But we're going to make your life easier and focus on a specific type of braiding hair (hi, kanekalon), and sift through the masses because we <3 you and want to make sure your next braided style is *chef's kiss*. Alexander has been in the industry for over 15 years and began teaching herself to braid in her home country of Grenada.

Most braid styles require a particular braiding hair—whether it is synthetic or human—and every stylist has a brand that they prefer because each one has a different feel or texture," says Alexander.

When you have an important event to attend, French braid the top half of your hair, securing it in three pretty rose shapes. Ama Kwarteng was the associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly three years, and has eight years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and entertainment across print and digital, including the best protein treatments for natural hair and the best braids for Black women. Not only does the lightweight texture of this braiding hair make it super easy to twist, but it also means that it won’t weigh down your edges (aka there’s less potential for breakage). Repeat the braiding process, taking more hair from each side as you work and incorporating it into the braid. Not only that, but "kanekalon is also more flame-resistant compared to most synthetic braiding hair, and therefore resistant to dripping or melting," says Alexander.

He believes that the true work of a successful hair stylist comes from passion and a love for hairdressing. Many of the braids for curly hair on our list are easy to do on your own, but occasionally they can be more difficult, because they involve intricate designs or your curly hair texture is tough to work with. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. After you’ve picked out your braided style and secured that highly-coveted Saturday AM appointment, there’s still one last thing you have to take care of: choosing your braiding hair.Crochet braids are one of the most popular curly braided hairstyles for black hair, especially for women who like to have a natural look with loose curls at the ends. THE REVIEW: "The hair was tangle-free during the entire braiding process, the length was accurate, and the braids turned out perfect!

Braiding curly hair definitely requires more effort work than straight hair and your braids may never be perfectly even and neat, but the curly texture actually adds a unique look to the usual braid that all your straight-haired friends will envy. Joining two fishtail braids at the back of the head and adding a loose bun builds a great daytime look that does the trick. This is why kanekalon is such a great choice—it's made with a higher-quality fiber than other synthetic hair that may feel plastic-like to the touch. When you’re looking for a fantastic new hairstyle for your curly hair, why not try some different braid options to give it an extra special touch?If you use the wrong braiding hair, there is a possibility that the result may not mimic what you're going for: "For example, t he flow of the hair, smoothness of the braid, or how it lays can come out totally dif ferent," says Alexander. If you prefer, you can gather your hair over to one side and create a side braid instead of a traditional style at the nape of the neck. When you need a hairstyle for short curly hair that’s also kinky and hard to manage, this is the one to consider. Apply the product to your hair and gently work it through with your fingers to carefully get rid of any tangles. You can use human hair to braid—and certain looks, like human-hair box braids, require it—but it’s high-key expensive and not necessary for most styles.