Styling mini braids on natural hair offers versatility and can easily transition from practical protective styles to more decorative looks. Based on styling techniques, common approaches involve managing the front sections (like bangs) and securing the bulk of the braids.
Versatile Styling Options for Mini Braids
Mini braids serve as an excellent protective style for natural hair, allowing for numerous styling possibilities. These styles can help keep the hair contained ("put away") while offering fashionable ways to wear the front sections or bangs.
Managing Bangs and Front Sections
A key aspect of styling mini braids often involves how you wear the braids framing your face. Two distinct options for styling bangs include:
- Swooping Bangs Around Buns: You can take the mini braids that form your bang area and artfully swoop them around one or more buns created from the rest of your braided hair. This technique helps secure the bangs while adding a polished touch to an updo.
- Wearing Bangs Down: Alternatively, you can simply let the mini braids in the bang section hang down. This creates a traditional fringe look and allows the face-framing braids to be visible.
Securing the Bulk of the Braids
Beyond styling the front, you'll typically need to manage the rest of your mini braids, especially when you "need to put [your] hair away" for convenience or protection. Putting hair away often involves gathering the braids into simple yet effective styles:
- Buns: A popular method is to gather the braids into one or more buns. As mentioned in the bang styling example, buns provide a base around which other sections can be styled.
- Other Updos: Mini braids can be swept into ponytails, twists, or other updos, offering a secure way to keep the hair off the neck and face.
Quick Styling Ideas
Here's a quick overview of the styling ideas mentioned:
| Style Type | Description | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Bangs Swooped | Swoop front braids around buns or updos. | Face Framing |
| Bangs Down | Let front braids hang loose as a fringe. | Face Framing |
| Hair Put "Away" | Gather bulk of braids into buns or updos. | Containment |
These techniques demonstrate how mini braids can be styled for both practicality, like putting hair away in buns, and aesthetics, by styling the bangs differently.
