ALLBRAIDS

Nothing can get single braids and twists looking fresh and new again like a touch-up. It is the most affordable and less time consuming way to getting that familiar “New ‘Do High” guaranteed.
Money and time permitting, a touch-up needs to and should cover up old braids. The ideal touch-up is one that goes around the perimeter of your head-a must if you tend to wear your braids in a ponytail a lot; but if your budget isn’t flexible, or you don’t have much time to spare, a front touch-up might do the trick. The ideal time to get touched-up is anywhere from 1 ½ to 2 months from the day your hair was first breaded. Because by this time, your braids will have loosened up due to new-growth, but aren’t shabby yet.
Since you really can’t see the back or top of your head to, personally, determine how much of a touch-up will be enough to cover older braids, it is best to listen to and follow your braider’s advice as far as how much of your braids should be redone.
Past 3 months, a touch-up, frankly is a waste of your money and time because at this point, your braids just need to come off, your hair shampooed and deep conditioned, before starting the braiding process all over again.

Braids, weaves and dreads have taken over the planet; yes from Africa to Asia via the US, sported by all races and hair types, braids are everywhere. There is indeed a hunger for braids out there and at Astou's, we'd be damned if we don’t do our part in feeding it.
Braids are seasonless, they are always in, always cool. They compliment your style, give your hair a break and frankly do more for us and our self-esteem than most man ever could.
But as much as we gorge ourselves, let’s remember that moderation is key.

Frankly, the only obstacle to getting braids is an unhealthy scalp. Which shows itself in different forms that can range from annoying itching and mild dandruff to severe enough issues that can cause scars and hair loss. So, if open sores, painful blisters, or red bumps develop on your scalp, it is paramount you avoid stressing your scalp further with chemical processes, braids, tight ponytails or weaves until your symptoms get better. And if they persist or become more severe over time, make sure you restrain from hair styling until you contact and get cleared by a health care professional.

An unhealthy scalp means unhealthy, lackluster hair and given the vital role it plays in hair health and appearance, scalp conditioning, care and maintenance should always be a priority.
So remember: Mild Shampoo and Moisturizing (deep) Conditioner + moisturizer = a happy scalp

A weave/extensions is achieved by sewing weft Human or Synthetic hair after your own hair has been cornrowed flat against your scalp. It is also know hair integration or tracks.
Besides making you look your best, we all know that the whole point of getting a weave/extensions is to seamlessly add length and body to your own hair. Like the perfect Louis Vuitton knock-off, your weave/extensions is supposed to be realistic, undetectable and above all, attractive. The first step to getting the perfect look lays in making the right choice in hair weave/extensions selection. The final choice in hair should only be made after you and your stylist do a full assessment of your own hair, with close attention being paid to its’ textures and colors.

Also, remember to discuss your lifestyle, the look you desire and the way you are likely to wear your hair most of the time. The right hair weave/extensions for anyone is hair that has similar textures to your own and compliments it color-wise. So, to get that, much coveted, natural look, always go shades lighter or darker from your own hair. The hair used in Weave/extensions is, usually, human. The only way to get away with using synthetic hair for a weave/extensions is by sticking to the protein kind and because synthetic hair tends to look like what it is, cheap, fake plastic, it is hard to pass it as your own. Human hair is much more suitable for use with free-flowing styles and when done right -by a professional, it blends in perfectly, making it less likely that its’ presence will be detected.
So, budget permitting, please, stick with human hair!