Rubber Bands with Braids

[Cactus Jack]

I have seen several remarks made in LHC threads that one should not secure the tassels of a braid with rubber bands. Why is this? I frequently see rubber bands being used when I observe people wearing braids.
“D”

[GoddessLocks]

I use rubber bands, and I dont see a problem with them. I use ones that isnt bound with the metal clasp, that can rip hair out like crazy! But, I dont see a problem using them, especially with braids.

[Arianwen]

I highly suggest you NEVER use "rubber" bands but only ELASTICS meant for hair. Rubber can damage hair.

[Nalia]

I never use regular rubber bands. I use the ponytail ties made of cloth, but never regular rubber bands, because they grab and pull at my hair when I remove them, even from the ends of braids. I can hear breakage when I pull them off.

[Ursula]

It depends on what you mean by "rubber band."

You definately don't want the plain rubber bands found in offices!

The "rubber bands" that are actually designed for use in hair (common brands are Goody and Scunci), without metal clasps holding them in the loop shape, and covered with nylon, are okay for hair. So are fabric covered scrunchies.

You want to be careful how you remove the rubber band, so you aren't dragging the tight rubber band down the length of your hair, as well. Undo it one twist at a time, so it is loosened before you remove it.

[Larz]

I use "no damage" bands for my braids. Like Goddess said, as long as you don't use the ones with metal. I just don't like using bands for pony tails if I can help it. I feel like even the bands without the metal have a potential to damage if you let them get too stretched out or tie them too tightly.

[AquaViolet1973]

Originally Posted by Doreen

I have seen several remarks made in LHC threads that one should not secure the tassels of a braid with rubber bands. Why is this? I frequently see rubber bands being used when I observe people wearing braids.
“D”

Regular rubber bands can rip and tear your hair. I always use a scrunchie or hair friendly covered elastics if I am going to wear my hair in a ponytail or braids.

[SunCat]

You don't want to use office rubber bands for your hair as rubber will stick and catch on your hair and rip it out or cut it. You want to use hair elastics without the metal or fabric scrunchies.

[euphrasyne]

I use the no-damage, no-joining-piece hair elastics. Actual rubber bands or the metal joined elastics require scissors to get out of my hair.

cheryl

[mostylist]

Originally Posted by Ursula

It depends on what you mean by "rubber band."

You definately don't want the plain rubber bands found in offices!

The "rubber bands" that are actually designed for use in hair (common brands are Goody and Scunci), without metal clasps holding them in the loop shape, and covered with nylon, are okay for hair. So are fabric covered scrunchies.

You want to be careful how you remove the rubber band, so you aren't dragging the tight rubber band down the length of your hair, as well. Undo it one twist at a time, so it is loosened before you remove it.

If you do use office rubber bands. cut the band to remove it from the hair.
after removing check the band and your hair for hair broke-off from the band rubbing/cutting into the hair.

[Cactus Jack]

Thanks everyone for the info. When I do my next braiding job, I will not use rubber bands (the office type).
"D"

[Dianyla]

Originally Posted by Ursula

You definately don't want the plain rubber bands found in offices!

Actually, I used these for decades with no trouble. The office supply bands as well as those really chunky ones that come on a bundle of asparagus.

Now, for ponytails I would never use a rubber band simply because it's impossible to pull the length of hair through the band several times without dragging and snapping. But braid tassels, absolutely. As long as you deliberately unwind the band without scraping it across the hair, I don't believe these harm the hair.

The main reason I switched to the scunci hair hosiery ties is because natural rubber bands tend to degrade and break down when you use oils in your hair. The more I started oiling my ends the more likely it was that a band might suddenly break in the middle of the day and leave me high and dry.

[eKatherine]

I used to buy the smallest size rubber band available by the pound. I always carefully cut them out of my tassel when I unbraided.

My hair was knee-length back then.