Yes, braiding hair can mix well with natural curls—particularly when selected and installed carefully. Merging is based on several factors: curl pattern, texture, and installation method.
To start with, the selection of braiding hair that closely resembles your curl pattern is essential. Natural curls are various types, from loose waves to tightly coiled (e.g., 3A to 4C). Curly braiding hair comes in various textures, such as water wave, deep wave, kinky curly, and Afro kinky. For instance, a person who has 4B or 4C hair might prefer Afro kinky braiding hair, which blends very well, or a person with 3B curls might prefer a more relaxed curl, such as water wave.
Texture contributes a great deal as well. Synthetic braiding hair tends to be shinier and more rigid than human hair, which can be problematic for blending. But professional-grade synthetics such as kanekalon or Toyokalon, or even human hair blends, blend more easily because they are softer and more life-like in texture.
Installation methods count as well. To achieve a more natural appearance, most tend to wear feed-in or crochet braids with a small section of their natural hair remaining at the front or top. This way, the natural curls can blend with the braiding hair, making the illusion of a full head of natural curls even stronger.
Correct care is also important. Regular moisturizing of your natural hair, minimizing tension at the roots, and selecting light curly braiding styles ensure that your natural curl structure is maintained and that a silky finish is achieved.
Using curly human braiding hair with the proper curl match, quality hair, and installation technique, curly braiding hair can merge well with natural curls, yielding a full, textured style that's protective and chic.
