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FreeTress Jumbo Braiding Hair is pre-stretched, making it easy to braid into your natural hair. Each package you purchase comes with three lengths of hair for braiding, and every bunch of hair is approximately 28” in length.
This hair blends best with afro/curly textured hair for the most seamless and natural look. Other hair types may not hold the hair as well. Customers will like how soft the hair is to the touch and that it makes the braiding process quick and easy on the fingers! However, sometimes this softness can make the hair hard to untangle and sometimes feel itchy.
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FreeTress Deep Twist Braiding Hair is 22” in length and is easy to install in your natural hair. The hair creates a look that is light and bouncy, and it’s long enough for you to choose just how long or short you’d like it to be!
You can purchase this hair in a pack of four or a pack of six, and there are also twenty different color options to choose from. These braids will need a lot of constant, regular maintenance to keep them looking fresh, but it’s totally worth the effort!
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ZSF Brazilian Hair is natural human hair that can be bought in a number of length combinations, ranging from 14” – 28”. Customers will love the variety of choices as they provide hair in a combination of varying lengths. This ensures that customers can create that beautiful, layered look!
The hair is gorgeously soft and wavy, making it easy to install in your natural hair. However, some customers with thinner natural hair may find that it slips from their natural hair more quickly after it has been installed.
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Hannah Deep Weave Bulk Braiding Hair is super curly and super soft to the touch, making it easy to install into your natural hair. Customers will appreciate the light, bouncy look of this natural hair. And if you want to try to style it a different way, you have the option to color, straighten and/or perm this hair!
You can purchase this in a 50g or 100g pack, and you also have a variety of lengths to choose from, ranging from 16” to 26” in length. Additionally, the packaging can be purchased in a variety of lengths if you want to create a more layered look.
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Deep Bulk Braiding Hair is a blend of mostly human hair with a small percentage of synthetic. You can purchase it in a variety of lengths, ranging from 18-20”. We love the loose, spiraled, curled look this hair creates at the ends, and we especially appreciate how long-lasting this hair is once installed.
In the following section, we’ll review the most important factors to consider when buying hair for tree braids. We’ll also discuss some additional things to keep in mind before you buy hair for tree braids that’ll best suit your needs.
Tree braids cannot be created unless you first start with cornrows. This style of braiding hair dates back to approximately 3,000 BCE! A civilization known as Nok (around 500 BCE) was famous for wearing cornrows. To them, the hairstyle symbolized their religious, social, and cultural values.
Cornrows disappeared from African hairstyles during slavery because enslavers would shave their heads during their forced migration to the “New World.” However, after time, enslaved Africans would reintroduce cornrows to their everyday hairstyle as enslavers required them to keep their hair neat and tidy.
There was another surge in popularity for the cornrow hairstyle during the 1960s, particularly in conjunction with the Black Power movement. They used cornrows to distinguish new members from older, more seasoned ones.
Not only are cornrows popular today to aid in the installation of tree braids, but they continue to be a popular hairstyle in general in the US, West Africa, and the South Horn of Africa. In African countries, they are worn to communicate one’s identity as it relates to religious beliefs, marital status, age, etc.
There are only two choices of extensions for tree braids: synthetic and human. Most people go for the synthetic option because it’s cheaper, and there are more color and texture choices to choose from. However, if you’re not afraid of putting a little dent in your wallet, human hair is the better choice if you want to be able to style your tree braids using curling or straightening irons after they’re installed.
If you’re comfortable installing your own tree braids at home, it can be done in five simple steps once you’ve bought the right hair extensions for you:
Once your tree braids are in, you’ll need to take care of them. This will ensure that the hair lasts for as long as possible and that you keep it clean and hygienic while rocking your hairdo!
Remember to check back with your hair stylist every 8-10 weeks to get your hair rebraided or help remove them altogether. This is especially important if your braids get too loose or begin to fall out.
If you are working with human hair, taking care of your tree braids should be straightforward and simple. Simply shampoo and condition your braids just like you would your normal hair.
If you are working with synthetic hair, you only need to wash your braids once every 1-2 weeks. Do not use regular shampoo and conditioner. Rather, make a diluted shampoo with ½ a teaspoon of gentle shampoo (baby shampoo will work just fine!) mixed with 1 quart of cold or room temperature water.
Between shampooing sessions, be sure to spray your tree braids with detangling spray. This will help moisturize your braids, so that you can more easily brush through your hair and comb out any knots that have developed.
You will also need to pay close attention to your scalp while your tree braids are in. It’s not all about maintaining just the hair! The braids along your scalp may look messy or undone if you scrub too vigorously between the braids and the scalp, so wash along these areas with extreme care.
This can be avoided by applying a waterless shampoo to the scalp area after you’ve properly washed your tree braids. You also have the option to use an astringent to clean around the braids on the scalp like African Pride Black Castor Miracle, Girl + Hair Under Hair Care, or DevaCurl Buildup Buster.
The easiest and most efficient way to remove your tree braids is to go to the hair salon of your choice and have a person specializing in tree braids and cornrows do it for you. However, if you’re more of a DIYer, here are the steps to follow to ensure that you remove them safely without damaging your natural hair:
How long do tree braids last?
If properly cared for, tree braids can last up to six weeks!
Why are they called tree braids?
They are called tree braids because they are a protective hairstyle that resembles a tree once they are installed.
Are tree braids the same as microbraids?
No, they are not. Tree braids use the cornrow method, and microbraids do not.
Can I still be active while wearing tree braids?
Tree braids are really flexible! So long as you make sure to care for them properly, you should be able to work out, swim, shower, and do whatever you normally do while you have them in.
Whether you’re donning a tree braid style to keep cooler in the summer or just wanting to change up your look, knowing the best type of hair to use will make all the difference! Now that you know what to look for in tree braid hair, you’re sure to rock a glamorous new look that’ll have you feeling gorgeous!