Braiding is causing breakage???

[aisha.christine]

Recently, my hair has become just long enough to put in a braid and not have my layers sticking out. Seeing as so many members braid their hair to prevent breakage, I figured I would follow suit. I've noticed that since I have started wearing my hair in a braid, I have actually gotten more damage than when I left it down or put it in a loose ponytail. The hair is less manageable, and my shed hairs are kinky, and usually bent or broken.
Is there any reason for this?
Am I possibly doing something wrong?

I've been doing a single dutch braid, or a french herringbone almost every day on 90% dry hair. I tuck the ends up under the braid so it doesn't rub against my collar. I finger-comb out my hair before I put it up. In the evening, usually after I get home from work or school, I gently comb out my hair with a wide-tooth horn comb, and then put it up again before I go to bed (usually in 2 braids.)

Any suggestions as to what I am doing wrong?

[Amber_Maiden]

Do you take it out of the braid?Do you always braid the same way? Perhaps your putting stress on the same areas leading to the breakage? Just a guess...

[aisha.christine]

I usually take it out of the braid for several hours before I got to bed. And I try braiding it differently so I'm not putting the same tension on it everyday (i.e. upside-down braiding, side braiding, double braids etc.)
I could possibly try tying it off at a different point? I assume that would help, even if it's just a little.
As a note, I also don't wear it in a braid on the weekends when I'm at home. I usually just put it in a loose ponytail.

[Madora]

Are you braiding tightly? Might be too much stress on the strands.

As for the kinks..that is to be expected if you're tucking up the end under the braid. The hair sort of "memorizes" where that bend was and when you take down your hair, the bend can be seen imprinted in the hair. It fades away, however.

Even though your hair is short, how are you detangling? Do you work from the ends and up to the scalp?

What sort of hair elastics are you using? Do they contain any metal? If they do, get rid of them and only use elastics with no metal.

Do you detangle every day? Making sure your hair is thoroughly combed before styling is a good way to get rid of any shed hairs. If you let your hair go a few days w/o combing, the shed hairs have a tendency to collect among your other hairs and stay there until you comb it out...and it gives you the impression that you're shedding more hair.

The average loss of shed hairs is 80 per day. Some people shed more, some less. How gently you handle your hair when detangling and combing will also have an effect on your hair.

Perhaps you could give your hair a mini "vacation" from the braids via a Gibson Tuck? (see the Articles section in the grey menu bar, above, and click on Hairstyling). Good luck!

[aisha.christine]

Are you braiding tightly? Might be too much stress on the strands.

As for the kinks..that is to be expected if you're tucking up the end under the braid. The hair sort of "memorizes" where that bend was and when you take down your hair, the bend can be seen imprinted in the hair. It fades away, however.

Even though your hair is short, how are you detangling? Do you work from the ends and up to the scalp?

What sort of hair elastics are you using? Do they contain any metal? If they do, get rid of them and only use elastics with no metal.

Do you detangle every day? Making sure your hair is thoroughly combed before styling is a good way to get rid of any shed hairs. If you let your hair go a few days w/o combing, the shed hairs have a tendency to collect among your other hairs and stay there until you comb it out...and it gives you the impression that you're shedding more hair.

The average loss of shed hairs is 80 per day. Some people shed more, some less. How gently you handle your hair when detangling and combing will also have an effect on your hair.

Perhaps you could give your hair a mini "vacation" from the braids via a Gibson Tuck? (see the Articles section in the grey menu bar, above, and click on Hairstyling). Good luck!

I don't use any metals on the elastics, but I might be braiding too tightly.
I do de-tangle from the bottom up, and it has been helping tremendously with the tangles. I will definitely try doing the Gibson Tuck for a few days. Thank you for the helpful advice :)