Braid Etiquette: What it is?

Braid etiquette is when you (the braider) asks what braided style you want, does it precisely as requested and the client loves it. The main goal is to make the client happy, so asking questions is great. How long do you want the braids, is the tension too much or okay for your scalp, is this size good for you? All these questions & more should be asked before, during, and after you have completed their hair. A lot of people will bring a picture or magazine of different braided styles so you can see what they want. I've had clients actually make up something as I go along braiding their hair. As a "perfectionist", I always give my first opinion of something. If I think it looks funny or bad, I will tell them and if they say, just keep going or that they think it looks good, I do; but I'm not happy with my work even if they are. Over the years, I have learned a lot about braiding hair: first braids last a long time as long as you take care of them, and are done neatly; secondly, moisture is great for braids! and lastly, braids promote growth.

Here are a few more questions to help you acheive client satisfaction to the fullest!

• What is the desired style/look that you want?
• What type of hair did you want to use?
• Do you have a picture of this style or a similar style?
• How long do you want the braids to be?
• Am I braiding too tight?

And here are some questions your client may ask:

• Can you acheive this style just like in this picture?
• What type of hair do you recommend we use?
• What should I use to moisturize my hair daily?
• Can I wash these braids?
• What do you recommend to wash & condition this style?
• How long will this style last?
• What should I use to protect this style while sleeping?

I hope this helps someone!!! Leave comments, questions, etc. Thanks for checking me out!

My Realization of Why Chemical Processes Go Wrong...

Good day people.. Yesterday my mom & I went to Barnes & Nobles which gave me some time to scan thru some of the black hair magazines (there were roughly 3 or 4 there).. As I'm looking at all these books I see beautiful hair and I was just thinking to myself, all black women could be walking around here with gorgeous hair if they knew what to do to it and learn how to care for it. Then as we were leaving, I was still thinking about hair care and what people do wrong.. I know that I'm one of them but I came to these conclusions:

1. Relaxers: Yes, you can relax your hair without causing damage; it's all in how you apply it. If it is a virgin relaxer (meaning you have hair that has never had any relaxer on it previously), only then do you comb the relaxer all the way to the end of the hair shaft. Too many times have I seen or heard women overlapping the relaxer on previously relaxed hair, which causes breakage most times or over processed hair.
2. The Frequency of relaxing: I know it is said that you are susposed to relax your hair every 6 - 8 weeks. Now I've thought about the actual growth of most peoples' hair is about a quarter of an inch to half an inch a month, relaxing hair at any of those lengths (in my opinion) is too soon! Now possibly within a entire month you get about 2 inches of new growth, then I could see relaxing your hair. But at half an inch, even 1 inch; I would tell my client that they don't need a relaxer, just a good deep conditioning and I would flat iron the hair. Call me crazy but I think the less you relax the healthier your hair appears. (When I was relaxing my hair before, I would go about 4 - 6 months w/o relaxing my new growth and I had a lot with close to NO breakage.)
3. Strength of relaxer used: I have never, ever, ever had a super strength relaxer touch my hair, a family member's hair, or a clients hair unless that is what they wanted to use. I would never suggest a super for anyone!! Now some people would disagree but a super is too strong in my opinion. But then again I guess people like hair that lays flat down, with no body!
4. A good hair care regime: After getting a relaxer, you can't just go into braids or not caring for your hair properly. You hair is super fragile now. I personally would wear my hair in ponytails (when I was relaxed) but after abusing my hair with rubber bands, I noticed major breakage in the back of my head, so I stopped wearing them as much and would wear my hair out. I loved the look of a fresh wrap or a roller set. So my top 3 hair styles would be a roller set (which can transition into a wrap), a wrap, and a rod set (it gives off a curly look and lasts for weeks!).

I hope this helps someone who has relaxed hair see where the damage is coming from and try some of my suggestions!! If you have questions please leave a comment!! I will try to answer all questions as soon as I get them!

I've Been Busy!!!!!

Okay, the past couple of weeks have been a little bit crazy since I started my blog. I’ve been at the shop, had a family reunion, and trying to spend time with my family and other loved ones. Now, on to the hair!!! I recently did a full sew in at the shop on the shop owner.. At first I thought, this maybe will come out pretty good.. Then as I’m finishing it, I’m like this is pretty good!! And as soon as I spin her around to get a first & complete look at it, she jumps up with so much joy & screams OMG Ebony this looks wonderful!!!!!!!! I was like really??!! And she was just so amazed and in love with it that we took pictures of it immediately and played in the mirror!!! She was my LUCKY NUMBER 6 sew in, and LUCKY NUMBER 3 for a full sew in!

Braiding Hair

Braiding hair is a international thing, people of all races braid hair or get their hair braided.

As a braider, I think braiding hair is wonderful. It's so hard for a good braider to be deemed the greatest. I don't think I'm the greatest, but I don't think I'm the worst. I'm more of the less is more type of braider; I like simple yet classic styles when it comes to my braids. Some people may say I suck just because I do simple braids compared to the millions of designs & styles I could possibly do instead. I think that if the braids are neat, styled to fit the person's facial features, and exactly what the person wants; in their eyes, I'm probably a great braider.

During my time braiding hair, I've ran into 3 types of customers who want braids: Customer 1: just wants something simple, neat, and worry-free. Customer 2: wants something a little more detailed, neat, and still worry-free. And Customer 3: wants something EXTRAVAGANT and neat. With Customer 1 it is very easy to please them. I would give them a idea of what I think is simple & neat and run with it. Customers 2 & 3 are a little bit harder since more than likely they both have their own idea of what they want & want my opinion of their idea. Some people already know how it should turn out and then others, have no clue what it will look like even at the half way point. Customers 2 & 3 may just want something out of the ordinary, but have no idea of what they want it to be. I would give them both a braid book and let them choose what they may want.

This is for any type of braids: micros, box braids, cornrows, kinky twists, etc. People just want their hair to look good.

What type of customer are you? Leave your comments!

1st Blog!!!

Hello all!!!

This is my first official blog! I'm so excited right now. Anyway, thanks for checking me out. Please stay glued to me, I will be sharing (hopefully daily) my thoughts about hair, advice on hair, and just HAIR!

Hair is my passion, I've been doing hair since I was about 13 years old, and it comes to me like second nature. I'll share my experiences with my own hair, doing other peoples' hair, and the importance of GOOD hair care!

Thanks again & God Bless!