What Are Micro Braids?
A plain English guide to micro braids for Afro and textured hair, what makes them micro, why they take so long to install and how to protect your hairline.
African Stores Editorial Team
The short answer
Micro braids are very small, fine braids, parted into tiny sections so each braid is thin and delicate. Because there are so many of them, they take a long time to install but can last for weeks. To book a braider, African Stores lists salons across the UK.
What to remember
- Micro braids are tiny, fine braids, the same plaiting idea worked in very small sections so each braid is thin.
- So many small braids mean a long install, often the best part of a day or across two sittings.
- With good care they can last a long time, commonly six to eight weeks, before takedown.
- Because the braids are so small, tension and weight can stress the hairline, so gentle parting matters.
- Takedown is slow and fiddly, so set aside plenty of time and work patiently to avoid snapping strands.
Something about a fresh set of fine braids feels timeless. There is a quiet pride in sitting through the long install, hour after hour, and standing up with hundreds of neat little braids that move like your own hair, the same patience your mother and aunties knew so well.
They carry a shared history too, plaited in kitchens and salons across the continent, the Caribbean and every diaspora community that followed. Choosing your length, picking your shade and settling in for the session is a small homecoming, wherever in the UK you happen to be.
What Micro Braids Actually Are
Micro braids are the tiniest, finest members of the braiding family. Like box braids, the hair is parted into sections and each section is plaited into a single braid, often with a little added braiding hair for length. What makes them micro is the scale. Instead of thumb wide parts, the hair is divided into very small, delicate sections, so each finished braid is thin, almost like a strand of thread. A full head can hold hundreds of them. The payoff is a soft, natural looking result that moves freely and can be styled almost like loose hair, which is a big part of the appeal. Because micro is a size rather than a separate technique, you will see the same fine approach on twists and other styles, but the classic reference point is the small plaited braid.
How Long Do Micro Braids Take and Last
The trade off with micro braids is time. Where a chunky style can be finished in an afternoon, micro braids ask for patience, because there are so many tiny sections to part and plait. Many people spend the best part of a day in the chair, and some braiders split the work across two sittings so no one is worn out. The reward for that effort is longevity. Fine braids sit close and neat, so with good upkeep they can last a long time, commonly six to eight weeks, before regrowth and loosening around the hairline mean it is time to take them down. Leaving them in much longer is tempting given the install, but it tends to look untidy and can make takedown harder, so it is worth planning a sensible window.
How to Care for Micro Braids and Your Edges
Micro braids are easy to live with day to day, but the fine sections and your edges need looking after. Keep your scalp clean with a diluted shampoo or an applicator bottle so you can reach the roots without frizzing the braids, and use a light oil or leave in to keep everything supple. Very coily 4c hair especially thrives on moisture, so do not treat a protective style as a reason to ignore it for weeks. At night, tie the braids up in a satin or silk scarf or bonnet to cut down on friction. Popular guidance is not to have any braids installed too tightly, and this matters even more with micro braids, because the sections are so small. If they feel painfully tight, tug at the edges or leave little bumps around the hairline, that tension is worth taking seriously, as repeated pulling and the weight of many tiny braids is associated with stress on the hairline that many people call traction alopecia. This is general grooming information and popular lore rather than proven medical fact. If you have real concerns about your scalp or hair loss, speak to a GP or a trichologist.
Where to Get Micro Braids Done in the UK
You can attempt micro braids at home if you are very practised, but most people book a stylist who works with Afro and textured hair every day, both for the fine, even parting and for that all important gentle tension. You can find African hair salons near you on African Stores, along with beauty supply shops near you for the braiding hair, edge control, gels and satin bonnets you will want to keep the style neat. Because micro braids take so many hours of chair time, they are usually one of the pricier braid options, and prices and specialisms vary from salon to salon, so it is worth checking what each braider is known for and booking well ahead, as skilled braiders fill up fast.
Frequently asked questions
Are micro braids the same as box braids?
Micro braids use the same plaiting idea as box braids, just worked in much smaller, finer sections so each braid is tiny and thin. The technique is closely related, and the word micro simply describes the very small size. That small scale is what gives them their soft, natural look and their long install time.
How long do micro braids take to install?
Because there are so many tiny sections to part and plait, micro braids usually take a long time, often the best part of a day, and some braiders split the work across two sittings. The exact time depends on the length you want, how fine the braids are and how experienced your braider is.
How long do micro braids last?
With good care most people keep micro braids in for around six to eight weeks. Fine braids sit close and neat, so they can last well, but leaving them in much longer tends to look untidy and can make takedown harder and slower.
Do micro braids damage your edges?
The main thing to watch is tension and weight, because the braids are so small. Popular guidance says not to have them installed too tightly, as constant pulling on tiny sections can stress the hairline over time. Gentle parting, moisture and a careful takedown all help, though this is general grooming advice rather than a medical guarantee.
Where can I get micro braids done in the UK?
You can get micro braids done at Afro and Caribbean hair salons across the UK, many of which specialise in fine braided styles. African Stores lists African hair salons near you and beauty supply shops near you, so you can find a braider and the braiding hair to match wherever you are.
