Curly-textured hair is beautiful, but it is difficult and tedious to maintain. So it’s necessary to learn how to braid curly hair, as these types of protective hairstyles help maintain your tresses.
This is because curly hair strands tend to be coarser than wavy or straight hair.
People with curly hair have to follow a separate hair care routine to maintain their coils since the conventional methods of hair grooming do not help in improving the look and health of your hair.
Hair with type 3 and natural 4c hair textures can make it difficult for you to try out different styles since it takes more time and effort to style curly tresses as compared to fine and smooth locks.
You might also have to use more products to get that desired style and hold for your curly hair.
It is important to prep your curly hair using the right products before trying out any style. It can create a huge difference in the final hairdo.
When it comes to braids, curly-haired people rarely try hairstyles because of the texture as well as the tedious process.
However, when done the right way, the curly hair texture can look beautiful in braids. We have elaborated the step-by-step process you will have to follow to get beautifully braided curly hair.
How to Braid Curly Hair
Step 1: Prepping your Hair
It is important to ready your curls for any hairstyle by providing enough moisture, detangling it, and making it more manageable. There are several products and styling tools that can help you achieve this.
Use a good detangling product like a hair spray or hair cream on your clean and dry hair to make sure there are no knots or locks on your hair.
Some of the best products for detangling the knots on your curls are:
- Devacurl No Comb Detangling Spray
- Alekay Knots be Gone Hair detangler
- Kinky Curly Knot today spray
- Sun Bum Curls
- Waves Detangler
DevaCurl No Comb
This is a sulfate, paraben, and silicone-free hair spray that contains a lot of botanical ingredients that nourish your hair while detangling. It also has a soothing scent of lemongrass that leaves you smelling fresh throughout the day.
Kinky-Curly Knot Today
This is a creamy and herbal leave-in conditioner that helps in removing the knots on your hair and smoothen the cuticles. It can be used as a rinse-out conditioner for wavy hair or a leave-in conditioner for curly hair.
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Sun Bum Curls and Waves Detangler
This is a lightweight detangler that helps in smoothing and taming your curls to style it as you desire. It contains Candlenut Oil that creates a protective conditioning layer that seals hair to retain moisture, control frizz, and reduce tangling.
After applying an adequate amount to the palm of your hand. Work it evenly on your strands.
It is also recommended to section your hair and work on each section so the product reaches evenly to all parts of your hair.
Make sure you are gentle with it so you do not cause any unnecessary breakage while detangling.
Some detangling sprays can also be used on wet hair. It is also recommended to detangle and comb your hair using a wide-toothed comb when you shower to reduce hair loss due to breakage and allow the detangling process to happen smoothly.
If you do not have a leave-in conditioner you can use other alternatives such as Coconut oil, Almond oil, or any other preferred hair oil to detangle your hair. Make sure your hair is completely dry before using oil to detangle hair.
It is not advised to brush curly hair when it is dry since the process will make your hair even more frizzy and unmanageable. It also reduces the texture and hold of the hair which makes it even more difficult to braid it.
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Step 2: Setting your curls
It is important to not lose your coils while working with your curls since they won’t give you neat results and good texture.
Some people tend to separate their coils while styling their curls and it should be avoided at all costs since it could ruin the essence of the curly hair.
Using a brush to prep your hair before braiding could result in this so it is important to use your fingers to prepare your hair.
If you have to use a brush or a comb, use a wide-tooth comb that won’t separate your coils and cause frizz. There are a variety of combs available for curly hair like :
Wet Brush Shower Flex Hairbrush
This brush is best suited for detangling your wet hair in the shower. You should use a conditioner or hair mask before using it to get the best results and reduce breakage while smoothening.
Louis Maelys Wooden Hair Comb
This anti-static brush is made of organic Sandalwood. It runs smoothly over your curls and doesn’t cause frizz or separate your coils.
This com also has a natural sandalwood scent that many find soothing. This comb can also be used in massaging your scalp and increasing the blood circulation on your scalp.
Giorgio G49 Detangling Comb
This wide-toothed detangling comb is made from cellulose acetate that is strong enough to withstand even the tightest of knots and locks on your hair. The comb is long-lasting and hand-polished to let it glide smoothly over your luscious curls without separating them.
You have to make sure that you do not work against your curls while sectioning the hair for braiding. You have to take the whole curls without separating them.
You might not get the sections even when you do not separate the coils of your hair. But it guarantees amazing texture after braiding.
Step 3: Gather your hair
Use your fingers to gently comb through the hair. It also helps in smoothening the hair so the braiding process becomes easier.
If you are facing difficulty controlling your hair, it is recommended to gather your hair at the nape of your neck and secure it with a hair tie. This gives you a lot more control of your hair and gets the work done neatly.
Ideally, you could use a satin or a silk scrunchie to tie your hair since it is best recommended for curly hair. It helps in reducing static hair and also glides smoothly through coarse hairs and prevents damage.
Venera Silk Luxury Mulberry Scrunchie
These scrunchies are made up of 100% pure mulberry silk and it glides smoothly along with your curly hair. The smooth silk minimizes the chance of your hair getting caught in the scrunchy and prevents hair breakage.
LillySilk 100% Silk Charmeuse Scrunchy
This hair scrunchy is made of pure silk and it helps in preventing hair loss due to breakage. It contains soft short fibers that reduce the chances of hair getting caught, damage, split ends, etc.
Step 4: Sectioning your hair and braiding
After gathering your hair at the nape of your neck and securing it with a hair tie, divide your hair into three almost equal sections. Be careful not to separate whole curls since it could ruin the texture and definition of your braids.
Take one of the outer sections of the hair and cross it over to the middle section to start braiding your hair. Cross the other section to the middle section and repeat the process until your braids reach the desired length.
After achieving the desired length for your hair, secure your hair with a hair tie. If you feel like your braids are too tight or if you wanna go for a messy look, lightly pull some pieces out of the hair and braids. This helps in achieving a more casual look.
If you have tied your hair at the nape of your neck at the beginning, you can either opt to keep it or you could slowly slide it down and take it off, depending on the look you are aiming for.
You could also use bobby pins on your sections to achieve your desired style. There is an option to use hair sprays or finishing sprays to get that final finishing touch.
If you feel like there are flyaways that you need to tame, just spray some hairspray on a toothbrush and brush over the flyaways to get that sleek look
FAQs about how to braid curly hair
Is it better to braid curly hair wet or dry?
It’s better to braid your curly hair when it is dry. When hair’s wet, it tends to extend a bit, especially if it has a coarse, curly texture. This makes the strands very brittle and weak. So any kind of friction might cause breakage or damage.
But if your hair is very dry, sectioning and working through the tangles might be very difficult. It’s best to use an oil or leave-in conditioner to make your hair slippery enough before braiding.
Are braids good for curly hair?
Braids (like dreadlocks and cornrows) are among the most protective styles for Afro-textured hair or curly hair.
It helps lock in moisture and keeps your strands protected from wear and tear. If you want your tresses to grow longer, braiding it is a good idea.
Is it bad to braid your hair everyday?
No it’s not bad to braid your hair everyday if you’re doing it right. The problem is with tight hairstyles. No matter what type of hairstyle it is doesn’t really matter.
If you’re wearing your hair in tight hairstyles everyday such as ponytails or tight buns or braids, then you can tug and pull at the scalp on your hair, leading to them falling out.
This hair loss is called traction alopecia and can really thin out hair if you’re not careful.
But if you’re careful to keep the hair at the scalp loose enough to prevent tugging at the hair follicles, it shouldn’t cause an issue.
Conclusion
Although braiding can seem like a tedious task, practicing it can make the process easier and faster for you. Braided curly hair doesn’t look thin as compared to straight or wavy hair because of its coarse texture.
It also lets you have better control over your otherwise uncontrollable curls. This hairstyle is perfect for those who engage in a lot of physical activit