African Hair Braiding

Archive for the ‘Origins & Evolution’ Category

African American hair styles have been popular from quite some time and certainly this style is not going out of fashion anytime soon. There are many hair braiding styles in this category to choose from and it is healthier to use braiding for styling your hair since the heat of the blow drying is never good for any hair texture.

Initially, African American hair styles are a little complex if you go to its origins as African American people have very curly hair and the braids are weaved so close together that you might think it would hurt. Nonetheless it is a great style to adopt and you can use it every now while going along with your casual attire. You can also choose your hair braiding style according to your face cut or you could just copy your favorite celebrity as a lot of celebrities braid their hair in different styles, some more formal and the others a little loosely casual.

However, before getting to the types of braids and the faces they would suit best, you should take care of your hair properly so that your hair won’t fall off when you decide to loosen the braids and try another hair style. Most importantly, you should oil your scalp once a week and use a good conditioner after shampooing it but don’t go overboard with the conditioners as it is also unhealthy for some scalps. If you have had chemical treatment done to your hair then consult a professional before going for a hair braiding style like the African American hair style as it involves exercising the hair a lot.

One of the most popular African American hair styles is the micro braided hair style. This hair style involves all of the hair being braided from the scalp to the end and gives a very neat and gentle look which is extremely easy to maintain. Do not go for this look if you wear long hair as the tension might break your hair as longer hair strands are weaker. You can also try this pixie cut hair braiding style look for young girls if they give you a hard time working at their hair. Maintenance is quite easy, you can cover your head with cotton cloth to absorb the oil secretion that might make the hair look untidy and if taken care properly, this hair style can last for weeks.

Cornrow is rather a more stylish and well aligned hair style than the rest and is worn by both men and women occasionally. The hair is braided into creative geometrical patterns that starts right from the scalp and continues to the length of the hair. The pattern of cornrows can be seen at the top of the scalp and this hair style would last for weeks and also months taken proper care. You should wear a scarf in windy atmosphere and cotton cloth at night to avoid the hair ruffle.