All about Senegalese braids

Many women strive to make their appearance unusual, without resorting to any complicated and expensive procedures. An excellent option for a non-standard and at the same time practical hairstyle is Senegalese braids, which are especially popular among women who are not afraid to attract the attention of others. Such braids have a certain ethnicity, but at the same time, they can be amazingly beaten with the help of modern accessories.

Senegalese braids, like simple African ones, originate on the territory of the African continent in the country of Senegal. The main difference from the classic version of braids is the number of strands of which they are composed - only 2 pieces. Such weaving immediately takes on a more unusual look. For such braids, both natural hair and artificial fibers, such as, for example, kanekalon, can be used. It is calculated based on the desired length of the strands, as well as the color that you want to choose for a given hairstyle.

Like any Afrokos, Senegalese weaves have their own advantages and disadvantages that must be considered before creating such a hairstyle. The main advantages of such harnesses include a number of characteristics.

• Such braids can be weaved, almost regardless of the original length of natural hair, so more women can embody this hairstyle. The sufficient length of natural strands is 7 centimeters.
• These braids are not as heavy as classic African braids, they put less pressure on the root zone. Therefore, this hairstyle is quite acceptable for weakened and thin curls.
• Due to the possibility of weaving artificial strands of various shades into the bulk of the hair, you can give your hair any color, as well as use the ombre technology and the material that will change tone depending on the lighting. Some strands are even capable of glowing in the dark.
• Bundles can be made on their own with some experience in weaving braids, as well as free time.
• With this hairstyle, there is no need to wash your hair every day. Therefore, it is often chosen for travel.
• With artificial hair weaving, you can experiment by creating bundles of various thicknesses.

This hairstyle also has disadvantages.

• The lifespan is usually less than two months compared to other African weaving methods.
• The hairstyle cannot be supplemented with any accessories, beads or other decorative elements, for example, as in dreadlocks. They will increase the load and shorten the lifespan of the hairstyle.
• After braiding, you need to regularly look after such harnesses using many different means to maintain their presentable appearance.

Senegalese braids are not suitable for every lady. This hairstyle looks most successful on those of the fair sex who have an oval face shape. Such weaving assumes that the face will be completely open, it emphasizes the forehead, as well as the line of the cheekbones and chin.

If you like to wear bangs, then most likely it will have to be woven into pigtails. The original concept of this hairstyle does not imply that the forehead is covered with hair. But modern ladies sometimes leave bangs if they are thick and straight.

But the general style that the girl adheres to is also important. Clothes should be in harmony with the hairstyle. Youth styles, such as casual, look most relevant in combination with such harnesses. And also such braids look good in the image of girls who love ethnic prints in clothes. But for a glamorous or strict lady who prefers a classic style, Senegalese braids will not work.

In the choice of the color range of strands for Senegalese harnesses, a number of trends can be traced, each of which brings a certain zest to the image of the girls.

• Solid natural colors are a classic option. It is preferred by those girls for whom it is enough to emphasize only the unusual texture of the hair. And also natural colors will look appropriate on lovers of ethnic style and an abundant number of accessories. They will allow you not to overload the image.

• The ombre technique is still popular among young people. Among the artificial products for such braids, there are options with different color transitions from dark to light. The strands that are dark at the roots and gray at the ends deserve special attention.

• Colored artificial materials suitable for those young ladies who want to impress others. However, some girls simply spice up their hairstyle by weaving a few colored strands into braids of a natural shade.

Before creating a similar hairstyle, you should stock up on all materials, tools and some other formulations, necessary for a complete procedure.

• Kanekolonovaya thread in the amount of four packs.It is necessary if you want to use additional material in addition to your own hair. This thread is especially needed if you want to make colored braids.
• A comb for dividing hair into strands, as well as an ordinary comb for combing.
• A detangling agent will be a useful component for preparing natural strands for braiding.
• To fix the kanekolon threads in natural hair, you can use a special crochet hook, which is used to extend curls. This tool will help you thread the faux strand.
• Hair clips will help you separate and secure as many strands as you need for braiding your hair in small sections.
• And you will also need a saucepan with boiling water, a silk or satin scarf, and special hair oil.

At the first stage, you need to prepare natural hair and artificial strands. It is enough to fold the latter in half and cut to the desired length, but your hair needs to be washed, combed and sprinkled with an anti-tangling agent. Then you should dry your hair with a hair dryer.

Weaving starts at the bottom. Divide the bottommost layer of hair, securing the rest of the mass at the top with clamps. Select a small strand in the middle of the bottom layer and comb it carefully.

Weaving Senegalese braids for both short and long hair begins in the same way - creating a strong three-strand braid at the roots, which creates additional hold for the braids. If you are weaving artificial threads, you need to prepare them: fold the thread of the desired length in half, weave the fold into natural hair, so that at the beginning of weaving, the two parts of the fold are not in adjacent strands.

Braid 2 to 3 centimeters in a similar manner, and then divide the rest of the hair into two sections and twist each into a bundle. These bundles should then be twisted around each other in the same direction. Repeat this procedure with the rest of the hair. Remember that it is recommended to weave pigtails of the same thickness, otherwise the overall look will look sloppy. The number of additional strands in each bundle should also be the same.

To prevent the strands from unraveling, you can additionally "seal" their ends using boiling water. To do this, bring it to a boil in a saucepan at the time of braiding. Dip the tip of each rope in boiling water so that it is completely immersed in it. Do the same procedure with the rest of the strands, regardless of whether artificial or natural materials are used in weaving, this technology works. But if the hair is not cut at the ends, then it will be necessary to secure each tourniquet with an elastic band before fixing it with boiling water.

Grooming directly affects how long your Senegalese braids will last without losing their neatness and aesthetic appearance. Therefore, you need to take care of the harnesses.

• You only need to wash your hair once a week. In this case, the shampoo must be diluted with water 1 to 2. From more frequent washing, the strands will look stretched much faster.
• To moisturize the scalp, you need to apply coconut, oil or mint oil to it at least a couple of times a week.
• Do not use conditioners that require rinsing. Instead, opt for spray counterparts and spray them daily on the braids.
• To prevent braids from fraying during sleep, they need to be protected by collecting them in a ponytail and then tying a scarf made of smooth materials. Alternatively, a hair dye cap can be used.

If you think that loose hair is the only option for a Senegalese braid hairstyle, then you are wrong. There are a huge number of ways to lay such harnesses, thereby creating a variety of images:

• you can collect the upper part of the hair and twist it into a voluminous bun, while leaving the lower part loose;

• Senegalese braids gathered in a spikelet will give additional piquancy to the image;

• the braid, braided along the hairline, turning into a neat knot looks even more interesting;

• you can also make a ponytail or a more extravagant version of it by laying the front part of the hair on top of it.

To learn how to braid Senegalese braids with your own hands, see the video below.