Hairstylists Let Us In on the Best Products for Maintaining Braids (2024)

For people with natural hair, protective styles are a great way to switch up your look while also giving your curls and coils a break from day-to-day styling. While many protective styles exist, braids have remained one of the most popular. They're long-lasting and low-maintenance, and there are so many variations to choose from.

But anyone who has worn braids knows they can get a little frizzy and itchy after a few weeks. And trying to figure out which products to use to tame flyaways and keep your scalp calm can be tricky. That's why we asked four hair experts to give us the rundown on maintaining braids and the best products to use. Find all of their suggestions below.

Our Top Picks

• Afrocenchix Swish Shampoo
• Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight
• Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo
• Imbue Coil Rejoicing Leave-in Conditioner
• Ouidad Curl Quencher

Shampoo

If you've been wondering whether shampooing your braids is possible, you'll be pleased to know that, depending on your hair texture, it's fine to wash them every one to two weeks.

When choosing a shampoo suitable for braids, Zuri Hair Studio's Jess Rutana recommends looking for lightweight, gel-like textures and sulfate-free formulas. "Sulfates can be harsh on the hair and scalp, causing dryness and irritation," she says.

Rutana also suggests looking for shampoos with moisturizing and soothing ingredients. "The best ingredients to look for are aloe vera, tea tree oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil," she says.

Johnson recommends moisturizing shampoos such as the Afrocenchix Swish Shampoo. "It's light in texture and won't create the kind of buildup that can be hard to remove when hair is braided," she says. The Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight and the Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo are both great alternatives; each one is sulfate-free and contains moisturizing ingredients.

Afrocenchix Swish Shampoo

Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight

Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo

Conditioner

After shampooing, applying conditioner on your braids will keep your hair moisturized, soft, and tangle-free. Rutana recommends looking for a conditioner with moisturizing, detangling, and scalp-soothing properties. Like shampoo, any conditioner you use should be lightweight in texture so it doesn’t weigh your braids down. Rutana recommends the Imbue Coil Rejoicing Leave-in Conditioner. Formulated with natural ingredients, including coconut oil, it instantly detangles, repairs, and restores hair for strong, defined, and powerful coils.Other contenders that do just as good of a job are the Ouidad Curl Quencher and the Kinky-Curly Knot Today Conditioner.

Imbue Coil Rejoicing Leave-in Conditioner

Ouidad Curl Quencher

Kinky-Curly Knot Today Conditioner

Mousse

Styling mousse is one of the best products for braids because it's lightweight and keeps hair in place. Rutana recommends looking for a formula that contains glycerin or hydrolyzed wheat protein as "[these ingredients] will add hold to your braids without making them look stiff or crunchy." Rutana uses the Ampro Shine 'N Jam Magic Fingers Setting Mousse on her clients. It's an alcohol-free setting mousse with a light to medium hold designed to set braids, eliminate flyaways, and extend the life of your protective style. It contains wheat protein and avocado to help strengthen hair and jojoba oil, which keeps hair soft and conditioned. The Cantu Protective Style Setting Foam and the Mielle Rice Water & Aloe Vera Braid Set Foam are equally effective in keeping braids smooth while not weighing them down.

Ampro Shine 'N Jam Magic Fingers Setting Mousse

Cantu Protective Style Setting Foam

Mielle Rice Water & Aloe Vera Braid Set Foam

Gel

A gel is perfect for setting your hair in place and keeping flyaways at bay. However, you'll need to make sure to choose one that doesn't leave white flakes behind. Johnson recommends the Red One Black Aqua Hair Gel Wax. "It has a light texture which prevents hair from getting too hard, and it's also water-soluble," she adds. There are also clear gels that offer a strong hold, including the Kiss Colors & Care Braiding Gel and the PureO Natural Hair Gel.

Red One Black Aqua Hair Gel Wax

Kiss Colors & Care Braiding Gel

PureO Natural Hair Gel

Oil or Serum

Using a quality hair oil can help control frizz by keeping your hair moisturized, shiny, and smooth. "A lightweight oil—like the Bounce Curl Light Oil—can seal in moisture and promote scalp health without causing buildup," Odesho says. "This is essential as heavy oils can weigh down the braids and lead to a greasy scalp."

To keep your scalp moist and prevent dryness and breakage, you can also use the Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Finishing Mist. Another favorite is the Girl + Hair Daily Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil, which contains rosemary and pumpkin oil to promote healthy hair growth.

If oil isn't your thing, you can substitute it for a lightweight serum, like the Pattern Scalp Serum. "This serum hydrates and soothes the scalp without causing buildup," Bomani says. "It also focuses on the scalp to prevent dryness, irritation, and flakiness."

Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Finishing Mist

Girl + Hair Daily Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil

Pattern Scalp Serum

Bounce Curl Light Oil

Edge Control

Using a bit of edge control will ensure your wispy baby hairs stay laid all day. "Choose an edge control with a smooth and creamy texture that can easily be applied to hair without leaving any residue or buildup," Rutana says. Enriched with aloe vera and mongongo oil, the Ruka Hold Me Down Edge Gel will protect your hair against pollutants and keep your edges soft and smooth. You can never go wrong with a product that promises a stronger hold, so we also recommend the Design Essentials Sleek Max Edge Control and the Mizani Artful Edges Edge Tamer for a long-lasting finish.

Ruka Hold Me Down Edge Gel

Design Essentials Sleek Max Edge Control

Mizani Artful Edges Edge Tamer

Bonnets and Scarves

Wearing a silk or satin-lined bonnet or scarf will help keep your hair moisturized and reduce frizz. "A silk [or satin] scarf can protect your braids during the day or at night," Rutana says. "You can tie a scarf around your head to keep your braids in place and prevent them from getting frizzy or tangled. Scarves and bonnets can also help to reduce the need for frequent washing and styling of braids, which can help maintain the health of your hair and scalp."

TheKitsch Stin Sleep XL Adjustable Bonnetand the Cantu Satin Sleep Solid Scarf are both highly revered. They reduce friction while you sleep to promote the appearance of smoother hair. The bonnet is also adjustable, making it easier to achieve your desired level of comfort, while the scarf's silky feel will prevent frizz in the morning.

Kitsch Satin Sleep XL Adjustable Bonnet

Cantu Satin Sleep Solid Scarf

What to Look for in Products for Maintaining Braids

• Moisturizing and Soothing Properties: Prioritize hydrating ingredients that nourish and promote moisture retention, such as avocado, aloe vera, tea tree oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil,. These keep hair strong and shiny, control frizz, and rejuvenate the scalp. Coconut oil, for example, moisturizes, detangles, and restores hair. Castor and tea tree oils have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe dry, irritated scalps.
• Cleansing Power: Choose shampoos with lightweight, gel-like textures to avoid hard-to-remove buildup that can lead to flaking. Sulfates can dry out and irritate your scalp, so look for sulfate-free formulas.
• Hold:Styling products with lightweight textures, such as mousse and water-soluble gel, keep hair in place without weighing it down. Look for alcohol-free formulas that use glycerin or hydrolyzed wheat protein, which provide hold without stiffness or a crunchy feel.
• Protection: Silk or satin hair wraps and bonnets protect your hairstyle by creating a soft, smooth barrier that keeps frizz at bay while helping hair retain moisture. Avoid using materials such as cotton, which will absorb moisture from hair products such as leave-in conditioners and hair serums.