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View Full Version : How to avoid braid band damage?



katsrevenge
September 20th, 2011, 07:18 PM
I love braids. I use French braiding as a go to most days just because it looks so nice, is rare around here and helps keep all the hair up and away.

But.. I've started to notice an issue. At the point where I tend to place the band I've noticed more then just a little kinking. I'm talking full out shredded hair shafts and breakage. I'm not rough when I put the bands on, I don't twist them really tight or anything. I'm pretty nice to that section of hair as it is... but argh!

I took a strip of silk from and old shirt and wrapped it around the bottom of my braid and tied it on.. It works but it slips off. I was reading about 'fold over elastics' (they look like bra band stuff knotted up).. anyone use those?

Anyone use anything else to hold a braid? Ideas to fix the damage causing metal-free band? I'm gonna crochet over one and see how that goes. But still I'd like other options.

I HATE scrunchies with a passion.. there has got to be other options.. :luke:

silverjen
September 20th, 2011, 07:38 PM
I know some people clip their braid ends off using little flex-8s. And I've seen a post where someone wrapped their braid end in fabric, like you describe, but then put the elastic on over that.

spidermom
September 20th, 2011, 07:45 PM
I buy those little circles that they sell for children. They're about the size you could put a dime in the center, and they come in all kinds of colors. I don't know what they're called, but they remind me of fluffy bathrobe material. They stretch out really quickly, but they're also really cheap.

OR you could take a piece of wet ribbon about 1.5 to 2 inches in length, wrap it around your ends, and then put a small poly-band or rubber band over the ribbon. The ribbon protects your hair from kinking.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/tools.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/agedbraid.jpg

macherie
September 20th, 2011, 08:42 PM
That's helpful. Thanks

PS _ I opened this thinking it was "how to avoid brain damage" ..............how interesting, duh!

katsrevenge
September 20th, 2011, 08:52 PM
I need a way to avoid brain damage!

These are interesting and useful for day wear. (And this means I get to go shopping for hair stuffs!)

But, I don't see me with barrettes in at night. And do those ribbon with rubber bands slide off easy?

Delila
September 20th, 2011, 09:23 PM
... And do those ribbon with rubber bands slide off easy?

When I used that style, they stayed in quite nicely.

Lately I've just been using a bit of ribbon, because it's quick and easy, and seems very gentle. It's not terribly secure, though. I'm forever finding the knotted bits of ribbon on the floor, in the bed, etc. I picked a colorful rainbow pattern ribbon, so it's easy to spot.

LadyKate
September 20th, 2011, 10:01 PM
I use the little clear elastics that I buy at the dollar store (500 for $.99!). They're only good for about one use, but at that price, who cares? I haven't noticed any damage from them, and because they're clear they look very subtle in the hair, almost like there's nothing there.

FrozenBritannia
September 20th, 2011, 10:20 PM
I have elasticised ribbons.. They just look like ribbon, but they are stretchy and have been folded together at one end and knotted. They seem to stay put rather well. I bought mine at the drug store, but I havn't seen any since..

AnqeIicDemise
September 20th, 2011, 10:24 PM
I use clear super stretch professional braiding rubber bands. That's the official name. :D

They're made of some sort of gel material. The bands snap before tearing my hair and its so slick it slides out of my hair easily. I bought a bag of 500 for 2.99 at Sally's beauty supply. Scungii makes them too but they sell 50 for the same amount in clear. The colored bands are sold in the 500 pack for 2.89 from scungii.

I like my colored bands for when I'm making braiding at night and the clear ones for when I go to work.

growingpains
September 21st, 2011, 01:37 AM
cut a nylon, works like a dream and functions like a larger size elastic.

C.H.
September 21st, 2011, 01:45 AM
I second little flexis. I end braids with an xs, but a mini would probably hold even more securely--I'm thinking about getting one or two. I am looking for other options, though. I need something quick as I like to undo and touch up my braid as needed throughout the day.

Shesta
September 21st, 2011, 01:49 AM
For the same purpose I'm using cut out pieces of silk stockings :D it works perfect!

Baby
September 21st, 2011, 01:55 AM
I bought Blax elastics, I dont know if you are have it overseas(I should think so though). They are quite expensive for elastics but if you do not lose them, they are see trugh, they will hold for months.

http://www.blaxsheep.com/

They are known for being gentle on the hair, when I use them in ponytails I can see there is some damage but when I braid I don´t think there is a lot of damage, less than usual. The see trugh one are better, the black one snaps faster. I have used one elastic for about two months and it still holds.

It sounds lika a commercial but I think they are good. Just not for ponytails.

Baby
September 21st, 2011, 02:00 AM
Oh.. I´m sorry, I looked at the homepage, they are only sold in Europe.

katsrevenge
September 21st, 2011, 02:05 AM
I really need to find flexis then.. It is just something I wish I could see hands on before buying, ya know?

And argh, Europe only. Ah well! Maybe the ones at SBS will be kind of the same?

AshleyTheRed
September 21st, 2011, 02:15 AM
This sounds kind of weird, but cut up pantyhose. You can tie it at the bottom. I use black or white. My hair also works very well with scrunchies.

C.H.
September 21st, 2011, 02:16 AM
For the same purpose I'm using cut out pieces of silk stockings :D it works perfect!

Like actual 100% silk? Those are expensive!

Mannaz
September 21st, 2011, 03:18 AM
cut a nylon, works like a dream and functions like a larger size elastic.

I second this, I've done it for years and years! It's very good also because you NEVER run out of elastics because you never run out of nylons that are broken somewhere and you can't use :D At least I don't.

Shesta
September 21st, 2011, 03:55 AM
Like actual 100% silk? Those are expensive!

Something more like 70% silk and 30% lycra. Indeed they are kind of expensive, the ones I'm using are about 30 € but of course I'm not buying them especially for my hair :D Once a hole appears somewhere, instead of discarding the pair, I just cut it in 10 cm pieces and tie my braids with these. :) It is tender to the cuticle and posses enough elasticity to hold well.

WaitingSoLong
September 21st, 2011, 05:22 AM
I have tried the pantyhosew thing but was not real impressed. They slide out easily and you have to wrap them a hundred times to get them tight enough, plus my hair strands weave their way into the fabric somewhat.

I really like the ribbon under the elastic idea. I will have to try this. Thanks for the post OP!

spidermom
September 21st, 2011, 06:05 AM
Those poly-bands would slide right off the end of my hair without the ribbon. But the wet ribbon adds something to grip and I think helps keep my ends moisturized.

Oksana
September 21st, 2011, 06:15 AM
I use childrens donut bands. They are really soft and come in lots of different sizes. They don't last very long but they are very cheap so easily replaced.

Chetanlaiho
September 21st, 2011, 06:43 AM
Have you tried braiding the ribbon in and at the end, wrapping it around the braid a few times and making a knot over the wrapped part? I tried it once, it's quite pretty and holds pretty well ;)

MasCat
September 21st, 2011, 08:19 AM
I braid things (a scarf, a ribbon) into my braid and wrap it around the ending and tie with an elastic.

annieangel149
September 21st, 2011, 09:47 AM
i was a little concerned about band damage too so i cut around of the top of old socks! :D

kimberlyjoy
September 21st, 2011, 10:29 AM
Oh.. I´m sorry, I looked at the homepage, they are only sold in Europe.

Actually, they are available through Amazon.com. I saw them yesterday while I was browsing. :)

mariazelie
September 21st, 2011, 03:27 PM
When I was little, I remember my Grandma braiding her hair. She took hair out of her brush and quickly wrapped the end of her braids. I could never figure out how it worked! She did it so fast. But then she wrapped the braids around the back of her head and pinned them, so maybe it was just a temporary hold until the braids got wrapped. I can still picture her doing it SO quickly...and how fast she peeled her potatoes! It's a nice memory. She curled the loose strands on the front sides with one of those irons you heated on the stove.....and I remember the smell!

unknown
September 21st, 2011, 03:32 PM
Have you tried blax snag free hair elastics?
They don't damage your hair and holds the hair very well.

unknown
September 21st, 2011, 03:34 PM
Oh, I just read the thread and saw someone else posting that they only sell in europe. Sorry!

Mrspuddinhead
September 21st, 2011, 04:30 PM
I buy those little circles that they sell for children. They're about the size you could put a dime in the center, and they come in all kinds of colors. I don't know what they're called, but they remind me of fluffy bathrobe material. They stretch out really quickly, but they're also really cheap.

OR you could take a piece of wet ribbon about 1.5 to 2 inches in length, wrap it around your ends, and then put a small poly-band or rubber band over the ribbon. The ribbon protects your hair from kinking.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/tools.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/agedbraid.jpg

WOW!! I'm really going to start doing this. My ends are a work in progress but with the help of extra conditioner, and mayonnaise
bi-weekly treatments they look much better. Plus the pop of color is nice.

sun-kissed
September 21st, 2011, 04:35 PM
I use those tiny plastic bands they sell for children or tieing off cornrows and such, they come in all colors and I get 500 for $0.99 at Wal-Mart. They have caused me much less damage than my other hairties, and look much nicer if you ask me.

Anje
September 21st, 2011, 05:18 PM
The clear plastic elastics are problematic for me. They make some of the hairs in my ends crinky and folded.

I like the hair-hosiery types of ties, and those little children's terrycloth hairties. My favorite braid-enders, though, are little tiny jaw clips. No wrapping the end through repeatedly or anything -- I just clip them on, and clip them off when I want to unbraid. No slippage (unless I pull my hair out from under a coat), no damage, and they do a good job reminding me not to lean against my braid.

WaitingSoLong
September 22nd, 2011, 05:39 AM
Anje, I like the mini-claw clips, is that the same thing?

MasCat
September 22nd, 2011, 06:27 AM
Instead of normal cornrow elastics I use mane elastics for horses. They're quite soft, but I don't use them too often because it's rubber elastic...

Dorothy
September 22nd, 2011, 07:10 AM
For the same purpose I'm using cut out pieces of silk stockings :D it works perfect!

Where do you get the silk stockings?

Anje
September 22nd, 2011, 08:35 AM
Anje, I like the mini-claw clips, is that the same thing?
Yep, that's what I'm referring to. Of course, the size you need varies a lot from person to person. I just trimmed quite a bit off my ends and the smallest ones no longer fit. Need to go up a size.

irishlady
September 22nd, 2011, 09:50 AM
I use old tights. I just cut a section off from one of the legs, and it makes a nice, gentle band to hold my hair without damage.

Shesta
September 22nd, 2011, 11:38 AM
Where do you get the silk stockings?

Well, since I live in Denmark i'm not really sure that's gonna be of aid but i do my shopping at Magasin (http://shop.magasin.dk/) . The ones I'm buying are italian though, can't recall the trademark. :rolleyes:

C.H.
September 22nd, 2011, 12:54 PM
That's right. I also use mini-claws at the end of my braids. I like them for that purpose, but they slip off a little too easily. Perhaps I simply need to try a smaller size.

katsrevenge
September 23rd, 2011, 11:54 AM
This thread has been very informative! Thank you all! :D

ETA.. mini claws.. which shape? These here (http://www.notmartha.org/images/other/2009may/hairclips.jpg)? Or these type here (http://www.allproducts.com/manufacture97/kingtai/product5.jpg)? Or maybe these octis but in tiny (http://www.bigw.com.au/media/BIGW/Product/300x300/5916078_0_9999.jpg_med_v1_m56577569834536558.jpg)? I ask because I really don't want to get ones that won't work well!

C.H.
September 23rd, 2011, 12:39 PM
This thread has been very informative! Thank you all! :D

ETA.. mini claws.. which shape? These here (http://www.notmartha.org/images/other/2009may/hairclips.jpg)? Or these type here (http://www.allproducts.com/manufacture97/kingtai/product5.jpg)? Or maybe these octis but in tiny (http://www.bigw.com.au/media/BIGW/Product/300x300/5916078_0_9999.jpg_med_v1_m56577569834536558.jpg)? I ask because I really don't want to get ones that won't work well!

The first ones look closest to what I have. They even have a little rubber on the inside to keep them from slipping out. I really do like them as braid enders. I'd to try a smaller size for a strong hold, but the ones I have would probably stay in place better if I just placed them a little higher up where the braid is thicker. I just don't generally like a long tassel, though, so I'm inclined to put secure my braids only an inch or so from the tip.

Anje
September 23rd, 2011, 12:50 PM
This thread has been very informative! Thank you all! :D

ETA.. mini claws.. which shape? These here (http://www.notmartha.org/images/other/2009may/hairclips.jpg)? Or these type here (http://www.allproducts.com/manufacture97/kingtai/product5.jpg)? Or maybe these octis but in tiny (http://www.bigw.com.au/media/BIGW/Product/300x300/5916078_0_9999.jpg_med_v1_m56577569834536558.jpg)? I ask because I really don't want to get ones that won't work well!
I've used both the first and second types. Which one really depends on how thin my ends are and/or where I'm securing the braid. The second ones are smaller and now that I've trimmed a few inches off my ends probably wouldn't fit.