Micro-Braided Basket Weave Hair Style

While fashion and crafts are two distinct industries, they become intertwined when it comes to the marvelous styles of hair braiding. Indeed, to observe the intricate Micro-Braided Basket Weave hair style on a fashion show contestant is awe-inspiring. The skillfulness of the hands creates wonders that unleash powerful fashion statements. Especially significant, the origins of braided hair with basket weave designs are traced to West African woven handicrafts.

Professional hair stylists achieve the Micro-Braided Basket Weave hair style by crisscrossing braids to create a series of closely-woven boxes similar to the appearance of a woven basket. American women adore this hair style not only for its sophisticated quality but also for its low-maintenance, as it lasts for four to six months. Most noteworthy is its West African roots. Specifically, women of Fulani descent living in Mali wear these intricately designed micro-braided hair styles to indicate a high social status. Also, Nigerian women wear Basket Weave Goddess Braids during special ceremonies such as baptisms and weddings.

As West Africans are known for their elaborate handicrafts, it comes to no surprise that the Micro-Braided Basket Weave hair style is influenced by hand woven crafts. In particular, strip weaving is a popular handicraft in West Africa, dating as far back as the 11^th century, which involves using a loom to weave long strips of cloth in a checker board fashion before sewing together. It is used to make woven blankets, clothing, and wall hangings. Nana, a notable hair stylist from Ivory Coast in West Africa, is credited for introducing the "Basket Weave" hair braiding to American women. She owns the salon Nana's Hair Braiding in Boston, Massachusetts and Fayetteville, North Carolina. Learning to braid from her mother and grandmother, she admits to having first experimented with basket weave braiding by using plant fibers and cotton yarn when growing up in West Africa. She was influenced by the interwoven design of mats composed of natural and plastic cords. She later developed her skill by braiding the hair of classmates at the University of Abidjan.

On final note, American women of all ages enjoy wearing the Micro-Braided Basket Weave hair style particularly on special occasions such as proms, weddings, and holidays. It gives women a highly distinguished appearance and illustrates detailed craftsmanship. The Micro-Braided Basket Weave hair style has fascinating origins and is intriguing to all.