If you have done the big chop and are now sporting a TWA we are pretty sure some questions have come up for you concerning getting braids or twists for protective styling or just for the style itself. These styles are very possible to achieve but there are some concerns when doing those styles on really short hair. The main concern is the hairstyle being entirely too tight.
If someone else is braiding your hair, avoiding them being tight can be kind of difficult even if you request them not to be. If you are doing your own box braids, then you will try to install them to your comfort. Here’s the thing, though…the reason braids are done tightly is because they last longer but at the detriment of your hair and scalp.
If you can endure the pain of the braids, by all means…do that and you’ll be looking good for longer than if they were loosely done. The downside of them being tight is damage is can cause to your scalp and edges.
Having them too tight can also make your scalp itch, causing dry scalp and dandruff. Your edges could also be ripped out due to the stylist gripping the front of your hair too tightly. Bumps may appear where the hair is being pulled too tightly as well, [see lead picture]
You can’t keep the style for too long.
Styling the box braids will be difficult if your head is in pain because of them being tightly done. To help loosen them, take a hot, steamy, shower or massage your scalp gently with olive oil*.
You can always decide tough it out as well but that would be your choice, your hair will grow within the weeks or month of you keeping them in and the pain will loosen up. The braids may even come to a point of slipping out if they loosened too much, which defeats the purpose of having the style in the first place.
We would suggest that you wait until your hair gets just beyond TWA to install box braids and twists. It makes no sense to risk damage to your edges or your scalp so early in your natural journey.
Ouch…
And then these b**ches want 100$ plus dollars for s**t like this. If YOU braid like this YOU are not a professional
Yikes
Thats exactly why I don’t do any braids….
People also need to be careful of what’s in the hair that could also be a problem. People know the hair is shipped to us. Make sure you always personal the hair in vinegar and warm water for about 30 minutes before using it helps kill the microbes in the hair
That’s what I do. I even co wash my weaves before I install or even make a wig
Yes because its no telling what’s in the hair before it gets to the US and its worth the extra step, but it will be a little extra charge for the client
Forgive my ignorance but what is TWA?
Tenny wenny afro
It could be an reaction to the hair used
This is so true. I got box braids in March and when I tell you I had the biggest,worst hair bump I’ve ever had in my life. Oh,it was horrible. I thought I was gonna have to go to the emergency room. It stayed there for about 2 1/2 weeks. Scared was an understatement. However,although I love me a neat,cute box braid style. It will be a long time before I get them again. Every time I rub behind my ear the scar it left reminds me not to.
I have a twa & just braided my hair. No bumps on my neck! It could be a reaction or too tight. Everybody is different when they get braids.
What is twa?
Tiny little afro
I’ve experienced this before but not every time I get braid more when I had weaves !
Sounds more like and from the picture looks like the hair was braided way too tight
This made my stomach hurt
Worked fine for me. My twa was able to grow out fast and healthy. Just go to a braider who know what they are doing.
Its not the braids. Its your braider. I’ve been getting my hair braided since I was 5…if you can’t put your braids in a ponytail the same day, they’re too tight and never let that person braid your hair again. My hair grows like weeds with braids. I’ll never stop
Hair pulled too tight. Nothing to do with the hair style. Its the braider who is to be blamed.
Tenisha Tunstall. Werent we just talking about u getting some box braids?
Girl I’m getting them lol!!! It depends on the person who doing them! I’m not going to the African shop where they have to get every piece of the edges. I’m going to someone who specialize in natural hair and growth.
One time I got box braids test were so tight my scalp busted open in various spots unbeknownst to me I washed my hair to ease the pain from the massive headache and blood was running down in the water … never again
Drops of tea tree oil on your edges help.. A aspirin helps either before you go to help thin out blood flow to your head nerve will help,too. Hot rag on braids help…
I don’t let people do my hair I been braiding my hair myself for 2years with my own hair don’t need fake hair
It has nothing to do with a twa. It’s whether the braids are too tight. That can happen with hair of any length.
Teeni weeni afro
This how you lose your edges, and they don’t grow back I cannot take tight braids!!!
…always with the denial