These 7 Hair Brands Are a Must-Have for Your Next Protective Style (2024)

X-Pression braiding hair is one of the most popular brands out there—and for good reason. For under $30 for a pack of six (I mean, what a deal), you get pre-stretched braiding hair that’s pretty soft, doesn’t shed all over the place, and won’t irritate your scalp.

THE REVIEW: "I love this braiding hair—it doesn't tangle much and works great. I have long thick hair and this was more than enough hair for me!" writes one customer.

With passion twist styles, you need to find silky braiding hair that’s curly—not too tight, not too loose—to achieve the boho-inspired look. Not only does the lightweight texture of this braiding hair make it super easy to twist, but it also means that it won’t weigh down your edges (aka there’s less potential for breakage).

THE REVIEW: "I attempted to do passion twists for the first time and this hair made it easy for me!" writes one reviewer, adding, "I used two pieces of hair for each twist, my hair blended in perfectly, and the hair was really light."

Because the Boho Locs' braiding hair is textured at the roots and wavy towards the ends, they mimic the look of actual locs. Translation: When you go with this brand, no one will be able to tell that your hair technically isn't real.

THE REVIEW: "I love the style and carefree look of the Queen Locs—they are very lightweight so there is minimal tension at the root," reads one tester's review.

Say hello to the only real hair option on the list. You know those bohemian box braids that Zoe Kravitz rocks? Yeah, you’re not getting that hairstyle with just any regular ol’ braiding hair. This option is made from human hair, not synthetic, which means the final result is lighter weight, super sleek, and gives off a more natural-looking vibe.

THE REVIEWS: "I love Hair By Susy! It's pricey for sure, but WELL worth the money," writes one reviewer. "During installation, the braids felt secure, but not the slightest bit uncomfortable or tight—two weeks later, the braids are still secure, and I have not felt any pain or pulling on my scalp," writes another.

Not only does Latched and Hooked’s bold braiding hair have a soft and smooth texture—meaning they're easier to braid—but they’re also custom dyed and hand-blended, giving you the prettiest color options.

THE REVIEW: "I LOVED this pre-stretched braiding hair—I did rubber band braids on my daughter's hair for the first time, and the hair made it soooo much easier for me!" writes one reviewer.

Anyone who has had to separate braiding hair knows how easy it is to end up with a tangled mess. Thankfully, you won’t have that problem with this braiding hair brand—it’s smooth and lightweight, so you can braid without constantly detangling.

THE REVIEW: "The hair was tangle-free during the entire braiding process, the length was accurate, and the braids turned out perfect! We only used six bundles for the full head," reads one customer's review.

If you prefer a more subtle contrast for your ombré versus a stark transition, this braiding hair brand was basically made for you. The hair goes from dark to light so seamlessly, giving your braided style a more natural look.

THE REVIEW: "Some pre-stretched hair gets thinner at the bottom, but that’s not the case here—the hair is the same consistency and is very soft," writes one tester.

Kanekalon braiding hair is a type of high-quality synthetic hair that’s smoother, softer, and less irritating than other synthetic hair types."Kanekalon is typically the go-to choice for braiding because it's widely available in a variety of lengths and colors," says Alexander, adding that it creates a great result for most braided styles. Kanekalon mimics natural hair due to its coarser feel but ability to maintain that human hair-like softness, she explains. Oh, andddd it costs quite a bit less. Win-win.

Not only that, but "kanekalon is also more flame-resistant compared to most synthetic braiding hair, and therefore resistant to dripping or melting," says Alexander. FYI, this is key because you can dip and seal the braids in hot water to create a seamless look. She explains that other types of synthetic hair may require rubber bands, which can diminish the overall look of the braids.

The quality of the hair

If you use the wrong braiding hair, there is a possibility that the result may not mimic what you're going for: "For example, the flow of the hair, smoothness of the braid, or how it lays can come out totally different," says Alexander. This is why kanekalon is such a great choice—it's made with a higher-quality fiber than other synthetic hair that may feel plastic-like to the touch.

The feel and texture

"Most braid styles require a particular braiding hair—whether it is synthetic or human—and every stylist has a brand that they prefer because each one has a different feel or texture," says Alexander. Not only that, "the texture of the braid may work differently with other products used in braiding such as the styling gels or mousse."

• Shanna Alexander is a bicoastal, traveling braider in New York City and Los Angeles. Alexander has been in the industry for over 15 years and began teaching herself to braid in her home country of Grenada. Shanna runs her own braiding company, Tropix Braids, as well as a YouTube channel.

Siena Gagliano is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, and has three years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing hair stories, like the best mousses for curly hair and the best shampoos for curly hair. She regularly tests and analyzes braiding hair, while working with the industry’s top hairstylists to assess new products and brands.

Ama Kwarteng was the associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly three years, and has eight years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and entertainment across print and digital, including the best protein treatments for natural hair and the best braids for Black women. Her braiding hair picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing.