My Pregnancy and My Natural Hair: Box Braids Rundown

Hey Curlies!

So as I stated in my last post I set my hair for the last weeks of my pregnancy. My protective style of choice was large box braids which I installed over 4 days. I took my time to make sure I didn't exhaust myself which I am very glad I did. 

How many packs of hair did I use?

I used 10 packs of 100% Kanekalon Jumbo Braid Hair. Unfortunately I had to use two different brands which were also two different lengths (Outre & MotownTress). Hair still looks nice and full though so I won't complain..lol

How did I prep my hair?

I washed and deep conditioned my hair prior to installation. With the deep conditioner in my hair, I detangled. Once rinsed I did my newest combo for locking in moisture LOCB (Liquid. Oil. Cream. Butter.), the butter I've been using is the Jane Carter Solutions Nourish and Shine which I have to say has been working great for my hair in these winter months. (But back to hair prep) After moisturizing I used a blow dry my hair slightly (on the lowest setting) to get my roots dry. Being that my hair is a tight twa with lots of density I can section or try to section as much as I want but I simply clip the hair out of the way of the part that I am immediately working with and proceed.

The Process

Whenever I do a braided, twisted, or yarn wrapped protective style I do a "halo" which means I do the perimeter of my head first to ensure that if I need to I can pull the style up into a ponytail or bun and go out of the house without looking absolutely crazy..lol This is why I started with my edges. I also experimented with my installation process so no I won't give a detailed explanation or tutorial on how to do this style being that I'm still in trial and error mode! 

Being 8 months pregnant I HAD to take my time in doing this style. I get tired very easily and I know when I shouldn't try t be super woman! Though when I'm not pregnant I'd probably do this style on a weekend with nothing to do and complete in two days (not two full days)..lol

This time around however, I completed my hair over 4 days. Making sure to take my time, get my groove since I haven't braided in awhile, and focus on neatness. Once braiding was complete, I used cold wave rods to curl the ends and dipped the ends in hot water (the hotter the better!) for a minute or two. 

Maintenance

I've read on other blogs, websites and heard on YouTube that you should soak your extension hair in 50/50 water and acv (apple cider vinegar) to get rid of the alkaline coating that causes itching. I myself did not do that. Instead, after installing my box braids I did a 50/50 water and acv rinse on my scalp and about an inch down the braids. 

I'm keeping my upkeep very simple. I have water and glycerin in a spray bottle to moisturize with minimal build up and grape seed oil to keep my hair/scalp soft and itch-free. At night I bun the hair up and  tie a satin scarf around my edges.

Problems I Experienced

So like I said I'm still figuring things out when it comes to doing my own hair and though I KNOW I have weak fragile edges it seems I did not notice how tightly I braided. =(   As a result I've experienced some pulling and soreness (no bueno). I have been oiling my edges (grape seed and JBCO*) and limiting the manipulation of my braids to decrease the pulling. Hopefully I don't experience breakage! AHHHHHH!!!

 Supplies (That I may or may not have mentioned)

• 10 packs of hair ( I used 100% Kanekalon Jumbo Braid Hair)
• ACV
• Spray Bottle
• Glycerin
• Grape Seed Oil (or some other light oil for the scalp like jojoba)
• Cold wave rods
• Clips
• Water!!
• PATIENCE!!!

*JBCO - Jamaican Black Castor Oil

The Wrap-up

As always thank you so much for reading and I hope this info and my mistakes (lol) can help you! I plan to keep these braids in right through labor but I never make promises when it comes to protective styles. I'm usually a two week kind of girl! My thoughts are as long as I keep a clean itch-free scalp and clean moisturized hair I should be alright! 

Stay Koily and Kute ;-)

My Pregnancy and My Natural Hair: Third Trimester

Hey Curlfriends!

So this post is to update you on my hair in this my third trimester of pregnancy. I'm going to explain my experiences (that I remember) from my first pregnancy and what I am currently experiencing. I hope this helps for all my new preggos with natural type 4 hair or ladies who are TTC (trying to conceive) and want to know what may happen to their hair.


Shedding Update!

In my previous post on postpartum shedding I mentioned my methods for battling the loss of large amounts of hair. To briefly recap, I do black tea rinses which limit the shedding to a minimum. Now that I am at 31 weeks pregnant I am noticing this time my shedding is not postpartum rather before my little girl even arrives. For the first two trimesters I noticed great hair growth but very little to no shedding and now that I am at the end of my pregnancy I notice that my hair is already starting to shed =(. You can imagine my sadness..lol but I have decided to actively tea rinse once my little bit is born. (still sad though)


Protective Styling

Wigs and braids boo! Lol. I love flat twisting my hair and slappin a cute wig on my head. I'll do that in a minute, pregnant or not! But recently I've done so to save time and stress. However, my next style is large "poetic justice" braids that I'll keep in through birth that way my hair is put away, neat and presentable at all times. To reflect on my last pregnancy I should have done this but I was like a blind bat when it came to a birth plan for my hair let alone a birth plan for going into labor! My doctor had planned to induce me on October 7, 2011 but my son had other plans. I started contracting a bit mid day on the 4th (I had no clue) and was in active labor dilated about 3-4 cm on the 5th around 2am. To make an already long story short, my hair was a matted mess during labor and delivery and I didn't get a chance to do it til a few days later. I vowed that will NOT happen to ME again, honey! 

The Wrap-up/ My advice

So ladies I am getting closer and closer to seeing my baby girl, Mikaela and I hope to share a lot of these final weeks with you! I will give more updates on shedding and the condition of my hair before and after birth so stay tuned! And for those ladies who are in the beginning of their pregnancies or TTC I hope this info helps you and don't be afraid to drop a comment with any questions. My biggest word of advice is to have a birth plan for that hair!! You don't want to be a matted mess...lol! As always I thank you for reading and wish you happy healthy hair journeys! 

Stay Koily and Kute ;-)