We can all remember the joy of sitting in-between momma’s or big sista’s legs on the porch with a big comb and a jar of grease in hand to get our hair braided back in the day.

Today, the weaving of three strands of hair together in intricate patterns and designs is more like a work of art to the braider and the wearer. Even men are saying no to bald heads and yes to zigzag designs of cornrows.

Braids are wonderful for children as well because they are long-lasting and do not require the use of chemicals. The styles and patterns are endless. Braids are also a good way to grow out a perm or relaxer and return to the natural.

Braids put in correctly should be able to withstand a biweekly shampooing. Braids should not be left in for months on end without ever being washed. This is not healthy for the scalp or the hair.

The key to washing braids is to do it gently. Starting with a gentle stream of water as you wet your hair will minimize the stress put on your braids. Then lather with a natural shampoo and rub the lather throughout the braids in the direction the braids are going. Use your fingertips to massage the scalp and remove any dirt from single braids.

Rub the scalp with a finger in the direction of the rows with cornrows. Then with that same gentle stream of water rinse the lather from the braids again in the direction the braids are going. This is most easily achieved if you groom your hair while you are in the shower.

You can follow with a hot oil treatment and if so, additional oiling will not be needed. Pat the hair as opposed to rubbing the hair with a towel. The ends of longer braids can be pressed in a towel to remove excess water. Then oil the scalp and allow to air dry or sit under a dryer.

To minimize the frizziness of braids and cornrows after washing, use a small mixture of gel and natural/essential oils. Use the mixture very lightly to rub on the braids in the direction they are braided to keep them neat and frizz-free. If you use too much of this mixture however it can flake once dry so beware and use sparingly.

Braid Tip: Do not use leave-in conditioners after you wash your braided styles. Leave-in conditioners soften the hair and loosen braids. Reserve the use of this to aid in the removal of your braids. Saturate the braids with a leave-in conditioner prior to removal. Also, creamy conditioners can be very hard to wash out and residue can remain, causing dryness and flaking.

Cover braids with a cotton, silk or satin scarf. No doubt you have heard silk and satin are always best. But this is not necessarily true. If you have oily hair or if you oil your hair at night you may want to wear cotton. Cotton allows the hair to breathe and it will absorb any excess oil in the hair. Silk and satins will not absorb the oil but instead allow it to sit on top of the hair.

If oil is not an issue for you then silk or satin scarves are fine. They also do not pull the hair as cotton can do. This is one of those instances where you would choose for yourself. If you tend to sweat in your hair at night you may want to also consider cotton so that your style does not have that sweated-out look in the morning.