It goes without saying that braiding your hair can transform your look, be it cornrows, box braids, French braids, and so on. The trick lies in knowing which one complements your hair the most! It’s a style statement in itself, whether you’re flaunting it in your day-to-day avatar or saving it for a special occasion. It’s not for no reason that hair braiding styles have been a part of pop culture since time immemorial. While culturally, it has a close association with Africa, over the years, it has influenced several parts of the globe.
What initially began as a symbol that represents a wide spectrum of ethnic and religious groups has now been redefined as not only an interesting art form but also a protective style for your natural tresses. The best part is, you can experiment wildly with braided hair, trying a variety of looks with ribbons, beads, etc. to further add some drama. However, braiding your hair is not all about giving you a style makeover; it has several deep-rooted benefits for your hair health.
Let’s explore some of the key benefits of braiding your hair:
- Boosts hair growth: unknown to many, keeping your hair braided protects the scalp and also the ends of your hair. Brushing and detangling of hair are the primary causes of hair breakage, and you can avoid both when you have your hair in braids! Hair braiding also reduces split ends.
- Locks in moisture: you can retain the natural moisture of your hair by braiding. Locking in your strands ensures that they are not exposed to the elements. Women who travel frequently or like to style their hair daily should opt for braiding so that the hair gets its natural hydration.
- Protects your scalp: the health of your scalp plays a major role in providing a conducive environment for hair growth. Most hairstyles involve over-manipulation of the hair, often subjecting the scalp to great tension. In fact, they also prevent the scalp from getting amptype le oxygen, water, and moisture, leading to a dry and scaly scalp. This can worsen into product buildup, resulting in fungal growth on the scalp. On the other hand, when you keep your hair in braids, there is minimal friction on your scalp. Adding extensions to your braided style is even more beneficial.
- Prevents frizz: some frizz might add some zing to your look we agree, but nobody likes extremely frizzy hair and flyaways, right? Braids go a long way in keeping frizz at bay. When your hair is tucked away in a braid, water, heat or other environmental factors have a few barriers before manipulating your hair.
- Low-maintenance: imagine a day when you can just roll out of your bed and not have to do your hair; sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Well, that’s a major reason why women all over the world love braided hairstyles! You can also go for the best synthetic braiding hair to make heads turn. A simple wash and you’re good to head out! Just don’t miss daily scalp care and follow a strict wash routine once every two weeks. What’s more, it is also longer-lasting than most other conventional hairstyles. Depending on which type of braid you’re opting for, you may not have to style your hair for weeks.
- Huge variety in style: there is no end to how you can style your hair with braids. Try different looks with cornrows, knotless box braids, braided buns, goddess box braids, French braids, crown braids, fishtail braids, and so on. Check with your stylist what’ll best suit your hair texture, face shape, outfit, and occasion, and flaunt the braided style accordingly. You can also take some inspiration from fashion shows and urban areas in major cities, where braided hairstyles are a never-dying trend.
- Versatile: Does the idea of pulling off a wide range of braided hairstyles, including some really out-of-the-box options excite you. How about wearing box braids with extensions? Or you might be eager to sweep your braids to one side for a chic look? Or maybe you’d like to sport braided hair in a bun or ponytail? The options are endless! If you really want to make heads turn, why not play with some fun colors for your braided hair? The bottomline is, braided style allows you to look like a different person everyday, instead of wearing the same old hairstyle every time.
- Saves time: if you don’t want to go for something too elaborate, try braiding styles that are quick and easy to do. However, it’s better to consult a hairstyle professional to understand the pros and cons of each. For example, achieving complicated styles such as knotless box braids or knot braids may be time-consuming, but over the next couple of months or so, you’ll save a lot of time.
The above reasons should definitely give you a push to try braided hair, if you haven’t already! Put some thought into picking the right style that enhances your facial features and you’ll surely stand apart from the crowd. Simply follow some tips to gently care for your braids, and your hair will surely thank you!
