Hair for micro braids on natural hair

[Ms_Twana]

Okay, I will be getting braids pretty soon. I wanted to know what kind of hair I should get. I would like to be able to wear cute updo's as well as wearing the braids down with the flowing, straight hair affect. But, at the same time, I want to use hair that is not damaging to natural hair. So, give me some suggestions. And give me the pros and cons to each type of hair (ex: you can do the styles that you want, but it's damaging to your hair). TIA!!!

 

[CurliDiva]

All of the braid shops I know of will ONLY do Microbraids with HUMAN hair.

You can buy the Yak striaght or Wet/Wavy human hair, depending on how you want the ends to look.

You will need 2 packs of hair and the hair comes in different lengths. The longer the length = higher price, but most places offer a "2 for $" discount.

I used to wear Micros and prefered the Straight hair because you can wear it straight or curled.

But imo - the wet/wavy blends better with natural hair.

Either way - it is always a good practice to wash and condition spray the extension hair beforehand - you will be amazed at the amount of dye / coating that will be removed in the wash water.

I LOVE the look of MICRO BRAIDS, but the tiny size of the braids and the potential weight/tension on the small sections of your hair especially around the hairline can be damaging!

I hope this helps - - Good Luck!

 

[Ms_Twana]

Yeah, see I want them small, but not TOO small!!! I know the really small = really damaging. A friend of mines, who braids hair, suggested Yaki something for natural hair.

 

[EMJazzy]

All of the braid shops I know of will ONLY do Microbraids with HUMAN hair.

You can buy the Yak striaght or Wet/Wavy human hair, depending on how you want the ends to look.

You will need 2 packs of hair and the hair comes in different lengths. The longer the length = higher price, but most places offer a "2 for $" discount.

I used to wear Micros and prefered the Straight hair because you can wear it straight or curled.

But imo - the wet/wavy blends better with natural hair.

Either way - it is always a good practice to wash and condition spray the extension hair beforehand - you will be amazed at the amount of dye / coating that will be removed in the wash water.

I LOVE the look of MICRO BRAIDS, but the tiny size of the braids and the potential weight/tension on the small sections of your hair especially around the hairline can be damaging!

I hope this helps - - Good Luck!

ITA

 

[Ms_Twana]

Bumping. More suggestions please!!!

 

[jtsupanova]

IMHO you should not braid natural har with human hair unless you do not plan on washing it because it has a higher change of locking /matting on to your hair, the texture will not blend that well, your hair will fuzz out of this sort hair faster,shrinkage will cause the braiding hair to unravel (if not braided all the way down) ect

The best hair to braid natural hair with is Kanekolon Afro Kinky hair.
Of coarse this is all dependent on your hair texture. If you have straighter textured natural hair that you may not have these issues.

 

[cmw45]

INHO...I vote...NO MICROS! They kill your hairline...back on topice...I don't know to many shops that let you use non-human hair for micros...so then it would just be up to you to select the texture and color.

 

[CurliDiva]

IMHO you should not braid natural har with human hair unless you do not plan on washing it because it has a higher change of locking /matting on to your hair, the texture will not blend that well, your hair will fuzz out of this sort hair faster,shrinkage will cause the braiding hair to unravel (if not braided all the way down) ect

The best hair to braid natural hair with is Kanekolon Afro Kinky hair.
Of coarse this is all dependent on your hair texture. If you have straighter textured natural hair that you may not have these issues.

This is very true for regular braids, but I have never seen a professional shop that will do micros with anything other than HUMAN hair. Most shops will tell NOT TO WASH your micro braids at all to keep the differnet textures from showing.

If you wash or sweat often, you will get the fuzz and matting that tsupanova mentioned!

I have a girlfriend who has grown hair out from a permed short Halle cut to total natural AMRPIT length with micros - and keeps them in for 4-5 months without washing. She just oil once per week and tie them down. By the 5 month - the braids are just floating on roots (not pretty) but she been rocking them for at least 4 years now!

This works for her, but I hear more HORROR stories than succuess when it comes to micro braids.

 

[lnhair]

If you wash or sweat often, you will get the fuzz and matting that tsupanova mentioned!

I have a girlfriend who has grown hair out from a permed short Halle cut to total natural AMRPIT length with micros - and keeps them in for 4-5 months without washing. She just oil once per week and tie them down. By the 5 month - the braids are just floating on roots (not pretty) but she been rocking them for at least 4 years now!

This works for her, but I hear more HORROR stories than succuess when it comes to micro braids.

I agree with the above. I have also grown my hair with micros braids from realxed bob length to apl length. I prefer human hair with a wave. Most synthetic hair i use mats at the ends and tangle like dog fur to me as it gets older. Especially if you are planning to wear the braids more than 6 weeks. If you are washing your hair in the braids or sweating their will be frizz. It looks more natural to use human hair than fake. I have never had severe matting with my own hair rather it be synthetic or real human hair that i was using

 

[choqlat]

When I was natural I put in micros all the time. What worked for me was to blow dry it straight before braiding (that was the only time that I used heat, besides the OCCASIONAL press) and then braid it up with human hair. It really didnt matter if I used Yaki straight or wet and wavy because I always braid past my hair.. It doesnt seem like a protective style to me unless you do that because your ends will still be out for the period of time that you have the braids. I also didnt wash my hair while I had the braids in, but I also do not have an oily scalp so my hair grew fine.. no itchys either... I used to leave in my braids for about 2 months, I cant imagine leaving it in longer than that tho cause my hair grows too fast and I HATE the fat root look. Tacky. The problem I have now tho is that my hair is too long for the average braid hair (10 - 14 inches) I have to see if I can find hair that longer now. Mo money Mo money Mo money... I guess I shouldnt complain too much since I do it myself.

 

[Miz_Complexity]

Wet and Wavy or deep curl type of hair might work for you. I know my hair tends to curl around the braids if get wet since my hair is natural. It blends better with wet and wavy with straight haire it looks a hot mess.

 

[scarcity21]

when I used 2 go 2 the shop i always used wet n wavy but last october i tried doing my own micros with...get this...freetress deep bulk for only $5.99 a pack!
They turned out great...as a matter of fact i like the look better than the wet n wavy only bcos it is more fuller(can u say that? lol) anyways, when i used to o to the shop they always told me not to wash it and i tried to keep in in for 3months at a time...bad i know...i usually washed tho but only after the 1st full month...gotta get my money's worth
Now that i do it myself i only leave it in for 1 month and waash once every 2wks...only bcos i spray nightly with water and lavender oil mix, showercap it and tie down with a scarf---->baggying...lol...so my scalp rarely gets dry.....
i do have natural 4b hair by the way...and im in the process right now of putting my micros in (3rd time braiding myself) as i type...i have pics in my fotki of my first attempt if you would like 2 see 'em.
If u have any mo' questions...lemme know.
Peace out

 

[Aquamarine]

Scarcity21, I LOVE your box braids. I WAS planning on wiggin' it for a few weeks, but now I'm thinking about attempting my own set of braids ...only problem is, my arms get tired..sigh.

 

[scarcity21]

Thanks Aquamarine, my arms get tired too...that's why i take breaks and i spread mine out over 2-3 days...if i have to go to work i just tie a scarf...i work in the OR...so we're required to wear a hair net/cap .
If you can t wear a scarf to work, start maybe on Friday night or sat and try to spread it over 2-3 days...HTH

 

[Ms Lala]

Definitely human hair. I had braids with the Yaki and it was damaging to my own hair. It's like the fibers up against caused breakge. I didn't have that problem with the human hair. Not to mention the human hair braids lasted longer.

 

[Demi27]

I've used Human hair and synthetic hair and I like them both. When I want to rock a straight style, then I'll use human hair. The only thing is my hair is often very dry. It's hard to moisturize your own hair (IMO anyway) with Human Hair braids b/c the human hair soaks up any moisture that you're trying to put on your own hair.
I've been wearing synthetic hair for a few months and I absolutely love it. This last time, I used Freetress candy curl. It's the last pic in my fotki. It's curly. I tie my hair down with a scarf at night, get up, shake my head upside down (literally) and go. I wash my hair and it stays curly.
I think synthetic is better if you want your hair to be really moisturized. WHen you put your braid spray on (or whatever you use for a conditioner), all of YOUR hair gets moisturized. The synthetic hair repels the moisture, so it has no where to go but your real hair.
That's my opinion.

 

[patient1]

I only use Freetress Yaky Braid for my hair and that of my clients. It's light, versatile, and inexpensive. It doesn't have the babydoll shine of yaky pony. I can finish the ends to their preference and no one has had problems with it. I advice them to moisturize on the daily and oil their scalps at least weekly. I braid PAST the end of the real hair and I don't blow dry first. I think that sort of discourages the client to wash and spritz as they should for fear of reversion. Plus, I don't want to put freshly blowdried hair through the braiding process. I like to work on moist hair.

p1

eta: That makes sense to my Tye. I guess it comes down to personal preference.

 

[sweetascocoa]

Micro braids has never damaged my edges because i always spray with surge. and i wash every 2 weeks so there's no way it can matt