braids

"We want the candidates to be natural - whether with braids or straightened hair, it should be their own. Beauty must be raw," Victor Yapobi, president of the Miss Ivory Coast organising committee, told the BBC.

At 22, she is the youngest and arguably the most vocal, energetic and recognizable of the trio, often playing with long pink braids trailing after her.

Despite the long salon visits, braids have always been closely linked to convenience for me.

That’s when he started using a headband to help keep his braids off his face.

For example, BraidHouse, a beauty supply and braiding salon in North Hollywood, has been giving out complimentary wigs and doing free protective hairstyling such as box braids.