News channel WREG of Memphis Tennessee is warning us against DIY hairstyles. We all know how important DIY is to us, most of us at one time or another has done something our own hair at home to avoid the cost of going to a stylist.
The thing that sparked the warning was a Mid-South mother who shared pictures of her daughter’s injury from enduring second degree burns when she accidentally burned her while trying to style her braided hair.
The child’s hair was braided using extensions*. When her mom dipped the ends in hot water to finish the style, the steam from the water startled the girl.
The child jumped and her mom accidentally spilled the hot water on her little girl after which the child was immediately rushed to the hospital and treated.
Many of us are re thinking DIY to the extent of getting a bit smarter with it, rather than doing away with it all together.
The truth is, accidents can happen anywhere so even in the salon we have to be very careful on how much care is being given to our installs.
According to Wreg.com
Two New York women sued some African braiding shops after they claim they suffered severe burns while having their hair dipped in hot water.
Tennessee’s Board of Cosmetology couldn’t tell WREG whether it had complaints specifically related to hot water burns, but did reiterate even hair braiders need a state license.
As mentioned, there are safe ways of curling the hair that might not involve hot water, for example using a flat iron* that is safe for curling synthetic hair.
Another suggestion would be to pre curl the hair in hot water prior to install depending on the style you want. This is particularly important if your are braiding a child’s hair who cannot be reasonably expected to sit still. Let’s be safe with these installs ladies.
Check out their video:
Sharmane Smith says
I don’t know why people don’t just curl it before application
tmw says
For individual braids you can’t
Mavis Ricketts says
Those rods are too close to the scalp for dipping!
Daphne Dantzler says
So does this mean that every body with a license knows exactly what to do with a person’s hair? #not
CocoSag Déiare Brown says
Thank u
Shade Richardson says
If you go to a salon they dip hair too..so its no difference…
Rodemirma Viljean says
this could have happened in a salon as well. not really news worthy. she was startled by the steam of the water and moved, causing the water to fall. unfortunate but nothing more.
Dishauna Kirksey says
I got burned many times with my mom… but didn’t have second degree burns. Mom never had the water that hot!
Tender Roni says
Thats why I pretwist, dip then install.
Tiffany Marie Banks says
Thats negligence on the moms part. This isn’t a reflextion on everyone who does their own hair.
Tasha UniquelyKaring Gladney says
Even if you curl after ..you need to be FULLY AWARE AND capable to do hot rodding because of burn issues..if you not sure you can do it !!!!! DONT!!!! PRAYERS OF HEALING TO THE YOUNG LADY!
Cheryl Kirksey-Newsom says
Whatever!!!!! Whoever did it is an idiot!!!!!!
Sahra Igho says
Why are people still dipping hair in water? All you need to do is blow dry the hair. When you divide the extensions you greese it. Thus, when hair done and you blow dry it, the heat seal the tips. This is what they now do in Nigeria and the look is so much better than water dipping
Loka NoLabel Jackson says
Good idea! Im going to try this!
tmw says
when you put the hair in box braids and you want the ends to be curly you roll it and dip it. If you want the ends to be wavy you braid, dip then unbraid. Unfortunately you cant do this before you install if it is box or individual braids
Lanita says
The US is a big country. 🙂 One woman in Mississippi doing it this way is not necessarily the way EVERYONE else across the country is doing it.
Good for you spotlighting your county, but I’ve found most Nigerians, West Indians, including other people,of African descent learn styling techniques from black Americans then take them back to their own country.
Courtney Gray says
O lord. Y she aint just do it while it was wet. And if wouldve dried and be curly
Takesha Lasondra Hornsby says
Damn dummies you dip and air dry before installing do better people!
Loretta says
Why didn’t she use some type of protection? She could have used a water repellent bib that you can find in most BSS or Sally’s, and for added protection, a towel wrapped around the neck. If any water is spilled, it will be absorbed by the towel and if by chance, the water seeps through the towel, the bib will protect your skin and the water will roll onto the floor.
tmw says
Okay, I’m reading these comments I want to know how do you predip for individual or box braids? you can do that to crochet braids, etc. but the hair needs to be straight for you to braid individuals… that I know of…