Every summer hair braiders take on new styles and evolve their game to create the most trendy protective styles for Black women. Last summer that look was boho braids, now the craze is the braided baldie.
From intricate flower petals to zig zag patterns, the braided baldie is a modern and elevated evolution of cornrows that both begin and end with one continuous braid that extends around the perimeter of the head.
While several braiders across the country have taken this style on by braiding masterpieces into clients’ heads and sharing photos and videos across Instagram and Pinterest. The braided baldie first started with Monteria Chisholm, a Los Angeles-based braider.
After a client asked Chisholm to spice up her cornrows, Chisholm leaned into creativity to braid the new desired summer protective style.
“The weather will be hot, so getting your hair up off your neck is key,” Chisholm told Allure.
Black women often book appointments weeks in advance during the summer months to secure a time slot for braids. While braids are a versatile and beautiful way to protect and style hair, they also serve as effortless vacation looks, an undemanding way to wear hair in the water and a protective style that keeps your curls, kinks and coils safe.
A style like the braided baldie, while not a new braiding technique and one seen often during the 90s, lends itself to keeping Black women cool as temperatures increase this summer.
During the 90s this style was also worn in the summer, but a name was never coined for its artistic braiding method. Now, Chisholm’s viral TikTok video with more than 1.3 million likes, that showcases her crochet-like method with remnants of a fade style super-short haircut, has been blessed with a name.
The look is also reminiscent of how our enslaved ancestors would braid maps to freedom in their hair using similar braiding techniques like cornrows and the braided baldie.
While the price of the braided baldie varies depending on the braider, many charge between $200 to $300 and often take four to five hours to complete the look. Similar to most braided and twisted styles, the braider completes the look with edge control and foam to hold and mold the style for longevity.
Prices and time to complete the style may vary depending on the length of the client’s hair. Chisholm tells Allure that the braided baldie works best for people with shorter hair lengths. If the client’s hair is longer or more dense it can result in the braids appearing more bulky on the scalp, versus flat with clean parts.
Chisholm recommends that clients wear a durag or silk scarf to protect the style while they are sleeping or resting their head.
Flower Power
Zig Zag
It’s giving options
A blonde moment
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