The Braid Bar Houston, LLC., Difference!(Phoenix Care)
When I first started braiding hair over 18 years ago, all of my clients were friends and family. When I went on to college in 2002, I began braiding my basketball teammates' hair throughout the seasons. After college, in 2007, I gave birth to my daughter, Phoenix, now 12. Little did I know, but this child would grow up to not only be tender-headed, but to also have some of the thickest hair I had ever braided!
As Phoenix grew older, we chose light-weight, and tension-free extensions, braids, locs, and twists for protective styling. I wasn't going to be combing all that hair everyday LOL! I had to use delicate care when detangling & combing, as well as, take my time on her installs (especially around her edges). Her thick coils (which I rarely put heat on), needed to be strategically TUCKED behind the extensions to reduce frizziness and extend the length of wear for her installs.
Overtime, her hair just continued to grow and push past each length check. I attributed this steady growth to a few factors that I can mention quickly... A) I used to load her hair and scalp down with butters and oils before her braid installs; B) I created my own growth and scalp oils which she would use in her hair daily; and C) she would "water" her braids (almost) everyday with a spray bottle.
And when we would take her braids down weeks later, her hair would still be so moisturized and soft! We simply "water" the braids and add oil as we remove each one, and gently finger detangle her roots. From there, she's loaded with oil, her hair is detangled and in twists which allows this stage to serve as her pre-poo before we wash, condition, and do it all over again!
I jokingly, at the time, named this NURTURING and efficient process of braiding and up-keep, "PHOENIX CARE."
I would literally have clients/friends (who know my daughter and I) come in and say, "Yeah girl, load me down with the butters, creams & oil... I need that "Phoenix Care!" LOL
I would later learn from the Natural Community videos I would watch, that I was pretty much using THE L.O.C. METHOD, a moisturization technique for woman with curly and natural hair.
A couple of years ago, I came across a video of the women of a tribe in Chad, Africa and how they grow their long thick hair. I soon realized that I was using some of those same techniques to reduce breakage and manipulation all those years back!
The L.O.C. method is definitely some of the SAME SCIENCE as the Chadian women, but the real MAGIC happens when they create their own Herb-infused growth powders and clays to layer into the hair shaft before protective styling. Doing this before braid installs reduced breakage and promoted hair growth! It's literally ancestral knowledge we must integrate into our regimens. (Video Below!)
There are many braiders who dislike adding any products before braiding because it causes the hair and weave to slip making it harder to braid (grab every hair or put as tight to the root as possible)... this has also, in my opinion, caused a lot of Traction Alopecia in our community. I prefer health every single time.
My daughter (through patience, research, and trial & error) has inspired these gentle and growing hands which I apply daily with my growing clientele who seem to share the same values. #PhoenixCare #PhoenixRise
As I enter my 3rd year of operation, I'm keeping that same energy and bringing that authentic kind of magic into Braid Bar Houston, LLC., STAY TUNED!
Here’s a more recent video of my daughter’s hair after we trimmed off some colored ends.
Here is our personal at-home growth oil recipe (which varies depending on what I have available) that my daughter and I have been using for the past few years. My latest growth formula has already shown promising results and is coming soon to my website for purchase.