Braids are a hair style that involves intertwining three pieces of hair. In many instances, weave is added to these styles. Sometimes the weave is produced from human hair. Synthetic braids, however, refer to such styles where artificial weave is added to the style.
Braiding is a popular method of hair styling in many places around the world. It is possible to braid most peoples’ hair without adding any weave. The addition of weave, however, is very popular because it can have numerous effects on the outcome. When a person adds weave to her braids, she can make them fuller, longer, and vary the texture.
Synthetic braiding can refer to any style, such as cornrows or box braids, that uses artificial weave. Synthetic weave is often made from a type of plastic. In many cases, to achieve such a style, the weave is attached at the root of the hair and continues to extend once a person’s natural hair has stopped. There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing synthetic braids over human hair braids.
One advantage of synthetic braiding is that it is generally cheaper than human hair braiding. In most instances, the charge for having the hair braided is not affected by the type of weave that is used. The price difference exists due to the cost of the weave. Human hair is usually significantly more expensive.
Another advantage of synthetic braids is that they can be easier to attach at the ends. Sometimes, synthetic braids are burned at the ends. The flame of a cigarette lighter can easily and efficiently bond the synthetic hair together to prevent it from unraveling. Sometimes, the ends of the braids are placed in boiling water to prevent unraveling. There are several other methods that can be used.
One of the disadvantages of synthetic braiding is that a person is generally restricted from using hair styling tools, such as curling irons or flat irons. With human hair, a person may leave the ends of the weave straight today, for example, and tomorrow decide to use a curling iron to change the style. While there are ways to style synthetic hair to a more limited degree, it normally cannot be done in this way.
Synthetic weave tends to come in more prefabricated styles than human hair. There is usually a much wider variety when you compare color, length, and appearance. This is another factor that contributes to the tendency for synthetic braids to be more popular than human hair braids.