Braids for Hair Growth? Truth vs Myths (2025 Guide)

Braiding reduces manipulation and touching, preventing breakage and shedding caused by daily styling. Braids let your hair breathe, encouraging it to thrive without excessive, heavy-handed styling. For those with Type 4 hair, braids minimise detangling, as the tight curl pattern is prone to tangling.

Using the right products increases slip, simplifying the detangling process and decreasing hair loss over the weeks. Protected ends minimise split ends and knots, reducing the need for snipping during trims and enhancing length retention.

Braids help your hair grow hair growth by reducing breakage and protecting your hair from daily damage, but they don’t directly make your hair grow faster.

Please note: 

If you are having any issues with your hair, braids or any protective styles, please make an appointment with your local hairdresser or a hair specialist. 
Braids are one of the most popular hairstyles around 一 and the great thing about them? They come in a number of different colours, styles and fibers to suit all hair textures. Braids are normally affordable and require little maintenance, lasting from six to eight weeks.

Does Braids Help your Hair grow_The Answer

Unpacking the myths around braids

I spoke to Thomas Tsheola, also known as ‘Kholo the Hair Doctor.’ Tsheola is a head stylist at Darling Hair with 20 years of experience in South Africa’s beauty and hair industry.

Speaking about debunking myths around hair growth, Tsheola explains that one of the most common myths on hair growth is that all braids are good for your hair. 

“This statement is false. When it comes to braids, it all depends on the styling or the person braiding them,” Tsheola says, “Some braids put a lot of pressure on hair follicles that are supposed to only cope with the weight of the hair you grow. Adding extensions to your [cornrows] or sewing in a weave can cause a lot of pressure on your scalp.” 

Do Braids Actually Promote Hair Growth?

While braids do not directly cause your hair to grow, they are excellent for retention and protecting your strands. This misconception arises from the visible new growth that becomes apparent as braids start to loosen. Scientifically, hair growth starts with cells forming in the hair bulb, progressing through stages like the Anagen (growth phase), Transitional, and Resting Phase. Although braids alone can’t speed up the hair growth cycle, they help minimise damage and breakage, allowing your hair to maintain its length.

Does Braiding Benefit Thinning Hair?

In a nutshell, NO; traditional braids might worsen thinning and fragile hair by adding tension to hair follicles, potentially leading to damage and alopecia. An alternative is crochet braids, where your natural hair is cornrowed to the scalp and braiding hair is crocheted on top, minimising pulling and tugging during styling. This style is safer for those with delicate hair conditions.

Embrace Your Natural Beauty with Hair Braiding

Hair braiding is more than a style—it’s a deep-rooted expression of cultural heritage that spans centuries. Originating from Africa, its influence can be seen globally, making it a top fashion pick for special occasions. Both women and men use braiding to create unique, vibrant hairstyles, often adding ribbons and beads to enhance the look. Today, braiding not only uplifts your fashion style but also provides health benefits for your hair.

Let’s take a glance at the top benefits of hair braiding: 

Braids Lock In Hair Moisture 

Braiding protects dyed hair by locking in natural moisture and shielding strands from harsh elements. Ideal for travel or daily styling, braids reduce frequent moisturising and minimise manipulation. By keeping the scalp hydrated, braiding helps maintain healthy and vibrant hair with minimal effort. Consider braiding for an easy, effective style that enhances your hair’s health

Scalp Protection and Hair Health

Maintaining a healthy scalp is essential for hair growth. Braided hairstyles help by reducing over-manipulation and tension. When done correctly, braids allow oxygen and moisture access, preventing dry, scaly scalps. This facilitates effective cleaning and moisturizing, keeping the scalp free from product buildup and fungal issues.

In conclusion, braids not only offer style but also protect your hair, provided they are not too tight and are well-maintained.

Braids Are Low Maintenance

Incorporating braids into your daily routine can save you time when getting dressed, allowing you to simply wake, admire your beautiful hair, and start the rest of your day. Especially for those with dyed hair, being extra careful is crucial, and braids offer a low maintenance solution that can protect your hair. By reducing the need to do your hair every day, you take one thing off your to-do list, minimising damage and possibly retaining more hair length over time.

Unravelling the Strengths of Hair Braiding

Braiding your hair, whether curly or straight, acts like a rope made from intertwined fibres, making it structurally stronger and helping to prevent breakage. By reducing friction against the pillow at night, it lessens breaks while sleeping. Braiding also locks in hydration, preventing dryness and frizziness with oils that increase moisture, keeping the hair nourished and healthy. This setup not only preserves the hair’s texture and strength but also supports conditions conducive to growth.

The Double-Edged Sword of Braiding

Braiding can safeguard hair, but when braids are kept too long or tied too tightly, they can damage the hair follicles and lead to hair loss. To prevent this, it’s crucial to loosen braids, massage the scalp with essential oils, and rotate hairstyles to give your hair a break. Careful management ensures braids remain a safe, great style even for thin hair.

Optimising Care for Braided Hair

Proper care for braided hair, especially long-lasting styles like box braids, starts with washed, moisturised, and detangled strands to make braiding smoother and lock in moisture. Regularly cleaning and moisturising the scalp helps reduce pressure and maintain scalp health. At night, using a headscarf or wrap keeps braids protected and minimises damage. Extra attention is needed for dyed hair to prevent tangles and ensure lasting health and colour integrity.

FAQs:

Is braid good for hair growth?

Braiding supports hair growth by maintaining hair health, preventing breakage, and retaining moisture. This creates a healthy environment that allows hair to grow long and strong without being hindered by damage. Properly maintained braids can thus indirectly foster longer, healthier hair.

What are the benefits of braiding your hair?

Braiding not only locks in moisture but also protects against frizziness and provides scalp protection. It’s a low maintenance style that helps reduce split ends and prevents damage, offering long-lasting benefits. Additionally, the variety of styles available ensures there’s a braid for every hair type, promoting overall hair health and potentially aiding growth.

How long to keep braids in for hair to grow?

For optimal hair growth, it’s recommended to keep braids in for 6 to 8 weeks. If you plan to go longer, be extra careful, especially with dyed hair. Care involves regular hydration to avoid breakage and maintain better hair health. Thoughts on proper maintenance can significantly help you take good care of your braids.

What hairstyle makes your hair grow faster?

Choosing hairstyles that are gentle and require minimal maintenance, like loose braids, can help prevent damage to hair follicles and support healthy hair growth. For those with dyed hair, it’s crucial to avoid styles that cause breakage, such as ponytails, buns, and cornrows. Opting for natural, low-tension styles is key to promoting better hair health.