Braiding Examples

French Classic Braids

Herringbones

Variations

Basic Braids

Classic Braids

Combination Braids

Crown Braids

French Braids with 2 buns

Hair Braiding Styles

Types of Braid Hair Styles

There are several different types of hair styles that incorporate braids. Which style you choose will depend on many factors, and it is important to recognize the different styles are available:

Straight Braids: Either one or two plaits, simply done, that are suitable for everyday wear or can be coiled and twisted into more elaborate looks.

French Braids: A type of plait that is woven into hair closer to the scalp, and the weaving begins higher on the head than a straight braid. French braids are great for everyday or formal wear.

Micro braids: Miniscule braids that may be woven from just a few strands of hair. These braids are typically done all over the head and can be left in for a long period of time.
Up do Braids: A braided style where different braids (straight plaits or micro braids) are then worked into a traditional up do, but the woven hair adds deeper intricacy to the style.
Sloppy Braids: Quick to do, sloppy braids are fun and easy for an informal yet intricate look.

Benefits of Braids

There are several benefits to wearing braid hair styles. First, a braided style keeps hair secure even if it has multiple layers that ordinarily can’t be contained. This is particularly useful for children who need to keep their hair under control but may have damaged or uneven areas. Braids are also useful for adding subtle waves to straight hair: if hair is braided when it is wet and allowed to dry thoroughly, the hair will have a gentle wave without needing a curling iron or other potentially damaging tool.

Braids are also great for formal styles because they are deceptively intricate. A braided style may look like it took hours to weave, but an experienced braider can create multiple plaits in just a few minutes. The more braids required for the style, however, the longer they will take to create. At the same time, because braids offer great control, a finished style is more likely to last longer than without braids.

Problems with Braided Hair

If done incorrectly, braid hair styles can lead to many problems. Very tight braids can be painful and may cause hair damage, even permanent hair loss if left in too long. If braids are not woven gently, they can break hair and give it a ragged, unkempt appearance. Furthermore, because braids are woven, even a few strands out of place may be far more noticeable than with other hair styles. For many women, one of the biggest detriments of braided styles is the fact that they cannot be created with short hair: medium and long hair works best for braids, because the hair must have enough length to properly exhibit the weave.

Reversing Damage

Micro braids are the most stressful style. If your hair has become damaged because of braids, there are several steps that can minimize negative effects. First, braids should always be removed slowly and carefully to prevent additional damage. Deep conditioning treatments coupled with regular use of the proper conditioner for your hair type can help prevent damage from accelerating, giving hair a chance to grow back and regain its former glory. Drinking plenty of water and avoiding excessive exposure to sun, chlorine, and other damaging agents will help your hair stay healthy to combat the stresses of braid hair styles.

Unfortunately, when severe damage has occurred, the best solution may be an emergency cut to remove irreparable sections of your hair. While it may not be the ideal option, an experienced stylist can help conceal much of the damage caused by improper braids.

Choosing the Best Braid Hair Styles for You

The best braid style for you is one that you feel comfortable and happy with. Some women prefer to weave their own braids, and they may prefer straight plaits or French Braids. Other women may want multiple braids and prefer to visit a salon for a professional, even style. Micro braids are favored by many African-American women because they add elegance and intricacy to harder-to-style hair.

No matter which style you are interested in, be sure to consider the basic factors of any new hairdo before setting out to weave your locks:

Will this style look good with my face shape? Because braids often pull hair away from the face, women with high foreheads or somewhat thinning hair may not feel comfortable with braid hair styles.

Is my hair healthy enough for this style? Healthy hair is less likely to be damaged by braids.

Do I want to put the time into a great braid style? Styles that require multiple braids may take hours to create as well as to unravel, and the style may need to be rewoven periodically to incorporate loose hair.

If a braid hair style is for you, it can be a beautiful and elegant look. From up dos to easy everyday styles, braids are a fun and intricate style preferred by many women.

French Braiding Style

French Braids

French braids are an elegant hair style with endless possibilities for unique and creative variations. While most people are familiar with the techniques for traditional hair braiding French plaits often intimidate even experienced braiders. With care and patience, this braiding method is easy and can lead to beautiful styles

How to Weave French Braids

Basic weaving techniques for French styles are not difficult. To create a standard style. Begin with a small, thin ponytail at the top of the head where you wish the braid to begin. Braid the hair in small, even sections, adding slight amounts of hair at each level to the left and right sections of the hair. Scale hair proportions according to the hair’s thickness and the desired thickness of the braid.

That’s all there is to creating french braids, but how you vary your technique can create a wide range of different styles. Adding greater amounts of hair, for example, will create a thicker, chunkier braid, while using slender, delicate amounts of hair will result in a thin, elegant braid. Two braids can be created on either side of the head, and they can be woven together in the tail to create a single braid.

Styles for French Braids

Braids are a versatile hair style, perfect for women of all ages. Young girls can wear a French style regardless of what activities they’re engaged in, and their hair will stay neat and secure. Cheerleaders and other teen girls appreciate the wide range of variations they can create with French variations, and many adult women prefer the style for its practicality while still presenting an elegant and sophisticated appearance. Cornrows and micro braid is a specific type of intricate French style, and many types of braids can be easily accessorized with pins, ponytail holders, clips, and other creative accents.

A simple up do style can be created by turning the tail of the braid beneath the plait and pinning it out of sight, though this works best with shorter braids. Braid ends can also be wrapped around the individual’s head in a crown or horseshoe arrangement, or twisted into compact buns. A more complex styling technique is to create the braid by drawing each strand beneath the overall style rather than using an overhand weaving method. This will create a smoother style against the head while forcing the braid to stand out more distinctly. Regardless of the type of French braids you create, they can be arranged into elegant prom or wedding styles with just a few accents and accessories.

French style braiding is an elegant and exotic alternative to traditional braids with extensive possibilities for styling and personalization. With care and practice, anyone can learn techniques to create fabulous French braids.

Micro Hair Weaving Braids

Micro Braids Are Tiny and Delicate

Micro braids are most commonly seen on African American women, but they are also worn by many people (men, women and children) while on vacation in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, and many other touristy and tropical areas. In the United States, most women get braids put in their hair by professional hair stylists. However, those who wear braids on vacation usually get them done by a local woman wandering on the beach asking if anyone wants their hair braided.

Micro braids can be a fun style for any age.

People usually only get a few and they are only worn for a short period of time. However, those who get their entire heads of hair braided usually intend to wear this hair style for a long time. Therefore, anyone who intends to endure several hours of braiding and many months with this hair style should consider a few things before the braids are put in the hair. First, brittle hair is not the best hair to be braided. Micro braids can be very damaging to hair, and over time may cause brittle hair to break. When the braids are removed, the hair could be damaged beyond repair.

Prepare the Hair for Braids

Prior to getting braids, it's essential that the hair is as healthy as possible so that it has the smallest chance of becoming damaged by the braids.

Either perform a hot oil treatment at home, or have a professional hair stylist do one so that the hair is as full of moisture as possible.

Make sure to use a deep conditioner several times prior to braiding.

Get a haircut prior to getting the braids. The haircut can be as simple as cutting off all the ends so that none of them are split before the braids are added.

Tips for Keeping Micro Braids Looking Good

Once the decision to have micro braids put in the hair has been made, the next step is to actually have them added. If an experienced professional hair stylist is used, the braids should look great as soon as they are complete.

A few important things to remember about caring for this hair style include:

After the braids have been in the hair for two or three months, have them removed so that the hair can recover from the stress of being braided for so long. Leaving braids in too long is very hard on the hair and can cause it to become thin and break. It's common for individuals to want their hair to remain healthy while they have the braids. Many people think that using a very thick conditioner on their hair will help their hair retain moisture. However, thick conditioners are often very difficult to rinse out of braided hair and they can gradually leave a residue on the hair that cannot be removed. Essentially, thick conditioners can cause people to look as if they have a bad case of dandruff.

Add moisture to the hair while it's in micro braids by using a light hair oil. By no means should the hair oil drench the hair, but enough should be used so that the hair does not feel dry and brittle to the touch.

Don’t ever get dehydrated. Not drinking enough water on a daily basis has an effect on the hair. So, while wearing micro braids, make sure to drink a healthy amount of water every day.

Hair Braiding Hairstyles

Hair Braiding Hairstyles

Women with long hair can play with dozens of braid styles for a simple or exotic new look. When you have long hair, no style is more fun to experiment with than braids. If you think braiding is limited to the standard English style (three strands of equal size, crossed back and forth to form a simple ponytail-style braid), you just haven't explored all the possibilities.

Actually there are dozens of braid styles -- some complex, some understated, all eye-catching. Braids can be worn by women of all ages, and even those with only chin-length hair can pull them off. They keep your hair neat, off your face when it's hot or humid, are perfect for sports, and can be worn during the day or evening. Some of the most common braids perfectly accessorize both sports and evening wear.
Which hairstyle can claim greater versatility? Once you've mastered one style of braid, you'll have the skill needed to attempt others. For braiding success, follow these tips from Patricia Coen and Joe Maxwell, authors of Beautiful Braids:

Before trying a braid style, read all instructions, and imagine performing them. Braid in your mind before braiding with your hands.

Don't watch yourself in the mirror. Close your eyes and concentrate. You'll work intuitively, which will produce a better braid.

Work with damp hair, which is more manageable when you're braiding.

Don't use an office-supply-style rubber band to secure a braid, as it promotes hair breakage. Choose proper accessories designed to hold hair: coated bands, clips, barrettes and other ornaments.

Don't tense up. If you don't like the result, you can always try again.

As for braid styles, consider the following:

Create a simple English braid, and coil it around your finger. Tuck the end of the braid under the coil, and secure it to the back of your head. This is called an "English braid with chignon."

The "Dutch braid" is similar to an English braid, but the three strands of hair (equal in size) are crossed under, rather than over, one another.

The classic "French braid" is one of the most sophisticated - and popular - hairstyles ever invented. You start with a center section of hair and divide it into three strands. As you braid, you add new strands gathered from both sides of your head. The finished braid rests flat against your head and is secured at the bottom. Check out Dreamweaver Braiding, an online educational braiding site, for complete directions, or Coen's and Maxwell's illustrated guide book.

The "invisible French braid" is constructed like its classic namesake, but the hanging braid is folded upward and pinned to your scalp.

The "accent braid" - popular among teenagers - is a single, thin braid that adorns loose hair, positioned on one side of your head. Select three thin strands from one side of your hair and braid them. Secure the braid at the bottom and let it rest against your loose hair.

The "princess braid" was made famous by Carrie Fisher's Star Wars character, Princess Leia. The style actually dates back to the 14th century, when it was all the rage. You create two English braids - one on each side of your head, pigtail style - and coil them. Affix the coils to your scalp with hairpins.

Cornrows are a trendy style among African-American women, but the very Caucasian Bo Derek immortalized them for women of all ethnicities in the 1979 film 10. Cornrows tend to remain in the hair for a protracted period, due to the amount of time needed to create them. If you want this look, go to an experienced braider or stylist, as braid evenness is vital.

You can always work ribbon or yarn into any braid to add a splash of color. Adorn braids with hair jewels or fresh floral buds for special occasions.

Article reprint permission by HaircutAdvice.com

Hair Weaving

Hair Weaving

Hair Weaving

What is hair weaving?

It’s the science of weaving or braiding human or synthetic hair to the roots of existing, healthy hair so that it grows along with natural hair, thus giving the impression of a thick growth. It’s also called hair integration or hair intensification. It’s a procedure appropriate for people with thinning hair. It’s not something that requires a hospital visit; it’s usually done in salons as a temporary procedure.

How does it work?

Two or three shafts of hair natural or synthetic are woven into the root area. Some of the natural hair is woven or braided together to act as an anchor, to which the add-on tufts are sewn, woven, knitted or glued. The extensions have to be repositioned every five or six weeks as the natural hair grows out.

Sounds Complex.

It is. Apart from the sheer tedium of repeated ‘surgeries’, the procedure stresses the existing hair as well. Also, keeping the scalp and hair clean is a problem, as vigorous washing could loosen the new hair. The American Hair Loss Council advises the procedure only for people with plenty of healthy hair, and that too, for periods not longer than a few weeks. A patch test is essential to ensure the person undergoing the procedure is not allergic to any of the adhesives or implants used.

Implants For the hair

A non-surgical implant is the dressed-up term now used for a simple procedure that has been upgraded over the years. Actually, a non surgical implant describes the attachment of a hair system to existing hair with surgical glue, and subsequent trimming to ensure the add-ons blend with natural hair.

What about more long-term solutions?

Hair Graft: This is the most popular surgical method, but it can be done only on people who are partially bald. The results are permanent and can be achieved in four or five sittings. The procedure involves removing hair follicles from the back of the head (where the growth is the most persistent) and implanting them on the pate. This hair grows naturally, requiring no follow-up action. It’ll never resemble a thick mane, but it’s presentable.

Tissue Expansion

It involves implanting silicon balloons with hair bearing skin on either side of the head. The implants are inside the skin over the ears so that the hair bearing part of the head expands. The expansions are then re-grafted in front of the head, so the hair appears to grow naturally from there. This calls for two surgical procedures, one at the time of implantation and the other for re-grafting.

Are there any drawbacks to the surgical procedures?

There may be swelling, bruising or mild pain inhibiting normal activity for a couple of days after the procedure. There may also be numbness on the back of the neck, from where a strip of skin is removed. Also, it’s important to remember that individual hair types and characteristics- such as wavy or curly hair- affect the results.