Control Fly Aways and Frizz
This part is completely optional, but if you really want a sleek look, try taming your hair with a light gel or edge control around the parts. This will take away or tame all frizz, fly aways, and unruly hairs.
A lot of people prefer to avoid this step because products have a way of working themselves into rubber bands and braids, and caking up to the point of hard buildup that is difficult to remove.
However, if you don’t plan on wearing this style for long, oil your scalp and braids, and keep the amount of product used to a minimum, it should all work out fine.
Grip, Braid, Groom
No matter how you grip and braid the hair, make sure it is sturdy and an even braid down. When you braid, braid with three even pieces and away from your face so that you don’t get that weird bulky, squiggly-looking braid we all hate.
Lightly separating the extension hair before and finger detangling the hair as you braid down will also help you achieve a straighter braid from root to tip.
If you see any little hairs poking out after you are done, don’t worry! Take some scissors or shears and trim down your braids to get rid of them. To avoid getting those annoying fly aways in the future, I rub a light pomade between my hands before rubbing them over all of my braids. This will keep them looking nice and neat!
Dip, Burn, or Rubber Band
Congratulations if you made it to this part because that means you are either completely done or you’ve successfully finished your first braid! All you have left is securing the ends of the braids so they don’t unravel. There are a few methods you can use to seal them, but the most common are dipping the ends in boiling hot water, burning them, or simply tying a rubber band around them.
This, of course, is going to depend on what look you’re going for. When I braid all the way down, I dip them in hot water. If I want to leave a little hair at the ends, I’ll use a rubber band. For a quicker, more secure option, I’ll just use a lighter and burn the ends.
Whatever it is that you choose to do, make sure it is secure and can be altered if need be. At the end of the day, make sure it looks good!