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The question, “What is the best hair for braiding?” comes up quite often in many discussions regarding hair styling. This has several choices, and it might be difficult for someone to decide on a product.
Some braiding options are expensive and have long-term repercussions, so you can’t afford to play a guessing game with them.
has advanced in creating artificial braids, but some prefer human hair. So which is the best choice? Let’s get more details and see;
What Is The Best Hair For Braiding?
Human hair is the best choice for braiding, and it offers many advantages over synthetic braiding options. It is tough and durable, so it can give you a natural look for a more extended period than artificial braids.
It is much more expensive, but it will save you money if you consider all the hair products and saloon visits it will save you. You can have the same braids for over 6 months with proper maintenance.
What Are The Advantages Of Using Human Hair For Braiding?
Human hair is the first choice for most stylists, which is like this for a reason. Science has brought many synthetic brands to the market, but natural hair still stands out. What makes it such a good choice for braiding? Here’s the full scoop;
1. Human hair is lighter and more natural-looking
Most people love human hair because it is lighter. Human hair is the right weight for easy addition without feeling too much additional weight on the head and neck. Plastic fibres are much heavier, leading to severe headaches and neck pains.
Human hair is natural, so your braids will have a more natural, aesthetically pleasing look. It has a silkier texture that adds to its beauty and makes it easier to maintain, making it ideal for long-term use.
2. No chemicals
Artificial braids have chemicals that are used in creation and augmentation. Some people are allergic to these chemicals, and they can cause severe issues.
Some chemicals might cause permanent damage to your hair and lead to years of treatment before restoration.
On the other hand, human hair has no chemicals, contributing to its popularity over synthetic hair. You don’t have to worry about allergic reactions or chemical-induced infections.
3. Human hair lasts longer.
Natural human hair is much stronger than any synthetic brand you will get on the market. Braiding is challenging, but once done, you can have it on for anywhere between 6 months and 2 years with proper maintenance.
Synthetic hair lasts only a few months, even with extreme care, and is much more delicate.
4. More styling options
Human hair is more durable, which means there are more things you can do to it, and it will still work. You can bleach or dye it in various colours without permanently damaging it. Its head resistance means you can add curls and twists to make it more aesthetically appealing.
Unlike artificial options with a specific care manual, the hairstyle is simple and easy to maintain. Natural braids don’t take moisture from your scalp or hair, so you must use fewer hair products.
There are a lot of knockoffs in the market, and some are rather convincing. The burn test is one way to know whether hair is natural or synthetic.
Artificial hair burns slowly, creates black smoke and smells like burning rubber. Human hair will burn very fast with very little smoke.
Disadvantages Of Using Human Hair For Braiding
Human hair is a fantastic choice, but the growing popularity of artificial braids implies some pitfalls to using human hair. So, what are the changes that could potentially come with human hair?
- The biggest concern for most people is the price of human hair. The hair can go for anywhere from $100 to over $300 per bundle; not everyone has this kind of money to spend on hair. This makes them opt for cheaper artificial options.
- One of the best features of natural hair is how silky it is, but this also poses a challenge. It is much harder to braid it because of its smooth nature; it slips out of the hair and hands. This means you need more experienced hairdressers that will charge you more.
- It will also unravel faster than artificial hair if the hairdresser doesn’t secure the ends well enough. Many stylists avoid braiding natural hair because of these issues, as it needs a lot of experience.
- Natural braiding hair comes mostly from women in India who grow out and then cut and sell their hair as braids. Some people are concerned about how ethical the sourcing is, so they stay away from natural hair in protest.
- Natural hair is easy to style and change, but it doesn’t work for everyone. You need braids that roughly match your hair texture, so they blend well. This mismatch makes it hard for some people to use braids as it is hard to hide them.
Which Type Of Braiding Hair Should You Choose?
There are several types and brands of braiding hair in the market, and you might have difficulty choosing between them if you don’t know their features.
Each style appeals to a different group of people, so here is the information to help you get what’s best for you;
Kanekalon
Kanekalon braided hair is the most commonly used braiding hair. The braiding hair is coarser and crimped to resemble
Afro-Caribbean human hair. This braiding hair is ideal for enormous hairstyles like chignons or bubble ponytails.
Kanekalon hair is heavier braiding hair that isn’t as soft as other braiding hair due to its texture. Kanekalon hair must often be stretched and feathered before insertion for a finer braided finish, which takes time, is difficult to separate, and may tangle.
Kanekalon braiding hair is made from a fiber called Modacrylic, which helps to make the braiding hair flame-proof and, therefore, resistant to dripping or melting.
You can also set the braiding hair with hot water. This allows for curling and braiding; the hot water will keep it from loosening.
Synthetic
Genetic braiding hair is not as expensive as other hair types, which sometimes means you get poor quality. It has a silicone coating that gives the hair a shiny and waxy look, and this might make it hard to blend in with your hair.
You cannot expose synthetic hair to heat like other options since the synthetic fibers are not heat resistant. Therefore, they will melt and get disfigured if you expose them to heat, limiting the styling options.
Toyokalon
Toyokalon braiding hair has a softer and silkier texture than other types of braiding hair and is best known for looking and feeling like human hair. Toyokalon braiding hair is not crimped like Kanekalon and is softer on fingers during braiding.
This braiding hair is also more resistant to heat than hair fiber. This is because this hair can be blow-dried at moderate heat or flat ironed at high heat, allowing you to heat style your hair.
As a result, Toyokalon braiding hair can retain styles like curls and twists very nicely. Though more expensive than other braiding hair varieties, Toyokalon braiding hair is tangle-free and frequently used for hairpieces, wigs, braids, and twisting styles.
Spectra
Spectra braiding hair is an environmentally friendly braiding hair option that has grown in popularity recently. Unlike other forms of braiding hair, Spectra braiding hair may be recycled and produced with fewer chemicals.
This braiding hair is perfect for styles such as crochet and braids but may also work for weaving, hair extensions, and accessories.
The texture of Spectra braiding hair is delicate and tangle-free. Braiding hair is also lightweight and extensive, which means you don’t need as much hair to do styles like braids. Furthermore, braided hair is flame retardant and has antibacterial characteristics.
Afrelle
If you want to pull off elegant styles like knotless or thread braids, Afrelle braided hair is a perfect choice. The braiding hair is soft and light; you can use Afrelle braiding hair for styles like box braids or chunky twists.
Your head won’t be overwhelmed, and there are fewer fly-away strands, which could potentially itch the scalp after braiding. This gives you a sleek, smooth appearance that almost competes with natural hair.
Despite its soft and delicate structure, Afrelle’s braiding hair is sturdy enough to hold a variety of hairstyles. The smoother texture also prevents chafing of your fingertips while braiding the hair. Afrelle braiding hair is heat resistant and flame retardant, allowing for blow drying.
Conclusion
You have more information about the best braiding hair and can make a better choice for your next purchase. Human hair is the best choice since it is natural; thus, it comes with all the benefits of hair without any chemical risks of infection.
Sturdy and easy to style, it can look fantastic for many months. Several more affordable artificial options also offer a lot of durability and a natural look. Get braiding hair that is heat resistant so you have more styling options for different looks.
