Afro Braiding At Nicole Hudson Hair Salon
Hairdressers are coming up with new and different hairstyles every day. Whether you are attending a big event, going to school, going to work, or you just want to create a new fashion with your hair, you can do it daily if you know the step by step guide. Today, plenty of braid hairstyles are being used, one of which is the Afro braiding. New hairdressers are starting to learn this concept while experienced braiders are creating new ways to recreate the hairstyle. If you are not sure what’s the difference of Afro braiding from other styles of braids, here’s an idea that will inspire you.
What is Afro Braiding?
Afro braids are a type of hairstyle common to Africans or African-Americans. It is a style that requires you to retain the braid for months, saving you a lot of time of hairstyling. This is a hot, sweet, and sexy style that is making every woman in the country, including celebrities, to get it. What makes it different from other braid styles is that it can be done in many ways: dirty blonde single braids, black braided long twists, long goddess twist braids, long two-toned twists, black tank top and braids, and so on. It also requires the gift of long black hair that most African women have. If you don’t have long hair, you can use hair extensions to recreate the style.
How A Hair Dresser Does Afro Braiding
1) Washing and conditioning
The first step to do the afro braiding is to wash and condition your hair. If you are getting a braid in a salon, the hairdresser will likely wash and condition your hair before proceeding with the main activity. Your hair needs a normal washing first then deep conditioning to make the strands of your softer and easier to manage. Note that African hair is not as soft and smooth as other types of hair, which is why this step is a must.
2) Detangling
The hairdresser will then detangle your hair by using a wide-tooth comb. This step is necessary to brush out the tangles from roots to the ends of your hair. If you are not used to combing, you can ask the hairdresser to gently use her finger to detangle and ease the knots in your head.
3) Blow-drying
The next step is blow-drying. After detangling, the hairdresser needs to relax and defrizz your hair by setting the heat of the blower low. She will do this until your hair dries out. This may take a couple of minutes to hours depending on how long your hair is. The hairdresser will also continue to comb and detangle your hair while doing this step.
4) Preparing the braid tools needed.
Your hairdresser will then prepare the braid tools needed for Afro braiding. If you have black long hair, there’s no need for hair extensions. But if you request to install long extensions, you should tell your braider about it. When choosing extensions, make sure that you choose the color that is similar to your hair. If you have black hair, choose black. If you have dark brown, select the same color. This will help you have a more natural look.
5) Installation of hair extensions
Your hairdresser will then install the hair extensions by pulling small strands of your hair. She will even out the ends and remove any knot if needed.
6) Starting the Afro braiding.
After lots of preparation and hair extension installation, your hairdresser will start the Afro braiding. She will take 2-3 inches of your hair so expect that if you have thick strands, this may take a while. Usually, hairdressers will ask you if you are willing to spend 6-12 hours doing Afro braiding. That’s the standard hours you have to spend if you want a beautifully arranged hairstyle by the end of the day. Don’t worry, it’s all going to be worth it by the end knowing that you won’t have to change your hairstyle for months!
7) Protecting your Afro braided hair.
The last step is spraying the right protection spray to your hair. Experts say that using synthetic hair like hair extensions can dehydrate your hair, which is why you need to moisturize your hair by means of moisturizers and lubricants. Water-based hydrating sprays are recommended in this case.
Nicole Hudson is a specialist at human hair extensions and can do Afro braided hair extensions easily. Contact Nicole at her hair salon in Cronulla for further information and pricing.