Do you think braiding your own hair without using the hair extensions will be less damaging?

well, either way, you are pulling the hair tight so its probably the same amount of damage.

if you get micros, you are pulling the hair, making it weak.

if you braid your own hair, you are pulling the hair making it weak.

the way that extensions damage your real hair is when you have them glued in or even sometimes the sew in kind can cause damage too. it has nothing to do with braids.

Do you think braiding your own hair without using the hair extensions will be less damaging?

Well...

Getting the extra hair will add more weight and stress on the roots of your hair. The tight braids already do that enough, and more hair would make it heavier, so it would pull more.

Getting braids grows your hair out faster, but with the extra stress, it becomes more damaged.

So I'd get the braids without the extra hair.

Also, unless you're getting micros, adding hair to braids looks tacky.

Do you think braiding your own hair without using the hair extensions will be less damaging?

definitley!! do whatever feels comfortable!!