The braid beat - beauty strands - hairdressing; related products and services - Brief Article

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There is so much to love about braids. They offer high style, low maintenance and, thanks to the creative minds who specialize in designing looks like the ones on these pages, more versatility than ever. Check out these hot ideas for spring and summer (including the latest trends in highlighted color, sunburst patterns and combination styling), plus a southern hot spot where professionals in the know are snapping up the latest in human-hair extensions.

Amber Waves

Taliah Waajid of Taliah Waajid Natural Hair Care Center in Atlanta created this colorful mix of cornrows and two-strand twists using a combination of Afro-kinky human hair in two shades (90 percent reddish-brown, 10 percent soft blond).

For sheen, and to Hold the slight bend of The twists, Waajid Mixed (from her own Black Earth line of Products) Herbal Strengthener and Lock It Up balm.

braid basics

* Don't braid chemically straightened hair too soon after relaxing--your scalp may be too tender or the hair may be too fragile. Consult a professional to ensure that your relaxed mane is prepared for the tension of braids.

* Prior to braiding, get a deep-conditioning treatment and remember to have your ends trimmed.

* After shampooing, avoid creamy conditioners, which leave a noticeable buildup. Stick to lightweight leave-in conditioners. Try Infusium 23 Leave-In Conditioner or Hairobics All Natural Hair and Scalp Leave-In Conditioner.

* Itchy scalp? Try Back to Basics Ginger Scalp Therapy Shampoo, EC Mode Scalp Therapy Revitalizer or Nioxin Scalp Therapy Scalp Massage.

* Before removing braids, remember to cut well beyond your natural hair length so you don't accidentally cut your own hair. Try Bianca's Botanicals Unbraid Ease to facilitate the process.

* For more advice on braids and braid-related products, log on to naturalhair.org, barryfletcher.com and cornrowsandco.com. For product details, see Where to Buy.

Pixie Perfect Kwama Adams of Off the Hook Barber Shop in Atlanta achieved this classic pixie with synthetic individual micro-braids. Adams layered the braids, leaving the top short and spiky, and framing the face and neckline with wispy pieces.

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Side Sweep Ngone Sow of the Soween Salon in Brooklyn executed these cornrows that swirl from crown to nape. Starting at the hairline, Sow gradually fed in the extensions for a more natural finish.

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Regal Rows Janice Brown of Skilz Salon in Brooklyn produced this sunburst pattern of topknots, cornrows and braids with synthetic hair. She applied golden-brown and bronze extensions to highlight the cornrows and topknots, leaving dark brown for the individual braids in the rear. This versatile style can be French-braided in the back, put up in a bun or left free.

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Shana's Weave Wisdom

1. When selecting human-hair extensions, make sure that they're lightweight and the weft is micro-thin. The thinner the weft, the less bulky the weave will look and feel.

2. If you want to match the extensions to your hair color, look for shades that mimic the middle and ends of your own hair, not the roots, which are usually darker.

3. Find a salon that will take the time to go between the rows to wash your scalp. Try Custom Crowns near Atlanta, (678) 421-0805; LaVar Hair Designs in New York City, (212) 724-4492; or Natural Trend Setters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, (954) 486-1414.

4. Never go to bed with a wet or damp weave. This is an instant recipe for a tangled, matted mess.

5. Give your wavy or curly-textured extensions a daily spritz of water and leave-in conditioner to keep the curl pattern uniform.

Shop talk

Atlanta's Custom Crowns

beautiful weaves and braids begin with the right hair. And no one knows that better than entrepreneur Shana Taylor King (below), owner of Cu tom Crowns, a full-service hair-supply shop in the metro Atlanta area of Norcross, Georgia. She grew up in a family of beauty experts. (Her mother, ESSENCE'S Susan L. Taylor, was then its fashion and beauty editor, and her father was a salon owner.) Shana often accompanied her mother on photo shoots, where the aim was to bring out the very best in Black beauty. Today Shana continues this mission with Custom Crowns. "We specialize in human hair, specifically treated to look natural on Black women," says King. "I'm only interested in offering the finest human hair -- that means it should have sheen, vitality and strength." Shana works closely with her factory and directs them in preparing and processing human hair that blends beautifully and naturally with our hair.

"When I inspect hair, I examine the strands to ensure the healthiest of cuticles," she says. Both salon professionals (including some celebrity stylists) and many of her savviest buyers have come to rely on her expertise. Custom Crowns offers private consultation services and also supplies customers all over the country by mail order. For more information and a brochure, call (678) 421-0805 or visit customcrowns.com.

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