If you’ve recently had your hair smoothened, you may be wondering if it’s safe to braid your hair. Smoothening treatments use heat and chemicals to straighten and smooth the hair, and it’s important to take proper care of your hair to maintain its health and appearance.
While braiding can be a fun and convenient hairstyle, it’s best to wait a few days after smoothening before attempting to braid your hair. This will allow your hair to settle and fully adjust to the new texture, and prevent potential damage.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some tips for braiding your hair after smoothening, and how to take care of your hair to maintain its health and beauty.
Level 1 – Advice for hair immediately after smoothing
Immediately after receiving a smoothing or straightening treatment, you get ecstatic about your new attractive appearance and yearn to experiment with different hairstyles and hair accessories.
But before all of this, there are a few basic guidelines you must follow for the greatest results:
- For at least three days, not a single drop of water should come in contact with your treated hair.
- Avoid placing newly-treated hair behind your ear or using hairpins and hair ties, since doing so will cause your hair to bend and leave a mark.
- Caution while sleeping: For around three days, you will have to compromise your sleeping postures in order to ensure that your hair remains straight during the night. Change your pillowcase for healthy hair.
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Level 2 – Hair care advice after three days of smoothing
Congratulations! If you have properly cared for your hair for the first three days following a hair smoothing treatment, you have passed the most vulnerable period.
- It is the moment to wash your hair for the first time and care for it afterward.
- Use only cold water to rinse the shampoo and conditioner from your hair. Never use hot water to wash your hair.
- Your hair professional suggests using a sulfate-free shampoo (light shampoo) on your hair. Before proceeding, familiarize yourself with some crucial hair-cleaning guidelines.
- After every third day, condition your hair with a conditioner of the same brand as your shampoo and leave it on longer than usual. To learn more about the process, you can read an article entitled “How to use hair conditioner.”
- Use hair masks from the same brand as your shampoo and conditioner to maintain the moisture layer on your hair. You can also use a DIY hair mask.
- Employ a wide-tooth comb to prevent hair breakage, and untangle your hair with your fingers very gently and patiently before using a comb.
- Use daily the suggested hair serum, which protects your treated hair from any type of injury or pollution by forming a protective layer.
Level 3 – Hair care recommendations after 15 days of smoothing
When hair is properly maintained at this level, it becomes more settled and controllable than in the preceding stages. Now that you are more accustomed to following regular hair care suggestions, you are also more likely to do so.
So, the following are the points you must remember and take care of after 15 days and thereafter as well:
- Start by focusing on your nutrition and incorporating biotin-rich meals, nuts, almonds, green vegetables, dairy products, and an abundance of fruits into your hair care routine. These foods will contribute to the richness of your healthy hair. This page contains dietary recommendations for hair growth and maintenance.
- Incorporate adequate protein to your diet, as it is essential for healthy hair. Fish, chicken, eggs, and soy products are all high-protein foods. Include foods high in amino acids as well. There are supplements that support hair growth.
- Regularly trim your hair so that there are no split ends or damaged hair that can make your hair susceptible to further damage. Also, cutting will help you achieve a healthy hair appearance.
- The use of heated styling tools, such as a flat iron, will cause additional damage to the hair shafts. Avoid any heat styling tools, but if you are a style addict, you can use a diffuser or a cold setting.
It is generally recommended that you wait at least 2-3 days after smoothening your hair before braiding it. This allows your hair to settle into its new shape and helps to prevent any kinks or bends from forming.
If you braid your hair too soon after smoothening, you run the risk of undoing the smoothing process and causing damage to your hair. This is because braiding can create tension in the hair, which can lead to breakage and frizz.
However, if you do decide to braid your hair after smoothening, it’s important to be gentle and use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair. You should also avoid pulling too tightly or using any elastics or hair ties that can cause stress on your hair.
Overall, it’s best to wait a few days before braiding your hair after smoothening, and always be gentle when styling to keep your hair healthy and smooth