Cornrows, stitch braids and feed-ins
Straight-backs are the default and the fastest: an hour to ninety minutes, and they hold their shape for two to three weeks with a durag at night.
Stitch braids take longer and cost more, because each row is divided into clean horizontal segments as it travels back. They photograph sharper and hold their definition noticeably longer.
Feed-in patterns, zigzags and freestyle designs are quoted on complexity. Bring a reference photo — we will tell you before you book whether it works with your density and length.
Length, density and what is actually possible
We need roughly two to three inches to anchor a braid that will hold. Shorter than that and the rows slip within days, which is a waste of your money rather than a style.
Coarser, denser hair grips better and holds a pattern longer. Finer or straighter hair can be braided but will loosen sooner — worth knowing before you book something intricate.
If you are growing out for a specific style, come in for a consultation and we will tell you roughly how many weeks away you are.
Keeping them sharp
A durag or a satin cap every night. This is the single thing that separates rows that look good at week three from rows that look fuzzy at week one.
Light oil along the parts twice a week, not on the braid length. Wash the scalp every two weeks with diluted shampoo in a bottle.
Two to four weeks is realistic before a re-braid. Rows sit close to the scalp, so new growth lifts them faster than it lifts an individual braid.
