THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BRAIDS: STYLES AND MAINTENANCE TIPS
By: Ebony Jay
Braids are a timeless and versatile hairstyle, and one of the most popular choices for long hair. Whether you’re wearing a single braid, two French braids, or something more complex, styling your hair in braids can give you a polished and sophisticated look. In this ultimate braids guide, we will provide you with tips and tricks on how to achieve the perfect braid look and some maintenance tips to keep your hair looking healthy and beautiful.
Women’s Braids – The Basics
First things first, women; before you go looking through pictures and picking out your next braid style, there are a few things we need to understand. There are essentially three primary decisions to be made before settling on a certain braided hairstyle.
- Do you want to wear your hair naturally or should you use a weave?
- Do you want flat braids or loose braids?
- Do you plan on keeping the braids in for a while?
Weave/Extensions vs. Natural Hair
It might be challenging to decide whether to use a weave to increase the length or to wear your hair in its natural state. Each has its set of advantages and disadvantages.
The length of your braids may be restricted if you choose to have your natural hair braided, limiting the variety of styles you can achieve. Braids styles benefit from the fullness and volume that weaves and extensions provide.
You can get longer braids by weaving them in, but it’s quicker, faster, and cheaper to simply get longer braids in the first place. If you want a braided style that won’t cause your scalp stress or lead to bald spots; natural is the way to go.
Flat Braids vs. Hanging Braids
The primary factor to think about when deciding between flat braids and hanging braids is how you intend to style your hair. If you prefer to try new hairstyles frequently and fluctuate between wearing your hair up and down, hanging braids may be the best option for you. Box braids and other types of hanging braids are tied at the scalp rather than the crown of the head. The hair in a hanging braid can be styled in the same way as loose hair.
If you choose a hanging braid with open ends (a loose, free-flowing weave), you can make it look like your hair is flowing freely. Flat braids are the better option if you prefer the “set it and forget it” method of hair care.
To ensure that flat braids stay in place, they are braided tightly against the skull, much like cornrows. This braid style is the longest lasting and needs little to no maintenance to look amazing. Longer flat braids provide you more flexibility to wear your hair in a variety of ways, such as a low bun, pigtails, or 3-strand braids.
Styling Time Duration
Consider the durability and ease of application of potential braids styles before committing to a new look.
- Depending on how carefully you care for them, box braids can last anywhere from four hours to eight weeks.
- Senegalese twists are time-consuming (6+ hours) but durable (4-8 weeks).
- Putting in cornrows or feed-in braids can take anything from a few hours to multiple days (depending on the complexity of the design).
5 Best Braid Maintenance Tips for Beginners
Whether you’re a braid beginner or a seasoned pro, this guide is full of braids maintenance tips and tricks to help you create beautiful, unique styles and maintain them like a pro!
Use a Scalp Moisturizer
When sporting a protective hairstyle, it’s crucial to give special attention to your scalp and hair by keeping them healthy and hydrated. The scalp is more visible than usual when wearing most styles (such as box braids and cornrows). Dryness, irritation, and/or flakiness may become more likely as a result. Keeping your scalp and hair well hydrated is an effective method of combating this problem.
Keep the Braids Clean
There is a widespread misconception that people with braids should avoid washing their hair. As a heads-up, that is not true. Of course, you can wash your braids without worrying about messing up your look. Cleaning your scalp and braids regularly is necessary to prevent the buildup of products, dryness, and irritation.
Do a Little Retouching
No matter whether your braids are cornrows, box braids, natural hair, or extensions, they always need a little maintenance. It’s recommended to refresh cornrows every two to three weeks to keep the style fresh. Check for frizz if you’re rocking box braids; it’s a sign that your style could want a makeover.
Nighttime Protection
This is so simple you could do it in your sleep! You can avoid bedhead and frizz by sleeping on a satin pillowcase or covering your hair with a satin hat or scarf. Pillowcases made of cotton can cause damage to your hair by rubbing against your scalp and absorbing moisture, leaving your hair dry, brittle, and lifeless.
Wear Loose Hairstyles
Braids’ flexibility is their greatest strength. You can wear them down one minute and then wrap them into a ponytail or bun the next. While sporting these trendy hairdos can be a lot of fun, you need to plan accordingly.
Braids are more prone to frizz, breakage, and weakening along the roots and edges if they are worn in tight styles regularly (such as high ponytails, buns, dutch braids, etc.). We’re not suggesting you give up these looks entirely, but we do recommend limiting your exposure to them to no more than twice a week. If you take our advice, your hair and scalp will be much happier.
Re-do your Edges
You should redo your edges every four weeks with a nice wash and some coconut oil for moisture if you have the time (and patience). Depending on your hairstyle, you may also want to retouch the braids that run along your hairline once you’ve given your baby hairs a little TLC. This will create the illusion of a complete makeover and maintain your style fresh.
Wrapping Up!
Braiding your hair can be a fun and creative way to change up your look. But with so many different styles to choose from, it can also be a bit overwhelming. Our styling and maintenance tips will help you achieve the most stunning looks without affecting the health of your scalp and hair!
