How to Braid Add In Hair?
Adding hair extensions into braids typically involves securing the extensions close to the scalp and incorporating them seamlessly into the natural hair as you braid.
Understanding the Technique
When learning how to braid add in hair, the core technique focuses on integrating the extension hair at the very start of the braid. This is crucial for achieving a secure and natural-looking result. The added hair provides length, volume, or color to the braid.
Key Steps for Adding Hair
Based on effective braiding practices, including methods demonstrated in instructional content:
- Prepare the Extension: Take a strand of the hair extension. Fold it in half if you are creating a loop attachment point (like for box braids or cornrows), or prepare it to be added directly into the three sections of your natural hair.
- Positioning: You add in a strand of hair into your fingers. This prepared extension is then brought close to the section of natural hair you are about to braid.
- Securing at the Scalp: It's essential to make sure it's nice and tight close to the scalp. Proper tension at the base is key to prevent the extension from slipping and to ensure the braid lies flat and smooth against the head.
- Incorporating into the Braid: For standard three-strand braiding, the folded extension (or the prepared strand) is placed against the root of the natural hair section. You then begin braiding the natural hair, incorporating the extension hair into one or more of the three strands from the very first crossover. You will then continue braiding, utilizing one of the ends of the extensions (or both ends if folded) as part of your braiding strands.
Benefits of Proper Addition
Executing the hair addition step correctly yields significant benefits:
- Neatness: As highlighted in braiding tutorials, properly securing the extension makes it more neat. The base of the braid looks clean and professional.
- Smoothness: Adding the hair tightly and correctly prevents bumps or lumps from forming at the root, ensuring no bumps while braiding.
- Security: The extension is less likely to pull out or loosen over time.
Example Incorporation Method (Three-Strand Braid)
Here's a simplified look at incorporating folded extension hair into a three-strand braid:
- Section a piece of natural hair.
- Hold the section taut with one hand.
- With your other hand, hold a folded piece of extension hair.
- Place the loop of the folded extension around the base of the natural hair section, close to the scalp.
- Split the natural hair section into two strands.
- Thread the two tails of the extension hair through the loop and pull tight against the scalp. Now you have three strands (the two natural hair strands and the combined extension tails).
- Begin braiding with these three strands, adding hair gradually if needed for thicker braids.
||Benefit|Description|
|---|---|---|
|Tight to Scalp|Prevents Slipping|Keeps the extension securely anchored.|
|Seamless Integration|Smooth Finish|Avoids bumps and creates a neat look.|
|Utilizing Ends|Effective Braiding|Ensures the extension hair is fully incorporated into the braid structure.|
Mastering the technique of adding hair tightly at the scalp and incorporating the ends correctly is fundamental to successful extension braiding.
