Who doesn’t love the way they look when they have a fresh weave in or when they just finish a bomb twist out and pull their hair back into that power pony? We’ve all had those instances where we feel absolutely flawless and no one can tell us a thing.  However, one thing that comes with wearing weaves and ponytails is something that many women deal with on a regular basis: thin edges. When we get our hair braided or we pull it back into tight ponytails, it causes tension to be put onto our edges, resulting in the area becoming thin and eventually break off. Unfortunately, it is an inevitable part of dealing with African American hair. Because we know how important it is to keep your edges, we’re going to provide you with some tips on what you can do to not only grow them back, but prevent them from breaking off in the future. 

1. Loosen your ponytails.

The power pony is cute, but if it’s pulled too tightly, it will continue to damage your edges. The best thing for you to do is to stop using regular elastic bands and instead invest in a snappable headband or silk band. The beauty of these things is that they hold your hair in place while also relieving some of the tension that you typically have on your edges. The looser the ponytail, the less tension that you’ll have on your precious edges.

2. Switch up your hairstyles.

Have you ever heard the phrase that humans are a creature of habit? Well, the same can be said about our hair. When we consistently do hairstyles that are rough on the edges, or edges will continue to look bad. However, if you switch your hair up from time to time, this will help make sure that your hair grows evenly all around. Yes, that includes your edges!

3. Take care of your hair under that weave.

This one is a biggie when you’re looking at protecting your edges. Whether it’s a sew in or a wig, your edges have the potential to be in danger. With sew-ins, the culprit is having your base braids too tight. If you have a headache after getting your hair braided, chances are the hair is too tight and there’s almost a 100% chance that your edges are being pulled and can break off if the tension continues. With a wig, things are a little different. If you are wearing a lace wig, be sure to stick to the glueless type. Make sure you don't wear the wig too tight to prevent excessive pressure around the circumference of your hairline. f you’re getting a sew-in, tell your stylist to go easy on your edges so that they won’t break off or get thin. Tight is good, but it’s not worth going bald over. In the meantime, cleanse, conditon, deep condition and cowash your hair weekly with Shedavi's Crowned collection. Be sure to keep your edges nice and moisturized with the elixir when you’re wearing your weave. Hair tends to only get brittle and break off when it’s too dry.

4. Massage your scalp.

You may have heard that the best way to get your hair to grow is by root stimulation. Luckily, this is not a lie. Stimulation of the hair follicles is arguably the best and quickest way to get it to grow. Therefore, your edges are no different. If you find yourself suffering from thin or nonexistent edges, you may find value in giving yourself daily edge/scalp massages. While giving yourself scalp massages, it is a good idea to add some type of oil to your fingertips to add more moisture to the area and also help stimulate growth. We recommend using the Shedavi Elixir because it’s chalked full of natural ingredients that are known for making the hair grow. 

5. Make sure you sleep correctly.

When we say this, we don’t mean that you have to sleep on your face or anything like that. Instead, we mean to pay attention to the types of pillowcases that you use and the headscarves that you put on your head. Cotton is your hair’s worse enemy, so you want to swap out your cotton pillowcases with a softer material like satin or silk. You may be thinking, well, I wear a bonnet so I don’t need to swap out my pillowcases. On the contrary, it still might be a good idea for when your bonnet accidentally slips off in the middle of the night. 

If you use these tips, you will see your edges grow back in no time. It won’t happen overnight, but you’ll definitely start to see results within a month!

Authored by Bianca Scott

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