Taking out extensions...

So I figured that while we are taking about extensions this month I may as well walk you through my take out process.  I use take out, take down, undo, remove extensions interchangeably, different words same meaning, well in this post/blog at least they mean the same thing. First I spray my roots and braids but only up to the length of my real hair with my homemade braid spray then start undoing the braids from the ends going towards the roots. I normally use my fingers to undo my hair but if the braided ends are very thin or have a knot tied then I will snip that off and start undoing the hair with the tail end of a tail comb, switching to my fingers at some point and taking the braid out all the way to the root. Once the extension is out I finger detangle the root which is where hair gets matted the most, I do this to each root individually adding braid spray if needed as I undo each braid or cornrow to minimise breakage when I finally comb out the entire head. I work in small sections braiding each finished section into one big braid, makes my work much easier by the time I am done I usually have about 4-6 big braids on my head. 

Once done I undo the big braids and finger detangle again looking out for any knots that may have been previously missed  then spray the hair with some more braid spray before finally detangling lightly with a wide toothed comb. Depending on what time I am done I will either do my shampoo wash routine then or if it’s too late in the night I do it the next day. The time it takes to undo my braided dos depends on the hairstyle and size of braids. Cornrowed styles take me anything between an hour to two hours, single plaits/twists can take anything from three hours to two days unless I have someone helping me. If I know my take out process will take a while then I  start with the middle or back sections that way I can still cover it up if I have to go somewhere urgently in the middle of the undoing process. I always try to plan my braid taking out days in advance so I don’t have to do emergency take downs last minute for lack of time.

Before I forget I haven’t worn weaves in a while but the take out process for me is just as simple. After snipping my hair off with thread several times I stopped cutting the thread out myself I leave it for someone else to do. If there is no one around to do it for me then I take my head down to the salon and get it taken out there under a very watchful eye, braid spray in hand. Anyway if I am doing it at home once the thread has been cut off we spray the cornrows with braid spray and then just undo like you would normal cornrows while finger detangling at the same time. Once the entire head is done I finger detangle and spray once more and then lightly comb with a wide toothed comb followed by my shampoo wash routine. This process is for sew in weaves, bonded weaves (weaves put in with hair bonding glue) for anyone who still wears them is another process. I had a really bad take out experience a few years back with a bonded weave and lost quite a bit of hair and length, that was my first and last time wearing bonded in weaves. Hope this was helpful!

Tip: you can also oil your scalp and roots instead of using a braid spray the oil makes it slippery and easier to undo the braids/cornrows. I just don’t like the stickiness of oil on my hands that’s why I use a braid spray. My braid spray is mixed with natural oils and I use castor oil on my scalp twice a week at the moment so that makes my roots/new growth softer and easier to detangle by the time I am ready to take out the extensions.

Note: I use enough braid spray to make my hair slippery and slightly damp NOT wet. I usually add extra natural oils to my braid spray on takedown days.