Coachella Braid Chain Link Slay™ Braided → Released
The finished style was only half the study. Now we remove every ring, anchor, gripper band and chain-link connection to see what truly happened underneath the install.
Watch the complete study
The full Coachella UnDo™
Follow the takedown in its true structural order—from the first decorative ring to the final detangling and hair-health evaluation.
Why The UnDo™ matters
A protective style is not judged at installation alone.
A hairstyle can look flawless and still leave important questions unanswered. How did the scalp respond? Where did tension collect? Was the natural hair protected? Did the removal process create avoidable breakage?
The UnDo™ closes the full protective-style cycle by documenting the style before removal, breaking down its construction, taking it apart safely and evaluating the natural hair after everything is released.
The construction
What made this style different
This was not one braid with a few accessories added. It was a connected system built from decorative rings, anchor ponytails, side chain-link braids, single hanging braids and a central twist foundation.
Step-by-step process
Coachella chain-link takedown order
The order matters. Pulling sections out of sequence could place unnecessary pressure on the hair or leave connected pieces trapped.
Remove the ring accessories
Each decorative ring is removed from the single hanging braids before the connected structure is disturbed. The braid is supported while checking for trapped strands.
Cut the gripper bands
The gripper cutter is positioned directly against the securing band and away from the natural hair. Only the band is cut.
Release the anchor ponytails
Once the bands are cleared, the anchor ponytails are released so the side chain-link structure can loosen without pulling against the base.
Open each side chain link
The pointed end of a rattail comb is inserted into each connection. Every link is lifted, separated and released individually along both sides of the head.
Release the single hanging braids
As the side chain-link foundation comes apart, the connected hanging braids begin to release naturally. They are supported rather than pulled loose.
Remove the middle twist braid
The final central twist is opened from the ends upward while the extension hair is kept separate from the client’s natural hair.
Inspect, detangle and restore
Once the full foundation is cleared, the scalp, hairline, tension areas, shedding, buildup and visible breakage are evaluated before the hair is detangled in controlled sections.
Scalp and hair inspection
What we checked after removal
A large amount of loose hair does not automatically mean damage. The evaluation separates normal trapped shedding from visible breakage and reviews the condition of the hair as a whole.
The natural hair remained generally intact after the connected chain-link structure was removed. The primary areas requiring attention were product buildup, trapped shedding and some visible breakage, while the hairline, scalp and overall condition performed well.
Key study findings
What this takedown taught us
Connected styles must be dismantled structurally.
Releasing the decorative and anchor elements first prevented the side chain-link braids from pulling against the scalp.
Safe does not have to mean unnecessarily slow.
Identifying the natural-hair boundary before cutting reduced the amount of braid that had to be manually unraveled.
Trapped shed hair can appear more dramatic than it is.
The amount must be considered alongside wear time, strand length and whether the released hair contains short snapped pieces.
The takedown is not finished when the extensions are out.
Sectioned detangling and final evaluation are part of the removal, not optional steps added after it.
Frequently asked questions
Coachella takedown FAQ
Why were the ring accessories removed first?
The rings were attached to the single hanging braids. Removing them first prevented the accessories from catching, dragging or becoming trapped while the connected structure was released.
Why use the end of a rattail comb?
The pointed end provided controlled access inside each chain-link connection. It allowed one link to be lifted and separated without pulling the entire braid at once.
Does visible shed hair mean the style caused damage?
Not automatically. Hair naturally sheds each day, but shed strands cannot fall away while the hair is braided. The strands stay trapped until the style is removed and detangled.
Why cut the extension braid before unraveling it?
Once the natural-hair boundary was clearly located, the excess extension length could be removed safely. This reduced unnecessary unraveling without risking the client’s hair.
What is the purpose of The UnDo™ Final Check?
The Final Check documents the condition of the hairline, scalp, tension areas, buildup, shedding, visible breakage and overall hair after the full takedown and detangling process.
Study closed
Install. Wear. UnDo. Evaluate.
The finished look matters—but so does the condition of the hair after the style is gone. Watch the complete study and explore more Gabby101™ takedown education.