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Curly Nikki

How I Get a Mean Braid Out in 7 Steps

By January 27th, 202133 Comments
How I Get a Mean Braid Out in 7 Stepsby Taneica of ShatterProofGlassDolls

Last week I posted pictures of my bad ass braid-out! After lots and lots of positive comments, I figured it’s time to share with you all how I manage to get these fantastic braid-outs time after time, fail-proof! Ok, so first, lets start with products that you’ll need.

Products needed:

1. A Moisturizing Leave In
Cantu Shea Butter Leave Conditioner, Giovanni Weightless Moisture Leave In, or Shea Moisture Shea Butter Leave In Conditioner) works best. If it’s a hell no for your hair if your were trying to keep it straight (ie: pressing) then it will work perfect for packing a moisturizing punch in your curly hair.

Read More!!>>>

2. An Oil to Seal With
Darcy’s Botanicals Juicy Peach Kernel Oil or Cherry Kernel Nectar Oil, will lock in the moisture from the leave-in. Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade or a like product will work swimmingly as well!

3. A Comb and/or Some Fingers
These will be your only utensils for this braid out. If you’re a perfectionist, the comb will provide more precise parts. If you’re tender headed…or what my Jamaican mother calls “nasty” like me (lol), you’re fingers will be less of a discomfort on your scalp!

4. 5 “Ouchless” Hair Ties
To keep the hair separate while you work on sections.

Ok, so let’s get started!

1. Part your hair in four quarters. First, part down the middle of your head, so you’ll have two big halves. Secondly, part across, horizontally, so that you have two sections in each half part, four total in you entire head!

2. Catch up each section.

3. Apply Your Leave in Moisturizer to each of the four, separated sections. I find that combing the product through works best on my very very VERY thick hair. Be sure to pay attention to your roots AND your ends.

4. When all parts of your hair are amply moisturized, grab your oil of choice and rub it on your hands as though you are going to rub someone DOWN. Aaaaah yeah. LOL! Just kidding. Anyway, rub the oil on your hands and in between your fingers. Greasy hands make for even distribution when plaiting and twisting your hair.

5. Loose each of the four sections (one by one) and put four to five plaits in each section section.

How I Get a Mean Braid Out in 7 Steps
6. Do step 4 as needed for each section.

7. When all sections are plaited up, slap on a satin bonnet.

How I Get a Mean Braid Out in 7 Steps
P.S. It’s okay, if you have product or “hair boogers” showing when you finish. The satin bonnet will most likely absorb the excess product while you’re sleeping, without drying your hair out!

Tips for a Perfect Braid Out: 

  • Keep in mind that the condition of your hair should be clean. A co-wash is fine, but I find that my braid outs hold both definition and moisture when done on damp, clean, hair.
  • When you wake,ensure that your hair is completely dry. If not, be sure to blow dry on LOW heat until dry. If your hair is not completely dry, the frizz will be disastrous and the hold will be sucky.
  • When your hair is all the way dry, let it down and lightly mist with finishing spray (Juices and Berries if it’s humid where you live or an oil/water base conditioning spray if it’s cool).

Voila! The most awesome braid out ever!
How I Get a Mean Braid Out in 7 Steps
Now mind you, I realize all of our hair is different and this method won’t work for everyone, but if your have very coarse, thirsty hair like me or can’t seem to achieve the definition or moisture you want, some of these tips may be helpful! Hope this helps and happy hair flipping Dolls!

What’s the secret to your baddest Braid Outs?


This article was originally published in March 2012 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.

33 Comments

  • Camila Prada says:

    Hi ladies! I have 3C hair, I'm 35 years old and only just learning how to take care of it. There are some basic things I don't know, so pardon my ignorance. My hair gets really tangled. Is the purpose of a braid out to insure that your hair doesn't get tangled when you are sleeping? Can you use it for this reason?

  • Hilary B. says:

    those are great tips! Thank you.

  • Megan says:

    What type of jjuices & berry?

  • marianela says:

    Thanks for the advice. My braid-outs have been sucky to date but my knot-outs come out crazy nice. Have a happy mother's day gals!

  • naturalove says:

    Catch up ….just mean to put in a ponytail.

  • Unknown says:

    Oooh, I like that braid out! I do a braid out for my fine hair all the time, any new tips to make them better is great. Thanks for the tips.

    Samihah

  • luvnM3naturally says:

    Beautiful hair, great tips. I have never attempted a braid/twist out with just leave-in and oil always used a some type butter.

  • Crystal says:

    How do you maintain the style? How long does it last?

  • Thiaba says:

    And water! No leave-in. Just water and an oil!

  • Thiaba says:

    I found out that using oils to seal my hair instead of a pomade yields a better braid out. Thank you for the tips!

  • Anonymous says:

    shea moisture deep treatment mask + shea moisture curling souffle = perfect braid out, twist out, coil out. Bam 😀

  • Anonymous says:

    Gorgeous

  • Anonymous says:

    Correction…my hair is mostly 3C.

    ~CurlyBlasian

  • Anonymous says:

    I use either Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture conditioner or Giovanni Direct leave-in and seal with grapeseed oil.

    I usually do a braid out on clean, conditioned, unstretched hair. I make my part, sometimes in the middle and other times off-center, then create two sections framing my face and one huge section in the back. I cornrow each section and roll the ends on flexirods. Simple!

    My hair is mostly 4C, fine, porous and bra-strap length.

    ~CurlyBlasian

  • Anonymous says:

    i love your hair !
    how often do you henna it and how many times have you done it to date?

  • Natural Beauty says:

    I wonder what the results would be with somoeone who has really kinky hair like myself.
    (celebrateyournaturalbeauty.blogspot.com)

  • lifesatisfied says:

    Your braidout turned out great. I still haven't perfected mine yet. Twistouts are still my go to for an extra curly look.

    (lifesatisfied.weebly.com)

  • Anonymous says:

    Thank you Taneica LOL. I was the previous anonymous that asked about #2. I hang around a lot of island people but I've never heard that before. Thanks 🙂

  • Taneica says:

    Thanks y'all, for all of the cool comments and tips! It's always cool to learn other peoples secrets about their hair too! @ Anon 4:17, sorry for the island slangish term. To "catch up ones hair" means to "tie it with a clip or hair tie". I'm so sorry for the confusion, I'll have to remember to work on that! lol! @Ms. Zel, I am a HUGE Oyin Juices and Berries fan. I swear by the stuff during warmer months. It hold in moisture like nobody's business and keeps my hair nice and soft. That's hands down my fave spray to finish off my hair with…EVER. Some people even make their own mixtures to keep their hair mositurized throughout the day. They add oils, water, sometimes glycerine….whatever their hair enjoys. I am not much of a mixtress, so "OJB" is the best for me! Hey, that rhymes! 😛 Hope this was all helpful and remember Dolls, if it first you don't suceed, work that doo like you DID IT anyway 😉

  • zel says:

    Where do you find finishing sprays?…
    Please email me @ frenzzyx4@gmail.com

  • Anonymous says:

    What does #2 mean?? "Catch up each section"

  • ashley "the passion party chic" campbell says:

    I have a twa about 2 1/2 inches(I'm a newbie;) well I braided my hair to wear a wig for an evening an decided I mixed my TWA too much so i took the braids out the next dat…OMG I was really feeling hair! I tried to recreate my braidout fro and it was disastrous, after reading this I guess it wasn't quite dry bc it was more frizz than curl! Thanks so much, I'm gonna try again!

    Ashley C.

  • Anonymous says:

    You Curly's with the Very Thick Hair are so LUCKY! I really wish my fine 4a strands were THICKER!!! oh well, however twistouts are my favorite!:) But I will try this to see what happens.

  • Kudos says:

    Thanks for this! I was looking at your hair in that pic, like only if…!
    My hair is very, very, VERY thick too, so praying this will work for me!
    I always get flakes with the Cantu leave-in, so maybe I'll try Tressemme or the Giovanni..

  • Anonymous says:

    Braid outs have become my staple style within the last two weeks. I use Wen as a leave in conditioner, separate the hair into four sections (four braids per section with a total of 16 braids), use twist and loc gel by Organic Root Stimulator for hold and definition, seal with Bee Mine Moisturizer, braid, and roll the end of braid with Goodys satin pillow rollers. I'm so in love with the results (big, curly/wavy hair) that I don't know when I will be returning to my former WnG–I probably won't lol.

  • Anonymous says:

    Ooooh – I really want to try this but I have a tapered 4c twa with 3 inches on top.

    Has anyone ever flat-twisted UPWARDS to the crown of the head? My hair is closely cropped at the sides and nape, and I don't have enough length to braid.

    Thanks for your help!

  • keishabradford2006 says:

    I wish that I could braid. I have tried over and over again and I can't get it tight enough. Looks a hot a** MESS!! LOL. I can do a mean flat twist tho. Twist out is my staple style. If I wanna get fancy, I will stretch my hair slightly with the blow dryer and then flat twist. NICE!!

  • Mesmerized says:

    Hmm I think I will try a braid out tonight.

  • mangomadness says:

    I <3 braid-outs! They are my staple style ans an awesome base for buns and updos.

    My secrets to the baddest braid-out are…
    -Detangle/condition and wash hair
    -Squeeze water out of hair with a black cotton t-shirt until damp
    -Apply Alba Botanica Leave-In Conditioner + SM Curl and Style Milk
    -Smooth product into section of hair
    -Make 16 braids (twisting the last inch or so)
    -seal ends with castor oil
    -let dry for ~24hrs under a cute hat
    -unravel, seperate and…BAM! Perfection!

    I can't wait to do my hair later this week. Haha

  • Anonymous says:

    I pretty much follow a similar routine for my bad ass braid out, only difference is I add a little product to the end of my braid and roll it with a small rod so that the ends are a bit more defined. Thanks for sharing with us!!!

  • Joie says:

    I use cantu/garnier leave in, little water, castor oil mixed with shea butter and my braid outs are crazyyyyyyyyyy good

  • DiJah says:

    Gotta try this!!

    Never tried a braid out before but my baddest twist outs are courtesy of water and any oil, all I have to do is make sure my hair is fully dry b4 taking it down

  • Tiffany says:

    Grrrr, I love your hair.

    Peace, Love and Chocolate,
    Tiffany

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