Can All Types of Hair Be Braided

Braiding is a pretty common yet versatile thing. It’s like a magic tool that takes care of the whole hair-styling thing. You do a particular type of braid and bang! You’re done with your hair.

Though braiding is a bit time-consuming thing, it has a heavy list of pros. But hey! Are we missing the basic part? Okay, braiding is good. But can we do birds with all kinds of hair?

This is a very important question and it has to be answered. Don’t worry because in this article we will try to find that out. So, let’s dive in.

Are Braids Suitable for All Hair Types

Are Braids Suitable for All Hair Types

Braiding is a pretty solid move when it comes to styling. But can braiding be done with all kinds of hair? And the answer is yes, braiding can be done with almost every hair type.

But there are a couple of things that make a difference. For example, the length, texture, or thickness of the hair plays a role in terms of how much time you will need to braid or how difficult or easy the whole process will be.

But apart from that, we confirm that it can be done with almost any hair type. Below, we will talk about different hair types and the kinds of braids that are more suitable for each hair type.

Coarse Hair

Coarse Hair

Coarse hair is the type of hair that is mostly rough and thick in terms of texture. The diameter of this kind of hair is the widest if we compare it with other textured kinds of hair.

Coarse hair can be curly, straight, or frizzy. Usually, cornrows, box braids, senegalese twists, and micro braids are the kind of braids that go best with coarse hair. If you think you have coarse hair you can go with any of the mentioned braids.

Fine Hair

Fine Hair

Fine hair is the kind of hair that is thinner and has less diameter. This makes it more vulnerable and prone to breakage. It also appears to be flat. This kind of hair is also not ideal for heat or chemical styling.

When it comes to doing braids, fishtail, french, halo, and dutch braids are the best options for this category of hair as these braids appear thicker and fuller in terms of look.

Curly Hair

Curly Hair

Curly hair is basically curly hair and these curls are known as spiral curls. This type of hair naturally forms ringlets and is more prone to tangle, frizz, and dryness.

There are three types of curly hair. In the first type, the curls are a bit loose and the hair looks shinier. In the second type, the curls are a bit tight but not that much. In the third type, the curls are very much tight. Usually, the third type is more textured as well.

Box braids, senegalese twist, goddess braids crochet- these are the kind of braids that suits curly hair. Also, doing braids in curly hair is a pretty good option as it doesn’t let the hair stay loose preventing damage and breakage.

Straight Hair

Straight Hair

Straight hair is completely flat. It lies in the most straight way possible on the scalp. Just like curly hair, straight hair also has three subcategories. The first category of straight hair is completely straight and flat and it has no sign of wave or curl.

The second category is also straight but is a bit thicker and more in volume compared to the first category. The third category of straight hair is still straight but thicker. It is so thick or heavy that when you air dry it the hair may look untidy.

Usually, dutch, boxer, cornrows, fishtail, and french braids are the kind of braiding styles that goes best with straight hair.

Wavy Hair

Wavy Hair

Wavy hair is the type of hair that is naturally wavy. It forms an ‘S’ shape when dry and is more thick compared to straight hair. Wavy hair is like a mixture of both straight and curly hair. This kind of hair is slightly textured and not oily.

Loose, crown, halo, and milkmaid braids go quite well with wavy hair. So, if you have wavy hair you can choose any of that braiding styles.

Coily Hair

Coily Hair

Coily hair belongs to a category that demands more moisture and is a bit fragile in nature. This type of hair is tighter than curly hair and has zig-zag kind of curls that looks pretty good. Marley twists, kinky twists, havana twists, micro braids, etc. are some of the best braiding options for coily hair.

Kinky Hair

Kinky Hair

Kinky hair is the kind of hair that is curly and a bit tight in nature. It has ringlets and maintains structure or shape despite being wet or dry. They have a thick texture and are more vulnerable to heat styling.

Box braids, cornrows, senegalese twists, marley twists, and havana twists are some of the options that go pretty smoothly with kinky types of hair.

Thick and Thin Hair

Thick and Thin Hair

Thickness or thinness of hair usually refers to the width of a single hair strand. In most cases, people think that thickness or thinness has something to do with hair density but in reality, there is no connection with that.

However, the average width of a single hair strand is 0.003-0.005 inches. Thin hair is the type of hair that is below the range of average width of a single strand and thick hair is the type of hair that is above the range of average width of a single strand.

How to Choose the Right Type of Braids for Your Hair Texture

How to Choose the Right Type of Braids for Your Hair Texture

Choosing a braid can be an easy thing for a lot of people. But it is something that should be dealt with in a bit more wise and steady manner. In choosing the right kind of braiding style, there are quite a lot of things that must be kept in mind.

1. Hair type and length

When it comes to choosing the right braiding style, you should be fully clear about the type of hair you have and its length. These are some of the basics that have to be taken care of in the first place.

If you know about the type of your hair pretty well, you can easily choose a single braiding style for yourself based on that. Also, you should go with a style that can be easily done with your existing hair. That’s where length plays its part.

So, in a nutshell, choose a braiding style that can be made with the current length of hair that you have and suits your hair type.

2. Scalp sensitivity, Hair porosity, and elasticity

Braiding puts pressure on your scalp. Though braiding is not fully an external thing, it doesn’t let the hair stay in a natural way as it’s a form of hairstyle. That’s why there will be extra pressure on your scalp when you will do braiding. If you have a sensitive scalp, then you should go with a braiding style that isn’t very tough and tight rather go with something plain and simple.

The same goes for hair porosity and elasticity. Hair porosity is something that measures or indicates how well your hair can retain enough moisture. The porosity of your hair plays a vital role as based on this the moisture level is dependent. That’s why, before choosing a braiding style, make sure you know about your hair porosity.

On the other hand, hair elasticity is something that refers to how hair can get back to its normal state after getting stretched. Braiding your hair plays an impact in this regard as well. If your hair has low elasticity, it can get damaged while braiding. Hence, choose a braiding style keeping that in mind.

3. Face shape

The next thing you should consider is the shape of your face. Go with a kind of braid that will go well with the shape of your face. You can also go with using an extension if your existing hair isn’t enough in volume to pull off a braid. Using an extension will give you enough room to style that will suit your face shape.

4. Hair Health

Hair health is very important when it comes to braiding. If the overall health of your hair isn’t suitable for braiding, you should not go with that. So, before braiding, make sure you are certain about the health of your hair.

5. Braid style and size

Then comes the size of the braid. Before going with a particular type of braid, make sure you have an idea about the different sizes of braids. The size of the braid should blend with the braiding style.

6. Culture, weather, and lifestyle

Culture plays a vital role in choosing a braiding style. The culture you belong to will surely leave an influence on your choice. The same goes for your lifestyle. Because all these things represent you and they will surely leave an impact. Choose a style that will easily get mixed with your lifestyle.

Another key factor is the weather. Weather also plays a vital role in choosing a braiding style. Because the weather you are in will add a few factors to your overall lifestyle and maintenance thing. So, if the weather is not on your side, you will have to suffer a bit. That’s why don’t forget to keep the weather in your mind.

7. Maintenance

Now, let’s talk about a basic yet fundamental thing and that is the game of maintenance. Look, there are a lot of braiding styles out there and each requires a different set of a maintenance routines. The thing is, you must have to bear the toil of hair maintenance. For that reason, you should be going with a style that you can easily deal with.

Braiding Techniques and Tips for Every Hair Type

Braiding Techniques and Tips for Every Hair Type

Let’s face the truth, braiding isn’t a piece of cake. It can be a fun thing for a lot of people but it surely isn’t something easy to deal with. You need patience and proper skills to handle the job. That’s why, in this section, we will be talking about some braiding techniques and tips to make your braiding experience a little bit seamless.

1. Prepare in the first place

Before you start braiding, prepare your battleground aka your hair in the first place. Gently brush your hair so that the knots get opened and you get knot-free flat hair.

Make sure you know about your hair type as well. For example, your hair needs more moisture, so you will use products like that before making a move. So, this is important.

2. Use hairspray

Imagine you have worked pretty hard and finished braiding, but still, there is hair that’s sticking out. To avoid that, use a hairspray and spray it on your hair before and after braiding. This will make your overall task a lot easier and the problem will be lessened.

3. The Pancake Technique

Want to have a heavier braided look? Then go with the pancake technique. The whole pancake technique is very simple. Just use your index finger and thumb and slowly pull the side parts of your braid.

This works great with thin and fine hair by making it look more in volume.

Related Articles:

  • Signs Your Protective Style is Really Harming Your Hair
  • Are Weaves Bad For Your Hair
  • Where Did Braids Originate From? Know The True History
  • What Are Bantu Knots

Verdict

We have covered almost everything relevant thing. Just be a bit patient and choosy before going with a particular braiding style. Make sure it goes well with your hair type. Otherwise, your look won’t be good enough and all your hard work will go in vain.

Also, don’t forget about the maintenance thing as it’s very important. A lot of care is required after braiding so that you can have your desired look for a long time.

So! We are almost at the very end of our discussion. We hope you will be benefitted from this write-up of ours.

By Cindy Mahlangu

Hey there! I'm Cindy Mahlangu, a pro hairstylist with a serious passion for natural hair care. My mission? To inspire and educate others on the beauty and benefits of protective hairstyles. Through my creative writing, aim to empower individuals to embrace their unique hair texture and confidently care for their locks. So, whether you're rocking locs, braids, or twists, join me on this hair journey and let's achieve healthy, fabulous tresses together!

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