Braids: Life saver or inhibitor?

I apologize for not posting my braid regimen yet. Something is wrong with my yahoo account. I can't seem to access it through my computer at home. So I'll probably post that tomorrow morning while I'm at school.

I was just thinking about why I love my braids so much and I've kind of been questioning if I've just been putting them in to avoid doing the Big Chop (BC). I always tend to put them in when I feel like I'm playing in my hair too much or if I feel a little more breakage than what I'm used to. I think if I didn't know how to braid my own hair I probably would have BC'ed by now.

Do you remember when I talked about my hair growing in the inverted V? Well, I figured out part of the problem was because of the constant breakage back there. I'm extremely concerned now. Especially after braiding my hair last time. (One pro to braiding my own hair is that I can feel whats dry, brittle, and/or has broken off and I always have this one problem area.) Lately its just constantly been on my mind whenever I do something to my hair.

"What am I going to do when I take these braids out?"

I mean, I already know the first thing I have to do is a protein treatment with a major concentration on the line of demarcation and my permed ends. That's if I really want to make it through the holidays with my permed hair. Besides, I'm not ready to cut and I want to wait until my birthday. This will be my birthday gift to myself. It wouldn't be good as a Christmas gift because I wouldn't get to play with my hair until the spring and it gets brutally cold here between late January and the early part of April. Four months that I should keep my hair in braids or whatever protective styles I can get my hands on and a Wash n Go is definitely not one of them.

Anyways back to the plan of action once I take the braids down I'll do a protein treatment and a deep moisturizing treatment. The first style out of braids will probably be a flat twist out. I am not and I repeat I WILL NOT flat iron my hair for the holidays. Only roller sets, flat twist outs, and braids will be allowed and the only heat I will use is from my hard bonnet dryer and on the low setting. Even if that means I have to sit under that thing for five hours until it dries. So be it. NO MORE DAMAGE.

I think the problem area of my hair became damaged from the gelling and flat ironing I was doing shortly before I braided my hair. Then on top of that I wet bunned my hair without properly detangling that back section. SO. YEAH. Word to the wise, DONT DO THAT! Its a recipe for disaster. I just hope its not too late for me to save it.

I've been moisturizing my hair everyday since then and I've also been co-washing my braids with the VO5 moisturizing milks with protein in it. I hope it helps. AND if all else fails, yes I'm going to say it. These are coming out:



Ok, so they don't really look that intimidating. But please don't be surprised if I come back after Christmas, New Years, or Valentines Day with a new hair cut. Yeah i said it. It probably won't be the BC, but I guarantee you that the back of my hair will be all natural, but then again who am I kidding I get scissor happy.

I was so proud of myself the last time I dusted my ends. It was just a regularly dusting of the old ends, but this time, which will be as soon as the braids come out, I don't know if the scissors will be so forgiving. Its like they have a mind of their own. Wish me luck and look out for my braid regimen tomorrow.

Peace and No Hair Grease