I have an entirely new level of respect for braiders. Yeah they be snatching out your edges and sometimes, they will talk bad about you or your hair in their language, but this is hard work. Even the muscles in my elbows hurt lmao.
Chaosbutterfly What kind of braids are you installing? I have an appt May 1st to get my usual summer senegalese twists installed and all I keep thinking is that I will be 9 months pregnant and do not want to sit still for 8-9 hours for this!!! I also don't want to do them myself as I know it will still take me just as long. I was thinking of trying to self install some Havana twists. They are similar to my beloved senegalese twists but much bigger and I've watched a few youtube tutorials where ladies were saying it only took them 2 hours.
I was probably a little overambitious for my first time...mine are medium sized with regular kanekalon hair, but they are really long. Like hip length. That's part of why I think it's taking so long...that and I'm doing the invisible roots method, instead of starting with a braid, which is easier to put in but harder to take down.
I've also heard that Havana twists are faster to install. Probably because they are big, so you don't have to put in so many to create fullness. You also don't have to work so hard to blend the hair, if you're natural. it would probably be a safer bet than senegalese twists. These things are surprisingly difficult smh.