To ensure your braids last neat and healthy for the duration of the protective style, the following tips are recommended:

- Use a satin/silk scarf around your edges and cover the length of the braids with a bonnet before going to bed

- Sleep with a satin pillowcase for extra protection

- Moisturise your braids daily with a light braid spray (not braid sheen)

- Avoid over-styling your braids

- Wash your braids fortnightly

- Avoid getting your braids wet within the first 48 hours

- Apply a light oil to your scalp every 3-4 days

- Refresh any fly-aways and frizz with a setting moose and cover the braids with a head scarf/durag for 1-2 hours

Braids will not damage your hair or edges providing they are not applied too tight. Although braids are recommended as a protective style, it is always best to give your natural hair a rest in between styles. Try to avoid leaving your hair in braids for longer than 6-8 weeks

Sealing oils struggle to penetarate the hair shaft and are perfect for sealing moisture into hair strands. Depending on the porosity of your hair, the following oils generally work effectively as sealants:

Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Jojoba Oil

Argan Oil

Sweet Almond Oil

To maintain healthy hair, it is recommend that it should be trimmed every 6 to 8 eight weeks.

Here are a number of ways that hair can be kept moisturised. A few major factors include:

Moisturising and sealing - This includes the LOC/LCO methods or using a daily water based moisturiser and sealing with oil.

Deep conditioning treatments - Adding a moisturising hair masque to your regular hair care routine will help to retain moisture during the days after styling. This can be done with or without added steam.

Steaming - This is adding moisture into your hair using steam. The hot steam raises the cuticle so that the products applied are easily absorbed into the hair shaft. This is great for low porosity hair.

Sleeping on silk or satin - Silk/Satin head scarves and pillow cases help to retain moisture as there is no friction rubbing against the hair. They also preserve hair styles whilst you sleep.

Drink Water - Our bodies are made up of 75% water therefore staying hydrated is a great way to add additional moisture to the hair.

Relaxers, like any other chemical component, can cause damage if they are used incorrectly.

'Relaxers straighten the hair by penetrating the cuticle and the cortex layers of the hair shaft, which loosen the natural curl pattern. During this process, the structure of the hair can be become weak' - This is the reason it is recommended to have your relaxers applied and maintained by a professional.

Always use a wide toothed comb starting from the ends and work your way up the hair. If necessary, part your hair into sections to make the process easier.

NB. It is best to detangle your hair when damp/wet, with a leave in conditioner or detangling product applied first.

There are numerous reasons why your hair will stop growing or hault at a certain length. Some of these can include:

Genetics

Stress

Hair Products

Styling

Health Issues

Split Ends

Unhealthy Diet

Lack of Exercise

Before removing the extension hair from your braids, you should use a light mist to dampen your hair. Once you have removed the extension hair:

- Throughly detangle your hair

- Wash your hair

- Use a deep conditioning treatment

- Proceed to air or blow dry depending on your preference.

- Leave your hair to breathe for a minimum of 7 days before having them reinstalled.

If you are planning on having your braids redone, it would be advised to book in for a trim as close to taking your braids out as possible. Freshly trimmed hair isn't advised if you having a new set of braids as the blunt ends with eventually poke out