Are Braids Sophisticated?

[winnettag]

Well they certainly aren't tacky. Unless there's crazy colors mixed in there.

 

[Likeyouneverseenme]

I like them on little girls.
I wouldn't wear them unless I am on vacation.

 

[Oasis]

Depends on how they're styled. I wore microbraids to prom and they, IMO, looked very classy.

To a lot of folks they aren't, simply because they are a black hairstyle. Anything black is, of course, ghetto and tacky.

 

[loved]

In general, no.

I just watched an episode of Sweet 16 today. The girl hosting the party had micros & the entire time I watched the show I kept thinking how she didn't really look like she fit the part of what she was trying to portray because of her braids.

She has a lot of options with 10 inches of hair.

 

[DarkVictory]

If you don't leave 'em in for 4 months like ME (no future in fronting) they're fine.

Maybe it's just me, but everything that's of African origin or originating from the slave survivors era: locks, cornrows, braids, fried chicken, chitterlings, pig's feet, collard greens etc is "not sophisticated". I'm just saying.

Kind of a leap from braids to chitterlings, isn't it?

ITA pig's feet are not sophisticated. Braids? Depends on the style and the person. Some ladies look very classy when they play up the "African origin" part of their look. There are various ways of looking sophisticated.

 

[Mitey Cyrus]

Kind of a leap from braids to chitterlings, isn't it?

ITA pig's feet are not sophisticated. Braids? Depends on the style and the person. Some ladies look very classy when they play up the "African origin" part of their look. There are various ways of looking sophisticated.

I thought she was being facetious, hence the "not sophisticated" in quotation marks. I think she was speaking to the general public's interpretations, not hers. I could be wrong though.

 

[DivaD04]

i think sophistication and class comes from personal style; i can't classify braids as a hot ghetto mess unless my overall appearance is that way...the same as with sophisticatio. my hair, clothes, nails, makeup, etc....i think that portrays my overall image of sophistication/class. just like last night, i wore my watch, ONE bangle, and my braids in a bun, kind of high, but a bun none the less, b/c i thought if i wore a regular pony, it'll make me look immature when attending my dd's parent introductory meeting.

 

[MangaManiac]

I wear braids all the time and have put loose curls in the end or put them in a low bun. The works. Jada's picture is a prime example. I don't think you have to have straight hair styled in some fashion to look sophisticated or for your hair to be appropriate for a formal dance.

However, it's easy to project one own's personal style and beliefs on matters like this. All I know is that I get tons of comments from blacks and non-blacks alike when I'm in braids. Plus, small children LOVE them!

 

[NikStarrr]

Sometimes they look tacky--sometimes they look quite classy and sophisticated. In my opinion, it ALL DEPENDS ON THE WEARER.

 

[Lucky's Mom]

Braids, wigs, weaves and the like can all be TACKY.....
I think we can easily buy into this Eurocentric idea about how 'bad' or unprofessional Braids are......

Braids and all other hair styles are as Tacky or as sophisticated as you make them.

sigh.....

 

[Spongie Bloom]

I've learned its not what you wear, its HOW you wear it braids to me dont automatically mean ghetto, certainly in South Africa (where I am from) braids and cornrows are a hairstyle that is highly regarded whether done with extensions or your own hair ... we have a love affair with plaiting and braiding hair. I have worn a LOT of braid styles (infact before I came to this site I was addicted to braids...I can braid my own hair) and have never looked ghetto I always looked good whether worn up or down and certainly within employment I was never seen as unprofessional cause of my braids

 

[sunshinelady]

..............

 

[shunemite]

I thought she was being facetious

I was!!!

 

[DarkVictory]

I thought she was being facetious

I was!!!

D'oh! :Blush2:


Never mind.

 

[lovelyone80]

There's an "ideal" length? I've never heard of this, but I know nothing about mirocs w/ extensions. Why does shorter work better than longer? I'd think that w/ longer hair, you'd have more to "anchor" the fake hair to (if you're using it, that is)?

if she is natural, and she has long hair, they would have to braid the length of her hair to ensure that her curly ends are not sticking out where they stop braiding.

most micros are only braided down about 2 to 3 inches...which is why short hair is better. if your hair is longer and they only braid a half the length of the hair, you will have two types of hair: the hair they used to braid and your natural hair. to me, that looks a mess to have extra curly hair sticking out from under wet n wavy or straight.
i have had this issue before, and I was so upset over my hair I went back and made her braid down my hair.

braiders are some times lazy (NOT ALL but some can be) and they don't want to braid hair that long in micros.

this is my personal experience. hence, i said make sure they braid the length of the hair because they try not to when its longer

 

[LovinLea]

This thread reminds of Jennifer Hudson at her VH1 Divas performance

 

[ilah]

Braids can be imensely sophisticated if styled in a like mannor. They can also be silly if styled accordingly as well. It should be Myra's choice (with a bit of mother's guidence of course) IMO

 

[ToyToy]

I think it depends. Just like other posters have said, if the person is wearing lots of different colours, then braids can look very tacky. But they can also be very sophisticated. I wear braids a lot, and I've never felt tacky.

 

[Truth]

Yes it depends on how you get them and styled. Micro braids can be styled in pretty much anyway..

 

[Mitey Cyrus]

Thanks for your responses ladies. She ended up doing a twistout on a blowout and sculpting it into an updo. I sent my friend the links you posted.
Thanks!