Essential Prepping For Frizz-Free Braids

My bathroom is a graveyard of hair ties and lost combs. Nobody warns you how many steps you actually need before braiding if you want to avoid frizz. Skip one, and you’re doomed to fuzz and flyaways. I know this. Still, I skip steps.

Wash And Condition With The Right Products

Every time I skip a good wash, I regret it for two weeks. Gentle shampoo is a must or my scalp’s on fire by day three. Not all conditioners work—pros (like @braidqueenchloe on IG) are obsessed with deep conditioning. They say dilute it (four parts water, one part conditioner), and yeah, I guess it helps. I leave it in a few extra minutes while doomscrolling TikTok because, why not? Salons charge for deep treatments for a reason. Heavy scents or residue? My scalp rebels. The “right” product seems to matter more than I want to admit, and every time I use random drugstore stuff, the frizz is twice as bad.

Detangle And Sectioning For Smooth Results

Why is my wide-tooth comb always missing? If you leave one knot, it multiplies inside the braid. Detangling needs patience—fingers first, then brush, and never dry because that’s just breakage and more frizz. My stylist is obsessed with small, neat sections for even tension. Every time I rush, my parts are crooked and the whole style frizzes up by day two.

Don’t just wing it. If your parts are messy, flyaways pile up at the roots. Use clips, use your phone as a second mirror, whatever. I once drew parting lines with a washable marker—looked ridiculous, but honestly, my least frizzy braids ever. If I skip sectioning to save time, I always regret it.

Choosing The Ideal Styling Products And Tools

Every product claims to kill braid frizz, but I’m holding a mousse bottle and still seeing flyaways. Some stuff just glues your hair together or leaves a crunch. Some serums make braids limp, not sleek. So, what actually works? I want hold, moisture, and shine—but not chaos.

Best Gels And Mousses For Hold

YouTube stylists won’t shut up about proper gel (Eco Styler, Shine ’N Jam, whatever) for starting or touching up braids—regular gel just doesn’t cut it. But mousse, especially curl-defining ones like Design Essentials Almond & Avocado, is the real MVP for midweek fluff. At least for me.

Random stat: in a 2023 NaturallyCurly.com survey, 78% of braiders said “lightweight mousse and alcohol-free gel” is their top combo for frizz in protective styles. And yet, people forget about holding spray—one spritz before bed, scarf on, and frizz is cut in half (I never use “sparingly” like the label says though).

How you use it matters: rake gel from roots to tips before braiding, then when you’re finally done, go wild with mousse, then set it with holding spray. If it’s humid, nothing keeps braids neat all week, but this at least gives you a fighting chance.

Creams, Oils, And Serums For Moisture

My scalp? It’s only calm after a tiny bit of lightweight oil—jojoba, argan, whatever’s not castor oil (that stuff’s a nightmare for daily use)—rubbed in under the braids. I keep it away from the roots, because build-up is just… ugh. I used to roll my eyes at leave-in creams, thought they’d just gum everything up, but honestly, a smidge on my fingers, worked through tangled roots, and things look less like a bird’s nest.

Serums—specifically those “anti-frizz” ones loaded with silicones—actually do something. I didn’t believe it either. Static and puffiness in the middle of braids? Gone, like, magic. Felicia Leatherwood (she’s everywhere, right?) keeps nagging about this: always slap oils on last, not first, or you just lock in dryness. Weirdest backstage tip I ever picked up: rub a little moisturizing cream between two fingers, pinch it onto trouble spots, and—somehow—halo frizz disappears. At least till the next wash.

Biggest fail I keep repeating: slapping product on soaking wet hair. It slips everywhere, makes a mess. Too much oil? Limp, sad braids. As for how often—nobody agrees. Some stylists say twice a week, others every other day, and not one of them ever says why. I just guess.

Finishing Sprays And Pomades For Shine

Shine. Supposedly “hair sheen” sprays make you look like a magazine ad, but half the time it’s a lie—the shine vanishes before I even grab my keys. Kenra Shine Spray? That one’s legit, actually leaves hair soft, not sticky. Most of the others? Meh.

But pomade—yeah, that old-school tin—still rules in every pro’s kit. A dot, rubbed over braids or edges (not too greasy, please—Murray’s is a brick, Proclaim’s Olive Pomade is friendlier), and you get shine that lasts longer than any spray. Bria Larine, who’s all over Instagram, says she mixes pomade with shine spray in her hands first. I thought she was being extra, but nope—no flyaways left after she did it.

Don’t mess with heavy, waxy stuff unless you love scrubbing residue out for days. If the label doesn’t say “lightweight” or “non-flaking,” I just pretend I never saw it. Been burned by sticky spritz before, never again. Some finishing sprays double as light hold, so if you’re overwhelmed, just grab a combo bottle and call it good.

Daily Maintenance For Long-Lasting Protection

People say you can sleep however and your braids will stay perfect. Lies. Frizz sneaks in faster than you lose bobby pins. What nobody admits: it’s the random nighttime routine and whatever oil you think is working that actually matters.

Satin Scarves, Bonnets, And Pillowcases

Regular cotton scarf? Might as well drag your head across a carpet. I see people online swearing cotton is “fine”—nope, not buying it. Satin scarves, bonnets, silk pillowcases—these are the only things keeping my braids from turning into fuzzy chaos. (NYC stylist Kamilah, TikTok: “Nothing beats satin for overnight hair.” She’s not wrong.)

I never make it through the night with just a scarf, so a satin pillowcase is backup. You go to bed looking slick, wake up with the scarf half off, but at least the pillowcase helps. Satin cuts frizz, stops snagging, and somehow keeps moisture in. I bought a random Amazon satin pillowcase, didn’t even notice a difference at first—then I realized my edges stayed smooth for days, no weird product crust. My cousin, meanwhile, clings to her flannel sheets and wonders why her braids fall out. I give up.

Moisturizing Techniques For All-Day Freshness

Who are these people who think oil alone is enough? I’ve watched way too many YouTube tutorials—natural oils just sit there. Most braiders (see @itsmaryakins, Instagram) say use leave-in conditioner sprays with glycerin or aloe. I probably overdo it, but I mist my scalp, then smooth on a dab of oil—argan, sometimes grapeseed. Some say daily, some every other day. My edges get cranky if I do more than a light mist twice a week, unless the air is bone dry.

Random tip: stick to a schedule or you’ll forget. Monday: spray, Wednesday: scalp massage, Saturday: check for frizz and tie tighter. I skipped it once, and frizz took over my head. Sprays with cetearyl alcohol keep hair slick without gluey mess. One time, I grabbed body lotion by accident—nobody warns you scented lotion attracts gnats. Never again.