I’ve talked a lot about frizz and preventing mini braids from looking old before their time. Here’s one more tip to keep your hair looking like new. After washing, skip the towel.

Wring you hair out really well to get all the excess water out. Tilt your hair to the left and gather the braids and wring them out. Tilt your hair right and wring, flip your head over, repeat then make a low ponytail and wring it out one last time. This should make sure all the water has dripped out from the roots.

Now, instead of using a towel, get a soft cotton or cotton blend t-shirt that you are no longer wearing.- I use an old Mossimo tagless shirt from Target it’s 55% cotton and 45% modal. It has some moth holes in it so rather than throwing it out, I washed it and use it just for my hair.- Drape the shirt over your head and wrap the length of it around your braids. Squeeze down the length of your mini braids so the shirt soaks up the rest of the water in your hair. Without rubbing or disturbing the braids, press the shirt on the crown of head to soak up that excess water too.

At this point, your hair will be slightly damp. The moisture left in your braids is good for your hair. Having the hair a little damp will help products distribute evenly. Smooth your leave in conditioner onto the length of your braids. Seal in the moisture with your butter or oil of choice. I usually put my hair up in a bun and while it dries completely. If I want smooth edges, I tie a silk scarf around my head, like a headband and remove it when my hair is dry.