The Pain of The Braids

Over the weekend after getting my hair done by my sister, who has been doing it for years it just didn’t feel right. Not sure what happened but after leaving her house I could feel pain in parts of my head I didn't even knew existed. And this sent me on a crazy search for help.

So I decided to share what I found with you:

Instructions

• 1
  Take a hot shower. Stay in the shower long enough for the heat to permeate the scalp, which helps to loosen the braids slightly. Tight cornrows can sometimes take up to a week before loosening on their own. Taking a hot shower each time you bathe quickens the process.
• 2
  Use a rat-tail, or pick, comb to gently loosen the braids. Be careful with this method because if you tug at the cornrows too hard you may release parts of the hair from the braid, disrupting the style. Carefully go under the braid that is closest to the scalp and gently pull with the tail of the comb. You can get some relief using this strategy, but to keep the style intact, and to avoid actually pulling out your hair, keep the tugging to a minimum.

• 3
  Use a conditioner spray every other day to moisturize your hair. After using the conditioner spray, massage the scalp with light oil, such as olive oil or peppermint oil. However, while using a leave-in conditioner will loosen the braids, it will also cause you to have to redo the cornrows much sooner than normal. Typically, cornrows can last between four to six weeks. A leave-in conditioner can result in having to rebraid the cornrows in less than a week because they become too soft and loose.
• 4
  Tie your hair at night with a silk scarf or sleep on a pillowcase of satiny material to elevate your comfort level. If the pain becomes too much, take a pain reliever.

Tips & Warnings

• Cornrows should never be so tight that they cause pain. The minute you feel the braid hurting, let your stylist know. Insist that she redo the braid so that it is more comfortable.

Read more: How to Loosen Tight Cornrows | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5990177_loosen-tight-cornrows.html#ixzz29gYrkq7C