Braid

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A braid (also referred to as a plait) is a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing three or more strands of flexible material such as textile yarns, wire, or hair.^[1] The simplest and most common version is a flat, solid, three-stranded structure. More complex patterns can be constructed from an arbitrary number of strands to create a wider range of structures (such as a fishtail braid, a five-stranded braid, rope braid, a

Historically, the materials used have depended on the indigenous plants and animals available in the local area. During the

The oldest known reproduction of hair braiding may go back about 30,000 years: the

Although many cultures want to take sole credit for the braid, they cannot be traced to a single origin. Like how different versions of Cinderella are traceable to nearly every culture, braids, too, are polygenetic. One early example of hair braiding takes place in 1279-1213 BCE as recorded in the story of Isis: "when some of the queen's maidens came to the well, she greeted them kindly and began to braid their hair."^[5]

During the

• Peekaboo Braids: A playful style that incorporates color or patterned hair, creating a 'peekaboo' effect.[8]
• Box braids: Individual plaits that are divided into squared-off sections. Known for versatility and as a protective style.^[9]
• Cornrows: Braids that are braided close to the scalp in straight or intricate patterns.
• Knotless Braids: A variation of box braids, starting with natural hair and gradually adding extensions, reducing scalp tension.
• Crochet braids: Extensions are crocheted into cornrowed natural hair, offering a variety of styling options.
• French braid: A classic braid where hair is braided in three strands, incorporating additional hair into each section.

• Senegalese Twists: Also known as rope twists, this style involves two-strand twists with hair extensions.
• Goddess Braids: Larger and thicker than cornrows, often styled in intricate designs and used as a protective style.^[10]
• Lemonade Braids: Side-swept cornrows, varying in size and pattern, popularized by Beyoncé.^[11][12]
• Feed-in Braids: Braids that start thin and gradually get thicker, offering a natural and less bulky look.
• Fulani Braids: A combination of cornrows and box braids, often adorned with beads, originating from the Fula people in West Africa.
• Boho Braids (Bohemian Braids): A style that incorporates a carefree, loose, and often wavy look into traditional braiding styles.
• Tribal Braids: Braids that are often distinguished by intricate patterns and designs, reflecting the heritage of various African tribes.
• Brandi Braids: Popularized by the singer Brandy, these are typically thin, micro braids that can be styled in various ways.
• Boho Knotless Braids: A combination of the Bohemian and Knotless braiding techniques, offering a free-flowing and less tensioned style.
• Bubble Braids: A trendy and fun hairstyle where hair is sectioned into ponytails, with each section separated by hair ties to create a 'bubble' effect. This style is versatile and can be adapted to various hair lengths and types.

These styles represent just a fraction of the vast array of African American braiding techniques, each with its own unique history and cultural significance.

Other types of braids

Braiding is also used to prepare horses' manes and tails for showing such as in polo and polocrosse.^[13]

Industrial history and use

Early braids had many uses, such as costume decoration, animal

Materials that are used in braids can vary depending on local materials. For instance, South Americans used the very fine fibers from the wool of

Braids are also very good for making rope and decorative objects.[15] Complex braids have been used to create hanging fibre artworks.

Gold braids and silver braids are components or trims of many kinds of

Braiding creates a composite rope that is thicker than the non-interlaced strands of

In electrical and electronic cables, braid is a tubular sheath made of braided strands of metal placed around a central cable for shielding against electromagnetic interference. The braid is grounded while the central conductor(s) carries the signal. The braid may be used in addition to a foil jacket to increase shielding and durability. Litz wire uses braids of thin insulated wires to carry high frequency signals with much lower losses from skin effect or to minimise proximity effect in transformers. Flat braids made of many copper wires can also be used for flexible electrical connections between large components. The numerous smaller wires comprising the braid are much more resistant to breaking under repeated motion and vibration than is a cable of larger wires. A common example of this may be found connecting a car battery's negative terminal to the metal chassis.

Similar braiding is used on pressurized

Onion and garlic stalks are often braided for storage after they are partially dried.^[16][17][18]

Metaphors

Braids are often used figuratively to represent interweaving or combination, such as in, "He braided many different ideas into a new whole."

In some river and stream systems, small streams join and redivide in many places. Such stream systems are said to be braided.^[19] These are often found in alluvial fans at the outlet of canyons. This is a result of heavy sediment deposition at high flows followed by re-erosion at low flows.

Gallery

• 
  A coaxial cable with braided copper wire EMI shielding (B)
• 
  A gold braid on a police uniform
• 
  A close up of a red braided USB cable.

See also

• African hair threading
• Braiding machines
• Braid theory
• Ceinture fléchée
• Kumihimo, Japanese braid
• List of hairstyles
• Ply-split braiding
• Sennit

References