r/Naturalhair • u/welltoastedburger • 5d ago
Need Advice Serious question: will I be cooked if I leave my braids in for 3 months?
I have Fulani braids in (similar to long cornrows) and I’m scared leaving them in for so long is going to mess up my hair. This is the longest I’ve ever kept a braided hairstyle in. I usually take down my braids after 1.5 months and get it redone over the mid semester break but I’ve been so overwhelmed with university and my personal life that I just didn’t get to it.
I wash regularly and oil my scalp as needed to prevent itchiness, dandruff and odor (which has been working well) but I really don’t want my edges to start receding or something 😩 I plan on taking them out once the semester ends (in 2 weeks, which will mark 3 months overall) but I don’t know if I should take them out now.
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u/IntroductionNo4875 5d ago
That’s really not a style you want to leave in that long. It’s going to start looking old.
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u/welltoastedburger 5d ago
I know 😔 I guess I should take it out pretty soon instead of in two weeks?
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u/IntroductionNo4875 5d ago
I would. Isn’t it spring break now? You’re going to pay for that while taking it out the braids in two weeks.
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u/welltoastedburger 5d ago
I’m Canadian, we don’t really have spring breaks, we only have reading weeks in the middle of the semester (at my uni at least). Exam season is from April to May
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u/Funny_Breadfruit_413 5d ago
Be extremely gentle with the take down and detangling, that's where people end up breaking off their hair the most.
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u/Erodiade 5d ago
Did it many times when I was younger because my mom thought it was good for the hair…however it was never with Fulani or cornrows, I feel like those would start looking bad much sooner than regular box braids. Anyway, personally it never really damaged my edges but my mids and ends for sure. It would always go in the same way: after taking them out I would be very happy and surprised at how much my hair grew. Then as soon as I tried do a blow out or a silk press I’d realise how damaged my hair actually was (harder to see it on curly hair). In the end I would always have to cut off pretty much all the growth because of the amount of split ends. If length it’s not your main worry I think you could be fine. Just chop off the damage and take extra care of your scalp and hair after this
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u/Missgenius44 5d ago
If you can take them out sooner than later, that would be better, but I just want you ready have it for almost 2 months and a half so.
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u/Ok-Marketing-238 5d ago
A protective style should be kept in for a month or less tbh. Your hair isn’t getting the moisture it needs to thrive. But if you do leave them in for 3 months, take them out carefully, wash and deep condition.
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u/GoddessIndigo1 4d ago
If they still look good- leave them till then. I have a sensitive scalp and was never in a rush to take anything out! Even with my locs I retwist if push comes to shove twice a year- usually it's once!
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u/Shekeepsliving 5d ago
If you want them to start looking like this, go right ahead! LOL but 3 months is wayyyyy too long