Of course, I absolutely love mini braids. While they are incredibly versatile there are a few things that you probably shouldn’t do while your hair is styled this way. These are all questions I’ve been asked…

1. Color  

It’s not a good idea to color your hair while in braids of any type. The color won’t be able to penetrate all the nooks and crannies of the braids and you might end up looking like a leopard. It’s also harder to rinse hair completely clean while in braids so you may cause some damage by not getting all the colorant rinsed from your hair.

2. Henna

This is a bad idea for the same reasons as number 1. There’s also an added factor of the texture of henna. Because there are small particles it’s even harder to rinse it completely clean for hair. A henna or ayervedic powder treatment is best left for when your hair is loose.

3. Bentonite Clay

This one, like henna, will be very difficult to rinse free of hair. While there is no color involved it’s just not a good idea to use anything that might cause build up of particles in your braids. Stick to shampoos or diluted apple cider vinegar rinses for clarifying while in braids.

4. Hard Protein

A strong protein treatment that hardens, like ApHoghee 2-Step, is not a treatment you should do while in braids. Anything that’s tacky, sticky, or hardens in texture is best left for a week or so after braids are taken out.

That’s all for now. I’m sure there are other things I’ll remember. When I do, I’ll edit the list. Just think, if you have to question whether or not a treatment is a good idea, it’s probably best to not do it and just wait until your hair is loose.