Ghana braids, like other braiding styles, have a rich traditional significance in the land of their origin, Africa. As part of the customs of tribal Africa, Afro-Americans nationalistically and proudly patronize braids till today, when even other groups and nationalities appreciate the beauty of braid hairstyles and wear them with gusto. In ancient tribal Africa, braid patterns were distinct with each group, making it a convenient and accurate identifying mark to distinguish the members of the individual tribe. There are also many interesting and mystical beliefs that they associated with braiding. Africa is a large continent with countless tribes but the women of the Massai and Zulu tribes, the primary groupings, were the first to elevate braiding into a fashion statement and cultural item. Braid hairstyles could identify not only the community of belonging but can also indicate age, marital status, religion, wealth, power and social status. Elaborate and skillfully done braiding awaited special occasions including weddings, social ceremonies and even war rituals and preparations. The art of braiding itself is of prime importance as the hair stylist is highly recognized in the tribe and the act as a noble ritual and social service and duty. Unlike today, the braid expert at the time does not demand for material rewards.
The tribal Africans have notions about braiding that borders on the logical and superstitious. They discourage pregnant women from braiding other women’s hair. Two persons should not braid someone at the same time. There is a prohibition to braid in the open and it symbolizes reciprocal act among tribe members and fosters friendship, sisterhood and brotherhood among them. Whether practical or superstitious, the nuances of braiding survived the test of time until what braiding is today, a multi-million dollar industry with worldwide appeal. From ancient African tribal origin, through the days of slavery, the horrors of civil war, the dawning of the 20th century, and into today’s pop culture, the hairstyle including the vaunted Ghana braids have successfully evolved from being associated with the black community alone and into a mainstream hairstyle. The hairstyle has high approval starting from the masses up to the elite, including celebrities. Ghana braids, in a way, are a form of cornrows, the distinction being that the former are usually longer and allowable for various thicknesses. The braids also typically begin with more natural hair and extensions can augment the hair as the flow of braiding goes further back. Washing the hair is not advisable with the braid users and wearing a scarf at night and using braid spray or root stimulator as scalp and hair moisturizer is the prudent suggestion.
- 1 Interesting Facts about Ghana Braids
- 2 The Best Ghana Braids for this Year
- 2.1 Basic Ghana Braids
- 2.2 Ombre Style Ghana Braids
- 2.3 Ghana Braids with a Cute Bun
- 2.4 Ghana Braids with Blonde Shades
- 2.5 Jumbo Ghana Cornrows
- 2.6 Ghana Braids in Black and White
- 2.7 Ghana Braids with Elegant Updo
- 2.8 Ghana Cornrows
- 2.9 Caramel Pop Ghana Braids
- 2.10 Ghana Braids Enhanced with Zigzag Parting
- 2.11 Multi-colored Ghana Braids
- 2.12 Ghana Braids with Dominating Updo
- 3 Simple Steps to Follow with Ghana Braids Tutorials
- 4 Ghana Braids with High Bun
- 5 2 Most Trendy Comb over Fade for the Year
- 6 Celebrities That Made Ghana Braids Super Popular
Interesting Facts about Ghana Braids
African hair braids come in many forms and styles but the Ghana braids still remain distinct despite the fine line that delineate them from the rest of the bunch. Here are some interesting things about the hairstyle:
- Unlike other braiding styles, there exists more possibility with Ghana braids as they can be made into small or jumbo braids and even with a combination of different sizes.
- Aside from aesthetic reasons, this hairstyle has tremendous protective assistance to the scalp and natural hair.
- These sassy hairstyles are also known as Cherokee cornrows, pencil cornrows, invisible cornrows and the interesting name, banana braids.
- These highly popular hairstyles even get a spike in demand during the summer months when convenience and protection becomes an issue with wearers.
- There are countless ways to go about with Ghana braids. They are transformable into an attractive updo by twisting the end parts. They are also colorable with bright shades like blonde, the more subtle caramel or even with multi-colored pastels. There are creative ways to incorporate parting the hairstyles including the rebellious zigzag pattern. The braid sizes range from thick to thin or a combination of the two sizes.
- To color the hair, bleaching and using hair extensions are both possible.
- Make sure that your braids are not too tight. Instead of making the braids last longer, tightening can cause stress on the natural hair that can create damage like breakage and thinning.
- When deciding on your Ghana braid extensions, keep in mind that synthetic hair is cheap but does not last long while human hair may be more expensive but longer lasting.
- Do not fall for the misconception that braids are maintenance-free. They still require shampooing and moisturizing to keep them neat, clean and in good condition.
The Best Ghana Braids for this Year
The versatility and variety of this hairstyle makes it a favorite not only among black women but also with other groups who have appreciation for elegance and practicality. A few styles on the list include:
Basic Ghana Braids
Often, simplicity is beauty and one poet once said that beauty is a joy forever. This barely basic Ghana hairstyle gives the dual benefit of good looks and excellent protection. With the right care and maintenance, this hairstyle will last for a few weeks up to several months maximum. This braiding is ideal for long-haired ladies and will save them time and money for frequent salon visits. The entire hair has six braided sections that starts at one side of the top hairline and ends up bundled together at one side of the shoulders.
Ombre Style Ghana Braids
Who would ever think that the Ombre and Ghana style will make a perfect combination? Starting from dark and transitioning into light blonde with a few reddish strands along the way, the hairstyle is nothing short of fierce. This style gives the needed coolness required during summertime days.
Ghana Braids with a Cute Bun
This hairstyle is a clever and creative solution to deal with those loose strands at the nape of the neck after braiding. All the hairstylist has to do is to wrap the ends around and fasten them with pins to form a distinct cute bun. The hair on top undergoes sorting and braiding away from the face. The rest forms the bun, preventing the ends from being bothersome and creating space for air to circulate and cool the nape and neck area.
Ghana Braids with Blonde Shades
Incorporating blonde in Ghana hairstyles is achievable in two ways with the same satisfactory results but using extensions over bleaching is simpler and more convenient while being more costly. Bleach can be harsh and can cause dryness and breakage later on. The blonde part is sparse at the top but completely dominates the end part as it goes down.
Jumbo Ghana Cornrows
Large jumbo cornrows can look intimidating and difficult to achieve, but on the contrary, they are easier to achieve compared to intricate small sized Ghana braids. At a distance, this style is easily identifiable, beautiful, and versatile as it is wearable in thicker or thinner braids depending on the preference of the wearer. First time Ghana wearers are better off with the simpler, no fuzz jumbo cornrows version. Maintaining the hairstyle is also easy.
Ghana Braids in Black and White
The black and white motif of this hairstyle coincidentally brings memories of the 90’s including the throwback style and color while another pop icon of that era, Michael Jackson brings back the nostalgia of his hit song, Black or White, the same title of the Ghana hairstyle. The style is highly compatible with matching get up and accessories. The white area of the hair is usually dense at the hair ends that fall at back of the neck.
Ghana Braids with Elegant Updo
Care for a hairstyle that keeps hair up and away from the face this summer? The thick and twisted updo of this hairstyle will provide the attractiveness and comfort that ladies look for. By combining thick and thin braids that are intertwined beautifully and made into a centerpiece elegant bun at the ends, this hairstyle provides enough leeway for creativity and resourcefulness. Thinner braids are likely choice of wearers who give priority to comfort.
In the olden days, Ghana braids were traditionally straight-back. The braids travel down from a thick braid at the top of the head into thin and fine hair ends at the below-the-shoulder area. In the ancient tribal times, the type and style of Ghana cornrows was a reliable identifier of ethnic background, religion, social status and even kinship. Today this hairstyle conveys the fashion statement and orientation of the wearer.
Caramel Pop Ghana Braids
How about a tamer pop of caramel instead of the more overpowering blonde tinge? This lighter and subtler shade when incorporated with Ghana braids is the best choice for women that fancy a different look without being too bright and attention-grabbing. The caramel hues braid beautifully into natural hair without looking awkward but still appear noticeable at the same time.
Ghana Braids Enhanced with Zigzag Parting
Zigzag Ghana braids hairstyles were intentionally worn in the distant past, when slavery was still prevalent, as a peaceful but effective protest amongst slaves towards their masters. The parting was uncommonly shocking and defying that masters ordered their shaving off. Modern women who wish to make a fashion and freedom statement are fond of these hairstyles without being totally aware that they are paying homage to the historically rich and meaningful hairstyle.
Multi-colored Ghana Braids
The unicorn hair trend has crossed over the territories of Ghana braids and this colorful pastel motif rocks with visual impact. The multi-colored hair extensions blend beautifully with natural hair from the top of the head down to the last strands at the end part. Bold and daring women love to flaunt this hairstyle as if it is normal to look uniquely colorful.
Ghana Braids with Dominating Updo
Ghana braids can never be tiring as the possibility of including a centerpiece updo is always present. The wonderful braids seem to twistingly connive in forming a raised updo from the end of the braided strands. Applying a hair root stimulator is very helpful when trying this hairstyle.
Simple Steps to Follow with Ghana Braids Tutorials
How to Install Ghana Braids/Invisible Cornrows on Natural Hair
Step 1: Part your hair – Use either middle or side parting depending on your preference. Make sure that the part is straight and in a downward direction. Make sections in the amount that you want, with each section eventually becoming a braid. Use a hair clip to organize the remaining hair.
Step 2: Prepare a thin layer of hair extension and portion it into three parts by folding the layers over the other, one at a time.
Step 3: Starting from the scalp, begin to braid using the hair extension. After completing two or three rows of hair braids, the extensions can now be braided with natural hair, while keeping the hold on the braids tight enough to prevent them from becoming loose.
Step 4: Keep on adding and removing extensions as required to make straight line braids.
Step 5: Complete the braids with standard cornrows. Cover the entire head with the desired amount of braid repeating the braiding procedure each time.
Ghana Braids with High Bun
Step 1: Start with your hair fully twisted with a downward arrangement. Make sure that the entire sections hair is braided. The braids should contain your natural and some artificial Ghana strands to create voluminous and well protected hair. There should be great volume of hair tresses in the front than in the back side at this point.
Step 2: Organize the entire front tresses. Arrange the front tresses in such a way that they neatly form a loose group and use rubber band to secure them at the scalp part of the arrangement. Make sure to use only a single loop with the rubber band in preparation for accommodating more hair later on.
Step 3: Make 2 sections out of the front hair arrangement. Divide the front tresses equally into two sections and grasp each of them tightly with one hand. Since there are two sections, you will need both hands.
Step 5: Form the bun. The twisted tresses should be wrapped around to create a bun on top of the head. An off-centered slightly towards your left arrangement is the goal for the bun. Since you allowed your tresses and bun to be loosely-formed all this time, this arrangement should not be too difficult to do. Secure the ends with the loose rubber band that you prepared earlier, using two loops this time, for a better hold and then tuck the ends below the bun.
Step 6: Neatly wrap the tresses at the back around the bun. Divide the back tresses into right and left sections. Stretch the right tresses sideways and upwards before finally and wrapping them below the bun in clockwise manner beginning from the back area. Make sure that the tucking underneath the bun is neat and secure. Follow the same procedure, this time with the remaining tresses on the left section and with an opposite direction wrapping. Your high bun variety of Ghana braids is now ready and you can proudly sport them elegantly in special formal occasions.
2 Most Trendy Comb over Fade for the Year
Stylish and Modern Cornrow Braids
The trending relevant Ghana braid hairstyle this year is a clever novelty of mixing thick and thin braids to create an out-of-the-ordinary look that elicits second look from being beautiful and unique. Stunning hair patterns and twirls become a limitless possibility that add flair and elegance to the hairstyle. This braid style will surely endure being just a fad and elevate into a classic eventually because of its distinctiveness and beauty.
Extremely Long Goddess Ghana Braids
This hairstyle caused many women this year to grow their hair long. But women with shorter hair should not despair because the other option of wearing hair extensions can also help achieve this trending hairstyle. The name speaks about the stunning feminine look of the hairstyle, which is unmistakable even if the braids are left thin and simple. The braids fall gracefully and long from the top of the head down to the ends below the shoulders almost at waist line. The look is favorably flattering to oval-faced women, whose faces are framed beautifully for maximum visibility. By adding unique cornrows, flair and style are brought to new heights.
Celebrities That Made Ghana Braids Super Popular
Celebrities come and go, others stay more substantially longer. All however, leave a lasting imprint like the hairstyle that define them. Here are two of them:
Although to many, Ghana braids have become associated with big cornrows, Lupita singlehandedly disprove the notion when she looked super pretty on her tiny braided side bun Ghana that emphasized her lovely face by keeping the strands unobtrusive. Like most women with black lineage (her parents were Kenyan), she proudly wears and patronizes African rooted hairstyles. Being the first Kenyan and Mexican Academy Award winner and a Best Actress Tony awardee, she is always in the eyes of her millions of fans and her hairstyle never escaped being copied. In a way, she is an ambassadress of her Ghana hairstyle.
Yara was spotted sporting the elegant Triple Ghana braid and immediately caught media attention. In fairness to the unusual attention, she elevated the Ghana three levels up the style ladder, raising the eyebrows of fashionistas who have eyes for sophistication and edginess. Yari who has Persian blood, is a famous American actress and model and regularly appears in highly rated television shows and major advertising campaigns. Her popularity makes her a certified household name in America and around the world. Her influence in fashion, including hairstyle trends, is strong enough to create a strong demand in whatever she wears on her body or on top of her head.