One of the things I love about edge control is that it provides the perfect finish for any hairstyle I’m wearing. There’s something about laying your edges that brings an entire look together but through the years, I have struggled to get my preferred edge control to keep my edges in place all day. Being able to keep your edges laid all day long will depend on a variety of factors and as someone who has taken a trial and error approach to it all, I have some tips that you might find useful.
Remove your edge control at the end of the day – Product buildup has a big part to play in whether your edges stay put. When you’re washing your face at the end of the day, remove your edge control at the same time. This will remove any buildup, keep your scalp clean and guarantee that your edges will be as good as new the next day. If you remove edge control from your edges at the end of the day, you can also apply a bit of leave-in conditioner to keep them moisturised.
Apply some leave-in conditioner before laying your edges – The care you give to your hair is the same care you should be giving to your edges. Apply leave-in conditioner on your edges as part of your evening and morning routine. As a 4C girlie who applies leave-in conditioner and oil on her edges at night, they are a little dry by the time morning comes (this is probably due to my hair’s porosity). It’s a little tricky to apply edge control without your hair having a little bit of moisture (unless you’ve relaxed them). Always use a leave-in conditioner or a moisturising cream before you lay your edges.
Massage your edges whenever you can – If you want to grow your edges, one of the most important things you can do is massage them at any given opportunity – at night, in the morning and on wash days. Massaging your edges allows any product to stimulate your hair follicles, promoting growth in the process. Leaving products like oils and creams on your hair isn’t a good idea as they will just sit on your hair and lead to build up, which you don’t want. When it comes to massaging your edges, massage them the same way you would your temple points. There are devices such as derma rollers that can help with scalp health but I’ve never used one before so I can’t attest to their efficacy.
Relax your edges – This is a bit of a controversial tip so don’t judge me, but if you want super sleek edges then your best bet is to relax them. I’ve been doing this for years and I always say that 90% of my hair is natural and 10% is not. I relax my edges every two to three weeks and I use the Profectiv Mega Growth Anti Damage No Lye Relaxer.
Before applying the relaxer, I mix it with the Creme Activator. Once they’ve been mixed well, I apply it on my edges and leave it for about 10-15 minutes and then I use a spatula to remove most of the product from my edges before washing it out completely. I use shampoo to make sure everything has been removed. I know it’s not ideal but if you really want sleek edges, then relaxing or texturising your hair might be something you wish to consider.
Don’t apply too much edge control – There’s a bit of a misconception that the more edge control you apply to your edges then the longer they will last and this isn’t always the case. Speaking from experience, edge control should be applied in the same way that complexion products are applied to skin – start with a bit and then add more where you need it. When you apply edge control, always start from the root of your edges before you proceed to lay each section in the motion you prefer. Once you’re happy with the way you’ve laid your edges, then you can start to apply more product. When it comes to making your edge control last longer, a lot of it lies in the technique as opposed to the products you use.
Use your fingers instead of a brush – Edge brushes have been having a moment and while they’re a quick and easy way to apply your edges, I have found that mine stay in place longer when I use my middle finger. Your middle finger has more grip strength, therefore; it makes sense to use it to lay your edges. You’ll need to make sure your hands are clean before and after application, but it is quite effective. If you use an edge brush, most of the product will stay on the brush when it should be on your edges. Additionally, you’ll need to wash the brush every time you use it. I’m a big believer in doing what works for you, but don’t underestimate how strong your middle finger is (no pun intended).
Comb your hair first before applying edge control – Something else people may not consider before applying edge control. Your edges won’t always look their best in the morning so before you reach for edge control, use a small tooth comb and comb them first. Once you’ve combed them, you can apply the product. Something else to keep in mind is that you can comb your hair whilst applying edge control – you won’t always get it right (which is fine) but you can make little tweaks as you go. Also, you can use the end of the comb to define the motion of your edges if you’re struggling to do this with your finger or a brush.
Tip: if you’re planning to wear your hair down or leave pieces of your hair down after applying edge control, keep your hair away from your face for the first few minutes to give the product time to set. If you have some time to spare, you can use a blow dryer to keep everything in place (just don’t hold it too close to your edges).
Prioritise the health of your edges – Edge health is so important. There’s a lot of emphasis on hair health and not enough on edge health to be honest. As a self-confessed hair enthusiast, I feel like there’s always a quick fix to edge growth being promoted on social media. I think it’s important to drown out the noise and find what works for you. You may find that my earlier point about removing product from your edges every day helps them grow or you may find that leave-in conditioner alone is enough to help them thrive.
So, try not to get caught up in the hype. Find one or two techniques that work for you and take it from there. Someone else I think we need to talk about more is giving your edges a break from time to time. Last week was really busy for me and I didn’t have time to lay my edges so they’ve had some time to breathe whilst I follow my day and night edge routine, which is great. Additionally, I haven’t relaxed them in almost a month. So, find what works for you and stick with it.
If you’ve been trying to get your edge control to last all day for some time, then I hope you’ve found this post useful. As mentioned, the technique has more of a part to play then the product when it comes to how long your edges will last. For years, I have been alternating between two edge controls: Eco Styling Gel and Fonex Gummy Ultra Hold Styling Wax. I use the latter more than the former but they’re the G.O.A.T’s of edge control in my opinion. What are some of your tips for making edge control last all day? Let me know in the comments.
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