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Braids at the wire: A cultural symbol in Africa

Present in pop culture, seen in the fashion pages of magazines or on a dancer of Beyoncé in the clip "Formation", braids over the wire have made a comeback and have become a trend. But where do they come from and that they are the benefits for the hair?



Thread braids have been made for centuries in Africa. In antiquity, they were put in front for the realization of the most extraordinary hairstyles, whether to stay at home, to go to the fields, or to go to the great festivals and ceremonies. They showed caste, different life events (marriage or death) or social status. Some very flirtatious women added golden threads. Women from West Africa (Peuhl, Akans, Yorubas) and Central Africa (Fang, Bamilékés, Bantous) could be found to do so for a long time.


Besides, this hairstyle is called Irun Kiko in Yoruba, or "hair tied with thread". A hair image that refers to the childhood of any girl of African origin.



Later, with the abandonment of the techniques of maintenance of the frizzy hair, and especially the advent of straightening, the braids to the thread are then used from then on as a means of stretching the hair, the aspect "beauty" being put in the background. Today the braids over the wire are adapting and becoming trending again with the Nappy era.


You will have understood the braids over the wire are ideal for all types of frizzy hair and for all types of people (adults and children, as long as we know how to make pretty models see the end of the article). The advantages are manifold:


  • hair stretched to its maximum and this without any heat

  • soft and well hydrated hair

  • hair very well untangled and therefore easy to style.

Nevertheless, some precautions must be taken in order to achieve them.


How to make braids over the wire ?


The material used to make braids over the course :


  • a tailed comb: allows to cut the portions of hair,

  • a wide-toothed comb and a brush: for detangling

  • a moisturizing oil like hibiscus oil

  • a moisturizing oil like hibiscus oil

  • a coil of good quality yarn: choose a yarn sold in haberdashery to be sure of its strength or wool for those who have easier access to it.



The realization:

Make your shampoo and then lightly dry your hair using a towel. Your hair should be damp.

Take a good meter of wire, double it and then make a knot at the end. Prepare several wires on the side.

  • Make your shampoo and then lightly dry your hair using a towel. Your hair should be damp.

  • Take a good meter of wire, double it and then make a knot at the end. Prepare several wires on the side.

Tip: Do not make wires that are too long to avoid using several, because the longer they are, the more they will bother you and prevent you from styling.

  • As if you were making a lambda braid, cut your hair and then apply a cream before untangling it with your wide-toothed comb.

  • Wrap wire around the strand of damp hair, from the root to the tip.

  • Make a knot at the end.

Remember not to tighten too much at the root at the risk of causing damage such as falls, dryness or irritation of the scalp.  And we hydrate!




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