Feed-in braids are a popular protective hairstyle known for their natural look and longevity. In this expert’s guide, we’ll walk you through the detailed process of creating flawless feed-in braids, from prepping your hair to the final touches.
This hairstyle is perfect for both beginners and seasoned braiders and here you’ll discover essential techniques, tools, and tips to achieve stunning, seamless braids that protect your hair and enhance your style.
So, let’s start learning how to create this perfect, chic, and practical hairstyle.
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Part 1: Prepping Your Hair and Extensions
Wash your hair, condition it and untangle it.
Before you style your hair, make this sure that you start with new, clean hair. You are using a conditioner and shampoo that works best for your form of hair. Detangle it with your fingertips and a wide-tooth comb if your hair gets tangled after washing.
Read Also : Tools used for braiding
When detangling, be gentle, as hair strands when wet are very delicate. To avoid hair breakage, use your fingers to detangle it.
Completely blow-dry your hair.
When it’s still wet, braiding and cornrowing can be very tricky. On medium or high heat, use a blow dryer to dry your hair thoroughly after washing it. For quicker and more full drying, we can use a wide-tooth comb or blow dryer comb attachment to go through the hair.
- If your hair is incredibly thick, when blow-drying, divide the hair into four or more parts.
- Using the blow dryer to straighten it as much as possible if you have naturally curly hair.
- Using a heat protector spray to spritz the hair before blow-drying to avoid heat damage.
Pick your extension.
Your extensions’ color and length are entirely up to you and the style you’re looking for. Make sure you’re having extensions designed for cornrows and braiding, though. Somewhere in the packaging, this detail is clearly labeled. Depending on your choice and your budget, you can select between synthetic or real human hair. Depending on your style and how thick and long your braids are, you can need to buy 2 or 3 packs of hair.
- Since it usually looks natural, a human hair is fantastic, and it is also more robust. However, these hair tend to be more costly, and by frizzing, they can respond to high humidity.
- Synthetic hair braiding is usually more economical, and frizzing does not respond to weather conditions. It appears to look a lot less natural than real human hair, unfortunately, and it doesn’t last as long.
By dividing them into parts, plan your extensions.
With all the hair in a single package, your hair extensions will come in a long box. You’ll need to divide the extensions into parts before you start braiding and position them in a row within reach. The first portion of your hair should be around 0.64 cm (1⁄4 inch) thick.
Then continue to divide it, making it a bit thicker for each segment than the previous one. Instead of having to pause and separate the hair in the middle of braiding, removing the extensions before braiding would help you quickly pick up the hair with one hand.
- Separate your braiding hair into approximately seven parts if you want long feed-in braids. For shorter braids, split the hair into three or four. The more segments you have, the longer the braids are going to be.
- For each braid feed you will produce, you will need to split extensions into parts. For instance, if you do two long feeds in braids, you will need two sets of seven attachment pieces (for a total of 14 hair sections).
Part 2: Parting Your Hair
For 2 feeds in braids, make one portion down the center of your hair.
Two long Feed braids are an everyday hairstyle, one on each side of the head. You would need to make a single piece down the middle of your head is to achieve this look. To separate the hair, use the tip of a rattail comb. Place the end of your comb right at the middle of your hairline at the top of your forehead. Then to make a straight line down the center of your scalp, draw it out.
- Do not attempt to use the comb’s teeth to slice your hair; this will cause tangles.
- To make sure your section is straight, use a mirror.
For three or more braids, break the hair into many even rows from front to back.
Many individuals prefer to have several lines of food in braids in their hair. There are several styles where women rock six braids and more! Take a rattail comb to shape apart and position it at the edge of your hair. Then, separate your hair slowly by drawing back the comb in a straight line. Push it back around until the row goes to your neck’s nape. To make many braids as you like, you can do this, making sure to make even rows in your hair.
- Depending on how many braids you like, the number of parts in your hair. You’ll need to make seven pieces if you want eight braids.
- To ensure that all the rows are straight and even, use the mirror to check the back of your head.
To keep the parts distinct, use hair clips.
You will need to keep the parts apart after separating your hair so that the portion remains in place when you’re braiding. Your hair strands from one section will mix with strands from other areas if you don’t, and you’ll end up with a crooked section. Wrap a hair tie or keep the hair parts apart by using duckbill hair clips. These can be left in your hair before you are ready to start braiding.
Part 3: Creating a Feed-In Braid
On the edge of one row, section off some hair and break it into three even bits.
You will need to split your hair and begin cornrowing before braiding and applying the extensions to your natural hair. Separate 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) of hair towards the edge of a row and split it into three parts to do this: a left section, a middle section, and a right section. Make sure the size of each segment is equal.
- Using one hand to hold one section and the other hand to hold the other two parts to prepare for braiding.
Cornrow the 3-4 stitch section.
Start cornrowing the hair before adding your extensions, now that you have your three parts. This will add a natural look to your braids. Please start with the left or right section of your fingers’ hair to cornrow, and pass it over the adjacent section, so that the section you began with is now in the center. Then switch over the segment on the reverse side so that it is in the middle. It’s a single stitch. When you have about 3-4 stitches, continue doing this.
- -Make sure you add hair from the new part of the row every time you cross a line to create a cornrow. When you are done, this will help the braid remain close to your scalp.
Take the smallest extension segment and merge it with parts of your hair.
Now that the cornrow has begun, it’s time to add your extensions! Right in the center with your thumb and index finger, please pick up your whole smallest extension segment so that it’s folded in half. By positioning it next to the middle strand and one of the outside strands, combine the folded portion of the extension with your natural hair.
Keep on cornrowing your hair with the extension.
Cornrow, with the chapter you just added as you started. When you braid down the scalp, make sure to keep adding tiny parts of your hair. Braid your hair with 3-4 stitches before inserting the next extension.
Every 3-4 stitches, keep adding the next extension part.
If you combine the previous extension section with your hair and apply it to the braid, pick up your next most extensive section and begin braiding just as you did with the last step. When you braid down your scalp, keep braiding and adding your extensions. Every few stitches, it is customary to add your attachments so that your braid retains its length.
- Time you add a new extension piece, it will make your braid thicker. Make sure that when you’re cornrowing, you keep your parts apart, so your braid does not unravel or become messy.
- Keep cornrowing down to the nape of your neck until you add your final extension part.
