Hello everyone! i am new to this forum! Anyway i have a question to ask to others that can help me one my crisis. I decided that i wanted to human hair braids this month, i have been using perms since i was 10 years old, and now i want to grow my hair out...huh...naturally. Most of the hair dressers told me to get a perm first and after two weeks i can put some braids in my hair...so i went through that process. But know i am hearing from different kind of hair dressers that i should keep my braids in or 2 months then i got another opionion and that person said 4 months. Most of my friends say i look better with long hair, (the human hair braids that it is) I did not want to cut off my perm, so i was thinking about the process of keep getting braids in my hair. So here is the question, does anybody know how to keep up human hair braids, how long do human hair braids stay in, and should i go through this process of getting braids until my hair grows out to the length i want it, instead of cutting my hair, because of me feeling so self-conscience of my hair?

PS: I dont think i would look to great with the "india arie cut" thing, so that's why i asked that question...

Well, since you seem to be transitioning, first you don't have to get your hair permed to get braids. That's the first time I heard that, usually they said. "have plenty of newgrowth so it can be braided." You can transition this way but either way you have to cut the relaxed hair, you can do small trims, after you take the braids out.  Braids should not be worn more than 2 months. You can keep them in for 2 months and then make sure u keep them out for about  a month and  half. Make sure not to get them too tight, you can get thinned edges doing that. I would say, during the time you take a break from the braids, play with your hair get to know what it likes, learn how to handle it. Braids are good for transitioning but it does not help to learn how to take care of your hair. Make sure you keep the braids moisturized just like regular hair and clean it regularly. Here is a helpful site with other transitioners on it that may  be able to help you.

http://www.nappturality.com - www.nappturality.com

http://www.longhaircareforum.com - www.longhaircareforum.com

http://www.motowngirl.com - www.motowngirl.com

Welcome to the group!