There are times when I observe people on public transportation

who kept their braids in way past the redo date and thought I would speak on what happens if you leave braids in too long.  We know you are on a budget or you don’t have time but jeez, when are you going to do something about it?

When someone has braids done there are costs in play, whether its paid by them personally, a partner

or family etc.  These include:

1. Buying braiding hair
2. Payment for the service
3. Products to maintain, e.g. oil, spray moisturizer
4. Time – day off or after work until late.

For certain personalities of people doing braids is a strategic move. Here I am including parents who

leave their kids extensions in for far too long also.    It is the hairstyle of choice because it can be kept longer than most other hairstyles, therefore, they will:

• argue about the price of the service even if it is the cheapest they could get after major research.  The price will vary based on who or where it is done and the level of desperation of the service provider, but they will still argue.
• will buy the cheapest, easy to snag hair
• Usually will buy the least amount of hair and expect to get the full look of the style
• Will keep it in until it is practically falling out.

Although you feel wearing a headband hides the regrowth, prolonging the time you keep the hair in, you are just hurting your hair.  What happens if you leave braids in too long is stylists seeing these people years later with bald foreheads;  hair that no longer grows;  thin hair,  consulting  hairstylists, dermatologists and blaming genetics.

 By Paula Barker, Silkie Locks Hair Design

Books:  “Talking Hair”, “Filling My Head” & “Dreadlocks – A Hairstylist’s Manifest”.