3 Tips for Preserving Your Edges

A common goal for many of us curly girls is to have our edges ‘laid to the Gawds’. Because this is a very fragile section of hair, there are a few reasons why our edges may not be as full or thick as we may want them to be. Here are a few tips for preserving your edges and preventing them from thinning:

Moisturize & seal often

You should pay the same amount of attention (if not more) to your edges that you do to the rest of your hair. Spritz the area lightly with a water/leave in conditioner* and seal with an oil. Many ladies use castor oil* on their edges to thicken them. If you have fine natural hair, this can still be done but you should mix castor oil* with a lighter carrier oil to prevent it from pulling more.

Brush & style gently

It’s common to use gel and a brush to tame our natural hair into updos like buns, frohawks, puffs, etc. It is important to be extremely gentle when brushing curly hair back because hard bristles can pull at our strands and call them to fall out over extended use. Invest in a soft boar bristle brush, or use a toothbrush to gently lay down your edges.

Also, don’t apply too much product to your hair when styling- edge controls and gels have thick consistencies that may pull at your edges as well. Use product sparingly, and your hair will thank you afterwards.

Don’t pull hair into tight styles

You should also be careful pulling your hair up into updos and securing with scrunchies. Don’t pull your hair up into a very tight updo or bun, because this creates unnecessary tension on your edges.

Also be careful with protective styles like box braids and twists. Avoid getting heavy braids or twists, especially around your edges because they will pull down on your hair and cause it to thin. If you go to a professional, make sure to tell them in advance to not braid your hair too tightly.

Sleep on a satin pillowcase*

If you don’t already sleep on a satin pillowcase*, you should definitely invest in one. Not only do they help preserve your hairstyles, they also keep your hair from drying out or losing moisture.

Cotton pillowcases rub our natural hair and can cause frizz. Retain the moisture in your hair by switching to a satin pillowcase, and maybe sleeping with a satin bonnet* or silk scarf* as well.