"mini braids"?

I don't know what most people call them. Some call them corn rows, some call them mini braids, others micro braids...

Just wondering what the general concensus is on this style and if anyone else here ever uses it. I've been doing my own every summer for about 4 or 5 years now? The only pictures I have handy right now are from 2003 and 2005.

2003 (short hair and pudgy face, haha):


2005:


It took me NINE hours over the course of 3 days (I did it in sections) to put the braids in last year. There were something around 40 or so braids, I do believe.

I have no idea how "bad" this is for my hair or anything, but I really like it for water sports and camping, because you don't have to roll out of your tent in the morning and wonder how horrible/greasy your hair looks!

And it certainly brings a reality to just how much shedding occurs daily... because all that daily shedding is trapped in the braids for a few weeks and it ALL comes out in the shower. I freaked right out the first time it happened.

I'm not sure if I'm going to braid this year... I might if I have time before my lake trip, but I imagine it will take more than 10 hours this time around.

And not to waste making another post you fine people would have to click on, here is a May 14 progress picture! I have no idea what my length is right now as I left my tape measure at my other home 2 hours away.

That seems like a great ideaalthough I'd be worried about the mini elastics. I'd keep mine oiled when it was in the braids. It would make them look smoother and make it healthier when taken out than when they were put in.

Great progress pic Holly! I like the mini braid set of photos as well. Wow, that  is a long time it takes to put those braids in......have you ever considered getting someone else to do it?

Holly, your hair is beautiful in braids.   I agree with the commentary that you'll shed badly if they're kept in for a longer period of time, though, so detangle gently and patiently afterwards!

Holly!  The mini-braids look absolutely great!  And your new updated signature is awesome.  It looks like you've reached waist-length.  Yay!

Holly,

Your hair looks great in the braids! I wish I had more patience for a hairstyle like that! (Or a really really REALLY good friend. hahaha) Or a jamaican salon

As long as they are not really tight near the scalp to where it pulls or hurts you should be ok. But if you do them too tightly and leave them in too long you can get a form of Alopecea called Traction Alopecia.
Do they hurt or pull?
PurpleBubba2006-06-13 03:12:48

Wow great progress with growing your hair. The braids look great on you and as long as they are damaging to your hair I think it would be great to keep it up. Nice work.

Your braids look awesome, lmc!

Wow, Holly, those look really terrific  and NINE HOURS oh man, I admire your patience. Every time I see your signature, I realize that your hair grows so fuh-reaking fast.

Hi- I have gone missing for a while from this forum. I kept meaning to come back and update.
Old thread is here:
http://www.hairboutique.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38687=1

Short form update:
I had fabulous results using velcro rollers but learned here that velcro rollers (despite all the stylists saying they wouldn't) could damage my hair. It made sense to me. So I looked for an alternative. The bad news is then I got a BAD haircut. That's when I disappeared. I was like a cross between Pippi Longstocking and Rod Stewart. Cutting the hair on top of my head and sides very short. Nothing to do but wait for it to grow out.

Meanwhile, I discovered this great stylist in Little Rock Arkansas. ( I am in New York City). He was wonderful and turned me on to BIG BOAR HAIR BRISTLE ROUND BRUSHES. They are WONDERFUL. My best is 3 1/2" and has nylon occaisionally to keep the boar bristles stiff. Hair dries quickly and I have my "glam" hair back- and I have pics. I can't fall asleep wearing a bonnet dryer with curlers, but this is great for my hair and I can get it dry (from damp dry) in 15 minutes.

And meanwhile my hair grew out (it was January when I got the horrible hair cut).

Here's pics from the end of April- and oops there's my dratted cowlick.

(hey it was an early morning event and I didn't have time to do my hair.)


OK so why i am I jumping on this thread... because I am going to Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert for a week. Hair has to be tied in some way or it gets totally gross. I am meeting with a talented experienced Burning Man hair stylist tommorow to discuss my options. She is saying that braids done properly will not damage my hair. She'll add synthetic hair and wool (I am not sure if I am allowed to post her web site here).

So what do y'all think? I finally got my hair grown out and in great shape, and its so long I am looking forward to winter. Will I blow it all if I have it in braids for about a month? (She's only available until August 18, the event is August 26-Sep 6.)

Thanks for any help!
RachelRachelZ32006-06-22 22:11:10

Welcome back Rachel!  I'd say your hair has returned quite nicely.

Thanks Dave! BM should be HOT during the day, and COLD during the night. Dusty like crazy 24/7. I am already asking how i could fit a wide-brimmed hat on my braided hair. I'm also asking about swimming in a chlorine pool with the braids and yarn. I think it was you who said that it only looks like a lot of hair is falling out because the hairs that would normally fall out in a month are held in place by the braids until they come out.

Here's the web site of the woman who is doing my braids and yarn:
http://www.thegoddessmaker.com
She's gone to BM for 4 years, and she's pretty wise. (e.g. No beads, they are uncomfortable for sleeping, no loose hair). My bag of yarn is a wee bit heavy even though she carefully guided my purchases to the light stuff.

Natch when I get mine done I'll take pics and post 'em. And also the results after the braids come out. If this works I may do it every summer!

Thanks again for any experience with this sort of thing.

Oh wow....those mini braids look soooo good on you!  Again, I admire the time you put into making the braids and keeping them under control. 

folks, that's not me :) That's just the web site of the woman who does the hair. Mine would be done on August 15 for the Labor Day week long event.
I am just hoping my hair will be in good shape when the braids come OUT!
As for the sun, she said the only sun hat that would fit is one of the Vietnamese type sun hats, the little flat cones. :/
And swimming in a chlorine pool is apparently not a great idea :(

I think she was talking about my original post, Rachel...

And thanks for all the comments everyone!

I think I will probably braid my hair some time before July 13... I'm leaving for a 4 day concert and I really don't know how accessible the showers are going to be. Then I will try to leave them in for as long as possible as I have another 4 day camping trip from the 27-30.

My sister is probably going to help me out this year because she wants to have hers braided as well, but her hair is only to her shoulders, haha.

doh! You are right Holly!

::::banging head on keyboard:::

Holly they look cayute on you but I would suggest not using the elastics to close the scalp. I also braid my hair similairly to this and it grows like a weed where on the other hand if its not braided it doesn't grow as fast. Anyone Know why???