Okay, so, I’ve always been a huge fan of Alicia Keys, not just her music, but her whole vibe, you know? Especially her hair. That woman has rocked so many killer braided styles over the years, and I finally decided, “I’m gonna try one myself!”
I went for the snake braids, also called zig-zag braids. I saw a picture of her with these wavy cornrows, and I just thought they looked so cool and different. I mean, everyone does regular cornrows, but these? These were special.
First, I had to get my hair ready. I washed it, deep-conditioned it, the whole nine yards. You gotta start with a clean slate, right? Then, I sectioned my hair. This was probably the hardest part, trying to get those parts straight. I used a rat-tail comb and a bunch of clips, just like I saw in a couple of tutorials online.
Then came the braiding. Now, I’m not a pro braider by any means, but I’ve done my fair share of box braids, so I figured I could handle it. I started with a small section at the front and just started braiding, making sure to keep the tension even. The key to the zig-zag pattern is to curve the braid as you go. It’s kinda like drawing a squiggly line with your hair, if that makes sense.
- Washing and Conditioning: Gotta have that clean, moisturized base.
- Sectioning: The real MVP of a neat braid style. Rat-tail comb is my best friend.
- Braiding: Keeping that tension even is key, also curving the braid for the zig-zag.
- Repeating: Just gotta keep going, section by section, braid by braid.
It took a while, I’m not gonna lie. My arms were definitely tired by the end. But, let me tell you, it was worth it! When I was done, I looked in the mirror, and I was like, “Dang, girl, you did that!” I felt like a whole new person. I even left out my baby hairs like Alicia often does, just to add a little extra something, you know?
I wore those braids for a couple of weeks, and I got so many compliments. People were asking me where I got them done, and I was proud to say I did them myself. It was a fun little project, and it definitely made me appreciate Alicia Keys’ style even more. She’s been doing this for years, and now I know firsthand how much work goes into it. Major respect!
I might try another one of her styles in the future, maybe those beaded braids she wore a while back. Who knows? The possibilities are endless!
What I learned:
- Patience is key: Braiding takes time, especially if you’re doing it yourself.
- Practice makes perfect: The more you braid, the better you get at it.
- It’s okay to experiment: Don’t be afraid to try new things and put your own spin on it.
So, yeah, that’s my Alicia Keys braid adventure. It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot about myself and my hair in the process. Maybe this will inspire some of you to try it, too! It seems that Alicia Keys began composing at the age of 14. She was also influenced by earlier soul artists, such as Marvin Gaye. Alicia has also had success collaborating with Nas, Eve and so on. This is so amazing. If you do, let me know how it goes! I’d love to see your pics.