This is the second part of my two-part series on reducing breakage during wash days. This isn't really a tutorial on how to do the cornrows because I'm not that great at it, but it's more about how to keep your hair in tact while braiding.
The key to this is retaining moisture. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I can't emphasize that enough. I'm using the wash day from a few weeks ago as my illustration.

If y'all remember, I put my hair in a bun after blow drying and did a little running around before settling down to cornrow my hair. Here's how it went:

- During the blow drying process, I did not blow dry my hair till it was 100% dry, I stopped when it was about 95% dry and there was still some moisture in it. This makes it easier to manipulate the hair and reduces the chances of breakage.

- Ditch the comb! I know that may sound crazy, but if you really want to minimize breakage, then you should minimize combing. Once you are done detangling, just leave the comb and let your fingers work their magic.

- I put a little leave in conditioner on my finger tips to create some slip when parting the section that I want to be cornrowed, and also while I'm braiding my hair.

- Sometimes my hair can get tangled when braiding, so I spray a little water to unlock the tangles and I keep going.

- When I'm done, I just put on my wig and go!


That's basically it. If you are wearing a wig like me, then you shouldn't be concerned with getting clean lines in your parts. However, the cornrows I did for this wash day were a little too haphazard for my liking, so I got them re done after a week.

How do you protect your hair from breakage?