Braids have been an essential part of Black hair traditions across cultures for centuries. From ancient African civilizations ...

Derek, 61, wore the hairstyle — known as Fulani braids, after the Fulani women of East and West Africa — in the 1979 film 10, which featured an iconic scene of the star running down a beach.

"My mom had braids when she was a kid. I've been braiding my hair every time I've gone on vacation since I can remember," said the reality star Charmaine Patterson is an Associate Editor at PEOPLE.

Additionally, rising prices impact accessibility to protective styles. Braids, traditionally a go-to option for low-maintenance hair care, are becoming less affordable, forcing many to either learn ...