Three years ago, we published an article on box braids and shared the photos on Pinterest as usual. Soon, our notifications started buzzing. The comment section was on a roll. We began to wonder within the team, “What could be wrong? What could we have posted that warranted such reactions from Pinterest users?” So, we took a trip to the pinboard and saw it was this particular photo of bad braids that made people crash out:
The comments were so hilarious. Some thought it was a wig, while others worried about her hairline. And I worry too. The braids look like they aren’t only after the lady’s hairline, but also after her entire head. I can only imagine the pain and headache she went through just to wear the hairstyle and style it into a half-up, half-down. Pheew!
If you scroll a bit away from that pin, you’d see similar bad braids. Cases like that abound; women rocking extremely tight braids that pull at their hairline. This probably makes you wonder, why couldn’t they stop their stylist? Well, maybe they loved the look and wanted to risk it. But aren’t they aware of the dangers of these braids? We can’t say for sure. Some might know, some might not. But what we can do to ensure more women flee from these hairstyles is to write pieces like this.
In this article, we’ll show you signs of bad braids and how to get rid of the pain they bring without damaging your hair.
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Dangers of Bad Braids
In case you didn’t know, tight braids are bad for your health. Many people choose to wear them, thinking they last longer. But tight doesn’t mean better—it just means more tension on your scalp. These braids, as Dr. Oyetewa Oyerinde, a dermatologist and hair loss specialist at Baylor College of Medicine, highlights, “when worn repeatedly, can weaken hair follicles, leading to thinning edges, bald spots, and even permanent hair loss if not addressed early.”
They also cause traction alopecia (hair loss caused by excessive pulling or tension on the hair follicles), bumps, headaches, and hair breakage. A good hairstylist should never put your hair at risk for the sake of a longer-lasting hairdo. Yes, beauty procedures can be painful sometimes. But no style is worth your overall health.
Signs of Bad Braids
Sometimes, these hairstyles may not be easy to spot. But here are tell-tale signs to watch out for:
- They look too tight: They can be micro, medium, or chunky, but once the braids are obviously too tight, they’re hazardous.
- They look funny: You just know the braids are bad when you try to hold laughter or feel angry immediately you see them because of how awkward they look.
- Pain: If you experience pain when touching your scalp, laughing, or moving your head, it’s a strong indication that your braids are too tight.
- Itching and irritation: If your scalp begins to itch persistently, it often signifies an allergic reaction, bacterial overgrowth, or inflammation.
- Shiny, stretched scalp: If your scalp shines even without applying hair oil, it signifies excessive tension and can lead to hair loss.
- Thinning Edges: If your baby hairs are receding, that’s traction alopecia looming.,
- Redness and sores: If you notice your scalp is red or sore after braiding your hair, that could indicate inflammation or an allergic reaction due to your hairstyle.
- Bumps: Small bumps are a sign of inflamed hair follicles, which can be caused by irritation or infection from tight braids.
- Breakage: When your hair starts to break or the strands pull from the roots, it indicates your hair is under too much stress.
- Visible hair roots: If you can see the hair root attached to the braid, then your hair has pulled out from the scalp.
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How to Get Rid of Pain from Bad Braids
Look at your hair in the mirror. Do they have the aforementioned signs? If they do, here’s how to say goodbye to this phase:
Apply leave-in conditioner
To reduce tension and tightness around your scalp, apply leave-in conditioner to your hair roots, then use your fingers to massage the conditioner into your scalp. This also helps to relieve pain and make your hairdo bearable.
Apply hair oils and treatments
Natural oils like jojoba, peppermint, coconut, and tea tree oil keep your scalp hydrated and reduce inflammation. Apply them often for as long as the braids last.
Massage your hair
Massage your scalp and hair with cold or hot water and a towel to relieve the pain and cause it to relax. The heat from hot water loosens the hold at the root of your hair while cold water preserves the natural oils your scalp produces, helping to seal the hair cuticles.
Don’t wear updos or ponytails
After braiding your hair, avoid styling it into updos, buns, or ponytails until after a week or more. Just let it hang freely on your shoulders or accessorize with hair pins and scarves. Updo styles often pull at your scalp, increasing the tightness, which can break your hair.
Choose larger, looser braids
Smaller, tighter braids put more stress on your scalp. Instead of them, opt for knotless braids where your stylist first braids your natural hair before attaching extensions to it. Knotless styles also distribute weight more evenly.
Take breaks between styles
Don’t wear braids for too long. Ensure to take them out within six to eight weeks and give your scalp at least two weeks to recover before reinstalling.
Get rid of the damn braids
What’s the point of keeping something that’s bad for you? If you can’t deal with the pain, just take them out and have peace.
Bad Braids are a No-No
Bad braids aren’t worth it, regardless of how on-trend or colorful they may look. Avoid them completely. Don’t give them a chance; don’t even wear them.
But if you find that your hairstylist is about to pull a fast one on you, talk to them. Let them know the braids hurt, so they can loosen their grip while braiding. Also, ask them not to touch your edges; instead, let them start braiding after your baby hair. A professional braider should listen to concerns and avoid excessive pulling. If they don’t make any adjustments, never go back to them.
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