My hair's been this long for a few years now but only recently had I tried to braid it myself. I got to liking it braided after my girlfriend did it for me one night. It stays braided all day at work and when sleeping, much more managable than a ponytail. I found using a gel helps me braid it a lot better.
I use pure aloe gel I found at walmart. It's not a styling product just an aloe gel for hands, skin etc.. It seems to moisturize my hair and then it dries and is gone after a few hours.
I had used some styling gel a few weeks ago and when I took the braid out - POOF! I looked like Rosanne Rosanadana. Thankfully the aloe doesn't do that.
Great handiwork, James!
It is nice to hear of products that work well for uses other than their originally stated usage. Does the aloe gel (probably stated for use on sunburns etc..) leave any residue in the hair? I don't see any on the hair in the pic, but wondered of, after it dried, if it got flakey.
Thanks for posting.
Shawn (Mr.Crow)
No it seems to just disappear. Never noticed any flaking or residue. It seems to moisturize I've noticed, since winter has come and the air is dryer my hair was getting dry and now it's fine.
They sell aloe juice and gel intended for consumption. I'd recommend using this stuff over the gel manufactured for sunburns because it's all natural/pure and doesn't have any added 'things' used for medication.
Also if you've got any oil, such as jojoba, you can mix it with a bit of aloe gel/juice (depends on how you like the consistency) and make a decent leave-in conditioner. :)
I made sure there wasn't any alcohol or anything in it before I bought it. All it has is stabilizers and pure aloe. I saw on the bottle that it is recommended for hair styling.
I didn't know that there was aloe to drink. Wonder what it would be ingested for? Ulcers maybe?
That totally kicks. Tight and even looking, well done.
Great looking briad. Did it take you long to learn how to braid it yourself?
longhair511
Not really. I already could braid but just learning to do it without looking was hard. I do 4 or 5 inches first and then bring it around to the front and do the rest and even then I do it without looking and just go by feel.
I looked like Rosanne Rosanadana.
Hey, she was great wasn't she. Those (SNL) were the days. Your braid looks great. Question, when you braid it does it shorten the total length or not really? My hair was long enough once to make a braid about 6 inches long and I really enjoyed wearing it that way. Someday soon I'll be wearing one again. Bruce
A very well done braid for your first time!
Great Job! I love the braid as well. It just seems so neat!
Excellent, I can't wait until I can do that.
That is a really good looking braid. I will likely experiment with that idea myself when my hair reaches a length that will allow me to do it successfully. The braid does look very neat and although i'm more partial to having my hair loose than anything else it is a good idea. Nice one there. Take care
Hi James,
Congratulations on the VERY nice braid. It's a dream of mine one day, when my hair gets long enough. I can imagine the manual dexterity you need to braid it yourself!
David
Thanks. And thanks to everyone for all the nice comments.
Yes I guess it takes a bit of dexterity. My GF says she doesn't know how in the world I do it. It's hard on the shoulders for a minute let me tell ya.