Curly Jumbo Braids

As a little girl, wearing individual “box” braids was the only hairstyle I knew. I loved my braids. But I hated how painful it was to have them put in. I preferred “jumbo” braids with curly ends. As a child, I described this as the “quickest, easiest hairstyle” the braider could do. And I loved the result. But the sleepless nights that followed my braiding appointment were not worth it. In those days, African hair braiders didn’t know that tight braids are detrimental to the hairline and scalp. As a preteen, I eventually detested braids and didn’t turn back to the hairstyle until adulthood during my natural hair journey.

I still describe these braids as “quick, easy and painless”. Jumbo braids are preferable to other braided styles because they are easy on the scalp. I asked my stylist to braid two dozen plaits in a checkerboard pattern with a slight side part. The braids along the edges are knotless, while other braids in the back areas are crocheted in for security. She braided my tresses as long as my natural hair line would allow, and left the rest of the hair loose. Then, I asked her to dip the long ends of each braid with slender rods to create a long body wave pattern. With careful day and nighttime care, the style lasted over two weeks before I needed to touch up my edges and curls. The hairstyle lasted about five weeks total.