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10 Tips for Removing Braids and Weaves

1. Braided, weaved, or locked hair can become dry and matted together, so you must use a product that softens, oils and moisturizes your hair so that after these styles are removed unhealthy and broken hair is not left behind.

2. Do not shampoo or relax until your hair is completely combed out and detangled. Because if you try to “wash away” clumps/knots of matted or tangled hair, the water will absorb every last drop of oil in your hair and all your hair will tangle in to a big matted mess. And if you try to “perm/relax” the knots and tangles out of your hair-it will not work either! Relaxers are not designed to penetrate through clumps of matted and tangled hair.

3. Before you begin to remove braids soak the roots of your hair and the braids with a removal cream. Do the same for sew-in weaves, but first cut the extensions off, then proceed to soak the cornrows with a removal cream. This will prevent tearing and breaking of the hair when you are combing through it.

4. Believe it or not, locked hair can be removed without having to be cut off. It may take more than one day but a removal cream can salvage natural hair. You will have some shedding, but for the most part you can keep your hair.

5. When removing Dreadlocks that are 1-4 years old, cut only the tip of the lock. If locks are older than four years, you need to cut half of the locked hair before it unravels.

6. Contrary to popular belief, you can relax your hair the same day you remove braids, weaves, bonding glue, or dreadlocks. A product such as TAKE DOWN removal cream allows you the ease of transitioning from style to style.

7. Conditioners or oil sheen should not be used to remove bonding glue from the hair. It was not created for that purpose (oil is an aerosol, an alcohol based product). Secondly, it does not effectively remove the excess bonding glue from the scalp. Over time excess bonding glue that builds up on the scalp can damage the scalp and will cause balding.

8. And if you do use oil sheen to remove the bonding glue from your hair, please do not relax your hair immediately after the removal process. You are causing serious damage to your scalp.

9. Most people don’t have the time or patience to remove braids, locks, weaves or hair extensions the right way. The average consumer thinks it’s too costly to visit a salon to undo or “take down” a style. So, she pulls, she tugs, and ultimately damages her hair when it’s time to remove braids, weaves, hair extensions, or even dreadlocks. Please do not rush when removing these styles; it will only hurt your hair.

10. Love your hair. Be patient with whatever type of hair you have been blessed with, and take the time to learn about what your natural hair needs. There are so many good products in the marketplace but every product is not for every head.

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