If you have kinky-curly hair, I recommend getting your hair braided once you get to Jamaica. I know — typically you get your hair done before you go on vacation, but if I'm going to a majority-Black country, I usually set aside time on my first full day there to hit up a hair salon.
This is for a few reasons. First, it's much cheaper. My first full day in Kingston, I got up for a 9 AM appointment to get eight stitch braids going back. What would have cost me nearly $200 with tip in New York, set me back only $70 in Jamaica.
The second and equally as important reason, is I find my braids last much longer when I do them outside of the U.S. With these style cornrows, in New York City, typically I won't have them in much longer for a week before they start to get fuzzy. And that seems like a waste, especially when you're forking over hundreds of dollars. The braids I got done at Babae Stylez Salon in Kingston were still looking crisp two and a half weeks later, and I paid less than half of what I would pay in the U.S. It's a no-brainer for me. Just be sure to tip your braider generously.
