The tradition of natural African hair braiding has been around for centuries as a way for men and women to express themselves through their hairstyle. Each time the tradition is passed down, some type of new design emerges, continuing the legacy of traditional African braiding. These new designs can allow a man or woman to represent themselves in ways never thought possible!

Traditional, natural African braiding is more than just a regular braid. Traditional African braiding can be described by the use of plaits, twists, parts, cornrows, and patterns to create a style that expresses many attributes of a person's life.

This tradition is so important and valuable for its followers because it is seen as a means of self- expression. In Nigeria, the women of the Karamo tribe would stop brushing, washing, and altogether caring for the hair after a loved one passed. The reason for this was to pass the message along to men that they weren't interested in courting attempts until the period of mourning was over.

Not only seen as a form of self-expression, traditional African braiding is also a way of forming new friendships. Many traditional African braid styles take several hours to complete; therefore the client and the stylist spend lots of time together. This is a great place for women to form new friendships and temporarily forget about the stress of their everyday lives.

When it comes to traditional African braids, they normally consist of two or more braids to form a hairstyle. The braids can be like micro braids, hanging down from the scalp, or they can be like cornrows, which lay flat on the head. Both of these natural African braiding styles can be adorned with beads and shells. Changing the thickness of the braids or the angles of the parts are two great ways to manipulate your braids to achieve the desired look.

There are many different types of natural African braided hairstyles, but one of the most common styles is the country plait. The country plait is created by sectioning off the hair and braiding each section. Cornrows are a common type of braid that looks similar to a country plait when completed. A micro braid is another type of braid consisting of lots of braids covering the whole head that hang downward and flow freely. The thickness and length can be modified by using more or less hair for the braid.

Unlike other hairstyles such as bonded weaves and extensions, the art of natural African hair braiding normally doesn't use any harsh glues or chemicals. Other styles use heat and/or glue throughout the entire application, which can cause damage to your hair. If used at all, traditional African braids may use a heat source to secure the ends of a plait, braid, or cornrow.

Consult with your stylist before choosing a traditional African braiding style. Make sure the style you choose has a maintenance regime that will work for you; don't just choose a style without knowing how to care for it. You may also want to think about your daily activities, work environment, and hobbies. For example, some work environments have banned cornrow designs completely. If one of your hobbies includes cross-country running, you may want to think twice about getting a longer style because of the added weight.

No matter what style you choose, natural African braids are always a good choice for someone wanting to express their personality.