Are Braids Sophisticated?

[Mitey Cyrus]

So I got off the phone with a friend of mine whose little sister is preparing to go to some school dance in the next few weeks(Let's call the little sister "Myra"). A few days ago, they went to the make-up counter and let the MA do her thing and bought a few items, etc, etc. The plan for the big day is to get the makeup done in the afternoon, then get dressed later.

Anyway, Myra is natural, 4a/b with about 10 or so inches of hair(as far as I can tell from the pictures I was sent). She's also totally adorable, but that's not the point They are in the process of trying to figure out what to do with her hair for the dance. Myra's friend who does hair("Linette") was over at the house yesterday, and she and Myra got into a tiff, b/c Myra was thinking about doing micro braids and Linette said that it would look tacky for the dance. Linette herself was currently in microbraids, but her argument was that she's going about in jeans and sweats, so it okay then, but not for when you want to go somewhere looking "sophisticated". She said Myra was better off going in a fro with a flower in it.

I wondered how prevalent this idea that braids aren't sophisticated is. And what better place to talk hair than here So what do you think? Are braids sophisticated? (I'm talking individual here, not like a single french braid or anything.) I'm putting up a poll, too.

 

[SmartyPants]

It depends on the braids and what you do with the braids. Some braids do look tacky. Others don't. And, I've seen some great updos done with braided hair that looks every bit as sophisticated as a bun. Though it sounds like the flower in the hair would look good too.

 

[tocktick]

I believe they can be. There are a number of ways you can get individual braids done and many ways to style them. This is why I believe braids, twists etc aren't automatically immature, "ghetto", too "artsy", sloppy etc.

 

[angenoir]

I think braids can look very sophisticated if styled well. If she wants to do an updo with them then I think it would be easier if they were on the thinner/smaller side and done with good braid hair eg human hair

 

[Ms. Alainious]

I'm currently in my first set of microbraids. Though I don't see anything wrong with them, I do not wear them down at work (only in a bun). I think that there are less-than-sophisticated ways to wear braids (just like regular hair), but its all up to the person wearing them and what they feel is appropriate.

 

[Mizz Diamonds]

of course they are sophiticated I mean look at the micro braids icon from the 90's Brandy she rocked them all the time and looked sophistcated and fun whenever she wanted its a versatile style

 

[naturalmanenyc]

Although I did not always feel this way, there are so many styles that can be done with braids that I do think individual braids (and cornrows) can be sophisticated.

http://www.superhairbraiding.com/styles1.html

 

[Supervixen]

I'm not a fan of microbraids, but on a little girl, it's not too bad.

 

[MAMATO]

I find microbraids very sophisticated actually when they are neat and well maintained... more than a fro most of the time.

 

[MizzBrit]

yes if not braided with all kinda of colors..i think my braids look very classy in a low bun

 

[LaidBak]

I'm not very fond of microbraids. But braids in general can be very sophisticated.

I had a wonderful braider back in 1998 who crafted these amazing braids for me. She did this combination of individuals and cornrows that were left open and spiral curled on the ends. She braided them in unusual directions. Its hard to explain but there was definitely a method to her madness. The way she did it I could wear them down, in a bun, in a curly ponytail, or in an updo. The look was never bulky and yes, even sophisticated enough for formal wear.

That was way back before digital cameras were common, so I don't have many pictures of my hair from those days. If I can find some old snapshots I'll post them.

 

[pinkchocolatedaisy]

I wore braids when I got married... this is the only pic I could find.

 

[jamaraa]

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[Swanky]

It depends... I've seen sophisticated, I've seen cute, and others that turn heads as well and make you wonder what the he!! went wrong.

 

[jennboo]

I think certain braided styles are sophisticated...others are not.

 

[Aggie]

I wear briads and cornrows with extensions all the time and the reason I do is because I feel that they can be not only fun in a ponytial, but professional in a bun, sexy swept loose, and sophisticated in an updo with straw curled tendrils hanging down the sides and nape areas.

There are so many versatile ways one can wear individual braids it's unbelievable. The exciting part is practicing styling it in the mirror, undoing it and restyling it all over again as long as you don't add too much tension as you do.

 

[lovelyone80]

i wear micros a majority of the time and I think they can be very sophisticated when done neatly, are being kept up properly and are all one NATURAL color (not blond when you have black hair).

i think a bigger issue is that the girl's hair is 10 inches long...which i think is too long for micros. the issue comes in with the braider and if she is willing to braid the length of hair. there is nothing worse than micros with the natural hair sticking out.
also I dont know how old the little sister is but will she be able to keep up braids to keep them looking nice and presentable?

i mean, i wear buns, ponytails, loose...a lot of variety.

 

[shunemite]

Yes, but not if you leave any style in for too long. Traditionally, braids were sometimes used to mark occassions and the patterns used could have meanings too. They can be HIGHLY sophisticated...in both execution and art, but only if they look their primo...after all, the pattern is a big part of it.

This said, I prefer cornrows to micros anyday. It' micro wearers that are the biggest "leave it in for 3-6 months" offenders.

Oh Lord, that's my addiction. It's "one more week" and it turns into a month.

 

[shunemite]

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.

 

[WhipEffectz1]

In general, no.

 

[Aggie]

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.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the name "shunemite" from this same era you speak of? Just curious but what does it mean anyway?

 

[jamaraa]

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[jamaraa]

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[jamaraa]

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[naturalmanenyc]

I think that any braid style can be made to look sophisticated (except maybe braids with multi-colored beads).

 

[melodies815]

I think that any braid style can be made to look sophisticated (except maybe braids with multi-colored beads).

...just imagining a grown woman at a job interview with ^ (bolded).

I chose "maybe" because there was no choice for "it depends." The above would clearly look a little inappropriate but would look great on a young child with matching colors in her clothes. I love braids in general.

 

[Desarae]

It all depends on the style but a lot of braid styles can be very sophisticated.

Jada usually looks pretty sophisticated with her braids:

 

[R4L]

It totally depends on how the braids are styled. Do you have 20 different "not found in nature" shades in your head? that is not sophisticated. but if they are well done and cutely styled, it CAN look sophisticated. Just like some women look better with make up and some look like they're wearing war paint.

 

[Lanea87]

Heck yea braids are fine.....

 

[Mitey Cyrus]

Although I did not always feel this way, there are so many styles that can be done with braids that I do think individual braids (and cornrows) can be sophisticated.

http://www.superhairbraiding.com/styles1.html

Thanks for the link. I'll share this with her.

i wear micros a majority of the time and I think they can be very sophisticated when done neatly, are being kept up properly and are all one NATURAL color (not blond when you have black hair).

i think a bigger issue is that the girl's hair is 10 inches long...which i think is too long for micros. the issue comes in with the braider and if she is willing to braid the length of hair. there is nothing worse than micros with the natural hair sticking out.
also I dont know how old the little sister is but will she be able to keep up braids to keep them looking nice and presentable?

i mean, i wear buns, ponytails, loose...a lot of variety.

I did not know that. Interesting. Well, her little friend that does hair will be doing it for her, so I think she'll braid to the ends. They are both 15-16. She takes decent care of her natural hair I guess, but I don't know how she is with extensions.
Thanks for the responses ladies.