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How to Stretch Natural Hair for Braids

Stretching out your hair before putting braids in it is an essential step. Making sure your hair is as straight and long as possible will help your braids go in easier and stay secure longer. Using a hair dryer or straightener can damage...

Washing and Brushing Your Hair

  1. Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner. You can use whichever shampoo and conditioner that you normally would. Try to choose products that are hydrating to give your hair some extra moisture.[1]
    1. It's important to start with clean hair when you put braids in so that your scalp stays healthy.
    2. If your hair is already clean, you can just wet it with water instead of washing it again.

    Tip: You can also use a deep conditioner or a hair mask if you'd like to add even more moisture into your hair.

  2. Rinse your hair out thoroughly with cool water. Make sure all of the product is rinsed out of your hair to ensure you won't have any buildup on your scalp. Use cool water so it is less damaging and drying for your hair.[2]
    1. Try rinsing with cool water every time you wash your hair to prevent damage and dryness.
  3. Blot your hair with a microfiber towel. Try not to rub your hair with the towel; instead, gently press your hair inside of the towel to get rid of any excess moisture. Keep doing that until your hair isn't dripping wet anymore.[3]
    1. Microfiber towels are less damaging because they don't snag or tear your hair.
  4. Apply a leave-in conditioner for extra protection. If your hair is dry or prone to breakage, run some leave-in conditioner throughout your hair from the ends to the roots. Make sure it soaks in so you can't see the conditioner sitting on top of your hair anymore.[4]
  5. Brush out your hair with a wide tooth comb or brush. Start from the ends of your hair and move upwards with your comb and brush to get rid of any tangles or snarls. The smoother your hair starts out, the easier it will be to stretch and lengthen it.[5]
    1. Try using a wet brush to avoid snagging or tearing your hair.

Braiding or Twisting Your Hair

  1. Separate your hair into 3 to 5 sections. Depending on how thick your hair is, you may need to use more or less sections. Try to do 2 to 3 sections in the front and 1 to 2 sections in the back for the best results. Use a fine tooth comb to make sure your sections are even.[6]
    1. If you have 3A or 3B curls, you can even just split your hair into 2 large sections.
  2. Split 1 section into 3 parts for a braid. Grab the hair from 1 section and split it into 3 equal parts. Make sure your hair feels smooth and that it doesn't have any lumps in it before you start braiding.[7]
    1. You want your hair to be as straight and smooth as possible to stretch it out.
  3. Braid each section for an easy routine. Hold the 3 parts of your hair at the base of your head and overlap the right section over the middle section. Then, take the left section and overlap it over the middle section. Keep doing this until you reach the end of your hair for a small braid, then secure it with a hair tie.[8]
    1. Braids will stretch your hair downwards while keeping your curls straightened out. However, they may leave a slight wave in your hair.
  4. Split 1 section into 2 parts for a twist. Make sure the hair in each section is brushed out and smooth, then use your fingers to tease apart 1 section into 2 even parts. Try to make the parts as even as possible so your hair stretches evenly.[9]
    1. You can run a comb through your hair one more time if you need to.
  5. Twist the section around itself for a more classic stretch. Grab both parts of your hair and wrap one over the other. Keep wrapping the hair parts over each other in the same direction until you reach the end of the section, then secure your twist with a small hair tie.[10]
    1. Twists are similar to braids except they won't leave quite as big of a wave in your hair when you take them out.
  6. Braid or twist each section of your hair. Make sure all of your hair is either twisted or braided before you let your hair dry. Try to do all of your sections with the same amount of hair and tightness so that your hair stretches evenly.[11]
  7. Leave your braids or twists in overnight. Since your hair is in a braid or a twist, it may take a while to dry. Try to leave your style in for as long as possible before you take it out so your hair dries straight and stretched out.[12]

    Tip: Once you take your braids or twists out, you can brush your hair again to get rid of any curls that may still be intact.

Threading or Banding Your Hair

  1. Separate your hair into 10 to 15 sections. Depending on how thick your hair is, you may need more or less sections. Try to make them about 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) wide for the best results.[13]

    Tip: Threading and banding works best on thinner sections of hair, so the more you put in the better.

  2. Wrap a thread around the base of 1 section to thread your hair. Hold one section of hair in one hand and wrap a crochet thread around the base of your hair with the other. Wrap the thread a few times over itself around your hair so that it stays in place.[14]
    1. You can find crochet thread at most craft supply stores.
  3. Place a hair tie around the base to band your hair. Use a 1 in (2.5 cm) hair tie to make sure your hair gets banded tightly. Wrap the hair tie 2 times around the base of your hair so it's secure.[15]
    1. If you don't have super tiny hair bands, you can use larger ones and wrap them around your hair 2 to 3 times.
  4. Keep wrapping thread or hair ties down the length of your hair. If you are using the threading method, wrap the thread around your hair section as you pull it taut. Then, tie the excess thread around your hair to keep it in place. If you are using the banding method, keep adding hair ties down your length of hair about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) apart until you reach the end of your hair.[16]
  5. Leave the hair ties or thread in overnight. Let your hair dry while it is in the threaded or banded style. This will pull your hair straight without using any damaging heat styling products to prepare your hair for braids.[17]
    1. If you have thick hair, it may take longer for your hair to dry.
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