryer (optional)
Instructions:
- Step 1: Use shampoo as a sulfate-free book, mix the shampoo and water in a 1: 1 ratio in a spray bottle or spray bottle. Shake well to create a thin, effervescent solution.
- Step 2: Apply the mixture directly to the entire scalp, hairline, and bristles along the sides. Use your fingertips to gently massage the shampoo mixture onto your scalp.
- Step 3: Clean hair. Gently massage the roots and pull the ends of the braids aside to prevent all of the hair from getting wet, preventing them from getting heavy and drying out slowly.
- Step 4: Mix the conditioner and water well in a spray bottle or spray bottle and shake until they combine to form a milky white liquid. Pour or spray the mixture onto the scalp and pigtails.
- Step 5: Let the oil conditioner for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse the conditioner in the shower.
- Step 6: Take some braids and squeeze gently to remove as much excess water by hand as possible. Wrap hair in a towel and incubate for 10 minutes. You can dry your hair with a hooded dryer if possible. Leave your braids down until they are completely dry.
- Step 7: Rub a small amount of conditioner onto the scalp between the pigtails.
- Step 8: You can spray in conditioner directly on the scalp and the ends of the braids for additional moisture if your hair tends to dry out quickly.
Braids are a great hairstyle and must be maintained properly. While there are some drawbacks to washing hair and handling bad odors, the positives of having a clean scalp and hair outweigh the negative.
You can clean the braids, but don’t mess with them. Use the cleaning method we provide to make it easier to clean this hairstyle.
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