Scalp Maintenace & Management for braid wearers

/Hi

In case you don't know I love using yarn braids as a protective style and I normally experience a lot of hair growth  during the 3 weeks they are in. However I had a bit of a problem with it this time.... More on that later.

This post here is about maintaining a healthy scalp and getting rid of build up while having in braids. We all know it happens when we have in protective styles especially braids. Having to put in all of these products into your hair can cause a lot of build up on your scalp.

My solution... Sugar scrub. Yep, a sugar scrub it keeps my scalp clean and build up free and I normally only do it 1 time during this 3 week period.

Here is my scalp:

My scalp with no products added

Can you believe that this is my scalp after 4 weeks? I did the sugar scrub 4 days before I took this picture and my scalp is still clean.


What will you need for your sugar scrub:

• 2 or 3 tbl spoon -  brown sugar
• 1tsp-    baking soda (optional)
• 1 tbl spoon-    oil of your choice (olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil etc.)
• a bit of botanical shampoo/ conditoner/ scented oil
• toothbrush
• spray bottle with water

Directions:

1. In a small bowl mix the brown sugar and baking soda together.
2. Add the oil and shampoo or conditioner of your choice (a bit of the brown sugar and baking soda may dissolve... you can add more if you like)
3. Seperate your hair into four (4) sections
4. Using the toothbrush dip into the mixture and scrub your scalp only using circular motions (do not be too rough) 
5. Continue until your whole head is done
6. Once finished you can wash your braids or hair
7. I like to use the spray bottle with water to rinse it out section by section (please lean over a sink or be in a tub when you are doing this as it will run)

No matter what way you rinse it out you will be left with a clean and fresh smelling scalp and braids. There are many different recipes out there to try.

To dry I normally use a blow dryer on warm to dry the ends of my braids and then pile it on top of my head until it is completely dry.

I hope this helps in your quest for a clean scalp.

Updo

 Hiya

So since I blow dried my hair I decided to try an updo that is similar to the plaited updo I did last month.

The original plaited updo

Let me just say that  even though my hair was blow dried it required a lot of gel and I really don't like using a lot of gel.

My flat twist bang

I must admit that I do not think I should have used kanekalon to do my bun but it's what I had lying around #sigh. These pictures are second day photos and it did it's job for those 2 days. I think I may have just become so accustomed to having thick hair that it felt kind of weird dealing with it being so thin after blow drying.

But I don't think I'm doing so bad for having a TWA but I will start taking the time to work on my edges since they haven't completely filled in (castor oil and emu oil all the way :D).

/bye

First Attempt making a wig

So, I am participating in a 3 month protective styling challenge here. I tried using a regular wig but I started to get a headache after 12 pm. So I looked into how to create a wig using a stocking cap. I used a 10" bump hair to get this look.

Finished wig

So I wasn't too sure if I liked it but you know I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and figured that when I curled it that it would look better.

Tried to curl the hair out of my face

Done with my old flat iron

I like it and it turned out better than I thought. However now I want to cut it and add some color to the wig but it isn't sewn on. I decided to use glue so I am not too sure how it will turn out. May re-vamp it in the coming weeks.

However do you know what is the funniest part about this... People got offended that I am wearing a wig. So far I have heard things like:

1. Why don't you wear your hair out?
2. Aren't you supposed to be representing for natural hair?
3. I don't like it
4. Just wear your hair... You don't need a wig

Now I understand that people may be concerned however while I am an advocate for team natural I see nothing wrong with wearing a wig as a protective style. The funniest part is that my friends who have known me for years when my hair was permed have seen me with bobs, pixie cuts and seen my hair in just about every color of the rainbow never batted an eye at this wig. I love to change my look and have been known to known to cut my own hair 2 times a year just because I felt like it.

Do you know what is even funnier these are the same people that hated my natural hair when I started to wear it natural and encouraged me to perm it and get a texturizer. So what does this teach us???

You have to remember why you are going/ went natural and don't expect everyone to like it but your FRIENDS that know you (even if they don't understand you) will be as encouraging as they can and won't be so quick to judge