Types of Braids and Twists
Black Elephants
"What kind of hair do I need for __________?"
I hear this question all the time, and it is usually about braids, twists, or locs. So today, I wanted to go through the various types to serve as a reference list you can refer to later.
Box Braids
Box braids is what you wore when you were a kid. It is considered old school, traditional, or a classic. It gets its name from the box-shaped sections of hair. You can use any type of braiding hair. Synthetic hair ($1) is the cheapest. You can burn the ends or let them hang. You can wear them thick or thin, long or short, black, brown, blonde, red, etc. Using a higher quality synthetic, like Kanekalon, allows you to dip the hair in hot water with rods for even more versatility.
Marley Braids
The is the second most common braids, or more accurately twists. Another common name for this type is called kinky twists. You should only use the coarser Marley hair made with Kanekalon ($5-$6). Keep the thickness around the same as traditional box braids.
Senegalese Twists
This type is thinner than kinky twists and resembles a rope hence the other common term for it: rope twists. You should only use 100% Kanekalon bulk hair ($2-$3) or Marley hair. Using the coarser Marley hair achieves the same look with less bulk. And less bulk means less weight.
Havana Twists
This twist goes in the opposite direction to the Senegalese. They are large, chunky, and very trendy. You must use Marley hair, several bags of it actually. But it'll be worth it!
Did I miss one? Please let me know in the comments.
Have a blessed weekend!