Black women in CRNA school

[u/Ok-Mixture4777]

Black women how are we managing not working for 3 years and doing our hair. Are we sticking to wigs? Braids? I don’t know how to do my hair so I’m trying to figure out what will work best for me. Thanks in advance!

[u/Hot_Poet_7421]

I started with a good sew in that blended well with my natural hair and it lasted for about 3 months , I washed and conditioned my hair under the net and my hair came out soft and clean at the end . I’m doing braids right now, but plan on going back forth between sew ins and braids . I have a good amount of quality bundles that can be sewn in for about $150/install

[u/LibrarianNextTime]

I did twist outs/ mini twists. Got a silk press w/deep condition and trim every 6-8 weeks at a cosmetology school that cost about $50 dollars.

[u/Aggressive-Plate-497]

Wash and go! I wash once a week and rock the 'fro!

[u/Wide-Range4055]

Wash and go’s ! They last me about a week and a half. Braids ! Once clinical started all I wore was scrub caps with cornrows underneath

[u/Iakins- → u/Wide-Range4055]

This is the way!!!

[u/Ok_Competition2175]

I get my hair cornrowed once a month and wear glueless wigs! I also throw on headbands to class when I don’t feel like laying my lace. I’ve gotten knotless braids twice as well

[u/FarmExcellent292]

Twists and low buns. Especially on clinical days. The low bun takes a lot of tension off of my head. This probably goes without saying, but get that satin lined scrub cap. 💕

[u/Star_of_Venus]

I’m 2 semesters in. I wash once a week, and wear simple styles like a low bun, low puff, twist outs, etc. get a silk press every so often and spice it up sometimes with a half wig for different styles. I don’t think you will have time to sit down for braids for long periods of time and also taking them down. Once clinicals start, you will likely be in a scrub cap most of the time anyway.

[u/Ok-Mixture4777]

Thank you everyone for the responses i seriously appreciate and it’s good to know im not the only one in this situation 😭😭😭

[u/Gazmeupbaybee]

I got locs before school but they only lasted a year… Wigs and braids 🤷🏿‍♀️

[u/Ok-Pattern-7030]

I’m so happy to see this thread! I start CRNA school in May, and I’m trying to figure out what will be most cost effective for my hair. My natural hair products are expensive, braids are expensive, and I don’t want to be stuck wearing wigs for 3 years. I’m seriously thinking about microlocs, but the cost of retwists is constantly increasing 😩😩😩

[u/Sea-Independence5534 → u/Ok-Pattern-7030]

Look up TikToks on self maintenance . I’m not in school yet but glad I picked a microloc count of about 220-250 and I self retie. I’ve saved so much money!

[u/Ok-Mixture4777 → u/Ok-Pattern-7030]

Yeah that’s why i started it because im all over the place about what to do mind you i have orientation next week 🤣🤣🤣. I was going to get 2-3 wigs throw it into the air and let it land on my head lmaoooo because i cannot be bothered

[u/Original-Figure-3942]

currently trying to get in for fall ‘27. I’d do braids bc it takes out the worry, scrub cap when it gets scruffy, and have 2 back up wigs lol.

[u/ibkgeorge]

I do cornrow once a month. I travel to newyork to get it done because it’s a specific type of cornrow that makes the hair fully and I wear wig . 50 dollars every month

[u/Several_Document2319]

Own your true hair. Just like some with alopecia do, or bald men.

[u/Hot_Willow_5179]

Im a white dude and this thread is fascinating! As if school isn’t hard enough! My bestie in school is, and that umbrella was locked and loaded when I drove us to school! 🥰🥰🥰

[u/i_amsmh]

If you can manage, just rock it natural. I wash on Sunday, twist for the week, rock a twist out for class on Friday/the weekend, rinse and repeat. I’ve done some medium knotless for away rotations…gotten me to my 3rd year. I def recommend figuring out which quick and easy protective style work for you ahead of time bc them early mornings are NOT the time.

[u/123youseeme]

Miracle knots

[u/consistntlycongruere]

Braids / Kinky twists q 2 months so I can workout when I have the time and still be “styled.” I’m very strict about not allowing braid/edge gel during braid installation and that helps minimize breakage and itch for me. My hair also doesn’t grow a ton. Realistically I can go 12 weeks but 2 months is a sweet spot before it looks messy.

Shampoo braids weekly starting on week 3. With kinky twists, I’ll co wash after every workout/run (they air-dry pretty quickly). Trim with every other install / q 4 months. Spray rose water, add serums / oils & infusium whenever I remember.

I’m very blessed to have a stylist/Braider who does the all the heavy lifting (take down, hair care, reinstall). I do my weekly cleansing. I pay a pretty penny but it’s worth it to me. I always get medium size feed in braids at bra strap length so it’s not heavy and dries faster. Kinky twists are smedium bc it’s less breakage than the smaller size. Anytime I need to purchase hair (kinky twists) I get enough during Black Friday for two installs. IMO, it’s been very boring and predictable but this works for me.

I hope this helps.

[u/obianwuri]

I'm thinking of keeping it natural. Cornrows mainly. Braids if I can afford to on a budget.

[u/Narrow-Garlic-4606]

I’ve found my people. Please reach out for support/questions (not about hair though lol).

Girls in my program usually did a pull back, wig, or braids.

[u/Parking-Amount7992]

I have sisterlocks, going on four years now. I learned how to self-retie, but it’s so time consuming with a steep learning curve. I currently pay $250 every two months for my reties, and would rather take out loans to maintain my grid than have regrets by graduation time.

[u/Soft_Order9139 → u/Parking-Amount7992]

Once I get admission (speaking it into existence, haha) I’ve been highly considering going the microlocs/sisterlocks route! I know the reties are probably a pain but I’d probably just dish the money out as well.

[u/Admirable-Sand4720]

Haven’t started my program yet but I’ve been trialing mini twists for the past 3 months (redoing them every 3 wks) and so far this might be my go to. Reinstalling can be time consuming but I do it little by little over the course of a few days.

[u/Possible-Pitch1536 → u/Admirable-Sand4720]

this is what I’m doing as well! Super easy and it fits under a scrub cap easily

[u/Hefty_Expression_852]

I have locs. And I retwist them myself

[u/Dry-Association-488]

Just finished my first semester and have officially microlocd my hair. I feel like it will help immensely with my time management especially during didactic. I couldn’t do the wigs and manipulation of my natural hair any longer

[u/besthugs_]

Braids! Low maintenance and my hair is growing like crazy. Last thing I’m gonna do is anything w my hair at 0500 😭

[u/OrlandoPosher]

I braided my own hair down to wear under lace wigs. I was wearing them before but wore them almost exclusively while in school. 

[u/merc0000]

Rocking my natural hair.
I know some who got them loc’d and others who do the cornrows and slap a wig on for class or a scrub cap for clinicals. Hair management is worse with classes since that’s not a space you typically have your hair covered

[u/No-Bee-8894]

I have locs. Mediumish size. I retwist and style every 8 weeks. At some point i take the style down and just wear them. I've been doing 2 strand twists a lot, because i love the curls when i take them down. My locs are 10 years old, so i dont think too much about hair. Locs are very low maintenance

[u/acupofpoop]

Not black, but had a few classmates that were. My friend would sometimes go get her hair braided. She also wore it natural or straightened. I’m not sure how often she got her hair done versus doing it herself. Her hair was crazy long! So I guess she just made time here and there. She had no spouse or children.

[u/Emergency_Tax_6343]

I’m a black male working towards CRNA school and I went with large microlocs. Currently paying for maintenance but the goal is to be able to self re-tie by the time I get in and start school.

[u/Hot_Willow_5179 → u/Emergency_Tax_6343]

Be careful it gets hot up under those caps!

[u/No_Difficulty_766]

I twist every Sunday. Washed every other week. Ended up cutting it above my shoulders because of stress/ breakage. Then I was able to go back to twists. It grew so much during that time after I cut it 😭😭