If you’re a natural, you’ve probably been rocking your edges for years. But for some, maintaining and styling them can be a bit intimidating.
While it’s true that braids don’t need to be parted (in fact, parting tends to break down hair), you may want to try out different styles with your locks.
A good edge is the foundation of a great hairstyle. It can make your hair look thicker, fuller, and healthier. But the right edge isn’t just about making your own hair look good. It’s also about ensuring that the edges of your client’s hairline blend in with their natural hair color and texture.
I’ve been cutting edges for years and have tried many techniques for achieving professional-looking results. I’m going to share my favorite methods with you today so that you can create beautiful edges for all of your clients!
How To Do Edges With Locks
- With edge control or gel
The most common and possibly most efficient method for doing your edges is as described above. Apply a small amount of edge control or styling gel to your hair. After that, you style them as you choose with a toothbrush. You then spend the next 15 minutes wrapping a scarf or headband around your head. You may get rid of it when it sets. For folks with 4C hair like myself, your edges can last about 5 hours, depending on the intensity of the product.
I don’t do this very frequently because I like to use natural or no products. Gel can be challenging to remove from your hair. After using these products, you must wash your hair properly to ensure that nothing gets trapped inside or encourages other items to do the same.
- With a carrier oil
You can avoid using heavy products and the ensuing buildup by using oil to lay your edges, even if it doesn’t seem as sleek as the gel procedure. Despite having a lot of new growth since my last tightening eight weeks prior, this technique still worked.
Your newborn hairs are first soaked with water. Apply a carrier oil later, such as argan, jojoba, coconut, or almond. To position your edges as you desire, use a moist toothbrush. After that, spend 20 to 30 minutes securely wrapping a scarf or head tie around your head. Depending on the humidity, this process typically lasts about 3 hours.
- Twisting the locks
This is my go-to method whenever my locks start looking rusty. It’s easy and requires no products at all. All you need to do is twist each lock at the front (and back if you want a clean look all around).
To make it last longer, you can spritz the front of your hair with water and apply a little carrier oil to your fingers when twisting. This usually lasts the entire day unless I do some sort of physical activity that causes it to unravel. It doesn’t give you the curly baby hairs at the front, but it does make your edges look tidier.
- Get rid of baby hairs.
Baby hairs are fine strands on the front of your head that tend to stick out when braiding because they’re shorter than the rest of your hair.
If you want to keep them in check, use an edge control product like Ouidad Ultra-Creamy Edge Control ($23) instead of gel or pomade. This will help keep them in place, so they won’t stick out while braiding.
- Create volume
If you’re looking for more volume at the top of your head, try teasing your edges before braiding them up into a bun. Then brush through the teased pieces with a boar bristle so they cascade down naturally over your hairline and frame your face nicely!
Can You Use Edge Control On Locs?
You can use edge control on locs, but you must be careful about what kind of product you use. If you have a lot of hair or tight locs, the edge control might weigh down your hair and cause it to fall out. The best way to use edge control is to apply it to the tips of your locs, not all over the head.
Edge control will help keep the edges in place and give them a nice shine. You can also use an edge control that is made specifically for African American hair types. These products are designed with oils and other ingredients that work well on locs and other types of curly hair
How Do You Lay Your Edges With Dreads?
- Gather your materials
Before you begin laying your edges, you’ll need to grab your materials. See below for our list of recommended products. In general, we recommend either oil, butter, or gel to help your edges lay.
Additionally, you’ll need to choose your styling tool of choice. For generations, those with natural hair have used toothbrushes to slick down any tiny baby hairs that didn’t make it into the style.
In fact, you may remember sitting between your mama’s knees as she did this when you were a child.
So, if you’re looking for the perfect finishing tool, you don’t have to look much further than the bathroom. A brand-new toothbrush has been a long-time hack in the natural hair community.
However, if this isn’t your style, you can also purchase an edge styler. Today, there are 3-in-1 styling tools available that allow you to come out your hair and slick them down.
Whether you want to spring for the budget or premium option is up to you. Just make sure you use a comb that won’t damage those delicate hairs and moisten your hair with both water and product before beginning.
- Slick and separate your edges
Before you can lay your edges, they must be separated from the rest of your hair and slicked down. Comb out these hairs and slick them down in the direction that you’d like to style them.
As noted above, avoid using a comb that will damage these fine, delicate hairs, and use product/water to make the hair hydrated.
- Swoop and create shapes using the natural boar bristles
The real “styling” comes afterward. People can make entertaining kinds and designs using their edges when they lay them. With your hairlines, you can “swoop” them and give them organic contours.
We advise using a small boar-bristle brush (or a toothbrush) for this portion of the styling. Using your preferred edge control product will be helpful as you shape the hair.
The texture of your hair will determine whether you want a milder or heavier edge control. Soft curly hair frequently requires less edge control than coarser, curlier hair, which frequently calls for more edge control.
- Define your edges using a pointed tip
For the final touches, take the pointed tip of your preferred hair tool (such as a pintail comb or rat tail comb) and go over the molding to define the shape you created.
You can also add a bit more product just to ensure everything is neat and clean. Remember, when it comes to your edges, the devil is in the details!
- Use hairspray
Depending on the type of hair you have, you can skip this final step. It is entirely optional, and whether you need it will frequently depend on the kind of style you want to achieve.
However, a little extra molding or hold can be achieved with hairspray. To tame flyaways and maintain your edges throughout the day, you can either apply it directly to your hair or to the styling tool.
- Wrap your head
Some ladies with natural hair are able to lay all of their edges, but they struggle to keep them in place. You can hold them firmly in place by wrapping a silk or satin scarf around your edges in order to keep them in place until they are fully dry.
Simply leave it on for about 20 minutes to guarantee that your edges will dry thoroughly. Most women will do this while getting ready, applying makeup, or doing household chores. If you want to wake up with smooth and soft edges, you can think about commencing this process overnight.
Conclusion
After reading this post, you should have all the tools necessary to get your hair looking better than it has in years. There is no excuse for being puny, little edgy. It’s time to embrace your wild side and go down to that barbershop to get a perm or a box braid appointment. Now go out there and embrace those edges!