Braids are the perfect hairstyle for switching up your regular ponytail. While you might skip a few blowouts in between washes, braids require the same level of maintenance as an un-braided 'do.
Simply put, braids are interlaced strands holding your hair together with minimal effort. Aside from keeping your hair frizz-free, braids can also provide a simple solution to your typical mane conundrums.
Shop TODAY talked to natural hair experts on their go-to tips and tricks to care for your plaits.
Shop TODAY Favorite Products for Braids
- Best to combat itchiness: Design Essentials Peppermint and Alo Soothing Scalp Tonic, $11.89
- Best for hold: Nairobi Wrapp-It Shine Foaming Lotion, $12.45
- Editor-approved hair oil: Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil, $46
Longevity | Maintenance tips | Expert-recommended products for braids | Editor-approved product for braids | How we chose | Meet the experts
How long should you keep your braids on?
According to hair care specialist Tatiana Dudley, braids with added extensions have a lifespan of four to six weeks, while those without tend to last approximately one to four weeks. "Anything beyond six weeks runs the risk of breakage," she says.
I kept my braids for exactly a week as my scalp was feeling itchy, dry and irritated after day four. While my braids were still intact, I knew I had to prioritize shampoo day and give my hair a rest.
How do you make braids last longer?
There are many ways to extend the lifespan of your braids, but the most important thing is to make sure your braids aren't too tight.
"You should not feel pulling or tugging once the braids are in," says Yasmine Young, the owner of Diaspora Salon.
Many people have the misconception that the tighter the braid, the safer it would be, but this could damage strands and your overall scalp health in the long run.
Here are some other expert-approved tips to keep your braids looking brand new and hydrated without the extra tangling.
- Wrap your braids up every night. Dudley suggests wearing a silk scarf or bonnet to keep frizz at bay. She also suggests using a silk pillowcase if wrapping your head at night is uncomfortable.
- Use a light oil. "This can be applied a few times per week for the duration of the style. Heavy oils can clog the hair follicles and cause problems," says Dudley.
- Use a hydrating spray. Young recommended using a leave-in conditioner to lock in moisture and keep your hair feeling supple.
- Avoid tight braids around the hairline. "This can cause excessive breakage and pull of the hair from the hair follicle," adds Dudley. "This is noted by tiny white bulbs at the base of the hair strand and/or bumps on the scalp."
Best hair products for your braids, according to experts
Design Essentials Peppermint and Aloe Soothing Scalp Tonic
- Stops the itching
- Relief is temprary
Key ingredient: Peppermint and aloe | Size: 4 oz. | Usage: Relieves itchiness
Extend the life of your braids with this refreshing scalp tonic infused with peppermint and aloe. Whether you have hair extensions, weaves or braids, this product is great for calming any itchiness and removing buildup from your scalp. This is also a great shampoo alternative and hair hack when you need a quick refresh without soaking your braids.
Dudley says this scalp tonic "is my go-to for anti-itch relief." She continues, "It can be applied to the scalp without having to rinse it or shampoo it during the life span of your braids."
Nairobi Wrapp-It Shine Foaming Lotion
- Adds shine to hair
- Keeps hair tight
- Bottle may leak
Key ingredient: Panthenol | Size: 8 oz. | Usage: Adds body to hair and braids
If you want to add real structure to your braids, this foaming lotion is loaded with strengthening ingredients like panthenol to add hold and shine. Young says this product is great "to tame the flyaways and make braids smooth again — if needed."
Dudley also says, "Molding foams and/or mousses are great for taming flyaways and maintaining a neat appearance with braids."
Yanibest Silk Hair Bonnet
- Holds thick hair
- Easy to adjust
- Can run large
Material: Satin | Available colors: 14
Turbans are a great curly-hair hack, but they’re also a great tool to protect braids, according to Dudley. This satin-lined bonnet is ideal for reducing frizz and retaining moisture. The luxurious headwrap will help you relax during your sleep without overthinking if your strands are untangling. Also, this will help keep your braids and blowout looking fresh in the morning.
Pattern Scalp Serum
- Smell is very relaxing
- Provides lasting moisture
- Eventually flakes like a gel
Key ingredients: Peppermint, rosemary and lavender | Size: 4 oz. | Usage: Section wet hair and apply to scalp.
Young suggests using this product every 10 days or so to keep the scalp clean. With an invigorating scent and texture, customers love how the coolness of the peppermint extract feels. For those days when you need to fight the flakes, just rub the treatment on your scalp and let it sit.
Not only is this a great product for oily hair, but also does a commendable job removing buildup and refining greasy strands.
DevaCurl Hydrating Finishing Spray
- Great to refresh hair
- Product can leak
Key ingredient: Olive | Size: 8 oz. | Usage: Spray onto hair and leave in
Dudley recommends using a hydrating product in spray form for prep and take down. "Adding a leave-in to the hair prior to drying, in preparation for braids, helps to reduce frizz on all hair types. It’s just light enough not to interfere with the braiding process," she adds.
Young advises to use this product every 10 days or so to keep your hair hydrated even while wearing braids.
DevaCurl Wash Day Wonder
- Great detangler
- Has a watery consistency
Key ingredient: Hydrogenated castor oil | Size: 12 oz. | Usage: Smooth onto hair and rinse out
Prepare and protect your hair with this curly hair detangler. The Wash Day Wonder is formulated with the brand's Tangle-Release Complex that melts away stiff coils and helps soften up the curls.
"It is an amazing slippery detangling serum you can use before shampooing for any additional stubborn knots or tangles," adds Young.
Editor-approved products for braids
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil
- Smells like honey
- Consistency is smooth
- Leaves her shiny
- Dispenser fills slowly
Key ingredient: Honey | Size: 1.7 oz. | Usage: 1-2 drops on dry hair
I love, adore and live for this hair oil. As someone with thick and dry hair, I usually apply this formula every other day to keep strands shiny and moisturized. However, if you have fine hair, it's recommended that you use only one to two drops.
The formula can be used on wet, damp or dry hair and is a great way to extend the life of your braids. But what makes Gisou's hair oil a bestseller is the honey-infused ingredient, which feels like a nice treat to your mane and scalp.
Harklinikken Hair Hydrating Crème
- Ideal for dry hair
- Helps detangle hair
- Thick consistency
Key ingredient: Organic argan, abyssinian and sunflower seed oils | Size: 9.81 oz. | Usage: Use on damp hair
This product is designed to hydrate, protect and reduce breakage while improving your hair's texture, fullness, luster and elasticity. The creamy texture doesn't feel heavy in your hair and immediately delivers a soft consistency to your strands, according to the brand.
I use this product when I want an extra dose of hydration and moisture. However, this product works better with wet hair and unbraided. It's also formulated with organic ingredients such as sunflower seed oil and argan oil to promote a healthy hair growth journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to maintain the shine of your tresses and hydrate your scalp, a bit of hair oil can give your scalp that extra moisture.
However, it's not necessary to oil your hair in order to maintain scalp health and your desired braid style. "There is a big misconception that so much oil is needed for the scalp daily. Too much oil is counterproductive and will clog the hair follicles causing damage," shares Dudley.
It all depends on the type of braids or dreadlocks you have. Young recommends shampooing the scalp instead of your braids as a better option to avoid undoing your hairstyle.
"Fully wetting your braids or immersing them in water will cause drying to be a disaster!," she adds. "Another option instead of shampooing is using a gel [shampoo], scalp serum or dry shampoo on your scalp only."
If you do decide to wet the braids, Dudley advises drying them "all the way after shampooing to help prevent mildew and the smell that comes with it." Dudley suggests blow drying your hair and trying the RevAir Reverse-Air Dryer to "cut the drying time in half. Air drying the braids can take a few days."
After your braids are worn out, the best way to untangle them is by using the tail end of a tail comb to release every other fold of the braid. "This allows [an] effective release of the braid without tangling up the hair during the takedown," says Dudley. She also suggests spraying your hair with a leave-in conditioner and thoroughly brushing with a seven-row, nine-row or paddle brush once your braids are completely released.
How we chose the best products to maintain braids
We chose products based on expert recommendations and included formulas that help in extending the lifespan of braids. We also included the editor's favorite, along with tried-and-true formulas that help reduce frizz and add moisture.
Meet the experts
- Tatiana Dudley is a hair care specialist and colorist based in Harker Heights, Texas.
- Yasmine Young is the owner and founder of the Baltimore-based Diaspora Salon, which specializes in curly and coily hair types.
