Ask Dickey! E33: 4C and Braids

A reader likes to wear her type 4C hair in braids for up to 8 weeks. She seeks a regimen that will prepare her "extremely dry" hair for the style. The real question, however, is how long can one wear braids? In this episode, Dickey offers advice and tips that will maximize the benefits of protective styles like braids at the same time avoiding the pitfalls of overdoing them. If you wear braids, there are valuable guiding principles that you shouldn't miss!
Music by warner case (@warner.case).

[@ladyt618]

4:41 "What's the use of being natural if you can't do all these things to your hair?" I LOVED THIS!!!

[@rainastreet6910]

PREACH, people think I’m crazy for taking my box braids out after 3 1/2 weeks! Yes I gotta cleanse my scalp and moisturizer these curls!

[@iamsunflower2011]

My hair is 3c/4a and I love wearing braids but, my hair has not grown past my shoulders. I'm learning after 9 years that braids are not my friend. Sore scalp and no growth, now I'm wearing it out in an afro and my scalp is loving it

[@jblank1862]

Me too! My scalp was so very sensitive after abusing braids for two years. Before that I was abusing hair color. It was really about my insecurities. Wishing you peace on your journey!

[@brklyn2922]

Your poom poom lol! Eric, thanks for saying we need to honor our hair💕

[@MegaSHOOGS]

BRKLYN 29 🤣🤣🤣I haven't poom poor in years

[@CutiePieZphi]

When he said “your poom poom” I lost it 😂

[@HeyAesha]

😂 😂😂

[@hebrewisraelite5506]

I can't believe I'm 10 months in my natural hair journey and I'm just finding you. Better late than never!

[@154angel154]

TRY YEARS!!!

[@RochelletheRealtor]

I’m eight years!

[@yacinendiaye2669]

10 years for me

[@faidajama7167]

I've left my braids up for 3 months. I always wash my scalp and use a braid spray for my hair and when I take my hair down my hair is moisturized and I have hella growth.

[@tphillips1929]

I had to pulll up ....rewind...did he say pum pum 😁😁😁😁😁

[@buttrpecan9]

T Phillips 😂😂yes he did! Lol

[@terrology]

He did😄 great name btw

[@avabrown5259]

Damn, I've been getting DISRESPECTED. Thanks for this lesson. No more micro braids for me for 6 weeks.

[@du8719]

I'M SO GLAD I FOUND this! When I was a kid my mom would get so mad that I would want to take out my braids after 3 weeks. But my scalp would be on fire. That is one reason I can't do weaves either. I love this advice and these videos. New subscriber!

[@MeriamH.]

“They’re disrespecting your time...” Wow.

[@erinnicole5871]

wow! why am I just finding this! Im officially in school and in the front seat of the class!! *notes ready*

[@mhoward6152]

I thought I was hearing things...poom poom 😂

[@hairbuggs5115]

You always give very helpful information.

[@YourGirlVee]

I really love these videos. So much good information. Ive had some jumbo braids in now for two weeks and I’m already ready to take em out lol 8 weeks would be wayyyy too much for me

[@LVU385]

Dickey, love these videos, I have a question, what is the best way/ what are the best tools for detangling 4c hair? If you could provide a demonstration or at least tell us how long it should take and how many sections make the process most efficient, it would be very helpful. Thank you!

[@natashataylor881]

Thank you for sharing this information. Your videos are so helpful ☺️

[@natashastorrod2838]

I replayed it to make sure I wasn’t hearing things.

[@toniciabryan438]

I agree

[@mchan2141]

Very informative. Thanks Dickey!

[@rennieb_me]

I wash & condition my hair at least weekly while in braids. When I tell u that my hair feels like metal wire every time I take the braids out...Chile!!! I have to rehab my hair after braids.

[@TULIP.1689]

Rennie B I sprayed mine with either glycerin water or curl refresher spritz nearly daily to avoid this issue.

[@MsKeepgodfirst]

Don't wash while in braids just condition if you want to refresh your scalp use apple cidar vinegar rinse.

[@raya7]

Thank You!! I could never keep braids in longer than a month, and that was with weekly washes and daily sprtizes. My scalp would not have it. So... I only chose styles that made sense $$ and time wise to be redone monthly.

[@RushellKB]

Pum pum! Yaaassssss Dickey!!!🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️😂

[@bridgettebatts3835]

I'm a new subscriber and I'm so glad that I found your channel. I decided to give being natural a try. So far I don't like it because I have dry hair amd O found out that my hair doesn't like anything with olive or coconut oil. I was told not that I not blow dry my hair because it will mess up my curl pattern. Heck I don't have a curl pattern to mess up😄 Since watching your video's today, I tried the co wash method and I can say that it actually works to where I saw curls. Thanks for sharing your knowledge about natural hair.

[@jglenn2282]

An excellent reality check.

[@denisebrown8151]

This information is awesome. I’ve learned so much from you. Thanks Dickey.

[@neya292]

Thanks for the info! I will definitely cut my braid styles down!

[@CC-vv8zp]

Thanks for the comment .. I'm gonna a try my luck with a kinky straight upart and after that relax...I like what you said what's the sense of being natural if you are not gonna do all those things... I'm not and the maintenance aint it... I don't want to do hair daily....I want to up and go

[@tracyp8741]

Mr. Dickey thank you soooo much for all you do and share. So glad I found you I have type 4 hair my guess is either a,b, or c. Not sure but so far I'm excited about this journey.

[@BrightestLight5]

The way these braids cost where I live it’s not even worth money to wear them for a couple weeks. I’d rather reinvest that money into caring for my hair.

[@PropheticLex]

Aight Dickey I see you throwing up the pinky 🧐😂💚💖💚💖

[@lyfesaquarium]

Great points

[@Nialexx]

Is co washing your hair while braided effective?

[@liveglobal5879]

Yeeessss a lot of my questions were answered on this video. Thank you

[@ErA-el1je]

My hair is 3c ( i think?) And i do box braids every 6 months or so. And leave in for 8 wks. I wash my haur 1x a month ( or more depending) but I also wet my hair with water and oils daily usually and cleanse my scalpe with a cantu no rinse scalpe cleansers. Since I've been natural 16 months now and had a medium chop mu hair has thrived. Just waiting for it to keep growing. Has grown ~6 inches. My braids are not done real tight. 😉

[@154angel154]

I had yarn braids in my 4a/b hair for 5 weeks and because I kept it UBER-Moisturized, I only finger detangled upon removal of all my braids!!!

[@heykeonehair]

poom boom ! love it

[@iamlesleyb]

Poom Poom! I'm dead😂😂😂

[@viviandorcas7430]

I've always wondered why my hair always felt dry but now i know that 4c is naturally dry and i have to take care of it

[@preciousabang8233]

Thinking about the times I spent 11 hours in a chair...

[@camillesparkman714]

Thank you Dickey! ❤️❤️❤️

[@tianneannan8069]

Did Dickey say " pum pum" ?😂😂😂😂👍🏾

[@arabaansah9931]

I'm still a bit confused. Been natural for two years now and what I have been doing is braiding my hair up leaving it for three to four months straight and then washing my hair then I do a blow out for a week or two and I'm back in braids for another three months. I'm a lazy naturalist and moreover I'm a student. Between lectures and assignments there's just no time for me to be doing all this plenty natural hair stuff. I have read on low manipulation being a key factor to growing your hair long and what I have been doing for two years in my opinion seems to work. My hair is armpit length. So my concern here is I'm trying to get my hair to be thicker and fuller and healthier as well keep my growth rate as it is cos it's growing just OK. So what would u recommend that I do. PS I can't do the one month take out braids and rebraid thingy

[@RochelletheRealtor]

He would recommend that you start doings daily cowashing in the shower using his technique. Look at his videos.

[@peh85]

Wear your hair out. Do wash n gos. When u grow tired of w n g, Do twists for 2-3 weeks and refresh them every 3 weeks. I looovvvvveeee braids too. I do mine own. But i wear them ALL the time. I feel like my hair needs a break. My latest braid style was 120 box braids. Lol. Never again. I'm going to give them a break now maybe for a year and just try wash n gos. I'm 4C. I strive to wet and condition my hair each n every day. And maybe shampoo every 1-2 weeks

[@mckaylahephzibah8045]

this is what i hve been doing for me and my daughter and we have gotten full lengthy hair. But i dont enjoy havibg to hide my hair away all the time. we do wash outbhair in the braids or cornrows. the last three days, just knowing that my hair can thrive with wash and gos is amazing. And washing my hair doesn’t feel like a whole production. i took 4 hours to detangle my daughters hair after 3 months of the same hairstyle. i take my time not to cause damage, but this wash and gos give me options. plus my hair is a lot healthier

[@brittanyray7279]

Love him!!

[@KaceyMoulton]

He said pum pum😂😂💀

[@betty-annkelly9128]

Hi Dickey, Where are you from? LOL

[@jaebeablessings1005]

And wash your poom poom Too! 😂

[@doletharoberson5407]

Which way is the best way to cut Straight/Natural 4b/c ?

[@tony-shabazzroberts-woods3047]

I have to wash my hair about every 10 days, even if I have braids. My scalp thanks me.

[@debjb5038]

Lol!! Love this channel!!!

[@user-fc3xs4db9e]

4hrs for braids. I wish.

[@meganfoster5405]

Pumpum...mi rah...lol

[@Shyypye]

Truth!

[@trafficjam.]

where have u been all my nappy life???

[@adayinthelight7575]

You just wash the braids while you have them in. Do you know what you are talking about?

[@chantrece]

Stop disrespecting my time!!

[@nakeasimone13]

Facts BTW who keeps a protective style in their hair for eight weeks?😱#dafuq

[@vee3133]

Some people keep their's in for longer than that, everyone's hair is different, it works great for some people

[@erinnicole5871]

I have before unfortunately

[@janicejonessanders]

People who get micro braids or pay over $300 to get their hair done.