African-American Hair Braiding Styles

'Stevie Wonder' trademarked them, 'Sexy Eyes' singer 'Whigfield' flaunted them on a 'Saturday Night' and 'Alicia Keys' inspired many to go her way! We are talking about hair braids that have a strong hold on people despite the ever-changing trends in hairstyles.

African-American hair braiding styles have found their position atop zillion heads, young and old alike. So what is it about hair braiding that fascinates people time and again?

Contrary to popular belief, the proliferation of many African-American hair braiding styles has been due to the fact that they are easy to maintain. A little cumbersome when you are actually getting it done, but once executed, it saves you those frequent visits to your salon for the entire month.

Neither the length nor the hair texture matters when you braid your hair. You can choose from a variety of styles to suit your face cut. Low on maintenance, this style can be further enhanced by merging artificial hair with your locks.

Johnny Depp gave braids a new 'twist', when he starred in the super hit flick, 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest', by flaunting his braided goatee. 'Captain Jack Sparrow's' meticulously planned look created quite a stir among those who follow fashion as a religion.

Popular not only with African-American men and women, hair-braiding styles have become a huge rage and are ubiquitous among people who belong to other communities as well. Easy to manage on a daily basis, hair-braiding styles have gone a step ahead from the traditional cornrow kind.

Braided Hairstyles for African American Hair

Feel the urge to plait those tresses? Here's a look at some of the most common and popular African-American hair braiding styles.

**Click on images to enlarge
Cornrows
One of the oldest and most fashionable forms of hair braiding, cornrows have always had a timeless and fashionable appeal. Hair is tightly braided to the scalp in straight or geometric lines. Cornrows can be combined with various other hair crafting methods to create hybrid braided styles like cornrow dreadlocks (cornrows close to the scalp with the rest of the tresses grown as dreadlocks), cornrow weave (cornrows along the scalp with the rest of the hair woven into various patterns, with or without using hair extensions), etc. Tension on the strands has to be as evenly balanced as possible. Once done, ensure you give loads of attention to your scalp to have great looking cornrows. Use a hair net when you need to give it a wash and at bedtime, wrap it with a scarf to avoid your hair from getting frizzy. Wide toothed combs, gentle shampoos and protein rich conditioners help to maintain your cornrow hair braids for the longest possible duration.

Micro Braids
These versatile and easy forms of hair braids are also known as the 'invisible braids'. If you wear your hair long, ensure you do not add a lot of weight to it by micro braiding, which may result in hair breakage. Micro braids allow your hair to be natural as they can also be structured into a neat and professional look. An elegant kind, these are made up of very slim, delicate braids that can be curled for those willing to go beyond the plain old micro. When done to shoulder-length or shorter hair, micro braids come to be known as pixie braids. Do consult a professional before you go in for this look because it does not work well with dry or brittle hair. A cotton cloth can be used to cover the hair braids at night so that any excess oil secretion can be absorbed.

Box braids
When maintained properly, box braids can last for several weeks. These consist of three or four strand braids. One pair has to cross on top of the other. Unlike other styles of braiding, box hair braids require two hair stylists for the entire procedure, which may also be a little time-consuming. The wait would definitely be worth it, because with box braids one has to be extremely careful about the amount of tension being placed on your locks.

Kinky Twists
Kinky twists are created using two partings of hair for each twist. Both partings are woven together into tight spirals and when braided properly, they cause lesser tension to hair strands than your regular cornrows and micro braids. Kinky twists can last for about 2-4 months, depending upon whether or not they were braided by a professional hair stylist and how well you take care of them.

Apart from these one can find ample modified varieties of hair braiding styles such as Goddess Braids, Bantu Knots, Fishtail Braids, Tree Braids, etc. Get yourself a stylist with the right amount of expertise and simply get started. While braiding curly and unruly hair makes it easier to manage on a day-to-day basis, you still need to take some basic care of those braids so that your hair stays damage-free. Oil your scalp gently, at least once a week to ensure ample blood circulation therein to keep the roots nourished. Chemically treated hair should ideally be braided only after consultation with a professional to avoid further damage. Avoid using heavy conditioners as it becomes difficult to wash it off thoroughly from braided hair and any kind of build-up may attract dirt and unhealthy deposits in your hair. Maintain a healthy diet pattern. Drive stress away with an exercise routine you love. Drink plenty of water to keep your entire system flushed of toxins. On completion of your hair braids, all you need is an occasional visit to your salon, to keep it in good condition and simply kiss those bad hair days goodbye!