My sisters and I know the real reason for braided hair. It’s not to look pretty. It’s to keep your hair neat and untangled. My hair would snarl if you looked at it wrong, so Mom would French braid it. I remember when my parents sent me to spend a week with their friends in Sioux City who were as close to grandparents as I had. When Mom was done braiding it, my skin was stretched taut and I am sure I had a mini-facelift. Under strict orders, I left the braids in while bathing and showering, washing them without unbraiding them – and sure enough, they stayed in place for the entire week. She had no time for loose, casual braids like this lovely one from Anya Ohmai for Hair Fair. A braid that did not ache for a few hours was unworthy of the name.
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