Aftercare
Looking after your style
What to do in the first week, how long each style should last, and when to come back. If anything here does not match what you were told in the chair, what you were told in the chair wins.
The first night
Braids and twists settle in the first 48 hours. A little tightness at the hairline on day one is normal; pain, bumps or anything that stings is not — ring us and we will loosen it, at no charge.
Sleep in satin from the first night. A cotton pillowcase pulls moisture out of the hair and roughs up the cuticle, which is what turns a neat install frizzy in a fortnight.
Washing
Leave it a week before the first wash. After that, once every week or two: diluted shampoo squeezed along the scalp rather than piled on top, rinsed until the water runs clear.
Dry properly. Braids that stay damp at the root are where smell and itch come from — sit under a hood dryer or use a cool blow-dry on the scalp, not just a towel.
Between washes
A light scalp oil two or three times a week, applied to the scalp and not the length. Braid spray on the hair itself keeps it from going dry and crispy at the ends.
Resist re-doing the hairline every few days. Taking baby hairs down and re-laying them with gel is the single most common cause of thinning edges we see.
How long a style lasts
Knotless braids, box braids and twists: six to eight weeks. Past that the regrowth starts pulling and the style is working against your own hair rather than protecting it.
Cornrows and feed-in styles: two to three weeks. Crochet: four to six. A sew-in: six to eight, with a mid-point check.
Wigs are the exception — take them off at night, and give your own hair a wash and a rest between installs.
When to come back
Book the takedown as well as the install if you would rather not do it yourself. Taking braids out slowly and conditioning as you go is most of what keeps length.
Give your scalp a week between a takedown and the next install where you can. If that is not possible, tell us and we will go lighter on the tension.
If something is wrong
Ring us on 07597 001178. Tight braiding, a bump at the hairline, or a reaction after a tint is something to tell us about on the day, not something to wait out.
Lash and tint clients: a patch test is required at least 30 minutes before the appointment, every time, because that is what the insurer requires. If you have had a reaction before, say so when you book.
What we use
The same things we reach for in the chair, on the counter.
Anything not covered here, ring 07597 001178 or email essiesluxehair@gmail.com.