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So you have your hair in tight little braids all over your head. Only, the prospect of shampooing hair in braids has never seemed more daunting. Well, it’s really nothing much to worry about, as long as you are patient and careful.
For that matter, having your hair in cornrows means you will typically have to wash less often than you would if you wore your hair loose. Here’s how to go about shampooing hair in braids:
Use An Overhead Shower
Do not attempt to wash braided hair with a hand held shower or have a bucket wash, as it can really be quite cumbersome. Use an overhead shower, and do not run the water on full speed. Let the stream be a gentle one on your head, so that your braids stay in place, and do not have any flyways.
Use A Clarifying Shampoo
As braided hair is typically washed less often than hair worn normally, as a result there is lot of residue and product build-up. In order to give your scalp and hair a thorough wash, it is recommended that you use a clarifying shampoo, as it helps to remove residue, dirt and lint easily.
The way to go about it is to swirl a bit of it with water in a mug or receptacle, and pour it gently over the scalp. Gently rub the scalp with the tips of your fingers for a couple of minutes.
Now work the shampoo solution over the braids, pinching them to get the shampoo to penetrate inside the braided hair. Do not rub. Let the shampoo stay in your hair a couple of minutes to be able to remove the dirt effectively. Now stand under the shower and let a gentle spray rinse out the suds from your hair and scalp.
An alternative to clarifying shampoo would be to use a bit of apple cider vinegar in your hair after your normal shampoo, diluted with a little water; let it stand for a couple of minutes, and then rinse it out in the usual way. This also removes dirt and impurities from the scalp and hair.
Condition With A Moisturizing Conditioner
As clarifying shampoos are a little drying, it is important to use a good hydrating conditioner after you have rinsed your hair, since you do not want to land up with an overly dry scalp. The conditioner will also help to keep the braids soft and lustrous. Do not use too much of the conditioner, as you may end up with lanky, greasy locks.
Pat Dry
It is important not to rub your hair dry if it is in braids. Pat very gently with a soft towel, and then stand under an overhead fan, or use a salon-type hair hood drying machine to dry your hair completely. If you need to dry with a hand held dryer, put the setting on cool or low heat, and point the dryer downwards. Thus, it is not necessary for you to head to a salon for shampooing hair in braids.
Photo Credit- Perugia.ca
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