Helpful Braiding Tips
Braiding hair into stunning styles is a timeless, age-old beauty trend. All it takes to create a variety of exciting hair designs is a creative mind.
Braids can give your hair a fabulous, stylish look. They encourage hair growth and are a good way to hide thinning hair. There is a wide variety of braiding styles available including cornrows, locks, closed cropped braids, and individual braid plaits and coils. Even celebrities today are flaunting different braided styles, which further increases braids' considerable popularity.
The growing popularity of braids has to do with more than just their beauty. Braids are also a convenient, low-maintenance style that can reduce the time spent daily on your hair.
That's not to say that braids don't require some maintenance. Caring properly for your braids can help them retain their beauty as well as a sleek, smooth appearance. Neglecting your braids may affect your hair adversely and actually cause damage. Braid care includes regular conditioning and moisturizing your scalp.
Braids can be worn anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months - but no longer than that. Women with thinning hair should wear braids with caution, since they may cause undue stress on hair.
There are a few braiding basics to keep in mind:
- Go for a deep-conditioning treatment before braiding. Have your hair properly trimmed to remove dull, dead ends.
- Use lightweight leave-in conditioners to help retain hair's moisture.
- Braiding chemically-straightened hair may harm it. Consult a salon professional before braiding treated hair to be sure that your hair will stand up to the process.
- If you wish to use human-hair extensions, choose those that are lightweight.
- When you wish to match the extensions to your own hair color, opt for one that matches the middle or ends of your hair. If you match the extensions with the root color of your hair, the extension will appear darker than your actual hair, since root hair always has a darker look.
- If you go to sleep with wet hair, you are sure to invite unruly tangles by morning! Dry hair before going to bed.
Take good care of your braids, and they will be a true asset to your overall appearance and style.
By Marquetta Breslin
Sep 15, 2005, 23:14
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