Best looks of African braids and twists hairstyles for real fashionistas

19.12.2017 20:13

African fashionistas pay great attention to their choice of hairstyle. There are different types of African braids and twists. What do you need to know about these hairstyles? The main features of the most popular African braids’ variants are in the post below!

African braids come in form different hairstyles that are always trendy. The types of weaves, the length, thickness and color of the strands give women a chance to experiment with their hair.

Hairstyles for black women

The African braids hairstyle has certain pros and cons that you need to know before you make your hair.

Benefits

Saves time. There is no need to constantly adjust the style of your hair. It always looks neat and tidy.
Rest for the hair. Your hair can take a break from frequent washing and the effects of hair care products and styling.
An alternative to hair extensions. It’s possible to inexpensively increase the length of your hair by making African braids for short hair
An alternative to dyeing hair. When weaving, you can use a variety of colors, so you can choose any tone and change the color of your hair without damaging its quality

Disadvantages

It is believed that African braids cause increased hair loss.
With tight weaving, you may experience headaches.
They require special care and is not a good idea for girls whose hair require frequent washing.

Weaving technology

At home, African braids weaving is a time-consuming and laborious procedure. The shorter the length of hair, the harder it is to make the braids yourself. The preparatory stage includes shampooing the hair with deep shampoo and using additional care - balm, conditioner, and mask.

African braids weaving technique begins with dividing the hair into sections, approximately the same depending on the hair volume.

To understand how to make African braids at home properly, there are some helpful video tutorials. Printed text and images don’t sufficiently provide an informative description of the process. Once you see how to create the braids, you can repeat the process on your hair by yourself.

The classic weaving is performed by gathering three portions of hair. If you are using extensions, then, divide the lock into three portions, add two synthetic portions folded in half in the form of the letter U between them. You should get five divisions, which you will overlap to form a braid. The tips can be fixed using conventional threads. You can make long or short braids according to your taste.

Material

When creating African braids or twists, extensions are frequently used. Kanekalon is used for traditional African braids, as well as dreadlocks, and Ghana braids weaving. It’s a very light synthetic hair and eight times easier to handle than real hair.

Zizi refers to the full-fledged thin braids. This material is easier than kanekalon so that you can make conveniently long hair with it. Zizi is suitable for reuse up to 3 times.

Different types of African braids

Classic

Classic braids are the most common. Weaving is done manually from three strands along the entire length of the hair. The thinner the strands are, the more durable the hairdo. On average, about 200-250 braids are made for this hairstyle, but their number can go up to 600. You can vary your hairdo and choose classic African braids with Kanekalon. The braids can be of any length. You can wear classic African braids for up to four months.

Senegalese

Senegalese braids are similar to the classic technique. Two locks are used to make the weave. The technique is called "rope" or "twisting." The twist braids hairstyle looks spectacular. The tips can be left straight or curled. On average, from 100 to 600 braids can be made. Depending on the number of braids, the wearing period is from 2 to 4 months. In two months you may need to adjust your hair.

Ghana

Ghana braids are a more complex weaving styles, which allows the creation of a variety of patterns on the head. The weaving can be done vertically, horizontally or even in the form of zigzags. Ghana braids look like spikelets or cornrow hairstyles. Usually, the hairdo has from 4 to 30 braids.

Ghana braids are often chosen by female athletes and dancers and also busy ladies who don’t have an opportunity to care for their hairstyle. These braids are worn for no more than one month. The hairstyle is made in just 2-3 hours. Before re-braiding, allow your hair to rest for a couple of weeks.

Thai

Thai braids are an ideal variant if the hair is thick. Colored rubber bands are fixed at the tips of the hair to beautify it. Wearing such hair is difficult. It requires constant care. The hair can quickly get dirty, so for an attractive look, Thai braids can be kept for about two months.

Zizi

Zizi African braids are ready-made thin pigtails about 3 mm in diameter, which is weaved into braids. The weaving technique is simple and takes a little time. The hairstyle has a lot of pigtails (about 500-600 pieces). Despite the large number of braids, Zizi is very easy and don’t cause discomfort while wearing it. The braids look stylish and attractive, so they are chosen by both schoolgirls and adults.

Ponytail

By the technique of weaving and the number of pigtails, the ponytail is quite similar to Zizi. 100-600 braids of any length are made for 4-8 hours and can be worn for 2-4 months. The only difference is that, at the end of each pigtail, there is a long curl. They have to be combed and styled, but the effect is worth it.

Gofre

Gofre braids remotely resemble a chemical wave. A lot of artificial curly strands are braided into the hair. Depending on the hair length and the number of strands, it takes 2-3 hours to complete.

To weave African braids at home or visit a professional master is your choice. The pros and cons are obvious. If you make your braids at a stylist's you save time and can be confident in the beauty. If you weave it at home, you save money.

Choose what you like best and create a trendy and stylish hairdo.