This is a modified form of traditional braids in that human/synthetic hair is weaved into your own. This method has added benefit because the hair extensions act as a shield to UV rays which could be damaging to the hair. What type of hair extension you choose will primarily depend upon your budget.

Styles using human hair last longer but are more expensive. Plastic synthetic hair is available and very cheap (approximately $1/bag) but it's difficult to work with, may damage the hair and doesn't last very long.

A clear middle ground is Kanekalon or yakky hair because it's easy to work with, does not cut into the hair as much as cheaper synthetics and is inexpensive.

No matter what type of hair you use, braid extensions last anywhere from 1-3 months with proper maintenance. Avoid keeping the braids or the extensions in longer than this time frame as you'll end up encouraging your hair to lock.

How-to Do Braids Extensions

It's important that you have a style in mind before you begin. Knowing what you want the end result to be is necessary in determining braid thickness, length and placement. Do not add oil or any other lubricant to the hair before you braid. This could make it difficult to grip the hair and may cause slippage. Do your moisturizing BEFORE you begin by using a naani's naturals No-Sulfates Moisturizing Shampoo and S-Factor Herbal Deep Conditioner.

After drying your hair, begin at the nape of the neck and part your hair into a section of the desired size. The size and shape of the part can vary from squares, to ovals, to polygons, the decision is up to you. Use a clip to secure the rest of the hair atop the head.


You want to have enough of the human/synthetic hair so that you will not be able to determine where your hair ends and the addition begins.

Using too little will produce an uneven braid, whereas using too much will cause the braids to be thick and heavy by the time you have completed your entire head. It's a good idea to practice on a doll to get an idea of how to achieve evenness. I braided Kia's entire head before tackling my own.

Take the human/synthetic hair to be added to the section and fold it in half. Where the hair forms a loop, place it around the section and hold it very close to the scalp.

Holding the hair addition tightly, pull your hair strand upwards. With the two ends of the synthetic hair and your hair strand, you now have the three pieces needed to form a braid. Braid the hair downward towards and to the desired length.

Be sure not to braid the hair too tightly. Contrary to popular opinion, tighter is not always better. If the braids are too tight, you may be ripping the hair from the root and could even give yourself a headache.

If you're using human hair, you will not need to secure the ends but you can put a slip knot at the end of the braided portion. With synthetics, the ends may be secured using small rubber bands, by soaking them in very hot/boiled water or by singing the braid with a lighter. If you choose the latter method, make sure it's ONLY done with synthetic hair because human hair will burn.

To singe the ends of the synthetic hair, braid the hair a little longer than the desired length. Using the lighter, hold it to the braid at the desired length BUT FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM YOUR BRAIDED HAIR. Hold it there for a few seconds or until the synthetic hair begins to slightly melt. Using your fingers, rub the burned area until it cools.

Cut off the excess hair just below the singed area.

Use the lighter again to resinge the freshly cut area and then rub your fingers back and forth until it cools.

Part the next section and repeat. To preserve this style, sleep with a satin scarf and occasionally use a light oil or braid spray.