Reporter Park’s Hair Trivia 101
: Everything about Braiding Hair
If you ask most beauty supply store owners what their top selling products are, the answer is probably “braiding hairs”. While giving out that answer, they probably had in mind the synthetic/Kanekalon braiding hair that is typically ordered by color in boxes. Braiding hair, like other hair extensions, can be divided into two main categories: human hair and synthetic, or depending on how they are installed on your hair. In this issue, we’ve broken down the braiding hair product family, which you may only be vaguely familiar with, to help you understand how it’s divided into different attachment methods.
Locs, Twists, and Braids
Although often referred to as “braiding hairs” by wholesalers and retailers alike, braiding is one of many ways to attach the hair extensions to your hair. Locs and twist braids require different techniques to install extensions.
– Naturally occurring locs and hand-twisted twists
The biggest difference between locs and twists is how they’re made. To put it simply, a loc is a naturally occurring style that is created by hair being not trimmed or brushed in a long time whereas a twist is created by dividing sections of hair and artificially twisting them. It’s not as easy to style them as you might think, and there are many different ways to do it, but it’s usually created by dividing the hair into sections and then twisting the hair within each section or using a variety of other methods. If you wear twists long enough, it may turn into locs.
Youtube @ Jay’z Crown
A video explaining the history and evolution of locs
– Two-strand twists and three-strand braids
The difference between the two styles can determine how you attach the braiding extensions to your hair. Braids are made by dividing hair into three equally proportioned strands to create a braid in a manner similar to a Korean braiding technique, and twists are made by twisting two strands of hair together, in a fashion similar to twisting a rope. Sometimes you’ll see a three-strand twist, but the most common is a two-strand twist.
The extensions used to create braids and twists are those best selling synthetic or Kanekalon braiding hair you find in beauty supply stores. Many customers often purchase elastic bands as well to keep the braiding tightly knotted so it doesn’t come loose.
Youtube@ Coily Diaries
As you can see in the video, twists are made with two strands and braids with three.
– Instant braiding “crochet braid”
A crochet braid can be understood as an instant version of a braid. This method uses a crochet needle to thread the extensions through the cornrows, which not only saves time but also allows you to style them on your own without going to a salon, and there are tons of different products on the market, so you can easily find your favorite styles.
Youtube @nkemjeffrey
This video explains how to attach extensions using a crochet needle.
– Most popular crochet braids
Since the locs style we’ve briefly discussed is time-consuming and not very easy to maintain, premade faux locs for crochet braiding are the best way to achieve a locs style by simply attaching premade locs to your hair using a crochet needle. Afro can also be achieved by attaching Afro-style crochet extensions and then texturizing them to create a rich and distinctive Afro style. Other popular crochet braids are products that come pre-styled, including Marley Twists or Senegalese Twists.
Popular braid styles
Braids, which are made up of three strands, can be styled in a variety of ways depending on the technique used to create them. Let’s discuss some of the most common ones.
– Box braids have box-shaped knots on scalp
If you’ve never heard of a box braid before, you might be wondering why it’s called a “box”. The name comes from the fact that when you section the hair at the scalp for braiding, it is divided into a square (or box) shape. Box braids range in size from X-small to jumbo, depending on how much hair you have in a strand while braiding. The more hair you have in a strand, the thicker the braid will be, making it easier and faster to complete the hairdo.
Youtube@Tupo1
A video explaining how to style a jumbo box braid
– Micro braids take a long time to finish
A micro braid is literally a way where you take a small amount of hair for each of three strands and braid them together. Think of it as a micro version of a box braid. Because it is braided in very thin strands, it requires a lot of strands and takes a long time to complete.
Youtube@ Resemble Me by Robyn
A micro box braid video on the style that took 22 hours to complete
– Cornrow, the basic of basics
The cornrow is a braid style that takes three strands and braids them directly onto the scalp. Depending on how much hair you have in a strand, you can create a variety of styles. The key is to create a tight braid that sits as close to the scalp as possible. Cornrows are essential when doing crochet hair extensions where you use a crochet needle to hook and attach the extensions to the cornrows. Also, before you put on a wig, you can do a tight cornrow to keep your natural hair in place for a cleaner look.
Youtube@JANEIL HAIR COLLECTION
– Fulani braids
Think of a Fulani braid style as cornrows in the front and box braids in the back. You can add hair accessories made of beads, shells, metal, and other materials for a more exotic look.
Youtube@Kersti Pitre
Fulani braids go well with a variety of hair accessories
Popular twist styles
Twists have the advantage of being relatively easy to twist compared to braids and not taking as much time as box braids. It also has the great advantage of not causing as much tension on the scalp or friction between hairs as other braids, and most importantly it doesn’t tangle as easily. However, it is not suitable for women who are very active, as it can unravel more easily than a box braid.
– Marley twist
Marley twists are created by twisting two strands of synthetic Marley braiding hair. Because the Marley braiding hair itself has coarse texture, the finished look has a distinctive rough feel. You can vary the length with a short or long marley twist to suit your style and taste.
Youtube@SharronRenee
Extra long marley braids with a textured surface
– Senegalese twist
Senegalese twists are also known as rope twists because of the shape that resembles a rope. It’s unique in that it uses Kanekalon braiding hair, which is traditionally used for box braiding. This makes it a smoother, tighter twist in appearance, unlike the marley twist, which has a rougher texture.
YouTube@Tupo1
A feminine look created with Senegalese twists. The surface resembles the shape of a rope.
– Passion twist
Passion twists are created by taking two strands of hair with water wave or corkscrew type curls and twisting them in the same way as a traditional twist. Since we’re using curly hair, it gives a unique texture and creates a voluminous, fuller twist. You want the twist to be neither too tight nor too loose, so that you get the right feel and texture from the curl and the twist.
Youtube@TheChicNatural
Passion twists done with a twist technique using curly extensions. The handling of hair texture created a unique style.
