Protective styles are perfect for any season, but when you’re traveling on the go during the summer season, they can save you time and energy. I decided that this year, for EssenceFest, I wanted to get knotless braids instead of making my curls fight the heat and humidity. This protective style has been on my bucket list since seeing Lori Harvey rock them last summer. They are effortless, beautiful, and, most importantly, can remove the need for me to constantly add products to my hair during a very busy week.
As a mixed-race woman (Black and Mexican) I didn’t grow up regularly getting braids so the entire process was going to have learning curves. However; wearing braids is an honor and privilege I don’t take lightly and wanted to do them justice. With any new style, haircut, color, or braiding look, there is always stumbling blocks whether you need to invest in new products or research a salon or braider. In my case, I had to apply all my NaturallyCurly knowledge to my braid maintenance, and I learned a few new things along the way.
Your Pre-Braid Prep Cannot Be Skipped
Image Source: @naturallycurly
I knew going into my knotless braid appointment that it was important I hydrate, moisturize, and straighten my hair for my braider. In the reel above I breakdown the products I used for my braiding prep routine which included:
- The Doux Press REWIND Curl Retention Shampoo
- The Doux FAST FORWARD Heat Prep Conditioner for Heat Styling
- The Doux Silent Treatment Thermal Protectant Spray
- Hot Head Thermal Haircare
I started with these products for the washing part of my routine because I wanted prevent heat damage and preserve my curls. Their Press Play Thermal Styling System debuted earlier this year and has been fantastic for helping create soft and silky hair when you plan to straighten, blow out, or silk press your hair. I don’t straighten my hair often so it was really important I used products that were going to protect them from any heat damage. I loved the scent and lightweight feel of these products!
Whenever you get a braided style it’s always important you stretch out your hair so your braider can blend your hair with your extensions or weave. Since I was still trying to reduce any heat damage, I used the RevAir Reverse-Air Dryer to dry, stretch, and smooth my hair seamlessly. This tool is specifically formulated to reduce damage, breakage, and keep hair healthier, shiner, and stronger. I was able to easily dry and stretch my hair in less than 30 minutes without any steaming, sizzling, or frying that the straightener typically does. In no time, it was dry and I was able to fight off the frizz with Cécred Nourishing Hair Oil.
Jumbo Braids Can Affect Your Hold
I visited a local braider here in Austin who was able to create a beautiful knotless braided look in a few hours. However, the next day, I was surprised to see different parts of my hair popping out of the braid, which was disappointing. Upon contacting the braider, she cited that the hair products we used might not have been strong enough and recommended using a stronger gel to wrap the loose strands into the braid. This was a continuous process I did the entire time during my trip to New Orleans and thankfully I had no additional strands coming loose.
Be Prepared For Big Change
Image Source: @dezij
Having knotless braids brought a lot more attention to my face shape and structure which is typically engulfed by my curls. It took a few days for me to find a good routine for sleeping comfortably with the braids and figuring out what to do with all the extra length. My hair typically sits right above my shoulders so it was a different experience feeling hair down my back and shoulders and I was constantly playing with it.
Edge Maintenance Is a Must
Edges are a staple of natural hair and braid culture, and to say I’m an amateur at doing them is an understatement. I was fortunate that my edges stayed down for a few days before I had to reapply product which would happen in the morning after sleeping. I was absolutely in love with the smell, texture, and hold that the Aunt Jackie’s Smooth + Swirl Edge Gel gave me. It wasn’t too sticky and held my edges down through booth maintenance, convention center sprints, and the New Orleans humidity.
Over Time, You’re Going to Itch
Man, the scalp itch was no joke and definitely came roaring in about three days into wearing my knotless braids. It started as a dull itch on different parts of my scalp and progressed to my whole head after about a week. It’s a definite “no-no” to physically scratch my scalp with my nails because it was going to further irritate my scalp so I was happy I brought the GIRL+HAIR Ultimate Travel Hair Care Set.
Cleansing my scalp quickly was easy with the water-to foam shampoo safely removed the product-buildup and residue. I didn’t need to shampoo my head regularly but did use the daily hydration milk to give my scalp moisture and relief. These products were so helpful and the pointed tip made it easy to directly get to my itchier spots without messing up the braids.
You Gotta Get Creative With Workouts
I love to workout but I’m not a girlie who works out with her hair down so I had to get creative with how I was going to maintain my gym routine with knotless braids. Since I had jumbo braids they were big and heavy and didn’t tie into a great high ponytail. I opted to go for Space Buns which were still heavy but kept my hair off my back.
Allot Time For Taking Your Knotless Braids Out
Let’s talk take down because it got REAL. When it came time to remove my knotless braids, I had to cut the braids at the bottom and then unbraid the weave from my real hair. It was tempting to try and cut closer to where I thought my braid started but I didn’t want to accidentally cut my real hair, so we’re starting from the bottom.
This wasn’t painful, but it was time-consuming. I wasn’t prepared for how sticky and stiffy my hair would be closer to the top of my scalp, so I knew that I would need to wash it immediately because it couldn’t be styled otherwise.
Don’t Forget Scalp Care Essentials
Once I had removed all the hair, my scalp was screaming in relief. However, it wasn’t time to rest; it was time to start another round of work with a wash day tailored to clarify my scalp. I used the JooY Scalp Resurfacing Serum as a pre-cleanse for my wash day because it gently exfoliates and removes buildup. It contains ingredients like peppermint, nettle lead, and lemon and felt very cooling on my scalp.
Once I jumped into the shower, I used JooY Clarifying Shampoo and Conditioner to start wash day. I used the Scalp Energizing Brush to bring back blood flow and circulation to my scalp, and it was such a therapeutic massage. These worked like magic in my curls and left my scalp feeling clean but not stripped. I really enjoyed the very light scents, slip, and manageability they gave my curls. It was a relief to have moisture in my hair and a clean scalp before applying styling products.
Before completing my wash day, I applied the My Black is Beautiful Intense Hydrating Treatment to deep condition my curls. This was an important step I didn’t want to miss because I knew my hair needed it (though I know deep conditioning always adds time to your wash routine). I definitely had plenty of hair fall out when detangling my hair, but that was to be expected since I wore my braids for two full weeks. This was deeply penetrating and smelled amazing! I could see great results after the first use.
Give Your Curls Extra TLC During Wash Day
Finally, we made it to styling, and I couldn’t be happier to kick start my curl revival than with Briogeo’s new Style + Treat collection. I was able to generously apply the Lightweight Sculpting Cream, Air Dry Hair Styling Cream, and Hair Styling Texture Foam to create defined, frizz-free, and effortless-looking curls. The Yuzu extract, Plum Oil, and Super B-complex ingredients in each of these products was just what my hair needed to create pillowy, soft curls.
I absolutely loved wearing knotless braids and am excited to try out new braided styles this fall!
