In Black culture, there's a myth that every black mother, knows how to braid. Obviously, that is not true and mother's aren't and shouldn't be the only hair involved parents or guardians.
There's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of if you don't know how to braid; it's never too late to learn! At Rad Royals, we've got you covered with this ultimate guide full of resources for hair braiding beginners to help you on your journey. Check them out below!
1. Hair Braiding For Beginners on YouTube
YouTube is a brilliant hub for naturalistas. There is a range of video tutorials that guide you on how to braid step by step, with a range of different styles too. The video above is a great start to detailing how to braid your child's textured hair step by step.
2. Online Course: A Safe Space For Black Girls
If you want a more live-in-action feel when learning to braid, A Safe Space for Black Girls That Never Learned To Braid offers an online course subscription for beginners and intermediate levels. From basic knotless braids to various other braiding styles, there will be a Live Q&A as the course leader teaches you online in real-time how to braid. You will also have access to the video library.
The Creator and Founder of the course, Niani B, is a Hair Stylist and has been braiding from as young as 16. She has been featured in publications such as Essence and Blavity, so you can rest assured you're in safe hands with this course.
3. Hair Braiding For Beginners Infographic
If you prefer a more static reference for learning as opposed to moving images such as videos, this infographic may be a good option for you when learning how to braid. It illustrates 13 step-by-step DIY braided hairstyles and you can follow along. The colors and cartoon-like drawings can also be a good way to help teach your little one how to braid, too. It can be a fun learning experience for both of you! Why not braid your child's hair while they braid their doll's hair at the same time?
4. The Braid Up
Available on Snapchat and Facebook, The Braid Up is a social media show that shares sped-up tutorials of an array of different braiding styles. It can serve as a great inspiration for different braiding styles, whilst also showing you, in a more sped-up time how to create the style. You can, of course, pause the video at times if you think it's going too fast for you.
5. TikTok
@BraidedTutorial is a TikTok account that shares snippets of the braiding process. Since TikTok limits the length of videos, this account only shows sections of braiding. But it still offers inspiration for beginner braiders with tips on how to part, detangle, and prep hair before braiding.
6. Instagram
Check out this inspiring Instagram post from @returning2natural. This hair stylist and mom shares photos of her clients' braided hairstyles as well as videos of herself braiding her daughter's hair.
7. Hair Braiding For Beginners Blog Posts
As well as reading our blog, of course, there is a range of blogs that share braiding strategies. This blog post, for example, goes through step by step how to prep and braid hair for beginners. It has images assisted with the points to help you get a visual understanding too.
8. Hair Braiding For Beginners Books
If you're more old school and want to read a printed book on how to braid, Learn How To Braid Your Child's Hair: The Cornrow Technique may be a good shout! It's printed in large text and with assisted images, and could be a tool you pass down to future generations.
If you'd like another option that is geared more towards helping parents learn to braid, Chocolate Hair Vanilla Care offers this approach. It specifically helps you understand the unique needs of type 3 and type 4 hair textures.
9. Ask A Friend
If you know someone in your life that knows how to braid, why not also ask them if they're willing to have a braiding session with you? This could help make the process easier because you already have a rapport with them. So, you may feel more comfortable asking them questions and they're likely more accessible for regular braiding tips.
10. Get A Hair Doll
Even though you can practice on your child's hair, to sharpen your skills, you could also get a hair doll with textured hair to help you practice more in between your child's hairstyles. Practice makes perfect! This mannequin, for example, uses 100% human Afro hair. This will help give you a more authentic feel while you practice if your child has textured hair.
11. Facebook Groups
Facebook groups can be a brilliant resource for finding others in the natural hair community. Simply type in the search bar keywords related to 'natural hair' and filter to the group section. There, you'll find a range of groups that you can freely join, ask any questions, share your progress and see other hair posts that others share too! Having a community you can share your journey with can be really useful when learning how to braid.
Afro Hair Don't Care! is a great group to start with!
Protect Your Workmanship With Satin Pillowcases!
Once you've learned how to braid your child's hair through the hair braiding for beginners resources, use our satin pillowcases. They help ensure your child's braids are kept intact throughout the night, especially in case their hair bonnet slips off. They are also gentle on your child's tender skin and help prevent harsh friction. Have a look at our Rad Royal collection, here.
Also, please tag us on Instagram @meetradroyals to share your braided hairstyles. We'd love to see your creations! 😊
