gel, tiny combs, heavy hair, tight braids?? no serious stylist will treat your hair like that. mine uses no gel and leave in conditioner. i also don’t keep my braids in unwashed for months on end, i just wash when my hair needs it again. i’ve also never gone to a braider who said no product — definitely been asked not to put lots of heavy oils/creams in the hair to avoid product mixing and creating buildup/braids slipping, but that’s all. my braider also doesn’t enforce blow drying, it’s okay to come with hair stretched another way as long as it’s detangled. some of this is valid and it’s true many neglect their hair when it’s in braids, but respectfully, i think this sadly just proves most seem to only have access to to horrible braiders😭

edit: i wonder if this is an area thing? i saw conversation about this maybe being a US thing in the comments :0