5 Mistakes That Cost Me a Perfect Braidout

For years, I wore my natural hair in nothing but mini-twists. Once installed, mini-twists literally reduced my morning styling time down to nothing. For this busy mom, I was all for that. But then my hair grew longer, and the time it took to install them was no longer worth their two-week lifespan. Not to mention, my hair showed signs of needing weekly washes and deep conditioning sessions; needs I couldn't meet with my twists installed for two, sometimes three, weeks at a time.

I had to find another method that kept my styling time to a minimum, and allowed me to wash my hair on a weekly basis. Buns worked for a season, but gradually began to break my strands where my hair met the ponytail holder. My edges also took a beating to the constant tension. But I was not good at styling my hair any other way. All other styling methods had been major fails, especially twistouts, which I wanted so desperately to perfect.

One day, I decided to try setting my hair for a braidout. This was not the first time I attempted a braidout so my expectations were low. However, this time around, the style turned out perfect in my eyes. My tresses were full of definition, sheen, and great volume. Not only did my hair look great, but the braidout has become a low-manipulation style for me. The braids takes less than ten minutes to install in the evening, less than ten minutes to take down in the morning. And less than five minutes to pin into my signature updo. Even better? Because braidouts keep my hair stretched, my detangling time has dramatically decreased on wash day.

After a few months of wearing braidouts, I figured out why I was achieving the great results I didn't achieve in the past. Here are five mistakes that cost me a perfect braidout.

1. I wasn’t using the right products. I used to slap on any old leave-in conditioner and then braid my hair to set it. The problem was not all conditioners were created equal. If I wanted to set my hair properly, I would need a thicker conditioner or styling cream. The conditioning products I used at the time were simply too light (yes, I retired the Moisture Retention Leave-in). Once I switched to Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie, I achieved greater, more defined results. Cantu's Shea Butter conditioning cream has also worked beautifully. Pair these creams with unrefined shea butter and my twistouts were not only well-defined, but shiny and well moisturized.

2. I wasn’t using enough product. My hair needed to be drenched in product to get the curl definition I was looking for. A dime size amount of styling cream just wasn’t enough. My hair drinks up product so I needed to account for that. A rule of thumb I used, and still do, is that my natural curl pattern had to be well hydrated and defined before I set my hair for a braidout. If I set my hair while it was frizzy, I'd get a frizzy braidout in the morning.

3. My braids weren’t the right size. Either my braids were too big or too small. Finding that sweet spot took practice. Since my hair is fine, small braids were a definite no-no. When I set my braids too small, the braidout turned out wiry and antenna-like. When I set my braids too big, I lost curl definition. Six to seven braids is now the perfect balance for me.

4. I didn’t curl my ends. Failure to curl my ends when setting my braids resulted in a braidout with pointy ends and little to no movement. Curling the ends of the braid around my finger, or using a tiny hair roller, made all the difference. My braidouts looked less awkward and more voluminous.

5. I didn’t let my braids dry. It takes my braids about fifteen hours to air-dry completely when they are set on wet hair. This means, if I want to ensure the style is completely set by morning, I must plan accordingly. In the past, I’ve set my hair around ten in the evening and expected it to be dry by seven or eight o’clock the next morning. It never was! As a result, I was left with a damp and frizzy mess. Uninstalling my braids when they are completely dry gives my hair more length, less frizz, and more definition.

In essence, learning the needs of my particular hair type has made styling and maintenance that much easier. If you’re having trouble achieving a proper braidout, and are looking for advice, keep in mind that my hair is fine with an average density. Therefore, some of these tips may or may not work for you. Unfortunately, achieving a great braidout may take practice. But the fortunate side is, once you've passed the trial and error period, you'll have a regimen that yields the results you're looking for.

What are your secrets for great braidouts? Let us know down below!

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