Every hairstyle looks gorgeous on curly hair. One of the most widely used methods for achieving perfect curls without harming your hair with excessive heat and creams is braiding. Meanwhile, you might wonder, can you get wavy curls with braids? Does braiding benefit the curls? ‘Is curly hair good for braids?’
The answer is that they are! Curly hair is usually coarser, has more knots, and has a brittle, frizzy texture. Braiding them will help to lock in moisture and give the appearance of nourished hair while also protecting the scalp.
So braiding will greatly work if you need to soothe those curls!
Can you create wavy curls without a curling iron by braiding straight hair
Braiding is a popular method for achieving wavy curls without using heat. It may not last long, but it produces amazing results if you want gorgeous curls.
Currently, people are far too crazy to braid their hair to get curls. There are countless tutorial videos on the internet, demonstrating various ways to braid hair for natural-looking waves.
With the right tools and techniques, braiding can be a fun and easy way to achieve stunning curls. You can try the robe tassel method, pin curls, coiling, headband curls, sleeping with magic curlers overnight, creating heatless pigtail braids, and many others.
All of them can create amazing curls with minimal effort and without damaging your hair with excessive heat or chemicals.
However, it does not change your curl pattern, it does not make any permanent changes, and also, It may not last as long as a curling iron. The only thing to be concerned about is not making them too tight, as this may cause pain in your head and increase hair breakage.
How to Curl Your Hair Using Braids
For any event, hangout, or night out, curled hair looks stunning. It enhances your style and makes you appear more lavish and beautiful. Even though not everyone is born with naturally curly hair, you can still achieve the curls you desire. Here’s how to get curls if you have naturally straight hair and want a heat-free technique.
- Step 1: Start with clean, dry hair. If your hair is wet, it won’t hold the braid and you’ll end up with frizzy, uneven curls.
- Step 2: Divide your hair into several sections. The number of sections will depend on how thick your hair is and how tight you want your curls to be. If you have thin hair, you can create more sections, and if you have thick hair, you can create fewer sections.
- Step 3: Take one section of hair and split it into three equal parts. Begin braiding your hair, starting from the top and working your way down.
- Step 4: Braid your hair as tightly as possible, making sure that the braid is even and smooth.
- Step 5: Once you have braided the entire section of hair, secure the end with a hair elastic.
- Step 6: Repeat steps 3-5 with each section of hair.
- Step 7: Leave the braids in for several hours, or overnight. The longer you leave them in, the tighter your curls will be.
- Step 8: Once your hair has completely cooled down, remove the hair elastics and gently unravel the braids.
- Step 9: Use your fingers to separate and loosen the curls. You can also use a wide-toothed comb or brush to help with this.
- Step 10: Finish off with a light-hold hairspray to keep your curls in place.
Bonus: Resetting your curls
Resetting your curls means restoring your natural curl pattern and shape, which may have been disrupted or altered due to tightly braiding your hair.
Tightly braiding your hair can cause the curls to become stretched out or flattened, which can change the appearance of your hair.
To reset your curls, you may need to gently separate and re-define your curls using water, hair products, and your fingers or a comb. This process can help to restore your curls to their natural state and improve the overall appearance of your hair.
Curly Hair Care: Requires more maintenance than straight hair
Curly braided hair does generally require more maintenance than straight braided hair because curly hair tends to be more prone to tangling and frizzing. Here are some tips for taking care of curly braided hair:
- Moisturize: Curly hair tends to be drier than straight hair, so it’s important to keep it moisturized. Use a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to keep your hair hydrated and healthy.
- Be gentle: When braiding your curly hair, be gentle to avoid pulling or tugging, which can cause breakage and frizz.
- Protect your hair while sleeping: Use a satin or silk pillowcase or wrap your hair in a silk scarf to avoid damaging your hair while sleeping.
- Wash your hair regularly: Curly hair can be more prone to buildup, so it’s important to wash your hair regularly to keep it clean and healthy. Use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to avoid stripping your hair of its natural oils.
- Avoid heat styling: Heat styling tools can damage curly hair, so it’s best to avoid them as much as possible. If you must use them, use a heat protectant spray and don’t apply too much heat.
- How Long Can You Wear Braids with Curly Hair? Safety rules: Your braids might last days, depending on what kind you get. The box braids, for instance, can be kept for weeks.
Common Braiding Problems with Curly Hair
It’s much simpler to braid straight hair than curly hair. As a result of their greater tendency to tangle, curly hair requires more work to detangle before braiding, and doing so causes more hair breakage. Additionally, it tangles a lot and frizzes over time.
In this response, we will discuss some of the most common braiding problems that people with curly hair face.
1. Curly Hair is More Vulnerable
Curly hair is more prone to frizz, which can be exacerbated by braiding.
2. Knots and Breakage
Curly hair is more prone to tangling, and this can lead to knots when braiding. These knots can be difficult to remove, and can cause breakage and damage to the hair.
3. Different Curl Shapes and Sizes
Braiding curly hair can be tricky because the curls may not all be the same size or shape. This can lead to uneven braids that don’t look as neat or polished.
4. Risks of Tight Braids and Small Elastic Bands
Braiding curly hair too tightly or using elastic bands that are too small can cause breakage and damage to the hair. This can lead to split ends and other issues.
5. lose its natural curl pattern
Curly hair can lose its natural curl pattern when it is braided. This can result in hair that looks flat and lacks definition.
6. Pain and discomfort
Braiding curly hair can be painful and uncomfortable, especially if the braids are too tight or the hair is pulled too tightly.
7. Difficulty in styling
Braided curly hair can be difficult to style because of the curls and texture. It may be challenging to create updos or other styles that require a smooth and sleek appearance.
8. Flyaways
When you braid curly hair, it can be difficult to prevent some of the hair strands from flying away and becoming unmanageable. This can be a challenge because curly hair tends to have a lot of texture and volume, making it harder to control.
Straight Hair is Easier to Maintain than Curly Hair
Straight hair is easier to manage. It’s shiny, smooth, less tangled, and easier to maintain. It’s also easier to braid than curly hair, which is coarser and has more knots and tangles within. Hairstyles with curls, on the other hand, look far more beautiful!
How to do easy braids with curly hair
With a few simple tips and tricks, you can create easy braids that look great on curly hair. Here’s how:
- Step 1: Start with clean, detangled hair: Before you begin braiding, make sure your hair is clean and free of tangles. Use a detangling brush or wide-tooth comb to gently comb through your curls.
- Step 2: Use a hair oil or leave-in conditioner: To help smooth your curls and make them easier to braid, apply a small amount of hair oil or leave-in conditioner to your hair. This will also help prevent frizz and flyaways.
- Step 3: Choose the right braid style: For curly hair, simple braids like the classic three-strand braid or a French braid are great options. Avoid more complex braids like fishtails or Dutch braids, which can be more difficult to achieve with curly hair.
- Step 4: Start your braid lower on your head: When braiding curly hair, it’s best to start your braid a little lower on your head than you would with straight hair. This will help prevent the braid from pulling too tightly and causing discomfort.
- Step 5: Use smaller sections: When braiding curly hair, it’s easier to work with smaller sections. Take smaller sections of hair when creating your braid to ensure that each strand is fully incorporated into the braid.
- Step 6: Braid loosely: To prevent your curls from becoming too tightly pulled, braid your hair loosely. This will also help create a more relaxed, effortless look.
- Step 7: Use hair ties carefully: When tying off your braid, use hair ties that won’t pull or damage your curls. Avoid tight elastics, and instead opt for looser hair ties made specifically for curly hair.
What benefits do braids have for curly hair
Your hair will greatly benefit from having its curls braided, and there are many advantages.
1. Locks in the Moisture
Braids are a genius way to keep your hair moisturized. It keeps the hair looking nourished, healthy, and shiny!
2. Braids help curly hair maintain its natural curl pattern
Your natural curls can be enhanced by braids, and they can even be kept in place without losing their pattern. It gives the flat curls a fuller appearance.
3. Shields the scalp & ends
The act of braiding encourages hair growth and keeps your hair long. The scalp will suffer less, the hair will be healthier, and you won’t be brushing your hair too much.
4. Prevents Frizziness
The act of braiding keeps the moisture in, feeds it, and keeps the dryness away. Your hairstyle won’t be ruined by frizz thanks to it.
Best Braids for Beautiful Curly Black Hair
Let me now introduce to you some stunning braids with curls at the end that will allow you to show off your curls perfectly. These hairstyles look absolutely stunning, especially with shiny black curls!
1. braided bun with curly hair
Black women often style their hair in braided buns with curls. It keeps curls up and tight.
A braided bun with curly hair is a stylish and protective hairstyle that joins two fishtail braids at the back of the head and creates a loose bun.
This look is perfect for those with either straight or curly hair, as it can be enhanced with French braids and curly bangs.
Similarly, a crown braid with low bun is a great option for those with long golden blonde curls.
Another popular curly braid hairstyle is the high bun, which can be achieved with box braids, cornrows, or goddess braids.
Finally, a French braid is a great do-it-yourself hairstyle for curly-haired woman that can be tailored to the individual’s preference.
2. braided half up half down curly hair
This is a lovely hairstyle for everyday wear. It’s easier to create this wavy updo and wiggle them beautifully.
The braided half up half down look for curly hair is one of the most popular styles for black hair. It allows for both a bold and fashionable look while also being protective of the hair.
By taking the top half of the hair and French braiding two individual braids, the style can be tailored to whatever look the individual wants.
The hairstyle is versatile and can be created with twists, crochet braids, and can be enhanced with bobby pins and gold-toned accents. It is also a great way to keep the hair out of the face while still showing off its length and style.
This hairstyle is perfect for any occasion, and the double wrapped buns add a touch of charm and sophistication. Overall, the braided half up half down look is a great style for black hair as it is stylish and protective.
3. Curly hair for bohemian box braids
Box braids give curly hair more texture. It is easy to create, very common, and well-liked by black women.
The characteristics of curly black hair that make it suitable for bohemian box braids include texture, volume, and versatility. The texture of curly black hair is perfect for box braids as it helps each braid to stay in place and stay tamed.
The volume of curly black hair gives the braids a fluffier look, while still keeping them neat. And the versatility of curly black hair allows the wearer to experiment with different part shapes and sizes, as well as adding accessories, like shells or cords, to give the look an extra touch of style.
4. Curly hair for Boho braids
They are simple and resemble box braids a lot. Your hair appears fuller, thicker, and more volumized with boho braids.
The boho braids curly hair type is a beautiful and textured style, perfect for the summer season.
It involves loosely weaving goddess braids, adding cords and cuffs, and incorporating curls and other hair decorations. This bohemian look can be further enhanced with the addition of shells for a beachy look.
Other popular boho braids hairstyles with curly hair include box braids, fishtail braids, crochet braids, French braids, micro braids, and passion twists. These styles can be adorned with highlights and metallic colors for an even more stylish look. With these boho braids, curly hair can be kept protected and look absolutely stunning.
5. Curly hair for knotless braids
Knotless braids with curls have a more natural appearance. It doesn’t exert too much pressure on the hair and causes less scalp irritability.
6. Feed-In braids with curly ends
Feed-in braids are once again fashionable and are growing in popularity. The hair appears incredibly bouncy with this style.
Feed-in braids are a popular hairstyle that gives the illusion of long, natural hair.
They involve the addition of extensions to existing braids, which are added at the root and feed into the braid further down the hair shaft. This results in a natural, thick-looking braid. They are particularly good for those with black curly hair as the extensions help protect the hair from breakage and frizz, while providing a natural look with loose curls at the ends.
Curly crochet braids are also an effective solution for a quick, stylish look that looks natural. Additionally, the addition of synthetic hair helps to add depth and thickness to the braids, making them fuller and more voluminous.
7. Knotless braids with curly ends
If you have curly hair, you can either braid the top without knots or keep the curls on end. Both have beautiful curly braiding styles to offer.
8. Curly Lemonade Braids
Beyoncé made this one of the prettiest curly braids famous when she wore it. Put some celebrity-like flair into it.
The Curly Lemonade Braids are a unique twist on the traditional braided hairstyle. It’s a combination of a spiral braid style and mini lemonade braids, popularized by Beyonce.
The Curly Lemonade Braids are a combination of intricate geometric patterns and long spiral curls at the ends.
To make the style more modern, vibrant colored highlights can be added. It is a great option for those with curly hair, as it is a protective style that adds volume and texture to the hair.
9. Double Stitch Braids with Curls
These are the two-stitch braids that start at the top of your scalp and go straight behind while braided close to your scalp. The style gives you a more powerful and confident look.
The Double Stitch Braids with Curls is a hairstyle that combines two classic styles: the box braid and the crochet braid.
It features tight, uniform box braids on the top of the head, and at the back of the head, the braids are left loose and are accentuated with curls.
This hairstyle is a great alternative to traditional styling, as it helps protect the hair from breakage and frizz. The curls also add a touch of glamour to the look. Additionally, adding colored highlights or cords to the braids can take the style up a notch.
Wrapping Up!
Your curls are always so much fun to play with. If you love curls and crave them frequently to up your hairstyle game, you should start learning how to braid them correctly.
Nothing works better as a risk-free, heatless method to give your soulless, flat hair beautiful curls than braiding it. It’s obvious. We’re back in the century where braiding is stylish and full of fun, starting with the old times!
