Tran Hoang Thuy, 21, mentioned she had tried a wide range of hairstyles in an try to seek out one which finest represents her particular person character.
She’s now lastly settled on cornrows, a braided coiffure that originated in African societies. Thuy mentioned she was impressed to attempt the braiding method as a result of it’s the favourite model of her idol, Vietnamese rapper Tlinh.
Her “rows” value her VND1 million (US$41) and 4 hours at a hair salon. She mentioned she felt the discomfort of rigidity on her scalp all through the 4 straight hours of the method. However as soon as it was lastly all mentioned and completed, she was completely happy when she appeared within the mirror.
“It took me numerous effort and time, however I really feel extra assured and charming on this coiffure,” she mentioned.
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Tran Hoang Thuy, 21, spends 4 hours and VND1 million on her “cornrows.” Picture by Hanh Le |
As the brand new yr is approaching, many individuals wish to refresh their appears to encourage new beginnings. African braiding akin to cornrows, twist braids, and field braids are actually among the most generally well-liked choices in HCMC.
The rising reputation of those types amongst younger individuals can not less than be partially attributed to well-liked rap artists sporting such appears.
Google’s 2020 annual report confirmed that the most-searched beauty-related question in Vietnam was “learn how to braid hair.” Equally, a report relating to TikTok developments in Vietnam over the previous three years revealed that the hashtag #cornrows had garnered an accumulative 4 million views, with 91% of the viewers aged 18-34.
Nguyen Ngoc Ha, 26, a hair braider with 7 years of expertise in HCMC, mentioned her variety of purchasers elevated 30-40% this yr in comparison with the identical interval final yr.
“I used to be totally booked on daily basis from morning until night time in July this yr,” she mentioned. “I had solely three days off all through the month. I used to have much more free time.”
Ha mentioned the variety of her purchasers has continued to surge through the lead as much as Christmas and the Tet Lunar New 12 months Competition. Nearly all of her purchasers are actually college students, however she has additionally styled for celebrities like rapper Phap Kieu and streamer Linh Ngoc Dam.
Ha mentioned these African-style hair braids require braiders to be taught intricate methods that contain traces of hair tightly braided in opposition to the scalp, as a substitute of merely on the ends of the hair as generally featured by braiding types in Vietnam.
The braids might also type totally different patterns – hearts, stars, or squares – and every African-style hair braiding session takes not less than an hour to finish. Braiders additionally want to organize specialised tools like rarer hair gel and hair sprays.
Thus, African braiding is now seen as a specialised occupation that normal hairstylists may discover difficult.
Due to the labor-intensiveness of those braiding types, Ha now serves on common solely two to a few purchasers a day to make sure ample time for every course of.
“I require my purchasers to return solely once they have numerous free time, as I need to have the ability to model with out time constraints,” she mentioned.
There are presently not less than 4 to 5 HCMC institutions identified for providing such specialised hair braiding providers for each women and men. Hair braiding service costs in these locations could range, relying on the complexity of the model, the size and quantity of the consumer’s hair, and the time the braider has to spend crafting their work. The price of such braids is generally not decrease than VND1 million, and might even go as much as VND6-7 million.
“The most costly coiffure I’ve ever completed value VND 4 million” Ha mentioned. “It took me from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.”
It’s reported that almost all of such braiding purchasers are girls aged 18-26, with many amongst them being college students and workplace employees.
“Celebrities solely braid their hair once they attend particular occasions or have photograph shoots, whereas younger individuals braid their hair anytime they like,” Ha mentioned.
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Rapper Minh Lai in full-head cornrow braids, which reportedly took two and a half hours to finish. Picture courtesy of Minh Lai |
Other than the idol tradition, one other frequent motivation for purchasers in search of new specialised hair braiding providers is their need to seek out confidence and specific their individuality.
At a hair braiding institution within the metropolis’s Tan Binh District, Nguyen Le Thuy Nguyen, 18, is a daily buyer.
An introverted scholar with lengthy hair, Nguyen determined to get full-head cornrows for his Twelfth-grade yearbook photographs as a result of he needed to face out. He mentioned his father discouraged him from sustaining the coiffure, whereas his faculty’s principal requested him to un-braid it. However regardless of the naysayers, he acquired many compliments from his buddies and ever since he’s felt extra assured and distinctive in public.
Actually, Nguyen has been so happy that he has since had his hair braided once more.
“I really feel I look good and distinctive on this coiffure,” he mentioned. “I’ve additionally made extra buddies after doing this.”
Nguyen’s hair braider is Dung Mai, 26, who was launched to the occupation in 2016 and formally began pursuing it as her profession in 2018. She mentioned nearly all of her purchasers have been males, and the variety of male purchasers in search of these braiding providers has additionally been rising currently.
“Vietnamese males often have dry hair, which is more durable to braid than girls’s hair,” she mentioned. “I solely take prospects whose hair is not less than seven to eight centimeters lengthy with out scalp issues.”
Dung Mai mentioned a great braided coiffure should meet two standards: clear and neat. The braid traces should be equal in dimension, straight, and tight, so as to last more.
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Dung Mai as soon as spent 10 hours braiding feminine rapper V#’s hair. Picture courtesy of Dung Mai |
Sustaining the braids requires numerous effort, in line with her.
Holders should cowl their hair with a particular scarf when driving motorbikes, in addition to when sleeping or taking part in sports activities, so as to maintain the braids in form. They should deal with the braids rigorously and solely gently therapeutic massage the scalp when washing their hair.
Holders could expertise some scalp discomfort, which might make it exhausting for them to sleep on the primary night time after having their hair braided. Nonetheless, they typically get used to it after that. Their hair could flip curly after unbraiding, but it surely typically returns to its unique state after washing, Dung Mai mentioned.
“Folks used to have their hair curled or dyed once they attended events or outings as a method to stand out,” she added.
“Now they’ve braiding, which brings them a novel look with out damaging their hair and scalp as a result of chemical utilization, [as an additional option to consider].”