African American Braiding Hairstyles for Little Girls for Weddings

Braids can give a girl a sleek look for a happy occasion.

Braided hair can give a classical, sleek look to a young girl who wants to dress up and look different for a wedding, but doesn't want to go overboard. Depending on the mood, style and tone of the wedding, certain braids will be more or less appropriate. Of course, the focus will always be on the person, and not the hairstyle, so remind your young one that whichever braiding style she chooses will be just right for the occasion. It will reduce stress for all involved.

Senegalese Twists

Twists can be large or small. They create spirals of hair.

Senegalese twists flow more easily than braids, giving the hair a continuous look from top to bottom. The braiding requires just two strands of hair instead of three. Section off small pieces of hair, then split those sections into two. Tightly wind the separated hair together in a spiral motion, securing at the bottom. Additional hair can be weaved in for effect. These are also known as double strand twists and kinky twists.

Cornrows

Cornrows provide a geometrical, tidy look.

The cornrow look is created by French braiding small sections of hair from the hairline to the tips. Start at the front of the head and loop a regular three-strand braid to begin with. As you make your way back, pick up the additional hair in the section as it naturally occurs, braiding firmly all the way through. The resulting look culminates in straight rows of braided hair attached to the scalp in straight lines.

Double French Braids

The double French braid looks elegant even on the youngest girls.

This style is a mix between the French braid and the cornrow style. Section the hair into two equal portions. Braid each section separately, picking up more hair from further down the head with each cross, until you reach 2 inches above the base of the scalp. The two sections should come close together at that point. Combine the braids by re-sectioning the six strands into three, and continue the braid to the tips of the hair.

Microbraiding

Microbraiding allows for additional styling after the braids are secure.

For this hairstyle, choose a consistent size you'd like the braids to be, and section the hair accordingly. Thoroughly separate each section before braiding it to create even lines without tangles. Starting on one end of the head, braid each small section to completion and secure before moving to the next section. These small braids will keep the hair looking full and glossy while taming strays and making it easier to style.

References

• African Hairbraiding: Senegalese Twists, and Kinky Twists
• Culturally Situated Design Tools: Transformational Geometry and Iteration in Cornrow Hairstyles
• Thirsty Roots, Bringing Out the Beauty in Black Hair; Double French Braid; July 2010
• The Latest Girls: Types of Hair Braiding Hairstyles