Once the conditioner and/or oil have had some time to sit on your hair, carefully begin to detangle your hair. Don’t be alarmed if you a lot of shed hair during this process, this is normal.
There will be lint and knots throughout your hair, so be sure to take your time, and be extremely careful during this process. You can use a wide-tooth comb, or your fingers for this process. Make sure to remove all the shed hair, lint, and pieces of extensions* as much as you can. If not, your hair will become tangled and matted during your washing process.
Washing
We suggest using a clarifying shampoo* instead of a regular or moisturizing shampoo, so your hair can be squeaky clean from shed hair, and any pieces of extensions left in your hair.
Additionally, since your hair was in the long term style, you want to remove any debris and build up from the products that were used to maintain the style as well. You can also opt to do a pre-poo or hot oil treatment, before you wash your hair to ensure that your hair won’t be too stripped of moisture.
Protein Treatment
Protein treatments after long term styles are a must! Because your hair has been in a long term style, your hair strands are weak, and using a protein treatment in your washing regimen will strengthen your hair strands.
After your protein treatment, you will need to do a moisture based deep conditioning treatment. Whether you use your own concoction or a commercial product, deep conditioning* will bring a great amount of moisture back in your hair. Using a plastic cap under a hooded dryer* for at least 30 to 45 minutes will be beneficial to your hair, as well.
What to do now
It is important to give your hair some time to breathe once your extensions* are removed. Your hair needs at least one to two weeks to regain the proper moisture balance and its strength from your long term style. Once your hair is healthy and strong again, then you can get your next install.
Kelly-Ann Payne says
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.
Nasya Norville says
How long do you keep them in?
Ramone Semmoh says
Isn’t your hair becoming dreads by now? I never ever had someone hold them in for that long !
Kelly-Ann Payne says
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
Prisca Nagujja says
Apple cider vinegar has worked for me. It removes product build up and helps with detangling.
Steen How says
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!
Crystal Jenkins says
Perfect article I just took my braids out last night and was searching the web on what to do …extra credit thanks
Christina J says
Thank you much and you’re welcome!!!
Andrea MoonPearl Banks says
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.
mmontgomery says
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.