Braids for men

What you need

What braids for men cost in South Africa, and how long they take

Variations

Cornrows

Straight back, straight up or with a design. One natural hair salon says cornrows suit men and women, and Wikipedia says they are worn by both sexes. Designs add about R50 on that salon's list.

Stitch braids

Neat lines with a stitched look. A Pretoria braider lists stitch braids for guys at R200 to R300 for about 3 hours, with the price varying with extension hair and the detail of the parting.

Box braids and singles

Separate braids, with or without extra hair. Salon lists are not split by gender, so ask for a quote for your length and the size of braid you want.

Twists

Two-strand twists on your own hair are listed at R250 to R550 for 1 to nearly 2 hours. Afro twist at a Cape Town barbershop is R750 for about 3 hours 45 minutes.

How long they last, and care

1. 1
   Watch the hairline and beard line
   The American Academy of Dermatology says anyone who wears tight hairstyles can get traction alopecia, and advises loosening braids, especially around the hairline. Tell your braider where it pulls.
2. 2
   Plan for 3 weeks, then decide
   One natural hair salon lists a cornrow lifespan of 3 weeks. The Academy sets 6 to 8 weeks as the most for braids, and says to take them out if they cause pain.
3. 3
   Look after the back of your neck
   The Academy says razor bumps or acne on the back of the neck or scalp can be acne keloidalis nuchae. A 2007 South African study linked it to frequently cut natural hair in boys. Show a dermatologist if you have it.
4. 4
   Budget for take-down
   That salon lists free hand cornrow removal at R200 small, R160 medium and R120 large, before VAT and without detangling.

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Braids for men, explained

What guy braids are

Guy braids is a common search for braided styles worn by men, and the styles are the same ones women wear: cornrows, stitch braids, box braids and twists. Wikipedia says cornrows are worn by both sexes, and one natural hair salon lists its cornrows as suitable for men and women. What differs is usually hair length and the pattern you choose.

Which styles men choose

On the lists we read, cornrows are the quickest and cheapest. They can run straight back, straight up or in a design, and they need no extra hair on your own hair. Stitch braids are neat lines with a stitched look: a Pretoria braider lists stitch braids for guys on their own, in 6, 8 to 10 or 12 to 14 line versions. Box braids and singles are separate braids and take longer, and twists are two-strand and can be done on your own hair. The natural hair salon also lists flat twists on your own hair, which it prices like cornrows by the number of lines: R450 for 6 to 10 big lines up to R590 for more than 20, at about 1.5 hours on average. Ask the braider to show photos of work on hair like yours, and compare the same number of rows when you ask for quotes.

What braids for men cost in South Africa

Salon price lists are rarely split by gender, so there are few men-only prices to quote. One Johannesburg salon lists men's cornrows at R250, for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. A Pretoria salon lists boys' cornrows, full head, at R340 for about 1.5 hours. A Pretoria braider lists stitch braids for guys at R200 to R300, for about 3 hours.

One Pretoria and Cape Town natural hair salon prices cornrows on your own hair by the number of lines, labour only, before 15% VAT: R400 for 6 to 10 big lines, R480 for 11 to 14, R540 for 15 to 20 and R590 for more than 20. With a hairpiece it is R600 to R850. For twists on your own hair we found four listings, from R250 for 1 hour in Cape Town to R550 for 1 hour 55 minutes in Pretoria. A Cape Town barbershop lists afro twist at R750 for 3 hours 45 minutes. For longer styles with hair added, see the prices on the box braids and cornrows pages.

How long they take

The lists we read put cornrows at 1.5 to 2.5 hours and stitch braids at about 3 hours. The natural hair salon says its cornrows take about 1 hour on average, and notes that finishing times differ because heads and hair amounts differ. Wikipedia says braiding cornrows takes up to five hours, depending on quantity and width. Ask your braider for a time estimate for your length and the number of rows.

Hair length and short hair

Braiding needs enough hair to grip. We did not find a general minimum length, so ask each braider. One Thembisa braider lists short hair as an add-on of R80 or R120, which tells you that shorter hair can cost more. If you are growing your hair out, ask what length the braider wants before you stop cutting.

Looking after your scalp

The American Academy of Dermatology says anyone who wears tight hairstyles can get traction alopecia, and that tight braids and cornrows are among the styles that can cause it. It advises loosening braids around the hairline, wearing braids for no longer than 6 to 8 weeks and taking them out if they cause pain or irritate the scalp. According to PubMed, a 2008 South African study found that only 18.9% of people with traction alopecia had never had hairdressing-related symptoms (doi 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.05.036). If something stings or your scalp feels pulled up, speak up before the braider finishes the row.

Work and school

We did not find a South African source on braids and workplace rules that we could cite, so we leave the legal side out. Wikipedia notes that cornrows have been the subject of disputes in US workplaces and schools, where some employers and schools called them unprofessional. What we can say is practical: dress codes and school codes are normally written down, so ask for yours and check it before you pay for a style.

Booking tips

Ask for the total in rand on WhatsApp for your length and style, and whether hair, a wash and take-down are included. Ask about the deposit and the late rules: one Pretoria braider asks R100 non-refundable, and one Thembisa braider asks 50%. Arrive with clean hair, and tell the braider as soon as anything feels tight.

Braids for men: questions