African braids photos, how to braid, types: men, for girls, with threads, kanekalon. How to care, wash

A practical and stylish hairstyle is African braids. There are a number of different techniques and variations for performing afrocos. You can braid them both in a specialized salon and on your own at home.

Who are African braids suitable for?

This hairstyle is extravagant, so many people hesitate to do it. In fact, African braids are suitable for almost any lifestyle, with the exception of professions in which it is necessary to contact people most of the time (especially if there are many older people among the opponents).

So, for example, not the most successful solution would be Afro-braids for banking workers: people may perceive this image as frivolous. It is not recommended to braid such pigtails for people who are forced to follow a strict dress code.

In other cases, such a hairstyle will be a great addition to any look, given that it suits any style of clothing: from glamorous to rocker. Due to different execution interpretations, the braids fit any face shape.

So, for example, people with a high forehead can leave bangs in their natural form, which will cover it.However, this hairstyle will not work for people with oily hair: with frequent washing of the head, the Afro-braids will constantly unravel, which is why the appearance becomes sloppy.

When choosing Afro-braids as a hairstyle, you should also take into account the age, since this hairstyle is most suitable for people under 35 years old.

How long can you weave

African braids (how to braid them can be seen below) can be of completely different lengths. There are two types of Afrokos: "safe" and natural. The latter are braids that are braided directly from the hair on the head.

When weaving this type of braids, the hair will look shorter by 3 -5 cm, and in cases where the strands are naturally not very thick, the braids will turn out to be rare. In this case, the required hair length depends on how long the braids should be.

“Safe” braids are braided using artificial materials such as kanekalon. Due to this material, braids can not only be made longer than real hair, but also thicker, more voluminous. The minimum length of hair on which "safe" braids are woven should be at least 3 cm, otherwise the artificial material simply will not hold.

Advantages and disadvantages

African braids have both positive and negative characteristics.

Among the advantages of this hairstyle are:

• Convenience: people with afrokos do not need to worry about damage to their hair during periods of strong wind or rain, their hair does not electrify, does not climb into the face.
• Saving time: wearers of this hairstyle do not need to spend a lot of time in front of the mirror in the morning to create a beautiful hairstyle. African braids, even just gathered in a ponytail, can create a neat, complete look.In addition, this hairstyle does not require frequent shampooing: once a week is more than enough.
• Saving money: for quite a long time you will not have to spend money on various masks and balms for hair care, fixing agents, etc. In addition, the minimum amount of shampoo is consumed.
• Accelerated hair growth: due to the tightened state of the hair roots and scalp, blood will flow better to the hair follicles, bringing in more nutrients.

Among the disadvantages are the following:

• Headache and itching of the scalp. This is due to the constant tightness of the scalp. However, the discomfort goes away after 1-2 weeks.
• Dryness and split ends of hair after unweaving of African braids. Since the African braids are not combed, the required amount of sebum does not get to the tips, which protects them from excessive dryness and thinning.
• Afrokos dry very long. Unlike ordinary hair, afro-braids cannot be quickly dried with a hairdryer after washing and go about business: because of the tight fastening of the hairs to each other, air cannot penetrate to each of them and dry. However, this problem can be easily solved if you wash your hair in the evening.

Classic

African braids (how to braid them, you can see below), according to the classical scheme, are standard braids: hair is divided into 3 strands, which are alternately crossed with each other. However, to weave them, the total mass of hair must be divided into very small strands and braided into a tight braid from each.

In general, their number can reach 200-300, depending on the thickness of the hair.

Corrugation

This type of hairstyle is represented by small curls of hair strands, and their volume varies from small to large curls. In appearance, the corrugation is similar to a perm, but more harmless to the condition of the hair. Due to the technique of execution, the corrugation is suitable even for owners of thin and weak hair.

Senegalese

A feature of this hairstyle is weaving not from 3, but from 2 strands, which are twisted in opposite directions. As a rule, such braids are an addition to the classic Afrokos, but there are options for creating hairstyles only from Senegalese braids.

French afrocos

Along the total length of the hair, such braids look like classic ones: 3 strands intertwined with each other. However, unlike the classical ones, French Afro-braids are woven not “on” the head, but “on” the head: they are braided close to the scalp, which results in geometric patterns of almost any shape.

Upon completion of the work, areas of the skin are visible on the upper part of the head, between the braids.

Thai

These braids are identical in appearance to the classic African braids. However, unlike the latter, Thai braids are braided exclusively from natural hair, without inserts of artificial material. Because of this, Thai braids are only suitable for owners of very thick and long hair, otherwise the hairstyle will not look very pretty.

With large curls

This hairstyle is a zigzag airy curls. A special material (strands with large curls) is woven into natural hair, which creates an additional effect of volume.

Zizi

Zizi braids can be different: straight, corrugated, curled large curls or a spiral. In addition, this type of braid can be laid in various combinations. Straight zizi visually resemble classic Afro-braids, however, they are thinner and lighter, dry quickly enough.

Zizi Sue

This zizi is designed in very large curls, this hairstyle is ideal for those who want to create the most voluminous hair.

Dreadlocks

Dreadlocks are not at all like braids in the usual sense: they are more like "sausages", the thickness of which can be completely different. In fact, dreadlocks are something like tangles: if you do not comb and wash your hair for a long time, they will gather into dreadlocks.

However, if they are deliberately weaved, they look neat and beautiful, which cannot be said about “self-braided” in a natural way. Several techniques are used to weave dreadlocks. The most common of these is to pinch a lock of hair between the ribs of the palms and rub the lock between them. When the curl begins to resemble one whole, it is taken by the edges and "torn".

Pony tail

The braiding is fully consistent with classic Afro-braids, however, the lower part of the hair (10-13 cm) remains unbraided.

Curly curls

This hairstyle consists of large, voluminous curls made of artificial material, which are attached to the base of natural hair by weaving a small braid. So that the transition is not visible, the braid is masked with artificial material.

What African braids to choose for men

Not all of the listed hairstyles are suitable for the stronger sex. Among them are dreadlocks. This type of braids looks great on athletic men with a brutal appearance. Surfers are a prime example.

French braids also look beautiful on men. It is especially common among boxers and football players.

Classic African braids can also decorate a man, but not everyone: for this you need to have a specific appearance. Otherwise, a man can become overly feminine.

African braids for girls

Any of the above hairstyles will do for girls. Moreover, the most suitable age for them is between 19 and 35 years old, although they look good on younger girls (from 7 years old). On women over 35, these hairstyles will not look concise enough.

Tools and materials for weaving afrokos

To weave African braids at home, you will need the following tools:

• a comb to divide the total mass of hair into strands;
• massage comb so that the hair is not tangled with each other, does not have any knots;
• silicone rubber bands for securing braids (not needed for dreadlocks);
• a lighter to solder the artificial material, which covers the place of its attachment to natural hair;
• ribbons, strings of the necessary colors, to give the hairstyle a brighter look (optional);
• hair clips to collect unwanted curls.

Those planning to weave "safe" braids will need artificial materials such as:

• Kanekalon - artificial material used to create wigs and African hairstyles. When creating African hairstyles, kanekalon is necessary to create more hair density, as well as to lengthen the hairstyle. It looks like ordinary hair: it comes in thin separate hairs, fastened together in a ponytail or braid. This material is the most popular among materials with similar functions. First, it is hypoallergenic and safe; secondly, due to its properties, it can take various forms during heat treatment: curls, curls of different intensity. In addition, kanekalon has a very wide color palette, and not necessarily one-color: you can find kanekalon for highlighting, shatuzh, balayazh.
• Acrylic threads are a type of knitting thread, but recently they are increasingly used for weaving braids. When performing African hairstyles, they perform the same functions as kanekalon, but, firstly, they are much lighter than kanekalon, and secondly, they lose their tidiness faster. However, it will be much easier for beginners to weave from threads, since they have a larger volume and are more difficult to get tangled in them.

Afrokos weaving methods

African braids (you can find out how to braid them yourself below) are performed by step-by-step performance of the following simple operations:

1. Carefully comb the hair with a massage comb so that no knots remain.
2. With the help of a comb, separate the upper "cap" of the hair and secure it with a clip. Only a small shock should remain free at the back of the head (along the width of the head).
3. The remaining loose hair must be divided into equal strands of the required thickness.
4. One of the strands is divided into 3 parts and a pigtail begins to weave according to the standard pattern, but very tight.
5. Having reached the ends of the hair, they fix the braid in the desired way: with the help of an elastic band, a strand of kanekalon and a lighter, thread.
6. Do the same operations with the rest of the strands, then loosen the rest of the hair and separate the next portion from it. Repeat the steps until all the hair is braided.

How to care

African braids, in the first weeks after they are braided, can cause discomfort, itchy scalp Is a normal reaction to excessive hair tightness. In order for the itching to pass over time, and not intensify, it is necessary to take care of the scalp.

For this purpose, a cotton pad is moistened in chamomile broth and the scalp is treated with it. It is advisable to do the procedure 3 times a day. The most important thing is that in no case should you scratch your head, otherwise it will itch even more and you can comb the skin in this way until it scratches and accidentally add dirt there.

For severe itching, it is recommended to pat the itchy area with your fingers or massage the head by pressing your fingertips on the skin.

If the Afro-hairstyle is made with the addition of artificial materials, then excessive heating of the hair should be avoided, for example, when going to the bath, the hair should be covered with a towel or a special cap.

You need to wash your hair no more than once a week, otherwise the hairstyle will quickly lose its shape and "fluff". The braids themselves do not need to be washed (unless in case of emergency, for example, they ate something sticky on them or if they smell like a fire), only the scalp between the braids. This can be done in several ways.

The first method includes the following steps:

1. The scalp is thoroughly moistened from the shower.
2. A little shampoo is squeezed onto the hand (preferably without a 2-in-1 function), foamed.
3. Gently apply shampoo to bare areas of the head. Massage them so that the shampoo still lathers.
4. Rinse off thoroughly with warm water.
5. The procedure should be repeated until the head is no longer oily.

The second method is similar to the first, but a sponge is used instead of palms. You need to apply shampoo to a sponge, lather and blot the scalp with it.

Correction

Correction of braids can be drastic or light. The first implies a complete interlacing of braids, i.e. they need to be unraveled and then braided back.

For simplicity, it is better to unravel the entire mass of hair at once, but in one braid. With this method, the main thing is not to get confused, which have already been corrected and which have not. To do this, you can collect ready-made braids into a separate bundle using an elastic band or a clip.

Light correction takes place in an unusual but effective way:

1. Take one braid, put it in the palm of your hand.
2. Sharp scissors are laid flat on top of the braid.
3. Scissors are carried out along the entire length of the braid.
4. To get rid of the fluff on top of the head, the hairs must be bundled and trimmed.

As a rule, the crawled hairs are the tips, so you do not need to worry that after such a correction, unbraiding the braids, you can find bald spots.

Hairstyles with Afro-braids

Afro-braids look spectacular both loose and assembled.

The following hairstyles can be made from African braids:

• tail;
• various braids (French, spikelet);
• a bump on the top of the head;
• two tufts at the back of the head or closer to the front of the face;
• you can collect only the upper mass of hair in a ponytail, and leave the lower ones loose.

African braids (how to braid them can be solved by choosing a hairstyle to match the style of clothing) can be styled in a variety of hairstyles, and they are done in the same way as with loose hair.

How to weave afrokos

It is necessary to untwist the braids correctly and very carefully, otherwise the hair structure can be damaged:

• each pigtail is moistened with water;
• remove the gum that fixed the tip;
• take any thin object, for example, a needle;
• insert it into each visible hole in the braid and slowly pull it down - the braid should slowly unravel;
• after removing all braids, wash your head and moisturize hair and skin with a mask or balm.

After wearing such a hairstyle for a long time, tangles may appear in the hair, which will interfere with unbraiding the braids. To prevent this from happening, you can spray your hair with a product for unruly hair.

African hairstyles are a great way to change your look and also free up some time and money for what's important. In addition, braiding is easy, the main thing is to know how to do it and follow the instructions.

Author: Evgenia Borisova.

Video about the varieties of African braids and the rules for their weaving

How Afrokos are woven:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzaI42qhUAc

Zizi braids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm9ow5fqebY