Natural hair can be difficult to manage at times. Curls can become frizzy and excessive manipulation of the hair can cause breakage and damage. A braid out is a great style for textured hair as it elongates natural kinks and curls, making hair more manageable and less prone to breakage all while giving you beautifully defined curls and waves!
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Prepping Your Hair
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Wash and condition your hair. Braid outs usually look best on freshly washed hair; however, this part is optional if you are starting with stretched hair. Wash and condition your hair normally, preferably using a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. [1] X Expert Source Ndeye Anta Niang
Natural Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 10 January 2020. -
Detangle your hair. While there is still conditioner in your hair, detangle your hair in small sections from tip to root using either a wide toothed comb or a Denman brush. You can add a detangling product to your hair to make this process easier. [2] X Expert Source Ndeye Anta Niang
Natural Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.Advertisement -
Dry your hair. Blot dry your hair using a t-shirt or microfiber towel. The material from normal towels can cause frizz and breakage in natural hair.
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Apply heat protectant. Apply a heat protectant of your choosing to prepare for the blow drying/stretching process and avoid heat damage.
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Stretch your hair. Using a blow dryer on low heat, use the tension method. In small sections, hold your hair taut using your hand or a Denman brush and blow dry the length of the hair to stretch the hair. Repeat until all of your hair is stretched.Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Braiding Your Hair
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Separate your hair into 4 equal sections. Part your hair using a rattail comb to separate your hair into equal sections. [3] X Expert Source Ndeye Anta Niang
Natural Hair Stylist Expert Interview. 10 January 2020. Work through one section at a time. -
Apply product. Apply a moisturizing curl defining product in the section you are working on. This helps the curls set.
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3Braid the hair. From your large section, take a smaller 1-inch section and braid the hair normally. Separate the smaller section into 3 even strands and braid by crossing one over the other. A detailed how-to for braiding hair can be found in Do a Basic Hair Braid. Coil the ends of your braid around your finger to maintain curl definition. Repeat until the entire section is braided - each section should have about 6 braids.
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Repeat steps 2-3 until all your hair is braided.Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Taking Down and Styling Your Braid Out
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Let your hair dry completely. Your hair will be slightly damp from the moisturizer, but your hair must be dry for the style to completely set. You may either use a blow dryer or let your hair air dry overnight for this step.
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Apply oil to your hands. Use a light oil like coconut or jojoba oil. This will prevent your hair from frizzing up while taking down your braids.
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Carefully take down your braids. Grab a single braid at the bottom and use your oiled fingers to carefully split and separate the braids until they are completely unraveled. Repeat until all the braids are taken down.
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Fluff the hair. For a more voluminous look, separate your unbraided strands into more strands and use a comb or afro pick to fluff up your hair at the roots.Advertisement
Expert Q&A
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QuestionAre braids safe for natural 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. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.Yes, so long as you don't braid too tightly. If you tie your hair too tightly you may damage it.
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QuestionCan I braid my hair to make it curly?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. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.Absolutely! Use a curling cream and work it into your hair. Then you can make minor adjustments by hand, with a comb, or curling iron set to low heat.
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QuestionCan I braid my hair if I have shorter 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. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.Cornrows are an option, but they can be kind of difficult if your hair is really short. You can always get extensions or do a box braid style.
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Tips
- Be patient! This is a lengthy process, so it's better to work slowly to avoid damaging your hair.Thanks
- If you are letting your hair dry overnight, wrap your braids in a satin scarf.Thanks
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Warnings
- Everyone's hair is different, so results will vary from person to person.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Blow dryer
- Wide toothed comb/Afro pick
- Rattail comb
- Curl defining product
- Light hair oil
References
- ↑ Ndeye Anta Niang. Natural Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
- ↑ Ndeye Anta Niang. Natural Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
- ↑ Ndeye Anta Niang. Natural Hair Stylist. Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.
- http://www.curlynikki.com/2012/03/secrets-to-mean-braid-out.html
- https://edenbodyworks.com/blogs/news/the-perfect-braid-out
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