How To Fix Hair Sticking Out Of Braids

Braids can be a form of self-expression, a cultural tradition, a protective style, or a unique way to wear your hair.

In addition, multiple braid styles exist, from a simple three-strand braid to cornrows or adding weaves/extensions to braids.

However, braiding takes practice and patience to achieve a flawless result. You may encounter some difficulties when you start learning to braid, such as sectioning, creating even partings, and ensuring all the hair is sealed in one clean braid.

One thing that can alter the look of your braids is if there is hair sticking out. This can create a messy look or hinder your ability to continue braiding hair. However, this problem can be solved by updating your techniques or using new products.

For example, you can tame flyaways and baby hairs sticking out with hair gel or sprays. Another option is to revise your braiding techniques while styling your hair, allowing you to prevent hair mishaps.

Braiding the hair can be intricate and look immaculate, but it takes time, trial, and error. Also, braiding techniques can vary greatly depending on your hair type and texture.

So, how do you fix hair sticking out of braids?

Some common reasons why hair may stick out of the braid include layering, using the wrong products, or improper technique. To fix it, break down your braiding session into stages and ensure you take the proper precautions for clean and frizz-free braids.

Before you try to fix strands poking out of your braids, you’ll want to discover why it’s happening. This can give you the answer you need to adjust your braiding routine before randomly guessing the culprit. 

Why Is Your Hair Sticking Out Of Your Braids?

Some common reasons why hair may stick out of the braid include layering, using the wrong products, or improper technique.

Layering

Does your hair have layers? Layers can make it challenging to braid, even something as simple as a three-strand braid. The layers can quickly poke out of the braid, creating a messy or unrefined finish.

You may need to update your braiding technique or use the right products to adjust your layers for braiding.

Improper Technique

Another reason why your braids can look lackluster or piecey is due to using improper techniques. Not all braiding techniques are suitable for all hair types. Using the wrong methods or over-tightening the hair can cause breakage.

This breakage or tension can cause multiple hairs to leave the security of your braids.

Incorrect Products 

Finally, some hair types need styling products to achieve a clean braid. This is especially true if you add hair enhancements to your braids, such as extensions or weaves. Styling products can help keep strands laminated in place.

Some popular products used for braids include pomades, gels, hairspray, etc.

How To Prevent Hair Sticking Out Of Your Braids 

So, how can you fix and prevent hair from sticking out of your braids? First, break down your braiding session into stages and take the proper precautions to ensure clean and frizz-free braids.

For example, you’ll want to prepare the hair for braiding and gather any necessary tools to ease the process. Another helpful tip is to adapt your braiding technique while weaving the strands. Finally, invest in the right aftercare.

Before Braiding 

Whether you’re doing a more straightforward braid, like a French braid, or something more complicated, like adding extensions, you’ll want to prep the hair.

You’ll also need to gather any necessary tools for a successful braiding session.

Prep Your Hair 

What type of braids will you be doing? Do your braids require you to wash your hair, or will you use your natural oils for a greasy hairdo? These questions will allow you to understand what state your strands should be in for the perfect braided look.

Depending on your style, washing, blow-drying, and straightening may be required before braiding the hair.

Gather Tools

Next, what tools are required for you to braid your hair? Having a tail comb to create clean parts for your braids can be beneficial. You may need additional brushes, clips, pins, or extensions to add enhancements. 

Having the correct tools on hand can quicken and ease your braiding process, minimizing pieces sticking out at the end.

Section Your Strands

Finally, section or part your hair into your desired pattern. Clean sections will promote evenly distributed hair for each braid. This will help create a professional finish and prevent hair from sticking out in the first place.

During Braiding 

What can you do during braiding to prevent or fix hair from sticking out of your braids? You can include some helpful tips in your braiding regardless of your hair type or braid style, like avoiding over-tightening or adding hair products.

You may also decide to stagger the hair to seal layers into your strands without a piecey result.

Stagger Your Strands

Staggering the hair can be helpful, whether you have layers or extensions. First, you’ll want to create the correct hair distribution, ensuring all your strands are evenly distributed. Then, carefully braid and avoid any tangling at the ends.

You’ll want to create a tapered effect to prevent hair from sticking out of your braids.

Create Firm Braids

Another helpful tip is to ensure your braids are firm and well-defined. Too loose braids allow the hair to move around or fall out of your braid. This can create a messy and unprofessional effect, and a better hold will promote a cleaner finish.

Avoid Over-Tightening

While you want to keep your braids firm, avoid over-tightening the hair. Braids that are too tight can cause friction, tension, and breakage, which can compromise the health of your scalp and hair.

Not only are tight braids harmful to your hair’s integrity, but the breakage can create a messier look, so you’ll have more pieces sticking out from your braids.

Consider Hair Enhancements

Are you adding hair extensions or other enhancements to your braids? Sometimes, you can keep your braids for a long time, depending on your hair texture or whether it’s a protective style. You’ll want to ensure an even blend of fake and real hair.

This is where your technique comes into play to prevent layers from sticking out and seamlessly infuse your enhancements with your natural hair.

Add Product

Finally, it can be highly beneficial to add styling products to your hair before or during the braiding process. Products like gel or pomade can tame flyaways and coat all your hair together to avoid a piecemeal mess. 

Hair styling products can also help reduce frizz, resulting in a clean and frizz-free finish.

After Braiding 

What can you do after braiding to fix hair that sticks out? Your braiding journey continues even after you weave the strands. Therefore, it’s essential to care for your strands, particularly if you’re maintaining a protective style or wearing enhancements.

Some helpful tips include using the correct styling products, caring for your enhancements, and nourishing your scalp.

Use Styling Products  

You can secure your hair in place with additional products.

For example, hair oil, gel, and pomade can tame flyaways and seal them into place, preventing them from sticking out. You may even invest in a small, dense brush to smooth the hair on the scalp.

Other items, such as hairspray, can also help seal hairs that stick out from your braids.

Care For Your Hair Enhancements

Are you wearing extensions within your braids? Caring for your extensions is significantly different from caring for your strands. Improper care can increase the chance of frizzy and piecey braids. So, make sure to soak them or use diluted shampoo.

Learning to care for your hair enhancement will prolong the wear time of your braids and keep them looking refined.

Sleep With Silk 

You can wear your braids overnight and attempt to keep them in place the next day. One of the healthiest hair tips you can incorporate into your regimen is using a silk or satin pillowcase. You can also wear a silk wrap or bonnet to preserve your braids. 

Other helpful tips include preparing the hair, using the right products, and caring for your braids will keep them looking clean and pristine. How do you like to wear your braids? 

Care For Hair & Scalp 

Finally, you’ll want to ensure you care for your hair and scalp. The health and appearance of your hair stem largely from the scalp. Therefore, if there is constant tension or friction on the scalp that causes breakage, it can be challenging to maintain clean braids.

Visit A Braiding Specialist 

You can find a hair specialist for almost any service, like coloring and braiding.

Visiting a braiding specialist ensures that you can have the perfect braids whenever you want to rock your desired style. They can also provide you with additional tips tailored to your hair type.

Takeaway 

Thankfully, preventing or fixing hair from sticking out of your braids is relatively easy. It may take practice to perfect your braiding technique, but using the proper method will prevent your hair from sticking out.

Other helpful tips include preparing the hair, using the right products, and caring for your braids to keep them looking clean and pristine. How do you like to wear your braids?

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