The Vacation Braids That Tried to Retire My Edges

You ever come back from vacation glowing… except your edges look like they put in overtime at a factory they did not apply for?

The pictures are cute. The braids are still neat. But that first wash-day back home? Your hairline is in HR filing a complaint.

This one is for you if “vacation braids” secretly turned into “why are my edges missing?”—especially if you have 4C or tightly coiled hair.

The Braids Were Laid. Your Edges Were Screaming.

Vacation braids are supposed to be easy:

• Hop on a plane

• Hop in the water

• Wake up cute every day

But here’s what really happens to a lot of Black women:

• Stylist braids too tight around your hairline

• Heavy extensions are pulling 24/7

• Salt water, chlorine, and sun are drying out your scalp

• You sleep with no scarf because “it’s vacation, I’m outside”

By the time you take those braids down, your edges are thin, tender, and in some spots… gone.

That’s not “protective.” That’s pressure.

Step One: Prep Your Hairline 

Before

the Braids Go In

Healthy vacation braids start before you sit in anybody’s chair.

1. • Start with a gentle shampoo and conditioner from the Grow Your Edges Back Wash Day collection.

     Deep cleanse without stripping

     Do a full wash day using the Grow Your Edges Back wash day system so your scalp is clean, but your hair isn’t dry and brittle.

2. • Follow with Grow Your Edges Back Leave In Conditioner for Hydrated Edges so your hairline is soft and flexible before braids touch it.

     Load your hairline with moisture

     Focus your conditioner and leave-in around the front of your head, where braids are most fragile.

3. Seal your edges with lightweight oil

   On damp hair, massage a few drops of Grow Your Edges Back Hair & Edge Growth Oil w/ FREE Edge Brush into your hairline. You’re building a moisture shield before the stylist even parts your hair.

4. • If you hear your scalp squeak or feel your heartbeat in your temples, that is too tight.

   • Say: “Can you loosen the front row a bit? My edges are already recovering.”

     You don’t owe anybody pain.

     Have a boundary at the chair

     
     

During Vacation: Cute, But Not Careless

Once the braids are in, it’s maintenance—not vibes-only.

1. Don’t slick the life out of your baby hairs every day.

If you’re already braided, you don’t need daily aggressive swoops on top of tension. When you do lay your edges, use a growth-friendly formula like

Grow Your Edges Back Edge Control & Loc Gel + FREE Edge Brush — strong hold, no flaking, and designed for a fragile hairline.

2. Rinse the salt and chlorine off.

After the pool or beach:

• Rinse your braids with lukewarm water

• Lightly cleanse your scalp with a diluted shampoo or scalp spray

• Add leave-in to your braids and hairline so your natural hair doesn’t dry out inside the extensions

3. Respect your scarf.

Silk or satin scarf + bonnet combo:

• Reduces friction around your edges

• Keeps your braids from rubbing against cotton pillowcases

• Helps your style last longer without frizzing at the roots

Vacation or not, your hairline still needs discipline.

Taking Braids Down: The Real Damage Check

The danger zone is take-down day. This is where a lot of edges get snatched… literally.

1. • Coat your braids in a little Grow Your Edges Back Leave-In Conditioner or Hair Serum first

   • Use your fingers to gently break up the product at your hairline before you start cutting or unraveling

     Be patient with buildup.

     If you used edge control, oil, and sunscreen, expect buildup at the front.

      

2. Detangle with slip, not force.

   Once the braids are out, apply a generous amount of conditioner to your roots before combing through. That “shed hair clump” at the front is normal—just don’t rip through it.

3. Start an intentional edge routine.

   For the next 6–8 weeks:

   • Massage Grow Your Edges Back Hair & Edge Growth Oil w/ FREE Edge Brush into your hairline 3–4 times a week.

   • Use Grow Your Edges Back Dynamic Duo Edge Comeback Kit when you want both hold and growth support at the same time.

   • Keep styles low-tension—puffs, twist-outs, loose wigs with the band loosened, or low ponytails.

We are not doing back-to-back braids on a hairline that is still negotiating its contract.

When Vacation Braids Are Allowed Back In

You can absolutely wear braids again. Just with new rules:

• Space installs out by at least 8 weeks and give your hairline a full recovery window.

• Choose knotless braids, twists, or crochet styles that are lighter on the perimeter.

• Ask your stylist to leave the baby-hair area out completely if your edges are still thin.

• Treat your braids like a protective style, not a punishment.

Your edges are not a security deposit for good vacation photos.

Quick FAQ: Vacation Braids, Edges & Hair Growth

Q1. Do vacation braids cause thinning edges?

They can if they’re installed too tight, kept in too long, or combined with daily slick-backs and no moisture. Gentle installation + solid prep with products like the Grow Your Edges Back Hair & Edge Growth Oil keeps them closer to “protective style” than “problem.”

Q2. How do I protect my edges at the beach or pool?

Rinse salt/chlorine out after swimming, reapply leave-in and oil to your hairline, and sleep with a scarf or bonnet. Avoid tight ponytails on top of braids after long sun days.

Q3. How long should I keep braids in if my edges are sensitive?

For most Black women with fragile or thinning edges, 4–6 weeks is the sweet spot. Anything beyond 8 weeks increases buildup, tension, and shedding around your hairline.

If your last trip left your edges on the prayer list, it might be time to travel different.

Build your next vacation around healthy, low-tension styles and a consistent routine with the Grow Your Edges Back wash day, leave-in, and edge growth system—so the only thing you leave behind is footprints, not follicles.

👉🏾 Give your edges a softer standard.

Shop GrowYourEdgesBack.com

or ask for us at your local beauty supply and build a Sunday routine that looks good and keeps your follicles in the chat.