How Long Should You Wear Braids

can you wear braids for a year
How long should you wear braids? Braids are a beautiful style for any woman trying to change her look up a bit. Besides wanting to know how long braids take to put in their hair, many women also wonder how long should you wear braids.

With braids, women get to add a little variety to their style. There are many types of braided styles. Braids can be added to your natural hair with the use of extensions. You can also incorporate braids into longer hairstyles or use them to protect your hair beneath wigs or hats.

What are Braids

Braids can be installed in several different ways. One of the most popular methods is box braids. Though box braids can be put in using different methods, typically this style involves creating individual braids all over the head by attaching hair extensions to each section of hair.

Other styles of braids include the knotted-box braid, French plait, tousled braid, cornrow, double cornrow, fishtale braid, fishtale-plait, braids-made braid, asymmetric side twist, Dutch braid, the halo braid, Fulani braids, lemonade braids and many more. Your stylist should have a book on hand filled with braid styles I’ve named as well as those I haven’t, check with her or him.

Why People Wear Braids

Braids are worn as a protective style for women looking for low manipulation hairstyles. When women put braids in their hair, they can leave their hair braided for a month or more.

The complete opposite of dealing with your natural hair every morning, braids eliminate the potential of heat damage associated with hair dryers, flat irons and curling irons. Moreover, braiding in extensions is an easy way for women to add length to their look.

Pros and Cons of Braids

Braids are beautiful but there are pros and cons to the style. While this protective style is one of the easiest to wear while giving your hair a rest; braids do add stress to your real hair.

The main con of braids is that they can easily lead to hair breakage along the edges of the hair. This usually happens when the braids are tightly installed; increasing the likelihood that your braids will or may start to break your hair off.

Another reason many women chooses to avoid braids is the price. Depending on the style you want and the stylist that you choose, you’ll find that regularly putting in braids will start to get expensive. Typically, the more time it takes for the braids to be finished, the more it will cost you.

Braids without the Braid Damage

Braids are such an iconic look that it can be hard to avoid getting them. However, if you are concerned about the braids damaging your hair, there are some other tips you should also consider.

After you have decided on the style of braid that you want, speak with your stylist. Braids do not have to be tight to the point of risking hair breakage. Hair breakage mainly happens when you wear the style of braids for an extended amount of time. Therefore, if you just need the braids for a night out, for the weekend or just want them while you are on vacation, your hair should definitely be safe from damage.

Many women today that love the look of braids but don’t want to deal with any of the negative consequences also consider alternatives like braided wigs or crochet braids.

Braided wigs pose almost no threat to your hair’s health as they completely cover your hair but still give you the look of braids. With crochet hair, you can still enjoy individual braids without having to actually add any stress to your own strands.

Still considering your best options for braids? Keep this information in mind as you make the next step in your hair journey.

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