French Curl Braids! The Protective Style of the Summer

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French curl braids have become more and more popular over the last couple of years, moving ahead of traditional box braids and is the new way of doing knotless braids. Funny enough, it’s a trend that was well known in the 90’s and worn regularly by the braid queen  herself – ‘Brandy’ on the hit show Moesha.

Over the last couple of years, the style has been trending all over social media on platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok! It’s the go-to style of the summer and a great protective style. If you’re looking for a stylish, chic hairstyle which can be worn for all occasions then this might be the hairstyle to try next.

What are French Curl Braids?

French curl braids are pretty much box braids or knotless braids done with curly braiding hair. It’s made of synthetic fibres and naturally curly so say goodbye to braiding and/or curling the ends of your braids and dipping them in water to set. They come in a range of colours from black to brown to blonde to pink and even in ombre – the options are endless and if you prefer a wavy look then there’s an option for you too. 

The hair is braided with your natural hair as you would with normal braids but with the curling braiding hair. What makes this style great is the endless styling options and the curly ends add an extra je ne sais quoi!

How to maintain French Curl Braids?

You care for them the same way you would care for normal braids but it’s important to be aware that the hair is silky. Depending on your hair texture you may need to spend some extra time on keeping your hair from frizzing. 

Here are our key tips:

• Shampoo and condition your hair and scalp every 2-3 weeks. You can also use a braid gel shampoo or rinse if you don’t want to saturate your hair with water. Then follow up with a wet towel to remove the product from the hair
• Apply Mousse to freshly washed braids but you can also apply weekly if the braids are becoming frizzy and need some extra hold
• Spray leave in conditioner mixed with warm water on your hair weekly and seal with a light oil. Some brands also sell maintenance products such as moisturisers specially created for the braiding hair.
• Wear a silk bonnet or silk scarf to bed! This is a MUST DO – don’t miss this step!
• Try not to wear the style for longer than 8 weeks at a time.

Where can I purchase Curly Braiding Hair?

The key to this style is purchasing good quality hair so it doesn’t matte or tangle whilst wearing the braids. We recommend going to a stylist who knows how to deal with the braiding hair texture as it’s very silky.

Click on the links to some of our favourite brands below. They offer a variety of colours, lengths and styles.

• Ayya Hair
• Chi Luxe’s braiding hair
• Ruka 
• Darling Empress – available on Amazon too

Pros & Cons of French Curl Braiding hair

Prior to getting this style done, it’s important to be aware of the pro’s and con’s of this style. This will ensure you’re fully equipped on how to maintain and style the braiding hair without causing damage to your natural hair. 

Pro’s

– Braiding Hair tends to be great quality :

Just be sure to do your research when purchasing your braiding hair. Read reviews and watch videos on social media to get an understanding of how other people have found the hair. We highly recommend the options we suggested as they’ve been tried and tested. We’re aware that there are a number of sellers providing this hair on amazon. Always check the reviews to see what people are saying to avoid disappointment.

– Low maintenance :

This is why we love this style. You don’t need to do much to it apart from moisturise from time to time. Remember to wear a scarf or bonnet when sleeping! The hair is lightweight and silky in texture. A silk or satin scarf will help you maintain the style longer without it getting messy. You can also opt for a satin or silk pillowcase if you prefer.

– Endless styling options :

This really speaks for itself! You can wear it down, in a bun, half up/half down hairstyle, claw clip etc. The list goes on, watch the video tutorials above if you’re stuck on inspiration 

– Curls stay throughout :

Apart from using mousse and maybe twisting the curls at night. There’s nothing else you need to do to maintain the curls. They’ll stay set for the duration of the style. Just remember to wear your scarf or bonnet to help maintain the look.

– Easy to remove :

Due to the lightweight texture and silkiness of the hair, the removal process is quick and easy. Take your time during the removal process to avoid tangling or pulling on your hair. Patience is key when removing any protective style. It’s easy to yank on your hair when tired or near the finishing line. You got the style to protect your hair and retain length so don’t ruin your progress. Take a break if you need to or continue the next day.

– The hair is reusable – YES! Reusable :

If you have the patience to loosen the hair from the tips without cutting it then you can use the hair again. Check the supplier’s advice but it’s likely you can reuse for 2 – 3 installs.

Cons

– Dependent on your hair texture, your natural hair can frizz through :

This is something a few people have struggled with after a couple of weeks. This is why you should spend time understanding how to maintain the hair to minimise frizz from your natural hair. The good thing is you’ll still be getting compliments even when you feel it’s not perfect. I wore mine for 8 weeks and kept getting stopped about how nice my hair was even though I thought the frizz was bad.

– Dependant on length it can pull on your edges :

If you constantly have the braids up in a bun or high ponytail you risk putting pressure on your edges. This is the same with all braids to be fair so be careful if that’s your go to style. Always switch up the style to reduce pressure on certain points of your hair.

As you can see, it’s a great style to wear on holidays, weddings, birthdays, parties or even as an everyday look. The braiding hair is lightweight and doesn’t weigh your hair down whilst offering a flexibility of styling options.

HAVE YOU TRIED FRENCH CURL BRAIDS? WHERE DID YOU PURCHASE YOUR BRAIDING HAIR FROM?

Comment below and help a fellow Naturalista out.

*Feautured image by Chi Luxe Braiding Hair