Micro braids have been a favored protective hairstyle for many years and have become iconic looks for celebrities such as Brandy Norwood. As the name suggests, micro braids are small and tiny in size.
Micro Braids are a great option for anyone who wants to protect their natural hair from damage and breakage while also enjoying a low-maintenance style. One of the most common questions people ask about micro braids is how long they take to install.
In this article, we’ll explore the different factors that can affect the installation time of microbraids and give you an estimate of how long you can expect the process to take.
Micro braids are a popular protective hairstyle among women with natural hair. This hairstyle is suitable for women with various hair textures and lengths. Micro braids can be styled in various ways, such as updos, ponytails, and half-up half-down styles, and can last for up to three months with proper care.
To ensure that your micro braids last long and look great, you should choose a skilled and experienced stylist who has a good track record of installing micro braids. Before getting micro braids installed, make sure to wash and condition your hair thoroughly to prevent any buildup of dirt or oils, which can lead to scalp irritation or damage to your hair.
During the installation process, ensure that your hair is not too tightly braided to avoid scalp irritation and hair breakage.
Factors That Affect the Installation Time of Micro Braids
Several factors can affect how long it takes to install micro braids. These include:
- Length and thickness of your hair: If you have long and thick hair, it will take longer to section and braid your hair. In contrast, if you have shorter or thinner hair, the installation time may be shorter.
- Size of the braids: The size of the braids can also affect the installation time. Micro braids are typically very small, which means it will take longer to braid each section of hair.
- Experience of the stylist: The experience and skill level of the stylist can also affect the installation time. An experienced stylist who has installed micro braids many times before will likely be able to work faster and more efficiently than a novice stylist.
- The overall complexity of the hairstyle: If you choose to add intricate patterns or designs to your micro braids, this can also add to the installation time. Kenakelon and X pression are known best synthetic hair extensions for micro braids.
How Long Does It Take to Install Micro Braids?
Micro braids are a type of small, intricate braids that are often so fine that they resemble individual strands of hair. Despite the time-consuming process required to install and remove micro braids, the resulting look offers a level of versatility that many other braid styles do not provide. Due to their small size, micro braids are typically much lighter than other protective styles, such as box braids or faux locs, and can be styled in a variety of ways similar to natural hair.
The amount of time required to install micro braids varies depending on factors such as hair length, thickness, braid size, stylist experience, and hairstyle complexity. Typically, micro braids can take between 4 to 10 hours to install. However, it is advisable to discuss this with your hairstylist beforehand, as some installations may take over two to three days with breaks in between.
To make your time at the salon more enjoyable, bring along a snack, a book, or your phone to watch your favorite show while getting your micro braids done. Taking breaks and finding ways to relax can help make the braiding experience less tedious.
Short Micro Braids
Short micro braids can take less time to install compared to longer micro braids. On average, installing short micro braids can take around 3 to 6 hours. However, this time frame can be longer or shorter depending on the factors mentioned above. If your hair is thin or fine, it may take less time to install your braids. However, if you have thick or coarse hair, it may take longer to section and braid your hair.
It’s also important to note that even though short micro braids take less time to install, they still require proper care and maintenance to ensure they last as long as possible.
Shoulder Length Micro Braids
Shoulder-length micro braids fall in between short and long micro braids in terms of installation time. On average, it can take around 4 to 8 hours to install shoulder-length micro braids, depending on several factors.
Long Micro Braids
Long micro braids can take a significant amount of time to install due to the amount of hair involved and the precision required to create neat and uniform braids. On average, it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours or more to install long micro braids, depending on several factors.