Many of these women speak of allowing their hair to "breathe" but also of the chance to learn more. "I was looking forward to actually having some time where I can play with my hair," my friend Natty said. Like me, she relied upon a regimented routine. Now, she’s trialing Dutch braids with extensions and testing out her stock of Treasure Tress products. "I’ve learned new skills. If I don’t have the time to do box braids or I just want something different, I can now achieve that by myself," she says. Student Dami, who has a little more experience braiding and cornrowing her hair between appointments, tells me she’s ordered her first wig, "a very cheap one to teach myself how to style it before I go on to laces."