After learning that your braids are too tight and the dangers that presents to your hair, you may scramble to find ways to ease the tension. Even if you want your braids looser, you don’t have to completely let them out just yet. Before you switch hairstyles completely, try out these methods to immediately loosen your braids and relieve your itchy scalp.
Water is one of the best natural remedies for a reason. By surrounding your braids with steam, they will become more elastic, resulting in less tension. That being said, there are many ways you can heat your hair.
Put your hair under a steamer if you have one or ask your stylist if you can use theirs. A quick 10-minute steam will loosen your braids and relieve your pain. If you’re unable to use a steamer, a hot shower will work too. Let your hair soak and feel the irritation fade away. To maximize your relief, make sure to use a high-quality conditioner. Your hair will soften up and loosen quicker. A hot towel works too if you want to don’t want to hop in the shower. Just soak a towel in hot water and wrap it around your hair for at least 10 minutes.
Regular scalp massages should be a must-do part of your braid maintenance routine. They promote blood circulation and shift hair away from the scalp, providing pain relief. First, apply a braid oil or natural oil of your choice to your scalp. Next, gently rub your scalp with your fingertips, focusing on the most irritated areas. Spend a minute or two each day loving your scalp and it will love you back.
Photo by Kebs Visuals from PexelsA solution you can try right now is letting your braids down. Wearing your hair up adds extra tension to your already tight braids. After you get your hair braided, let your hair lay down naturally for at least a week before you style it into a bun or ponytail.
Really, any small, cyclical item would work here. Just make sure it isn’t sharp or pointy. Using your tool, stick it under your braids right where they meet the scalp and gently pull up. If done correctly, you should loosen your braids and reduce tension. Be careful, however. Pull too hard and you may undo your braids and your braider’s hard work.
The last, and maybe most important, solution is to have a conversation with your stylist. The tightness starts with them, so make it easy by treating the problem at the source. Ask your braider to be gentle. If you experience any pain during your styling, ask them to ease up. If your braider repeatedly over-tightens your hair, it’s time to look for a new one. Look for a quality braider and ask before you meet them if they tighten your hair to your liking. Once you find a stylist you like, stick with them for as long as you can.
Now you have five new ways to loosen your braids before you pull your hair out. Try them next time you feel any pain or tension after getting your hair braided or twist.
i just got my braids put in 2 hours ago, i like the style but it doesnt flow because its in that fresh stiff phase. you know when it doesnt have a trained part just yet and you cant put it in a ponytail? when i say stiff, i dont mean tight & painful, i just mean they dont fall and hang naturally because the braids are too firm. hopefully that makes sense.
is there anything i can do to loosen them up?
Some women go through a love-hate relationship with their box braids, due to their stiffness and tightness. Even though box braids are an excellent protective style, if you are faced with tight box braids, you can find yourself in pain, even right after you have made a hairstyle.
We all should be aware of this – beauty shouldn’t hurt. If your head is killing you, then there are things you need to do. Many braiders recommend using aspirin or waiting a couple of days, so the pain goes away. Braiders usually braid your hairstyle tightly, so it lasts longer. Which is what everybody wants, after all, especially after paying good money for it.
How To Relieve Tight Box Braids
For some, it works. For others, there are different ways to relieve tight braids. Remember, braids that are too tight can absolutely ruin your hairline, damage your scalp, cause alopecia, and finally, hair loss.
Talk Openly with Your Stylist
The best thing you can do is to have an open relationship with your hairstylist. While you are still in the salon chair, make sure to see how your hair feels like. If it hurts while she braids, tell loud and clear.
RELATED: Box Braids Smell Badly: 7 Ways to Fight Smelly Braids
It is always better to say early than deal with the pain later – act proactively instead of reactively. If your braided braids too tight, simply let him or her know that immediately.
Shower Helps To Ease The Stiffness
One of the quickest ways to relieve the pain is to take a shower. Not only is it good for your body, but also your hair as well. You can choose – taking shower with cold water will bring relief instantly, while warm water will open cuticles, making your hair looser and more elastic.
While in the shower, rub box braids a bit with warm water, and then wrap them in a dry towel.
Another alternative is using a spray bottle to moisten your hair and then wrap it in a wet towel that you have previously soaked in warm water.
Don’t Wear Tight Box Braids Up
Even if you don’t have a box or any other types of braids, you can feel that sometimes when you wear your hairstyle up, your head starts to hurt. Ponytails, top knots, or buns can cause your stiff braids to hurt even more.
If you are feeling the tension in your box braids, then wear them down. This is especially important in the first couple of days when you make your braids. Experiment with half up-half down styles and gather your braids low.
Use a Pencil
A pencil is a great simple tool for relieving your tight box braids. You can use other cylindrical objects as well, such as skewer. Stick the pencil into the center of the braids one at a time and try to loosen them as much as you can, to minimize the pain.
Use a Leave-In-Conditioner
If you feel like your scalp is drier than before braiding, make sure to apply a leave-in-conditioner. It will soothe the area around the scalp, loosen the braids, and moisturize your hair.
When applying your conditioner, be aware it can leave you with some extra residue. Only apply a small drop, using your fingertips to spread it evenly. You can also try a spray leave-in-conditioner that is even more practical to spritz between the braids.
Take a Painkiller
In most cases, tight box braids loosen up in 1 to 2 days. Meanwhile, you can take a painkiller if you can’t tolerate a headache or stiffness. However, you shouldn’t tolerate the pain for more than a day. If it doesn’t stop, try some other method or, in the worst case – take the braids down.
Oil Scalp Massage
Scalp massage improves blood circulation, soothe tension, and helps you with migraine. Use essential oils for a massage. Rub them gently into the area where you feel the most tension or stiffness. Apply with your fingertips and massage for a few minutes. Lavender and tea tree oil have properties that will help in soothing inflammation.
Tight box braids are definitely not normal. These ways should help in relieving pain, soothing your scalp, and loosen your braids.
However, if you are experiencing pain even after a few days and nothing works, consider removing your braids altogether. You will prevent hair loss, alopecia, and breakage. Removing braids is not something that you want after spending hours getting them, but we recommend that if the pain doesn’t go away. Give your hair some love after removing the braids. Soak it in oil treatment that has anti-inflammatory properties and condition it well.
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