One of my favorite things about protective styles is that they’re so customizable. Beads? Fun shapes? Bedazzled edges? A pop of color? It’s all fair game. And if you’re feeling super adventurous, *multiple* pops of color (if the colors are a plural…is it still considered a “pop”? One of life’s damning questions…) are on the table too. Just check out today’s Battle of the Braids episode for proof. Stylists Leiyohn Robinson and Claudia-Ann Arthur dueled it out to see who could freestyle the best looks using colorful braiding hair. Keep watching to see which braider came out victorious—and of course, check out the tips below if you decide to DIY in the future.
1. Create a mood board. Whether you want to give your stylist a sense of direction before they start braiding or just gather inspo for doing your own multicolor look, a nicely curated mood board can help keep you organized. I love to save my faves to an IG folder so everything’s all in one place.
2. Show your scalp some love. Scalp serums and oils are essential for hair health. Once a week, take a few moments to gently massage one into your scalp—your hair will thank you.
3. Apply mousse before bed. Nothing ruins a style like premature frizz. To keep your braids fuzz-free, pat on a couple pumps of mousse before wrapping them with a silk headscarf at bedtime.
4 top-rated mousses for 4c hair
Eden Body Works Citrus Fusion Styling Mousse
Design Essentials Curl-Enhancing Mousse
Aphogee Style and Wrap Mousse
4. Set a reminder. You’ll want to keep feed-in braids (like the ones featured in today’s episode) for no longer than three weeks. Be sure to set an “end date” reminder on your cal so you don’t forget to take them out at the appropriate time.
Hosted by Stasha Harris. Featured braiders: Leiyohn Robinson and Claudia-Ann Arthur. Makeup: Ashley Johnson. Models: Farah Ballestros and Yanni. Series development and director: Tara O’Connell. Director of photography and video editor: Robert Mroczko. Videographer: Alex Scully. Assistant camera: Jay Aguirre. Writer/associate producer: Valis Vicenty. Assistant editor: Dan Marques. Graphic design: Josh Walker. Design director: Gigi Pena. Casting director: Sabrina Safran. Line producer: Pamela Kirkland. Executive director: Jason Ikeler. Special thanks to Magic Fingers Institute.
Annabel Iwegbue is a culture editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers pop culture, lifestyle, relationships, and digital trends. She previously wrote for Harper's Bazaar, The Knockturnal, and Black Film. She's originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Cinema Studies from New York University. You can check out some of Annabel’s work here and also find her on Instagram and Twitter.
