How to Fulani Braids with Curls & Hairstyle Ideas

Fulani braids, sometimes also referred to as tribal braids, are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, and across the western world in general. With the boom in the popularity of hairstyles with African roots, it’s not really a surprise that this tribal style is getting all the attention.

Fulani braids with curls are a slightly different hairstyle from the traditional Fulani braids, in the sense that the hair that drapes down will have curls, which adds a new level of elegance to the style itself.

Given how awesome it looks, you can expect just how many questions people ask about the hairstyle and how to make it. If you are one of those with tons of questions about Fulani braids, here is your paradise, as I’ll be answering a lot of them.

In addition to that, I’ll be going over the process of installing Fulani braids with curls after showing you all you need for the style. Without further ado, let’s get the fun conversation started.

What’s the Difference between Fulani Braids and Tribal Braids?

When you compare pictures of Fulani braids and tribal braids on the internet, you’ll notice that these hairstyles are virtually indistinguishable. That begs the question, what’s the difference between tribal braids and Fulani braids exactly?

The main reason why you think tribal braids are so similar to Fulani braids is that they are the same hairstyle. Fulani braids got their name from a tribe of the same name in West Africa, but the hairstyle is also referred to as tribal braids because the hairstyle is native to many tribes and not the Fulani tribe alone.

Are Fulani Braids Good for Your Hair?

One crucial thing to know about the Fulani braid hairstyle is the fact that it’s a protective style, and when dealing with hairstyles in this category, there’s a certain level of “goodness” you can expect from them. Generally speaking, Fulani braids can be said to be good for your hair when you install them properly.

Since the Fulani braid qualifies as a protective style, it actively prevents your hair from external manipulation, a quality that can keep it protected. Also, I’ve not seen so many people complain about the style damaging their hair or scalp, so it’s certainly good for your hair unless you’ve tried it and it just doesn’t work for you.

How Long Do Fulani Braids with Curls Last?

As with other similar protective styles, Fulani braids seem to be a very long-lasting hairstyle, in addition to being adorable. On average, you should expect to carry the hairstyle for around three to five weeks, with the possibility of carrying it for even longer if the need to do so arises.

If you’re planning to keep your Fulani braids for any longer than five weeks, you should get ready to implement some maintenance procedures that will keep the hairstyle looking shiny the whole time. Some of the maintenance procedures for Fulani braids include applying haircare products and moisturizers to your hair.

Is Fulani Braids a Protective Hairstyle?

Another question that pops up a bit frequently when discussing the Fulani braid hairstyle is whether or not it’s a protective style like two-strand twists. In case you didn’t know, Fulani braids fall into the protective hairstyle category, and depending on who you ask, it’s one of the most beautiful you can get.

If you’re after a protective hairstyle that protects your hair from damaging external manipulation, while looking excellent enough to turn heads at any gathering, you should certainly be looking towards the Fulani braids hairstyle. To add extra flair, having curls at the end of the braids is another excellent move.

Where are Fulani Braids From?

If you’ve been following this article carefully from the start, you should know that the Fulani braid hairstyle is a tribal braid, just like the insanely popular Bantu knots. However, since the Fulani isn’t a Bantu tribe, it’s only natural to want to know where the hairstyle is from.

The earliest wearers of Fulani braids can be traced back to the Fulani tribe in West Africa, as you probably could’ve guessed. The tribe is scattered across countries in West Africa and the Sahel, including Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, and Niger.

What Does Fulani Braids with Curls Look Like?

Describing how the hairstyle looks when I have an entire collection for your perusal is simply counterintuitive. Since it’s said that a picture speaks more than a thousand words, why not read through this article and get over to the section where you see tons of Fulani braids with curls if that’s really what you’re after?

Certainly, there’s no better way to describe the braids than by showing you pictures.

What Do You Need for Fulani Braids with Curls?

To make the Fulani braids hairstyle with curls, you need a couple of items handy, in addition to some experience with braiding. Of course, it’s impossible to replicate those curly braids without getting what the professionals have.

To make Fulani braids with curls, you’ll need a rat tail comb for sectioning your hair. If you’re also low on shampoo and conditioner, it helps to restock those, as the braids are best done on freshly washed hair. You also want to have a couple of hair clips to hold your hair in place while you make the hairstyle.

For the curls, you’ll need around two to three packs of curly hair extensions that you can crochet or feed into your braids. You may also want to get some rubber bands to hold down your hair somehow, and if you need to add any accessories, you should get them handy at this point

How to Make the Fulani Braids Hairstyle

Once you have all the requisite materials handy, you can start prepping your hair. Prepping requires shampooing and conditioning your hair, and then leaving it to dry, at least. You may want to wash a full day before starting to install the hairstyle to allow for natural air drying.

When you’ve washed and dried your hair properly, it’s time to start making those awesome Fulani braids. Without further ado, here are the steps required to install Fulani braids.

1. Conceptualize the hairstyle and section your hair to match

If you’ve seen different ladies with tribal braids, you’ll understand why you should make the decision of parting your hair yourself. There are so many styles out there to choose from, and it’s crucial to make your decision and part your hair to reflect that.

If you’re not sure what kind of style to choose, you can check out our humongous collection of the best Fulani braids with curls below. It’s recommended to go with something pretty uncomplicated to ensure you don’t mess up your hair trying to install a hairstyle that you technically can’t.

2. Start braiding your hair from the mini-sections and add hair extensions if necessary

When you have the sections, you can start braiding cornrow-style to get the base for your Fulani braids. If you have any straight hair extensions, you can feed them into the hair early on to give your more hair to work with. For this specific hairstyle, you don’t actually need straight hair extensions.

3. Add in curly extensions

After braiding cornrow-style for the flat part of the style, it’s time to add the curls to your ‘Fulani braids with curls.’ You can either add the curls by feeding in the curly hair extensions to the hair naturally or by crocheting it in. You can choose whichever seems the most comfortable to you.

After adding the extensions, however, you want to get rid of any excess straight hair extensions that are overlapping the curls’ territory by cutting them. By the time you’re done, you should have an awesome Fulani braids hairstyle with some beautiful curls to complement the style.

If you’re looking for some awesome ideas to show you how proper Fulani braids should look, look no further, here’s a collection of some awesome Fulani braids hairstyles for you to try.