Is it hot and dry where you are? maybe humid? or just a mixture of all the above throughout the day; Summer is no respecter of persons when it comes to the coils and curls. Especially if you enjoy swimming and the beautiful outdoors.
What to do?
I'll keep this relatively short and try to get straight to the point. If you sit around all day with no work, enjoying your soft life with the AC on blast in your home, then you probably don't have to worry too much about your hair. But if you go to work, have an active lifestyle, or just want to be fabulous everywhere you go, the answer is simple; get braids. Why?
Braids will save you time, energy, and money in the long run. I've had clients tell me they've cut their preparation time for work or outings by 1-2 hours since getting braids, especially for the moms with school aged kids. Whether the braids are for the kids or for the mom, it's always a win.
Admittedly, they are not cheap, especially if you are opting for exceptional work and service. You will pay for what you are getting, but the benefits outweigh the cost. One of them being that they can last up to 8 weeks depending on how well you care for them. With braids, the amount of money you save on hair products will be equivalent to, if not more than the price of your braids (this depends on many factors of course, but we'll talk about this another time).
What kind of braids and how to maintain them?
The smaller the braids, the longer they last. Now this doesn't mean you should go get micros and keep them in for half of the year, because that is too long. But in my experience, smedium (small medium) box braids generally have better longevity, and have more styling options than cornrows. Most of my military clients have regularly gotten small medium box braids for those reasons.
Maintenance does require you to be mindful of how often you wash your braids, as they do expand when immersed in water. Dry shampoo is a great alternative to keeping a clean scalp, and washing the hair after 3-4 weeks is generally advisable. There are products out there that can be applied to the scalp to cleanse it without immersing the hair fully in water, I will go over those options in future posts.
Lastly, make sure to apply oils lightly or as needed; the general rule is at least once a week to maintain a healthy crown. What do you think?
Share your comments, questions or concerns. Happy Summer!