How to Braid Curly Hair

Curly hair is definitely beautiful, but the texture can sometimes make basic hairstyles difficult to pull off. But if you've shied away from braids because of your curly locks, it's time to reconsider. Braiding curly hair definitely requires more effort work than straight hair and your braids may never be perfectly even and neat, but the curly texture actually adds a unique look to the usual braid that all your straight-haired friends will envy. You just need to learn the right way to prep your curls before you braid.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Curly Hair Easier to Braid

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1
Spray a detangling product on your hair and brush it through. Before you braid curly hair, you want to make sure that it’s as manageable as possible. That’s why you should apply a detangling product first to ensure that your curls aren’t knotted or coiled together when you try to braid. Apply the product to your hair and gently work it through with your fingers to carefully get rid of any tangles.^{[1]XExpert SourceNdeye Anta Niang
Professional Hair Stylist & Master BraiderExpert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
- Many detangling sprays can be used on wet or dry hair.
- If you’re detangling wet hair, you can use a leave-in conditioner or smoothing serum.
- For dry hair, a small amount of hair oil can work as a detangler.
EXPERT TIP
"If you have really curly hair, it will be easier to braid if your hair is unwashed or it has a little moisture on it."
Arthur Sebastian
Professional Hair Stylist
Arthur Sebastian is the Owner of Arthur Sebastian Hair Salon in San Francisco, California. Arthur has worked as a hair stylist for over 20 years and received his Cosmetology License in 1998. He believes that the true work of a successful hair stylist comes from passion and a love for hairdressing.
Arthur Sebastian
Professional Hair Stylist
2
Avoid brushing your hair. While it’s important for your hair to be free of tangles before braiding, you shouldn’t use a brush to smooth your hair. Brushing curly hair can often leave it frizzy, which makes braiding much more difficult. Use your fingers to work through your hair if it’s tangled or knotted.^{[2]XResearch source}
- If your hair is too tangled for your fingers to get the job done, opt for a wide-tooth comb, which is less likely to create frizz than a brush.
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3
Work with your curls. When it comes to actually braiding your hair, it’s important to work with your curls, not against them. As you’re gathering sections of hair to work into the braid, take whole curls. Don’t try to separate pieces to create sections that are the precise size that you prefer or you may wind up creating frizz.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Working with your curls while braiding may sometimes mean that the sections you pull into it aren’t even. Don’t worry -- the curls will add a pretty textured detail to your braid that straight hair doesn’t have.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Relaxed, Casual Braid for Curly Hair

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1
Gather your hair at the nape of the neck. For a casual look, allow your hair to fall naturally over your shoulders. Comb through it with your fingers to smooth it if necessary, and then gather it together at the nape of your neck.^{[4]XExpert SourceNdeye Anta Niang
Professional Hair Stylist & Master BraiderExpert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
- If your hair is extremely thick and unruly, you may want to use a hair elastic to secure it at the nape of your neck so it’s easier to braid.
2
Create three sections and braid. When you’ve gathered your hair at the nape of the neck, divide it into three sections that are roughly the same size. Braid your hair by taking one of the outer sections and crossing it over the middle section. Cross the other outer section over the middle, and repeat the process until all of your hair is braided.^{[5]XExpert SourceNdeye Anta Niang
Professional Hair Stylist & Master BraiderExpert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
- If your hair is extremely thick, you can also create a braid with just two sections. Cross the sections over one another until you reach the ends of your hair.
3
Secure the braid and pull some pieces loose. Once you’ve braided your hair, use a hair elastic or clip to secure the end of it. Pull some pieces of hair out of the braid to give it a more relaxed, casual look. It’s especially pretty to pull some curls loose around your face.
- If you prefer, you can gather your hair over to one side and create a side braid instead of a traditional style at the nape of the neck.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

French Braiding Curly Hair

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1
Gather some hair at the crown and start to braid. At the top of your head, gather a chunk of your hair. Divide the hair into three sections, and begin to braid by crossing the right section over the middle and then crossing the left section over the middle.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Be sure to only cross each outer section over hair over the center once for the first step.
- Pull the hair tightly as you’re braiding to ensure that the braid won’t come undone as you’re working. Curly hair is more likely to come loose if you don’t create a tight braid.
2
Pull more hair from each side of the head before repeating the pattern. Before you repeat the braiding motion of crossing the outer sections over the center, take a little more hair on each side to incorporate it into the braid. For example, when you’re crossing the right section over the center, gather a little more hair from the right side into the outer section before crossing it over.^{[7]XResearch source}
- French braiding your own hair can be difficult because you can’t see the back of your head. To make it easier, hold the right section in your right hand, the left section in your left hand, and the middle section between the thumb and forefinger or middle finger of either hand. That will keep the sections separate.^{[8]XResearch source}
3
Continue the braiding process to the end. Repeat the braiding process, taking more hair from each side as you work and incorporating it into the braid. As your reach the end of your hair, you’ll finish with a regular braid by just crossing the outer sections over the center section without adding in any other hair. Secure the end of the braid with a hair elastic or clip.^{[9]XResearch source}
- You may want to apply a little flexible hold hairspray to your curly French braid to ensure that your curls don’t come loose and get frizzy.

Expert Q&A

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Question
Is braiding bad for curly hair?
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Expert Answer
It can damage your hair if you tie them too tightly, but generally speaking, no. In fact, braids can protect your hair and keep it from knotting up if you do it correctly.
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Question
How can I remove hair buildup before braiding?
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Expert Answer
The best thing you can do is wash your hair. You could also use an apple cider solution or baby wipes to work buildup out of your hair.
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Question
Is it better to braid curly hair wet or dry?
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Ndeye Anta Niang is a Hair Stylist, Master Braider, and Founder of AntaBraids, a traveling braiding service based in New York City. Ndeye has over 20 years of experience in African hair including braiding box braids, Senegalese twists, crochet braids, faux dread locs, goddess locs, kinky twists, and lakhass braids. Ndeye was the first female of her tribe in Africa to move to America and is now sharing her knowledge of African braids passed on from generation to generation.
Ndeye Anta Niang
Hair Stylist & Master Braider
Expert Answer
I prefer braiding dry hair. That isn't to say I don't get it wet first. I wash the hair, apply a deep conditioner, detangle, and then dry it before sectioning the hair for braiding.
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Tips

Because curly hair tends to be thicker and coarser, you can go tighter with your braid than those with fine, straight hair without it looking thin and unattractive.
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Braiding curly hair when it’s wet can allow you to temporarily reshape the curls in your hair. After your hair has dried and you remove the braid, your tresses will have some soft waves running through them.
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