These classic, traditional and versatile styles seem, at first glance, to be virtually maintenance free. But of course, they really need a gentle hand and careful attention to always look their best. Read on for tips on styling and caring for locks and braids.
Washing
If you wear braids or cornrows, wash every one to two weeks, paying extra attention to the scalp. Women who wear locks should shampoo weekly or every ten days with products for dry hair.
Conditioning
After shampooing, following with an instant conditioner. Distribute the conditioner through the hair, especially on ends, then rinse. If you hair is dry and coarse, treat it to a deep conditioner once a month or so. These treatments will coat the hair shaft and give your natural tresses the shine they need to look healthy and lustrous.
Styling & Trimming
Braids/cornrows: To tame frizzing of braids while air-drying, tie a thin scarf around them. Washing regularly is the key to preventing itching and dryness. Individual braids can be worn loose or pulled back in an elegant chignon. You will need to have your hair rebraided every two to twelve weeks. To protect your roots, make sure the hair braider is qualified and experienced. You will need to make sure she avoids two common mistakes - braiding the hair too tightly and braiding with heavy extensions. Either practice will put stress on your roots and may lead to permanent hair loss. How do you know if the braids are too tight? If you cannot move your forehead or temples or raise your eyebrows after the braids are put in, they are too tight. If you have a headache afterwards, they are too tight. Overly-tight braiding is responsible for the receding hairlines seen on many Black women who have worn braided styles for years. Wrap hair at night with a silk or satin scarf to prevent frizz and drying.
Locks: Locks take a good deal of work and they are not maintenance-free. You must be committed to their care and have patience. If you use twists to initiate your locks, you will need to retiwst hair frequently - several times a month as the new growth appears. To do that, divide just-washed or moistened hair into sections (the smaller the section, the tighter the twist). Divide section in two and twist by either inserting a comb at the ends and turning the comb or by rolling the sections between your palms. Wrap hair at night with a silk or satin scarf to prevent frizz and drying. Variations on locks include yarn locks and silky locks. You will also need to apply a moisturizer, such as Dark & Lovely Tea Tree Oil Lock and Twist Butter or Dark & Lovely Hydrating Citrus Braid & Sheen Spray, to keep locks from getting dry. Do not overtiwst or twist too tightly as hair loss could develop. Avoid long, heavy locks, which could lead to hair loss.
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