Your Ultimate Resource: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Best Braiding Hair
Photo Credit: Jim Dandy Beauty & Hair
Choosing the right braiding hair is a critical step in achieving the perfect look and ensuring ultimate scalp comfort. It's not just about the brand you prefer, but understanding the type of fibers used in the hair is crucial to guarantee the best quality and outcome. This comprehensive guide will explore six primary types of braiding hair, their unique characteristics and how to select the most suitable one for your desired style.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the six main types of braiding hair:
Human Hair: Perfect for luxurious boho styles, offering a natural look and feel
Synthetic Hair: A cost-effective alternative to human hair, known for its high shine and silky texture
Kanekalon Hair: The most widely used synthetic hair, mimicking the texture of Afro hair
Afrelle Hair: Known for its smooth texture, it's gentle on the fingers, ideal for refined braid styles
Toyokalon Hair: Excellent at holding curls and twists, providing a natural look and feel
Spetra Hair: The eco-friendliest option, boasting anti-itch and antimicrobial properties for sensitive scalps
Now let’s take a deep dive:
Human Hair for Braiding
Human hair is an excellent choice for braiding, particularly for free-hanging hairstyles such as boho braids or goddess box braids. This type of hair, collected directly from real donors, can be bleached, dyed, permed, and styled. Its lightweight nature ensures it's comfortable to wear for extended periods. Brands that carry human braiding hair include Encore Lavie from Janet Collection and Lizourey on Amazon. Pro tip: Human hair cannot be sealed with hot water, so be sure to tie a knot on the end to keep the braids together.
Synthetic Hair for Braiding
Synthetic hair, made from plastic fibers, offers a budget-friendly alternative to human hair. It's known for its shine, attributed to a silicone coating, and its silky texture, which makes it easy to manage. However, synthetic hair does not blend well with natural hair due to its artificial shine. Despite these drawbacks, synthetic hair can be a good option for those seeking a cost-effective solution for temporary styles like cornrows or sleek ponytails with a braid. You can choose from an array of colors and lengths from brands like AFNOTE, Newluyang, and Jietian. Pro tip: if the description doesn’t mention a specific material like Kanekalon, it is likely a generic type of synthetic hair.
Kanekalon Hair for Braiding
Kanekalon hair is arguably the most popular type of synthetic hair used for braiding. It's perfect for styles like box braids, Senegalese twists, cornrows, and more, as it closely mirrors the texture of Afro hair, making it an excellent choice for blending with natural hair. However, one downside of Kanekalon hair is its propensity to tangle easily, necessitating careful handling and maintenance. Top brands carrying this hair are Sensationnel’s X-pression and Ruwa. Pro tip: make sure you get it pre-stretched for maximum length and to save time while braiding.
Afrelle Hair for Braiding
Afrelle is a unique type of synthetic hair known for its smooth and lightweight texture. It is adjacent to Kanekalon and also blended with it. It provides a sleek look, making it ideal for more polished and refined braid styles like micro braids. You can purchase Rastafri brand since the most popular fiber they use is Afrelle.
Toyokalon Hair for Braiding
Toyokalon hair is softer and silkier than Kanekalon, making it less prone to tangling. It provides a more natural look and feel, and can withstand low heat, making it somewhat versatile in terms of styling. Toyokalon is ideal for styles that require a softer, more natural look, such as twisted and kinky styles, as it holds twists and curls very well. Brands that carry Toyokalon are limited but you can shop Rastafri hair for Toyokalon and Kanekalon blends.
Spetra Hair for Braiding
Spetra fiber is revolutionizing the braiding hair market with its patented no-itch, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal qualities that mimic human hair. Eco-friendly and recyclable, Spetra fiber is a safer choice for those with sensitive scalps, thanks to its minimal chemical use. Ideal for voluminous styles like goddess braids or passion twists, Spetra offers unparalleled fullness and comfort. Braid Miracle, has launched our own line of Spetra-based braiding hair called EcoLuxe Hair, offering top-quality options for our customers.
Choosing the right type of braiding hair is a personal decision that hinges on your desired style, budget, and personal preferences. Whether you prefer the natural feel of human hair or the affordability of synthetic options, understanding the unique qualities of each type can help you make an informed decision. Remember, the key to beautiful braids is not just the technique but also the quality of the hair you use. So, the next time you order hair online or purchase it from the store, consider these qualities to ensure you choose the best type for your needs.
