In a world where style evolves constantly, one thing remains a timeless symbol of elegance and cultural identity: braids. And an indisputable fact is that black girls with braids are an elite combo.
Because we know that braids will forever be in vogue, we asked 6 influencers (who get the most stunning braids done) to spill all the details on their black girl tresses. They talk about the braid style they are currently obsessed with, their favourite salons in Nigeria to get their braids done, and what they do to keep their styles lasting.
Delve into this insightful interview where these women reveal why braids are more than just a hairstyle—they are an art form, a lifestyle, and a statement.
Naomi Offor (@ixxuvi)
I have Bantu knots on right now for a fashion show and some shoots, and I’m currently obsessed with this hairstyle. To personalize my Bantu knots, I added two braids in the back and accessorized them with gold clips. But the thing is, by next week, I’m going to have a new hairstyle on because I love trying new looks.
I typically get my hair done at home, usually by my stylist, Ayobami, from Hair City. I like her because she takes her time to do my hair, treats all her customers with kindness and caters to whatever issues you may have with your hair. I always put people on, but maybe I should be gatekeeping cause she’s so good.
On average, I spend between N45,000 and N160,000 on my braids, and the exact figure depends on the type of braid and its length. When people ask me how I take care of braids, I must tell them these three things: Always wrap your hair and sleep in a bonnet! Try to use as few products as possible to avoid buildup, and if you have human hair curls, try to revive the curls every day with leave-in conditioner only.
Braids will always appeal to me because it brings out my face and more of my personality. I feel more in my roots when I have braids than when I have wigs on.
Christabelle (@chante.elle)
Braids have always been my favourite because they are low-maintenance and neat. Yes, wigs are transformative and can provide different styling options, but braids offer a more natural and authentic appeal. I love that you can immediately learn to style your braids in other ways; it saves me a lot of time when it comes to getting ready by allowing me to focus on my clothes and makeup. I also love how comfortable I feel when I have braids on—there’s no itching, and I don’t have to deal with the stress of changing my hair soon because it lasts long.
My go-to braid styles are knotless goddess braids in jet black waist length, braids with curls, black knotless French curls in jet black waist length, and layered ombré knotless French curl braids waist length. However, I’m currently obsessed with goddess braids and the side lemonade weaving twist style that’s currently trending. Honestly, I don’t think there’s any braid style I have done and didn’t like on me.
My favourite salons for braids in Lagos are the Braiding Vault and Nefertiti Salon. I like them because they braid neatly, don’t waste time, and offer amazing customer service. Typically, I spend about N45,000 to N60,000, attachment included.
To maintain my braids, I sleep with a silk bonnet and pillow, braid or twist the braids in sections, oil my scalp regularly, and spritz them with conditioner if they have curls.
Henrietta (@henrietta.itepu)
I adore stitch cornrow braids and bohemian braids. My braids usually cost between N15,000 and N30,000, and I like getting them done at 24th Beauty Lounge, Lagos. That’s my fave hair salon at the moment because whatever style you show them, they will deliver it beautifully. A quick tip for the girlies when it comes to braids maintenance is, leave in conditioner!
Ima (@ima.au)
I love braids because they make me look African, and I love to look African. When I have them on, it’s like I am embracing my blackness and boldness, especially when I walk into spaces critical of black women’s hair.
I am currently obsessed with Fulani braids because they are very versatile. Their versatility works for me because I get bored of looks easily, and I love the fact that they can be styled in many ways to fit any occasion without breaking my hair—at least, in comparison to box braids or knotless braids.
When it comes to the colors of my braids, I’m a bit boring with my preferences. I love natural colors like black and brown. Recently, I’ve been trying other bold colours like blonde and red, and I’ve been loving it. However, I don’t like yellow-colored braids and pigtails. They make me look weird.
In terms of length, I love my braids loooooooong. The goal is to look like a mermaid (laughs). Sometimes, I can make do with average length, but short braids are a no for me. I also really love goddess knotless braids, but I’ve found that for this hairstyle not to cut my hair, it must be done by a great stylist.
When I’m in Lagos, I like to get my hair done in Nefertiti , and in Abuja, I love getting my hair done at Hairmania. Their customer service is amazing, their braids are neat, and they use good braiding techniques that allow my hair to grow. They also use high-quality products, which is essential to me because I have a sensitive scalp.
My braids usually cost between N30,000 to N60,000. To take care of them, I don’t apply too many products like mousse, etc. I’ve noticed that overusing products clumps my scalp and braids. I also use water and a leave-in conditioner to refresh my braids. This will do the work without clumping your scalp and braids. Lastly, I sleep in a silk scarf or bonnet.
Tamara Aig (@tamara.aig)
I like braiding my hair because it gives me a much-needed face lift and accents my natural beauty, especially as an African woman.
My go-to braid styles are anything with goddess curls. I don’t see them going out of style soon. Usually, I do knotless braids with goddess curls or tribal braids with goddess curls. They always have to be at least bum length. It just gives the added razzle-dazzle, especially when I walk and my hair is swaying down my waist! My go-to colours are ginger, blonde, or light brown.
To maintain my braids, I wear a bonnet whenever it’s time to sleep, spray my hair with hair mist or spray, and spray my scalp with water and oil to keep it hydrated and moisturized.
I always get my hair done at Nefertiti in Lagos, and I spend between N30,000 to N60,000. My fave thing about Nefertiti is its aesthetics, impeccable service, and ability to always get the looks I want. Plus, they give you snacks and drinks, which I love.
Femi (femi6.0)
I like a more Afrocentric-esque look for myself, and braids give me that.
My go-to braid style is Fulani braids. I love these braids because I can switch up the cornrow pattern to make it a completely different style. I also appreciate intricate braid patterns; they allow the stylists to show off their skills. I’m pretty sure it makes my stylist proud when I bring in a braid pattern they haven’t done before, and the work comes out amazing.
Another reason I love Fulani braids is that the hair stays out of my face and doesn’t engulf my features. However, I do have to space out these styles unless my hairline would suffer from excessive pulling.
Hair Diaries is my go-to salon. I get my braids done in Lekki, so the prices can get a bit crazy; however, on average, I spend about N45,000 to N50,000 for knotless braids that reach my thighs. But if I’m getting Fulani braids that aren’t as long, the prices are between N30,000 and N35,000.
Hair tips I abide by are:
- Moisturize and oil your hair often.
- When I notice my middle part and braids are getting a bit frizzy, I apply mousse and some gel.
- I wear and scarf my braids; then I cover it all up in a bonnet—the scarf helps keep the parts in the front fresh, the bonnet keeps your braids neat, and a bonus is that it keeps the oil and dirt off your pillow (we are not looking for pimples please).
- If a braid is pulling, please take it out to prevent traction alopecia. You can always go back to your stylist and ask for a refresh—this is the act of taking out the centre part and the braids within that perimeter and then getting the braids done again. This saves money and time, allowing you to have your braids in for a while longer and reducing the manipulation of your hair.
Braids make me feel more confident. I like that they make me stand out, especially when I am not in Nigeria; I live in the UK. As a creative, you can get lost amongst the hundreds of faces, but my hair is something I use to make people remember me. And this has worked well because you can catch me on my TikTok doing my own braids. They also add something extra to my outfits. I like my outfits to have interesting bits and pieces, and my hair is the icing on the cake. I don’t have a particular aesthetic, or I don’t think I do, but braids work for me no matter what I wear. While I am not opposed to wigs or sew-ins, I think braids look better on me.
I am very proud to say that there isn’t a braid style I’ve tried that doesn’t look good on me. I’ve gone from straight-back blonde braids to short red box braids with beads to knee-length braided ponytails. However, even with the numerous styles I’ve done in the past, I feel like I could be more experimental. I look at pages like @nifemilarj on Instagram and think, “Life is too short for boring hair”. I’m open to every braid style that I think would be cute, except those Koroba braids. I feel they aren’t for me.
