Stop Lying About Protective Styles + Tips for Length Retention | DIY Box Braids on Natural Hair 

Peptide bonds are not the building blocks for proteins. Amino acids are. Peptide bongs are the covalent bond between 2 or more amino acids

My 11yo hair has started thriving with this routine: -Large braid extensions left in for 4-6 weeks -Spritz every couple days with water based moisturizer and oil scalp with a blend of natural oils - no pony tails with the braids - shampoo and deep condition every 4 -6 weeks. Rinse and repeat. Her hair is now thickkk and retaining length

I like to think of African/coily textured textured hair as delicate, like other fine fibers such as silk, or cashmere. It's not inherently "weak" unless handled improperly💕.

Girlllll….you said a lot of what I have been trying to tell people who’ve asked me about my hair for years (I had thigh length hair before I recently cut it) and I was ridiculed for it. It’s good to see that people are being more exposed to real and scientific information. You’re doing a valuable work on here!

I really like how you went into the science of everything. One because I love science and two because not gonna lie, Black people will believe what they wanna believe about certain things, and sometimes you gotta give them hard-core proof for them to understand.

I’ve heard that too: studies have shown Afro-textured hair has less tensile strength than straighter hair. I went on a hair health/growth journey in 2016. In addition to incorporating oils, eliminating dyes, upgrading my products, and other changes, treating my hair super gently is one of the major factors contributing the kind of length retention I’d never before experienced. Treating my hair as if it is weak, fragile, and delicate has led not only to length retention but greater density as well. I think we as people of African descent should understand *why* our Afro-textured hair is dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. Our hair is designed to facilitate our survival in hot climates. Its tendency toward breakage helps keep it shorter so that it isn’t lying on our faces, necks, backs, and shoulders making us even hotter. Our hair’s coily texture ensures that it is standing up off our bodies and its bushiness not only helps protect us from the sun, but regulates our body temperature as well. By the same token, long, straight hair helps people in cold climates stay warm.

We need more of these, the science the chemistry. We are so mislead on our natural hair because of course we have been watching at home videos of people telling us what to do but with no science to understand our hair. I would love if you kept doing these videos that explains the chemistry of textured hair.

I’m 26 with a degree in biochem .😊👋🏽 hey girl

Washing is key…and using the right oils is what has always grown my hair. I went back to that and it works for me because I have finer hair.

I agree with it all. A routine helps. And when I’m not on schedule, my hair tells me. My hair literally starts to act up. Sheds, looks and feels dry/ashy! And I stopped wearing bonnets 24/7, noticed I was getting breakage around the perimeter of my head!

Finally some real logic❤. Some of these women on here literally just say anything to fit their narrative or try to make it seem like it’s okay. “Relaxers and blow drying are good for your hair” are ridiculous statements!!! Why say it on a public platform where people are literally struggling and need to learn!

I can feel your exhaustion. I could not have managed all this work at this point in my pregnancy. Thanks for doing it

I jave 3c 4a hair as well and i agree with this entire video, surprisingly i do these exact methods except the washing every week. I wash my hair every other week and use aloe vera water spray for moisture in between. I always keep my hair in plats or twist that starts off as a plat at the root then i twist the rest just for a hair change. This method ive been doing for over yen years now and ny hair is waist lenth. Foe me less manipulation is best. Nice to know soneone thinks like me. I enjoyed your video thanks for sharing your methods. God Boess🙂💖

I remember I did my own passion twists. They were so beautiful, I kept them in for about a month. I took them out, and I had so much hair come out, I wanted to cry. I definitely look at that as a setback in my hair growth journey. And promised myself not to make that mistake again. 50% of that was because of my own errors doing my own hair, but the other 50% was because these are NOT protective styles!

Not Big Bertha! Lol this video was really informative especially the chicken/heat damage. That made the concept really clear. Thanks!

“Hey yall it’s big Bertha” *subscribes* 🤣😅

What works for one may not work for others , it’s really that simple.

As someone who has 4C, it takes me hours to detangle my hair without breakage. You don't know how lucky you have have it to be able to detangle your whole head in an hour. I wish😩!

Speak it louder for them, our chemist! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Oil's castor, 🫒 olive oil and water steaming.

Finally! Someone who also braids her hair in two cornrows after washing. This was my go-to for years.

My hair grew the longest when it was short. As soon as it got shoulder length it stopped. So I started doing silk wraps to get my hair closer to the roots. It’s growing fast again

The helpful know-ledge we need. Thank you for breaking it down at a scientific level. We need more of this

Green beauty channel is a chemist and broke down why heat is good for my low porosity hair. Not frying heat but my hair is long because of her. I’d check her out for sure

This was a nice video. I liked the chemistry facts.

Just found your channel and I just feel like we are so similar physically, it’s nice to see thank you

Sebum is the key!!! Do you remember that african tribe of women who went viral because of chebe powder. Why were we so fixted on the product and not the routine. At the end of the day there are products all over the world that are used by different ppl ehich is just dependent on ehat they have to hand. Those beautiful women had long hair because their hsir was always moisturised and protected. The water and oiling and protective styles every 5 days gave their hair type the perfect level of care to grow...but it was also because they didnt "wash" the hair. And we see it in so many cultures. Shampoo strips the hsir of the natural sebum. Look at those asian women with long hair they only use rice water. And even indians douse their hair in oil before using shampoo as a protective barrier so the sebum doesnt get washed away. The curlier the hair, the harder it is for your sebum to travel the length which exposes the ends to breakage. And if you are regularly washing and not moisturised ur hsir like every 2 days ur hair will dry up even if its in protective styles. Ive been cowashing my hair weekly/bi weekly and moisturing my hair every 2 days or so with literally just olive oil and shea butter (the cheapest and simplest products my hsir loves). I experience minimal build up and my hair is the softest, most defined and healthiest its ever been. I just keep my hair in plaits until its tkme to re do them which is like every 3/4 weeks. My hair grew an inch the second month of doing this (your hair needs time to adapt) and ive finally passed that hair growth stunt ive been dealing with for 2 years. Shampoo is only there to clean what water can not remove. Water removes most dirt it just doesnt remove oil well. And in the case of constantly dry hair, why would u want to remove oil?? Also another thing that helps sebum travel is exercising and sweating. Heat from sweat and also the sweat particles itself (water🙄) helps mobilise the thick sebum and give it more of an oil consistency which is so important for black ppl as the oil can end up clogging your scalp and causing itchy flaky scalp (mimicking dryness) which will make u esnt to oil ur scalp which just creates a cycle and ultimately leaves u to focus more on oiling scalp than oiling ur hair... Not everything is clear cut but i do feel when u look at the science of things it makes it easier to put thingd together and figure things out. Black hair is prone to dryness but the solution is not to bombard it with product and wash it all the time. Our hair is made for climstes that are harsh, and there is not always access to water meaning our hair really doesnt need to be thoroughly cleaned so often as every week 🤷‍♀️if it works then good for u, but for the ppl who havr tried that try what im saying and i promise itll change ur life

I love the simplicity of your style night. Just a few products and a few braids.

You have such a nice voice 😊 then you say BErThUa 😂😂😂 new subscriber love the humor and honesty

I keep mini braids for 3-5 months 🌚 I wash weekly and always trim after tho… I think if locs can be hygienic then keeping braids can also be hygienic

I immediately subscribed you are needed thank you for your honesty and true logic... keep it 💯some of us are here for it ❤

Just an FYI: brushing your hair everyday is not what’s helping it to grow. Hair is dead so brushing it just creates more opportunity for friction and breakage. It’s stimulation to the scalp that helps to promote blood circulation that then promotes hair growth. So if anything, do scalp massages instead of brushing your hair everyday. 😊

Good video! I do want to say that heat training vs. heat damage is two different things. Heat training is a temporary thing that once you wash your hair, your curls come right back. With heat damage, the curls do not return.

Lol the baby said not tonite😂 that made me laugh❤

I really appreciate the knowledge you’ve provided in this video!!

I agree with this although personally, I found blowdrying to be better for my fine hair. I think the reason people are saying blow-drying is better is because there is a study that showed that using a hair dryer at least 6 inches from your hair in a continuous motion actually causes less damage than air-drying: Lee, Yoonhee et al. “Hair shaft damage from heat and drying time of hair dryer.” Annals of dermatology vol. 23,4 (2011): 455-62. doi:10.5021/ad.2011.23.4.455 If a blowdryer is hot enough to denature the protein in your hair causing heat damage, then it's likely going to burn your skin as well. I have experienced this at Dominican salons. But most consumer hair dryers have lower drying settings. The high setting on my blowdryer is too hot but the medium setting works well.

Love your logical approach in the info you give, thank you so much for sharing 🙏🏽💜

I went and got my hair shaved off removing all the permed/ relaxed hair in 2004. Best thing I ever done. This is what puzzles me, why does glue down lace wearing, wig wearing, gel and jam users, tight braid getting folk not realize something is wrong when their hairline has receded a inch or more, their hair has thinned and no amount of moisturizer can do anything for their dry brittle hair and the keep doing what damages their hair? The glue get into their skin and cause all type of skin damage and discoloration but still they continue and just add makeup. It is unbelievable to me. Since cutting that mess out that thinned my hair and brunt my skin in seconds, I have a head full of thick head where most of the women my age has to wear wigs because their crowns have suffered from all of that stress put on their hair. But hey what ever floats their boat, have at it because just like her children you can tell a women nothing about their hair!

😂you two are so cute and I appreciate your video. I have 3c4a. Thank you

Love the hair, girlie! And I agree with the routine. I do the same things to my hair, even though my cornrows look a mess, they are useful for stretching.

The most popular relaxers used in black salons and at home never had and never will have formaldehyde. You're thinking of Japanese straightening or Brazilian blowouts or keratin treatments, which are ways of straightening the hair, but are not the same as relaxers, which ACTUALLY work by basically dissolving away your hair. So, still nasty, just not in the way you described. Your hair is beautiful by the way.

Thing is with the relaxer, i don't think it's the main cause. I've never had a relaxer and i got uterine fibroids as well as other bw. I did see a study saying that the synthetic braiding hair can cause it as well too

I personally love chemistry, especially hair chemistry. What kind of chemist are you?

I tell my daughter this ALL THE TIME… TAKE THE BONNET OFF DURING THE DAY 😂. It’s not a uniform. Granted, she’s 11 😊

the scientific explanation was great

I love your video, your hair, your knowledge. My hair has always been super thick. It is so thin now that I am unsure what's going on. Any tips for thinning hair?

Great Information, very frank and informative.

It’s BIG BERTHA 😂😂😂😂 I’m crying lmao you got a new sub

Thanks for this information! New subbie 💕

I love the way you make videos- after 30 seconds I’m subscribed lmao

your hair is so beautiful oh my gosh

Omg your hair, can I ask how long you’ve been growing it out? How many years did this take you without having a set back and/or cutting your hair

I just found your channel your channel has been a game changer for me. I’ve hated getting braids i knew that the braids were not helping 😅 I have eczema in my scalp so that also made it worse I’ve been wearing wigs and redoing my braids every 2 weeks and I’v gotta say that is the most I’ve seen my hair grow.

Very Informative video, so excited to know that we have the exact same hair type 3C 4A, my hair is about 3inches above my bra strap, it's healthy, no split ends, I retain my length by doing my go to hair style (Low bun, middle part, natural hair) but if I stop using a blow dryer on my wash days(once a week), (half bottle of heat protectant spray lol) I have a feeling that my hair would retain even more length this year so you just gained a new subby!...lol

For me, it's always been the way braiders comb my ends. It sucks. I want the style without the breakage. Hard to find

Thank you for sharing. Awesome hair.

I can't even imagine my hair taking 2 days to dry. After I wash my hair, it takes 15 minutes to dry!

Thank you young lady for helpful information!!! Your hair is beautiful!!! God bless you🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽valuable tips!!!

Im going to get the rev air. I can't wait

Beautiful lady . 🤩I love your tips 😊 I’ve just subscribed . I like how you break down the information and explain. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽I’ve got 3c -4a hair I think

I honestly only keep my braids in 3 to 4 weeks, I need my hair washed and deep conditioned.

You’re absolutely right 🎉

Agreed and never pay for a price for hair care products

True tips. Thanks for sharing.

Hi can you clarify, you said you are low porosity. I was studying Afro textured hair, isn’t one of the characteristics of Afro textured hair high porosity due to the bends in our hair? Please clarify

If I washed my hair 1x/week, I wouldn't have any hair. I have gone through numerous shampoos and conditioners. I still lose so much on shampoo/conditioner day. It is scary how much I lose, but it has always been that way since I was a little girl. My mom always said she never saw anyone that she hair as much as I do.

I have never worn protective styles. I am not sure if it's because when I grew up people used there own hair. Imagine my shock when I saw a friend and her sister with patches and bald edges. I have been loosing a lot of hair but surprisingly I still have a lot of hair, I cannot tell if this is normal shedding or breakage.

Keratin can denature at 100 degrees Celsius and most blow dryers don’t get that hot but flat irons get almost twice as hot

First thing I have attended cosmetology school. Second who am I or any other person to tell a black woman what to do with her hair. Third if a black woman wants to wear her hair in braids as a protective style then how is it a lie? We need to really watch how we use our words and how we go by addressing black women and their hair. Just because you may feel it’s a lie for black women who wear braids as a protective style doesn’t make it lie for themselves. Whatever a black woman does with her hair is her business and truth. Take Care.✌️

Can you do some wash days and deep conditioning videos?

I subscribed immediately. Very informative.

What’s an alternative to the cornrows for the blowout? It’s 2024 and I still can’t cornrow 😭

ty for all of the info

Anything can be done incorrectly.

Thank youuuu.

Thanks for the info

Tbh for me I hardly ever wash my hair and it helps me a lot. I know everyone’s hair is different and that’s kind of the key in what works best for you

This is true for young people who didn’t know

I’m a bit curious about what you shared here and some research articles I have recently read and would like to hear your perspective or folks in the chat. Have you considered research indicating that prolonged air drying, extending into days, may lead to damage as the hair bears the weight of retained water? Conversely, certain levels of heat application can facilitate allowing the hair products to penetrate the hair shaft.

Try the unbrush it’s great

Smart points

No one is lying about protective styles they have helped my hair more then anything remember your not the blueprint everyone is different

Girllllll. I quit lol . I buy ppl to do my hair lol

Can you teach chemistry because you’re explaining things better than my professors

Love my relaxers getting one In April

Your hair is beautiful 😍

Facts!

what about hygral fatigue from having the hair wet or damp too long?

This is just a moisturize and normal upkeep video. I do it every night but moisturize every 2 days.

Great video

Thank you Sis!! Congrats on your successes!! 🎉 👏🏾 You sound like Nikki Minaj, in a good, knowledgeable way!!💪🏾 & 😍 Beautiful Hair!! #RealLifeGoals🥰

Ladies, as a licensed hair restoration specialist and trichologist i can confirm that she's right about relaxers and tension. And she's right about trimming your ends. Your hairstylist is not hating on you. But, women who have hair like hers was born with it and their hair grows faster than the average person. There are no products or routine that will give you these results if you aren't born with her density or texture. Thats the cap, Respectfully,

Boníta Bertha 💝

Great Video

dope content

Where is the link to ordering the products and curl comb she had in the video???

What about low heat blow drying?

THAT!!! 👏🏽💯😍🔥🔥

Hi I have 2 questions. Is it true that cold aloe Vera juice closes the cuticles? Would protein treatments be good for Afro hair like every 6 weeks?

Ty🦋🦋🦋