Braiding curly hair can seem daunting, but with the right techniques and a little patience, you can achieve stunning and unique looks. Many assume that braiding straight hair is easier, but curly hair offers a beautiful texture and volume that adds a romantic and casual vibe to braids. This guide provides a comprehensive approach to braiding curly hair, addressing common challenges and offering expert tips.
Growing up, my curly hair was a constant struggle. My mom believed in the importance of brushed hair, which resulted in a frizzy, triangular mess on my head for many years. As a teenager, I began to understand the basics of curly hair care, such as avoiding brushing and experimenting with different products. I also learned the value of a good haircut. More recently, I embarked on a mission to learn how to style both straight and curly hair.
Before you even think about braiding, preparing your curly hair is key. This involves ensuring your curls are manageable and moisturized.
Before braiding curly hair, it's crucial to detangle it thoroughly. Apply a detangling product to ensure your curls aren’t knotted or coiled together when you try to braid.
While it’s important for your hair to be free of tangles before braiding, avoid using a brush to smooth your hair. Brushing curly hair can often leave it frizzy, which makes braiding much more difficult.
Read also: Mastering French Braids
One of the tricks to perfecting a curls hairstyle is to prep your curls before you begin styling it. Braid or no braid, any curly hairdo works best with a moisturizing cream or gel applied to damp or towel-dried curls, which is designed to help seal in moisture and control frizz. As long as you take care of your curls first, you can’t go wrong with your side braid.
I recently decided to try out a new hair care regime and was excited when Garnier said they were interested in helping me on my hair-braiding journey. We grabbed the shampoo, conditioner, and (a first for me) the hair mask. There were different types for different hair styles (from repairing to smoothing to color care) but I was excited for the Garnier Whole Blends with Coconut Water and Vanilla Milk because it promised to quench and soften de-hydrated hair and smelled amazing. I strongly associate memories with scents, and it immediately reminded me of childhood vacations to Thailand & Hawaii and the coconut-vanilla cake I was treated to on my 5th birthday in Hawaii. I started off by indulging in the hair mask which was luckily not messy so I could still hang out and sit on my friend’s couch without fearing it was going to get everywhere! I was really apprehensive about brushing my hair (as any curly girl would be) but I was assured that it is necessary to an even braid. You want your hair as smooth as possible, using hair masks, running a straightener through it quickly, etc.
Some stylists prefer braiding curly hair wet, while others prefer dry. Braiding curly hair when it’s wet can allow you to temporarily reshape the curls in your hair.
Arthur Sebastian, a Professional Hair Stylist based in San Francisco, California, suggests: "If you have really curly hair, it will be easier to braid if your hair is unwashed or it has a little moisture on it." Arthur is the Owner of Arthur Sebastian Hair Salon, a studio offering Hair Styling, Color & Brazilian Blowout services. Arthur has 30 years of experience styling hair. His career began with apprenticeships at Wayne’s Beauty College in Santa Cruz, California Miss Marty’s School of Beauty in San Francisco, California. After receiving his Cosmetology License in 1998, he rented his first station at Wack Shack Hair Salon in San Francisco, going on to hold positions at Posh Hair Salon, Acabello Hair Salon, and Red Union Salon before opening his own studio.
Braiding curly hair doesn't have to be complicated. Simple techniques can yield beautiful results.
Read also: Learn the Braid and Down Style
A side braid hairstyle doesn’t require much pulling or keeping track of multiple curly sections, and it’s still one of the prettiest hairstyles for curly long hair.
If your hair is extremely thick, you can also create a braid with just two sections.
French braiding your own hair can be difficult because you can’t see the back of your head. To make it easier, hold the right section in your right hand, the left section in your left hand, and the middle section between the thumb and forefinger or middle finger of either hand. Repeat the braiding process, taking more hair from each side as you work and incorporating it into the braid. As your reach the end of your hair, you’ll finish with a regular braid by just crossing the outer sections over the center section without adding in any other hair.
When it comes to actually braiding your hair, it’s important to work with your curls, not against them. As you’re gathering sections of hair to work into the braid, take whole curls. Working with your curls while braiding may sometimes mean that the sections you pull into it aren’t even.
Braiding curly hair definitely requires more effort work than straight hair and your braids may never be perfectly even and neat, but the curly texture actually adds a unique look to the usual braid that all your straight-haired friends will envy.
Read also: Easy Braiding Steps
Pull some pieces of hair out of the braid to give it a more relaxed, casual look. For a casual look, allow your hair to fall naturally over your shoulders.
The best thing you can do is wash your hair. You could also use an apple cider solution or baby wipes to work buildup out of your hair. Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids.
It can damage your hair if you tie them too tightly, but generally speaking, no. Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids.
When you get to the bottom, secure with an elastic and then go over the hair to ensure that no sections are loose. I found that I didn’t need any holding products and my hair was smooth enough after the mask to not need any de-frizzing oils, but if you feel more secure with a spritz of hairspray - go for it!
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