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Pen size braids
These are the ideal size in terms of time invested in installing them and tensile strength, which we will talk about a bit later. They are also small enough to adequately allow each strand to be equally coated with your products when you wash or moisturize them.
There tends to be more of your own hair in each section compared to micro braids, which helps keep the integrity of the strands and lessens the pressure on the follicles.
Chunky braids
These are also great for length retention but they will typically have to be taken down more often to allow for thorough washing and conditioning. Since you have more hair packed in each section, it’s very difficult to ensure that each strand is properly cleaned and conditioned.
They are prone to getting frizzy quite quickly and they may also be too big for some people to be aesthetically pleasing. Styling options may also be limited since they can tend to be on the bulky side.
On the upside, you can install them in under an hour and they are also great for length retention. If you have fine hair you may find that chunky braids may work the best for you. Remember that fine hair strands are weak and there is strength in numbers so chunky braids are the way to go.
With chunky braids, you just have to watch the weight of the hair extensions* being added since gravity pulling on heavy braids is certainly not beneficial.
Of course, braid sizes vary widely and you may find success with a braid size in between a micro and a pen size braid or between a pen size and chunky braid. Still, the take-home message here is that the larger the braid, the better your length retention in the long run.
2. Braid Weight
This is of particular importance if you are using hair extensions*. I alluded to this earlier but it bears emphasizing.
When you braid a very small section of your hair as in micro or mini micro braids and you attach extensions* to this section, you are adding stress to your follicles from the extra weight of the extensions.
In most cases, a larger section of hair will be able to withstand the weight of hair extensions* better than a small section. The point is not to weigh each section down with too much extension hair as you will be causing unnecessary stress that may lead to traction alopecia.
3. Braid tensile strength
In this instance, tensile strength refers to strength in numbers. Imagine if you will, how easy it is to snap a single strand of hair as compared to snapping multiple strands joined together.
It’s the same concept they use when creating industrial ropes. By combining multiple strands they create a stronger rope. In the same way, your braids will withstand the rigors of your daily activities when they are thicker rather than thinner. This is of particular importance if you have fine hair strands.
If you have ever experienced extensive hair loss after taking out your braids, you may want to check the size of your sections to see if perhaps the issue could have been remedied had you ensured that the sections were large enough to have sufficient tensile strength.
Micros
the pencil size is also not good, according to me because, they are the reason for my thinning edges, if I was to have braids on, I would go for the chunky braids and make sure to tell my stylist to braid more of my hair with the extension, kinda like Beyonce’s box braids 🙂
The key is the START THE BRAID LARGE, THEN, braid the rest of the hair that is NOT attached at the scalp small(er), to your liking.
Pencil size braids are safe enough..just tell your stylist not to grip the front hairline too tight to avoid thining…my cent..
I do mini braids on my own natural hair. I can trust myself not to ruin my edges or hair
As a liscensed cosmetologist & also having thin edges…..I’ve found that despite the type of braid u get, you have to style them with minimum to no tension. So this means buns ect. Best results are to wear them hanging majority of the time! And not pulled up
Or bigger parts around the edges…or leave the shorter thinner edges out…….
Tension is everything. The lighter the braid is in weight the less likely it is to weight the hair out of the head. More important than this is what I call the Hair to Hair Ratio. We must section greater amounts of our hair to be braided than the added amount to ensure the extension doesn’t over power and weight the real hair out. I braid micro size all the time and clients report Zero hair loss. Because my braids are both painless and have a good hair to hair ratio through out.
I teach hair braiding for a living and find it amazing how uneducated most black people are about one of our oldest hair practices.
Wish I was near, so I can learn.. my granddaughters hair is mixed, soft, curly, and dried… my son has a friend that braids her hair like every 4 days cause it won’t stay in…
I would love to be in that class were are you located
When is your next class
Hair braiding is God’s gift to black hair even the time consuming aspect. There’s no other opportunity like it. When will you ever just sit and think or connect with another sister for 8 plus hours? Never. Hair braiding is our time out to regroup and reconnect. However very few people see it this way. Our impatience with our hair is why it’s in the condition it’s in. Much like fast food, quick isn’t the approach to black hair. Believe it or not. That’s why is so great when styles have a great return on investment such as lasting a few months.
i can rock the the pen sized ones, but the chunky ones i cant. the bulkiness of the braids when i lay down cause me to have headaches. not from them pulling on my hair, but from the size of them and the pain when i lay down. i cant even do big twists on my natural hair because of the pain. i think its mostly because of my fibromyalgia, either way, im going to stick with the pen size.
I’m trying to get some now! I didn’t believe you until I tried them lol
The chunky one weighs my hair down an pulls my edges out.
And Amen!
Micro braids are the worst,( If the africans do it,) they braid bits of hair ( to damn tight! n the glue for micro minis damages hair..n when they r taken out…UR HAIR COMES OUT with the fake hair. When i do my own hair/ micros, my hair never came out..I WILL NEVER LET ANOTHER AFRICAN do my hair….I GOT THIS..
Looks to me as if it just depends on you and what YOUR hair likes.
I will never let another African do micros on my hair EVER AGAIN… big, big mistake!!
The best to ensure your hair will not come out with any braid or size is to PREP ur natural hair by using a light, non greasy mosturizer,deep condition ,or simply do a co-wash. After that, safely DETANGLE and safely blowout to stretch the hair for better manage. Also, whenever gettin weave style it is highly important to take care of what under there.! Dryness leads to breakage so moisturizing is the key. Fresh braids, u shld already kno to at least wait a week before major style . After that week is gone u can wear as many buns and ponytails as u like but still keep the tension down a lil. I am a master cosmetologist, i am fully knowledged with this
Whatever the size it shouldn’t pull so right that it strains the hair roots.
My hair is VERY soft and a Lil thin but I’ve seen worse…whatever style I’ve gotten, sew-in, kinky twist, braids, updo or whatever my hair comes out in big wads even after being up only two weeks….I’ve been told, “everyone hair sheds after being up for a while”, although i think its not shedding as much just coming out, but i don’t like seeing it come out like that, so im just going to leave my hair alone…i don’t know what to do!
Nah. i did micro twists and while i was sleeping..or slanging my.backpack over my shoulder… i pulled out a twist or two…too nervous to attempt that w/braids…i like my edges
I wud never go micro. .#luvmyedges
A lot of braiders are self taught & aren’t licensed professionals. Braiding is a skill that isn’t even taught thoroughly in cosmetology school, it’s barely a part of the curriculum which is why I think we have so many issues with people losing their hair. Braiding isn’t even a part of the licensing test smh.. however, one thing I’ve learned through experience is that tension plays a huge role in hairloss. Also, the density of the section to be braided vs. the density of the extension hair is key. A really small section of natural hair with a big, heavy, dense amount of extension hair added to it is a bad idea.. the weight of that hair alone pulling on delicate areas can cause problems, even with minimal manipulation. Less really is more..
Question: So if this is true about braids then what about weaves ?
What about “Micro-Twist” ?
so true
Very Good Information!!!
The bottomline is if your hair was weak from the roots before the braids, it will be the same after them. Never had a issue with edges coming out and I stay in my hair, pulling, braiding, twisting for years. But I take care of my hair and scalp so it doesn’t easily break. Inside and Out
O no I jus installed mini braids (no weave added) for length retention. They aren’t tight and plan on keepn them n 4 weeks!! I’m a lil under APL. I’m down with moisture, I washed and DCd before I put them in. I hope my hair doesn’t fall out
Sistas, stop committing crimes against your edges. Lol!
Good info
Are any of the cosmetologist in the Birmingham Alabama area?
Renicka, your hair will be fine! Just make sure u take them out gently! This post is mostly for people with micro braids or other small braids.
iv been wearing pensized extentions for almost 6 yrs now and u have to wear them hanging free or loose bun and dont get them too tight. this is why i taught myself to do them bc the braiding shops always did them way too tight despite me directing them not to
Did anybody notice that it says pen size but showing a pencil…lol
I like tha Pen Size & the Chunky
I would like to know if I should rinse my yaki hair in vinegar and water before I braid my hair.
That is actually brilliant. I learned something valuable.
But still make sure they’re not too tight because my first set of professionally done box braids where medium (pen) size but my edges still thinned out a lot after I took them out
It’s not about the size of the braid it’s about the size of the section of your own hair that is taken to attach the braiding hair to.
Most brides take large sections in the back, middle, and sides and do tiny sections in the front the small sections of hair are too weak to hold the weight and as it grows out it becomes even weaker.
Additionally you don’t want them too tight either because that is why so many black women have traction alopecia (missing edges).
I’ve been doing my own hair for 5 years natural for 4 I’m mid back length and my first 2 years I wore strictly box braids taught myself and never did micro always pen size and this is very accurate it really did help me a lot.
Should I get braids if I have alopecia areata?
Good Job, Thanks for your tip.