7 Best Braids for Fine Natural Hair

Braids are one of the most versatile protective styles for all natural hair types. However, when you’re dealing with fine natural hair, not all braided hairstyles are created equal. Jumbo braids for fine hair? It would be hard. Then long box braids? And don’t think so. When choosing the right braids for fine natural hair, you should consider how they will affect the health of your hair (versus damaging it) and, of course, how they will look when worn. Luckily, there are several braids that are highly recommended for those with fine natural hair. In fact, we turned to hair experts to get their top recommendations, as well as insight into the causes of thinning hair, the best treatments, and what to consider before deciding which weave style is right for you.

So if you want to avoid common pitfalls when braiding finer hair, such as pitting, scalp tightness, and hair loss, keep reading for our favorite braids for fine hair and the best tips for wearing them.

Causes of thinning hair

Androgenetic alopecia

Andy Goren, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the Hair Health Brand Daniel Allensays there are many reasons why hair begins to thin. “The most common cause of thinning hair is androgenetic alopeciawhich is caused by genetics and high androgen levels,” he explains.

Androgens are male sex hormones. Like testosterone, they lead to hair thinning because they can reduce the size of the hair follicle and shorten the growth phase, medical and cosmetic dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, previously said. said InStyle.

Regular hair care, hairstyles and products

Dr. Goren adds that many beauty treatments and hair products can place undue stress on hair, potentially causing permanent damage or hair loss. This can happen due to tight ponytails, braids that are too tight, frequent heat styling, and the use of extensions. To determine the underlying cause of your hair loss, Dr. Goren suggests seeing a dermatologist.

How to restore hair thickness

Use moisturizing and volumizing products

To help your hair regain thickness, it is important to restore and hydrate your hair by using regular moisturizing treatments such as Flawless By Gabrielle Union Revitalizing Deep Conditioning Maskspeaks Larry Simscelebrity hairstylist and co-founder “Flawless” by Gabrielle Union. Michelle O’Connor, celebrity hairdresser and international artistic director Matrixagrees, adding that you should also consider using volume enhancing products, e.g. shampoosconditioners and mousses.

Avoid excessive heat styling

“Removing heat from the hair and keeping it in its natural state helps make it appear thicker. A healthy, balanced diet also helps hair health and can potentially help increase hair thickness, says Sims.

Consider taking minoxidil

Dr. Goren also recommends minoxidilwhich is one of the most popular hair growth supplements. “Daniel Allen’s Minoxidil Response Test shows whether minoxidil will be an effective treatment for you within seven to 14 days and can help narrow down the cause of your hair loss and get to the root of the problem faster.”

Tips for Braiding Thin Hair

According to Sims, braiding techniques for fine hair can be both good and bad. “Weaves are great for keeping your hair in place and preventing heat from damaging your hair, especially for finer hair,” says the stylist. “But you have to make sure that your braids are not too tight, especially around the hairline, and not heavy, but rather really light.”

“For the most part, it’s impossible to create a braided hairstyle without tension,” says O’Connor. “However, there are more delicate areas, like the hairline, so we try to create detail there rather than incorporating it into the braid.” This is because these hairs are more prone to damage from pulling or pulling. As for the weight of added hair, O’Connor suggests not including too much plenty of hair so it doesn’t become too heavy for your strands.

The best braids for fine hair

Tribal braids

This tribal braid is ideal for thinning hair as it is lightweight and free of baby hairs. “To complete this look, it is very important to focus on the hairstyle at the base of the head. Separating your hair into sections before braiding is also key, says the celebrity hairstylist. Dairius Thomas. “Apply edge control or pomade to your braids to keep your braids clean and smooth.”

Micro braids

If you’ve heard of micro braids, you may be hesitant to try them—the name itself suggests they can take a while to install. But Sims says if you have fine hair, microbraids can make your hair look fuller. “Gabrielle Union is a fan of microbraids,” says the stylist. “I like their lightness, they are not as heavy as box braids. I would never recommend braids for people with fine hair because of the severity of the hair. You really want to have very thin braids so the weight doesn’t put too much pressure on the hair.”

French braid

French braids This is a quick and easy style. “You can literally part your hair down the middle and create two braids on each side,” Sims says. Parting your hair down the center and splitting the difference will make fine hair look thicker and help hide any blemishes, the expert adds.

If you have thin edges, Sims recommends smoothing them out. Flawless by Gabrielle Union Edge Control Repair along the hairline to define edges and create a sleek look. “This non-greasy edge control is also ideal for smoothing out chips and adding shine to help restore thinned edges.”

Braids with baby hair

If you have short, thin edges, smooth them out. baby hair this is a great way to ignore them and not create tension. This look is a great example of what hot, sleek baby hair can look like in a braid. Plus, Thomas loves this hairstyle for fine hair because it reduces tension.

“I love the duality of this weave, with its soft and hard texture,” says Thomas. “The key to braiding hair with finer texture in this style is to use pomade to apply it to both sides of the braid to create a narrow braided path. I like to use Dark & ​​Lovely’s Blowout Shine Glitter Serum Balm. To maintain style and prevent frizz, I usually recommend my clients wear silk scarf or cap”

Braided tail

“Using hair extensions to add braided detail to a ponytail is a great way to make a braided ponytail look fuller,” says Sims. “This look has braid detailing, but I didn’t braid Regina King’s entire head of hair.” Instead, the stylist braided King’s hair into braids that reached right down to his ponytail. “The long, two-strand cord I added is lightweight and not heavy,” Sims adds.

Braids without knots

As much as we love braids, we have to admit that the knots used to secure traditional braids are difficult to untangle and can also pull on the scalp. Braids without knots are an excellent protective style for fine hair because there is less tension on the roots. Additionally, since the knot does not need to be removed, serious damage to the scalp is minimal.

Single braid braids

“Karrueche Tran looks great with these braids, and it’s a good hairstyle for fine hair because it protects it,” Sims says. “Single braids at the back of Tran’s head make the base of the braids look fuller. “I love the fact that it has a lot of braids at the base.” Sims adds that when there are fewer braids, you can see how thin they are. someone’s hair is in between the braids, however this unusual type of braid tends to disguise the thinness of the hair.

This All natural. From the curliest curls to the loosest waves, we celebrate natural hair in all its forms by sharing expert tips on hair styling, care and maintenance.