It’s time – you have to face the music. You cannot go another weekend. It is time to remove that protective style. Whether you have Box Braids, Senegalese Twists, a Sew-In, or any other protective styles, you knew that eventually there would be a removal process. It’s inevitable, unless you have faux dreads, and decide to grow your hair with it.
Moreover, when you have worn your braids in an “I don’t care bun” for a week straight, or your sew-in is hanging on by a thread, then you know it is time to take your style out.
Depending on the style you have installed, your long term style should be worn from 6 to 12 weeks. Anything over that is detrimental to your hair, causing possible tangles, matting, and even overgrowth with the weave. Not cute!
Although you can go back to your stylist or braider to have your style removed, you can also opt to take your style out yourself. Personally, I would rather save my $40 for removal by my stylist, and take out my own hair.
I have some steps that you can follow for an easy, stress free removal and pampering process of a few styles: sew-in, crochet braids, and all other braids (Senegalese Twists, Box Braids, Kinky* Twists, etc.).
I recommend making this a two day removal process, but you can choose to do all of this in one day. Taking out your extensions* could take an hour or so; in the meantime, put on your favorite show, talk to a friend, or listen to some music.
Take out process for common protective styles
Crochet Braids
With this style your hair is cornrowed back, or in a spiral pattern with your extensions woven in the braids by a latch hook. To remove your crochet braids, all you have to do is cut the knots of your extensions.
Once all of the extensions* have been cut out, carefully pull the cut-knot from your braids. Now that your extensions have been removed completely, take your time to unravel your braids.
Well, I haven’t had my braids in 5 weeks yet. I did them in July and rebraided again the ending of August. I won’t be taking out until another 4 weeks, and I washed them this pass Friday. I’ll be washing again tomorrow.
How long do you keep them in?
Isn’t your hair becoming dreads by now? I never ever had someone hold them in for that long !
Braids don’t become dreads, there are braids. You wash them while they’re in your hair. Most people that wear synthetic braids in their hair leave them in for up to two months sometimes three, I leave mine in 6 to 8 weeks. If it was my own hair I would have to braid every few days, but the roots are curly about 3 inches long and the rest of it is dead ends of relaxed damaged hair up to my shoulders. Rocking the two textures so soon without my roots being long enough yet won’t look right, unless I blow dry it very few days and that will be more damaging than wearing the braids
Apple cider vinegar has worked for me. It removes product build up and helps with detangling.
Well I usually get braids and would keep them for 8 weeks, maybe 10 if I really upkeep my hair. But I love hot oil treatments after take down. I think that’s the most important step in the whole wash day! My happy place: hot oil treatments 0.0 yasss hunny!
Perfect article I just took my braids out last night and was searching the web on what to do …extra credit thanks
Thank you much and you’re welcome!!!
Listen to Kem’s fabulous new CD while taking my braids out. For after, a good shampoo, conditioning and rinse, spray thoroughly with a light oil, and let it air out then put in big braids before bed until I decide what to do with it. That’s my regiment.
The protein treatment and deep conditioning do you do this After washing or before? And also what are some good clarifying shampoos at the moment the only one I have is creme of nature with argan oil.