When it comes to protective styling, just as it is important to maintain your hair and protective style, it is also crucial to care for your edges, especially when wearing braids.

The perimeter of your hair is pulled so tight when the braids are being installed, which creates tension on your scalp, leading to the rooting of your hair papilla.

The hair papilla is the the while bulb looking part of your hair, located at the bottom of the hair follicle.

The older the braids get, the looser the perimeter area becomes.

With that, the braids loosen up as well and if you’re one who likes to pull back or style  your braids, you may also be adding more tension on your edges, without even realizing it.

With that said, I’d like to share how I care for my edges when I wear braids.

1. Whenever, I notice that the braids are hanging very loosely from my scalp in the perimeter area or if the hair in the braid starts to roll like a dread, I take the braid out to prevent further damage and hair loss in that area.

2. Morning and evening, I apply Shea Moisture’s Strengthen, Grow and Restore Edge Treatment with the addition of Tropic Isle Living’s Black Jamaican Castor Oil.

You can also oil your scalp with the Castor oil to promote growth.

Another thing you can do is also apply a little bit of leave-in conditioner (the one of your choice) to the hair as well. I use The Mane Choice’s 3-n-1 Revitalize and Refresh Conditioner.

Leave-In Conditioners mainly help with detangling your strands. However, I think that it’s great to use this product in this case so that the part of your hair that is left out from removing the braids, feels refreshed and soft with the addition of hydration and moisture.

3. Now, this one may sound silly but it helps me a whole lot. When you’re chewing on food, your temples also move (if I can put it that way) right? I do the chewing motion every now and then and it helps me to identify which braids to loosen up or pull from being tight.

Does that make sense? If not, let me know so that I can explain further.

I’m sure you’re wondering how I wear my braids, especially since I’ve taken the braids out in the temple perimeter area of my hair.

My coworker suggested smoothing that part out with gel.

BUT NAH…I am not into the baby hair/gel movement, well at least not for now.

I just wear my braids down, which helps to hide the fact that some of my hair is out in the front, on the sides.

So there you have it! All the details about caring for your edges while rocking your BOMB protective styles, especially braids.

I’d love to hear/read your thoughts on this.

Comment below!