Guide to Edges: How to Do Edges and Style Them (Full Guide)!
"Keep your edges laid" or "Show off those baby hairs" are phrases that you have probably heard before.
These phrases refer to the styling of your baby's hair or what most people call it in the hair world: your edges.
Although it is just hair, creating art with your edges is a favorite part of the hairstyling routine. â¨
The designs and patterns of someone's edges create a conceptual style that can overpower the look of a hairstyle.
The appearance of your baby's hair is significant, especially in the hair world. The aesthetics matter.
Poorly styled baby hair can throw off the entire look of a hairstyle. So here is a full guide on how to do edges with edge control!
What Are Edges?
Edges refer to the hair around the hairline, including the baby's hair.
You can style baby hairs apart from the primary hairstyle.
These little hairs are usually fine and are either brushed smoothly, gelled down, sleeked back into place, or fly away.
Let's go back in time. The '70s and '80s were a time when styling your edges was the new popping thing.
Instead of people hiding the shorter strands of hair around the perimeter of the head, people started to show them off.
Many of the poster images of the American girl group TLC show Chilli, who styles her hair, keeping her baby hair as an essential feature of her hairstyles.
Chilli was probably one of the first mainstream celebrities to rock her edges in a cute way and trendy way.
In the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, Chilli rocks a messy high ponytail, and her edges are styles to complement the style.
In 2004, at the Mercedez Benz fashion week, Chilli styled her baby hair in a waterfall effect.
The very next year, in 2005, Chilli had a very soft style of her edges at the 4th Annual GP Foundation.
At the 2014 Jeffrey Fashion Cares Atlanta, Chilli shows off her edges while having her hair in a bun.
It was the same for her appearance at Sirius XM in 2017, where she showed off a little bit of baby hair action with her wet water waves look.
Even today, Chilli still does a great job of presenting her hair and graces us with her edges.
Why Edges Are Important
The same way you take care of your hair, take care of your edges.
You want your edges to stick around for a long time.
Keep your edges healthy and thick to help you look presentable with any hairstyle.
All edges are not the same.
There are different hair types, and your edges can reflect that. Many times, your edges are thinner and softer than the majority of your hair texture.
Hair Types
Type 1 hair and type 4c hair differ in hair patterns and textures.
The edges of these different hair types probably differ, too.
It is possible for a majority of your hair to be type 3c but have type 1 baby hairs.
Some baby hairs are thinner than others.
This is where genetics and DNA come into play.
When styling your edges, be mindful of the type of hair you have and how mindful you need to be with your edges.
Thick and Thin
Realize that not all edges are thick.
Some people can have a full head of hair but have fragile baby hair. Others can have thicker baby hairs.
Take this into account when styling. Some people may not be able to pull their baby's hair back because it is too thin to style.
Length
The length is also significant.
Some baby hairs are very low in height, while others are longer.
Those with short baby hair may need to use more edge control than longer baby hairs.
It is important to know that the styling of your edges depends on the height, type, and thickness of your baby's hair.
Losing Your Edges
Some hairstyles lead to edges breaking off.
Certain hairstyles can lead to hairline receding, and a person can experience severe hair loss.
This is called traction alopecia.
However, it should also be taken into account that hair loss around the hairline could be caused by hormonal or genetic factors.
What Is Traction Alopecia
Traction Alopecia is a form of Alopecia or gradual hair loss that is caused by pulling force applied to the hair.
Braids and weaves are great, but be careful about the installation process.
The severe pulling of the hair can cause traction alopecia and cause baldness. It is not advisable to install weaves around the edges.
This can cause severe hair loss, and it'll be potentially hard for someone to grow their edges back.
Heavy brushing, tight styles, gels with alcohol, lack of moisture, and lack of oxygen access to your hairline (wearing wigs) can all contribute to hairline breakage.
Let your edges breathe. Try styles that do not require the pulling of the hair.
There are some braiding styles out there that prevent your edges from thriving.
Don't be a victim.
Ways to Take Care of Your Edges
Treat your edges because they are sensitive.
Love them, and they will love you back. There are great ways to take care of your edges to prevent them from thinning.
- Hair Products that can rejuvenate and stimulate hair growth.
- Letting your edges breathe.
- Try not to style them every single day.
- Wrap your hair at night with a silk hair cover.
- Silk hair covers prevent friction with your hair while you toss and turn at night, allowing it to thrive and grow smoothly.
- Moisturize your hairline. Stimulate your scalp with oils.
Things That You Should Not Do to Your Edges
- Use cotton scarves when you sleep at night.
- The friction can cause your baby's hair to break easily.
- Using bobby pins or hair clips to pull the baby's hair back is not advisable.
- Wigs with wig clips can damage your edges.
- You can cause traction alopecia if done regularly.
- Do not cornrow or braid your baby's hair. Try to get hairstyles that will not mess with your hairline.
- Drying gels: These are gels that are supposed to dry out. Please do not use them on your edges.
- Once you try to get rid of that gel, some of your baby hair will eventually pull out.
- Try not to put a lot of heat (hot comb or flat iron) on your edges.
- Losing your edges can be a dramatic feeling. So hold them close. There are products out there that can reduce the speed of losing your edges.
Edge Control Being a "Thing"
In the early 2000s, the brand Pro Style Gel was a form of an edge control gel.
It was a darker product that gave a little hold to your hair. As time went on, products such as Let's JAM were a form of an edge gel.
The problem with many of these old-school (probably still used today) products was the fear of flaking after applying the edge control.
The edge control product would be great for the first few hours, but flaking was a problem.
There have been creations of edge control products over time that not only do not flake but are friendly to the hair.
Since hair is a billion-dollar business, companies and brands have been very good with the quality of edge control products and the results they provide for hair.
There are edge controls that not only hold hair and do not flake but moisturize hair.
Private Label Extensions Edge Control
The perfect edge control that does not leave white flakes and gives a fantastic hold is Private Label Edge Control.
Not only does this edge control hold very well, but it promotes growth and moisture for healthier and shinier hair.
Private Label Extensions offer mini portions of their edge control as "samples" and their Black Edition Edge Control.
Styling Your Edges
Many people use their fingers or a toothbrush to style their edges.
How to Apply:
With your fingers, take small portions of the product and place them on the selected hair section until the hair stays in place.
You can also use a very fine-toothed and smooth comb to do the same.
With specialized tools such as an edge brush or the tail of a rattail comb, you can use them to make elaborate designs such as waves and loops.
10 Inspirational Ways to Style Your Edges
Hairstyles with designed, styled edges are a great way to create a hairstyle that fits you and your personality.
Just like anyone else, major celebrities style their edges.
FKA twigs
A British musician is known for her elaborate designs with her baby hair.
Her photographs taken in New York City for Out Magazine in 2014 are breathtaking.
Her baby hair's defined loops spill into graceful spirals. FKA twigs are the queen of styling her baby hair.
Rihanna
Pulls off a messy ponytail with ruffled curls at the Christian Dior Cruise 2015 Show on May 2014 in Brooklyn, New York. A portion of her baby hair is styled in the front with a slight swoop on both sides, creating a casual look of style.
Zoe Kravitz
She gives us her styled gelled wavy edges with a braided updo hairstyle at the Divergent Series: Allegiant's world premiere red carpet at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square in New York City in 2016.
When getting braids, it is always best not to braid or pull your edges but to keep them free.
Gelling them down can be an option for a nice style your edges can partake in. Zoe's edges were indeed in a wavy formation.
Actress Zendaya
She attended the Michael Kors Access Smartwatch launch party in 2016 with her hair in an unconventional bun.
As her hair pulls into a bun, her edges are gently styled in a slight curve, adding to the flavor of her bun.
Actress, Skai Jackson
Have her edges snatched at Nickelodeon's 2018 Kids' Choice Awards?
With a braided hairstyle tied up, she had her edges laid in curved shapes around her single braids.
Cardi B
She was looking so fabulous at the 2017 BET Awards!
She pulled off a high ponytail hairstyle, and it was not complete without her designed edges that created the perfect look.
Her elaborate semi-circular designs were the cherry on top.
Beyonce
Queen Bey posted an Instagram photo of a side pic of her hair.
She styles a piece of her edges apart from her hairline near her ear. This is a cute way to design your edges.
Sometimes, edges are not just too slick down, but you have fun with them. Take a tiny section of baby hair by your ear and style it as desired.
Amandla Stenberg
Stepped out at the Hollywood Reporter's 2017 Women In Entertainment Breakfast event.
This naturalist gelled down her edges for a refined look in the front of her hair.
Musical artist, Ashanti
Rocks a pulled-back braided bun at L.A. Reid's post-Grammy Party in 2009. Her edges are neatly slicked back in a light curved style.
Teyana Taylor
Blessed us with her wavy, long jet, black hairstyle at the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards in Las Vegas. She had unconventional loops around the front of her hair, creating a slicked style.
Reusable HD Lace Edges for New Baby Hair
Are you edges lacking but you want to showcase baby hairs in an upcoming hairstyle?
Well, let me tell you about a little secret a lot of the ladies are using.
The HD Lace Edges with Baby Hair is going to change the game for you. Within minutes you can add lace edges to your hairstyle.
The Lace Edges are made with real HD Lace and virgin hair to give you the most natural appearance possible. The hair length is about six inches which leaves plenty of room for styling.Â
There are two types of hair designs including the "I-Stripes" and "V-Stripes" for the perfect application. The I-Stripe design is when you need to add to a flat portion of your hairline or need to do some customization. The V-Stripes are a curved hairline that can be moved around to perfectly match your preferred hairstyle design.
Grab some of Private Label's best-selling edge control for styling and we can say your edges are officially back in business!
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Tools for Slaying Your Edges
In addition to styling your edges, be sure you get the DIY tools or tools out there.
- A very soft and small toothbrush (or an edge brush).
It's incredible what a toothbrush could do.
- Mascara brush wand (or an edge sleeker).
Create a defined neater look with the hair.
The tail part of a rattail comb is used for the most delicate baby hairs to create that unique design.
Show Off Your Style with Your Baby Hairs
Creating elaborate designs for your edges is a phenomenon that works for almost all hairstyles that show off your hairline in the front of your head.
Not only are these styles of baby hair snatched, but they are styled in such a way that the designs are beautiful and presentable. đ¤Š
Designing your baby's hair is a fun way to show off your style. Which celebrity's edges did you like the most?
What design would you go for?
If you have long hair, check this Undercut Styles!