1. Do you do a protein treatment before or after?
I personally don't do anything special. I keep the same regimen when in braids as when out of them. So I just make sure my hair is clean before I put the braids in and I do like to put the when my hair is shrunken (so it's like prewashed jeans and there'll be no shrinking when I wash which can make braids look bad).
2. Do you do a moisturzing conditioner or deep conditioner?
I will usually put braids in after my weekend wash which does include a reconstructor and a moisturizing conditioner. I always DC with a reconstructor on the weekend and I always follow that with a moisturizing conditioner so the answer for me is yes.
3. Do you buy your own hair?
Yes, and I do my own hair.
4. Do you take your own tools...ie. comb,styling products etc
Nope, I don't take anything anywhere. I braid my own hair as I watch a few movies and I stop when I get bored to pick up when I next feel like it. So it's never a chore. If I do it in one sitting, it can take 8 hours. Otherwise, I usually stop, and put on a hat letting the finished part hang out of the hat (since I start braiding from the back and sides moving forward) till I'm next in the mood to continue.