Best Hair Products for Braids
A sleek, classic braid at the Peter Som Spring 2015 show. (Photo: Getty Images)
Your warm-weather hairstyle concept is official: Braids are the easiest way to look chic even when the humidity makes your mane look more like that of a lion. Here, Whitney Green of Ted Gibson Salon shares her best braid tricks, along with our picks for getting the look to last, be it glossy and sleek or beachy and boho for festival season.
Bumble and bumble Surf Infusion ($29)
“Salt Sprays are your best friend when creating volume for fine hair,” says Green. The texture titans over at Bumble and bumble have taken their cult-favorite Surf Spray and doctored it up with a bi-phase formula involving a sea-salt bottom and an oil-based top phase. Shake it (baby), and spritz it all over dry strands before braiding to amp them up.
Redken Fashion Collection Braid Aid 03 Braid Defining Lotion ($25)
Creating a braid-product genre, Redken’s translucent serum adds grip to hair, keeping braids from falling out easily. You can even add a small amount to your fingertips pre-plaiting for “portion control.”
Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo Spray ($26)
In the saturated dry-shampoo market, few formulas leave our hair looking not only less dirty, but washed. Moroccanoil’s new one is infused with the brand’s signature argan oil so as not to dry out your hair and it comes in two tones: light and dark, blending seamlessly into hair of any hue.
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Expert Finish Polishing Serum ($10)
If your natural hair comes to the table with its own texture, Green recommends using a serum to keep your locks from looking too dry, especially on the ends. John Frieda’s version smoothes ragged ends and works well applied to dried hair.
R+Co Mannequin Styling Paste ($28)
“Gently pull the braids apart for a looser texture and to make the braid wider,” Green advises. Another way to make thicker hair look more robust? This paste-cream hybrid, which amps up strands yielding a waved look sans heat tools and gives a more robust texture to braids. It leaves your hair artfully messy, yet matte.
Shu Ueumura Art Of Hair Volume Maker ($48)
Easily direct this oil-soaking powder exactly where you need it to extend the life of your braids another 24 hours. The brush applicator makes this product perfectly portable, but also easy to use on your hairline.
Dove Oxygen Moisture Leave-In Foam ($6)
Hydration for limp locks is a tall order (especially when you need every strand amped up for the biggest possible braids), but this leave-in conditioner is fantastic. The added moisture is lightweight to address dry ends without overdoing it, so your style still has guts.
Tresemme Tres Two Extra Hold Hairspray ($5)
“Use a strong holding hairspray and add a stone cluster headband or multi-chain headpiece as a final touch,” notes Green for a festival appropriate look. Try Tresemme’s spray for a long-lasting look with added shine.
Pantene Maximum Hold Gel ($6)
For a more “polished, fashion-runway look,” Green says to use a gel on your braids after you’ve created them. One to try? Pantene Maximum Hold Gel gets it done grip-wise, while imparting anti-frizz properties for 24 solid hours.
Related:
Beauty and the Geek: Star Wars-Inspired Braids at Mara Hoffman
