When I was a teen, a braid-out was a popular easy hairstyle that involved braiding damp hair and then unraveling the braids to achieve defined, wavy curls. You can style your braid-outs in multiple ways like low and high puffs, buns, and half-up, and half-down styles. Another benefit to this hairstyle is that it is a great way to stretch your hair without heat.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to achieving a braid-out style:
Start with Clean Hair
Begin with clean and detangled hair. Shampoo and condition your hair. Use a sulfate-free shampoo and moisturizing conditioner to keep your hair hydrated. While conditioning, detangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to remove any knots.
Gather Your Styling Products & Tools
It’s time to gather your styling products and tools. For the perfect braid-out, I recommend using a detangling brush and a curl defining cream or butter.
Section Your Hair
On wet hair, divide it into manageable sections. The number of sections will depend on your hair’s thickness and length. II suggest typically 4-8 sections. Use hair clips to clip each section to keep them separated. If you desire a tighter, long-lasting pattern, create smaller sections and for a looser pattern, create medium to larger sections. Take into consideration that the bigger the braid, the longer it will take to dry.
Braid & Twirl
Once your hair is sectioned, begin to apply your leave-in conditioner and use your cream or detangler again. Detangle and distribute the products to your strands thoroughly. Working in sections, take an even amount of strains and braid. Start braiding close to your root so you can get a uniform definition from your roots to your ends. Twirl the ends of your braid around your fingers to establish and even pattern. Use flexi or perm rods on your ends if you have heat-damaged hair or a transitioning from permed to natural hair.
Dry Your Hair
To avoid a frizzy braid out, blow your hair to air dry completely. This can take several hours or overnight. Cover your hair with a satin scarf or bonnet to protect your braids while you sleep. If you are in a hurry, use any kind of blow dryer on a low setting to dry your braids.
Unravel The Braids
Once your hair is completely dry, rub a little oil and start unraveling, starting from the ends. After all the braids are unraveled, separate the curls further using fingers to achieve the desired volume and shape. Avoid using a comb or brush to maintain the curl definition.
Style and Finish
Apply edge control or gel to smooth down your edges. Use your fingers or a pick to shape or add volume where needed. Lightly mist your hair with a holding spray for added shine and hold.
By following these steps, you can achieve a beautiful braid-out style that showcases defined, bouncy curls.
Here is a step-by-step video of how to do a bomb braid-out
Written By: Sascha Ealey
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