11 Different Ways to Style Your Edges

You can create swirls, side buns, defined strands, etc around your edges to make your hairstyle pop. The specific way to style your edges depends on the hairstyle and your natural hairline/face shape.

However, there are different ways to style your edges whether you are wearing your natural hair, hair extensions, or wigs to achieve a superb look.

Related Read: How To Lay Edges On Your Wig

But the art of styling baby hairs doesn't look as easy as it might sound. It takes careful shaping, practice, and the right amount of product to achieve a beautiful result. The great thing is that you don't need to be a pro to use them.

So, in this post, I'll be sharing the different techniques you can use to style your edges. I'll also drop a few tips to help you get it right.

Many of these techniques were popularized by Black women on social media. They showcased different ways to style their edges, ranging from simple ones to elaborate, dramatic, and intricate styles. Some even added accessories and colors, decorating them further.

If you want a smooth, stunning, and unique appearance for your edges, be sure to keep reading.

Get the Tools You Need

Whether you want to keep it simple or lay your shorter hairs at the front intricately with swoops, your styling tools help you with that. With the right tools at hand, you can lay your edges in whichever way you want.

Check out the list of the things you need to achieve different edge styles:

1. An edge control

This helps keep the hair flat, smooth, and shaped. It holds the delicate baby hairs and flyaways along the hairline nicely. However, the product you use determines how strong it'll hold. Some gels might not last more than an hour; others can last longer.

2. A rat-tail comb

This is to simply comb the baby hairs and create the sections you want. The fine teeth give you maximum control to scoop, swoop, and smooth the baby hairs into patterns. The long, pointed handle allows you to part, curl sideburns, and create a smooth path in the direction you want your hair to lay.

3. Spray bottle and water

Damp hair takes better shape than dry hair. You can easily create intricate swoops and swirls along your hairline if it's a little wet.

4. An edge brush

If you are not familiar with how to use a rat-tail comb to lay edges, get an edge brush. With the double-sided ones, you can easily separate, smooth, and curl delicate baby hairs. You can use it for the same purpose as a rat-tail comb in this case. Or just get a brush with soft bristles.

5. A satin scarf

This helps flatten the baby hairs, set the edge control as it dries, and prevent frizz or lifting. It makes the difference between an edge style that lasts a long time and those that lift easily.

Once you have your tools, you can go ahead and style with the methods below.  

11 Different Ways to Style Your Edges

Here are four easy ways to style your edges yourself in minutes. With the basic products we talked about earlier, you can easily do this on your own (pick the style that best suits your natural hairline)

1. Classic Swoop

The classic swoop is one of the easiest and oldest methods to lay your edges. It takes just a few minutes to achieve, but can give you the best result ever.

This style is suitable for everyday wear and very fashionable on any hairstyle. I'll recommend this method if you like a simple look or want something that takes just a few minutes to complete.

It is a clean edge style, with a single arc that frames just around your temples. But swoop baby hairs require more hair to create the pattern. This means you need a good edge control that will hold the hair for a long time.

How to achieve swoop baby hairs:

- Separate your hairline from the rest of the hair with your rat-tail comb.

- Gently comb it properly before dampening it with water.

- Put a small amount of your edge control on your edge brush or rat-tail comb. Avoid using too much.

- Now, use the edge brush to sweep a small section of hair downward. Curve it toward your ear to form a C shape.

- Clean up the bottom edges of the swoop for a sharp look, then tie a silk or satin scarf over your edges for five to 15 minutes. 

2. Swirls, Curls and Circles

Circular designs are some of the hardest to achieve. It takes practice to get the same shape side by side, as the errors are always noticeable. This method adds a unique and stylish feel to your overall look. It is perfect for special occasions since they create such an artistic look.

Swirls and circles offer a bold and intricate finish. They aren't as clean as the swoop edge style, as their goal is to look artistic and abstract. But what I love the most is that you can decide how they'll look, the size of the swirls, and if you wish to extend them to the sideburns.

How to achieve swirls, curls, and circles baby hairs:

• Comb out a thin layer of your fine hairs forward with a rat-tail comb.
• Spray water on the hair till it gets a bit dampened.
• Next, apply the right amount of edge control to achieve the desired result you want. You can use your edge brush to scoop a small amount to prevent flaking.
• Use your finger to anchor the hair while curving the brush back into a C-shape. Just imagine drawing a cursive “e”.
• Now, rotate the tip of the hair back to itself or the ends into the base of the next swirl or your hairstyle. Remember that the shape depends on what you want.
• Tie your scarf for a few minutes to set it.

3. S-Shaped

Another chic option would be the S-shaped baby hairs style. Just as the name implies, it looks like S-shaped waves around your edges. It is the perfect option for a wig style and should look good for all of your occasions. This style creates such a clean look with the strands neatly curved.

S-shaped baby hairs style is always bold and big. This makes it important to choose the best edge control to avoid flakes.

4. Waves

This is an edge style that leaves your hairstyle better than it was before. It is much more customizable but also less defined than other methods. The waves edge style creates a tiny swish pattern on your hairline. It is a great choice for everyday wear, but can be made thicker and more prominent for special occasions.

This method is suitable for those who don't want to spend a lot of time achieving intricate patterns. It is less striking, but still outstanding enough to make a statement. Waves can be an easy way to change up your look without doing too much.

5. Soft and Natural

Are you a lover of natural looks? You can go for a soft and natural style. Not everyone fancies a complicated or intricate edge style. So, if you want something easy, this is the best choice for you. It is great for a ponytail style or even braids.

This involves brushing them to form little waves without going for sharp and very defined patterns. It will be a good choice for casual events. All you have to do is brush it to look soft and natural.

6. Zigzag

The zigzag style is one of my favorite designs. It involves molding your hairline into a zigzag for a fresh yet intricate style. It adds a unique feel to your overall look, making it the best choice if you want a similar look to the classic swoops.

Although quite similar to them, the sharp edges of the zigzag can't be mistaken. This pattern is very creative, making it not the number one choice for a beginner who needs just a few minutes to get ready.

7. Heart Shaped

This method is more complex and time-consuming than some other styles. It can take roughly 15 to 20 minutes to style and can be styled with updos, ponytails, and many other looks. I'll definitely recommend it for playful hairstyles like space buns since they appear really cute.

Heart-shaped edges usually look like little hearts along the hairline. They are a great choice for special events, especially because they can take a long time to complete on a daily basis and look more intricate.

8. Side Swept

Get all your baby hairs to face a direction before creating a side part for a chic and sleek look. That's exactly what this design is about. It gives you a diagonal line that accentuates your features. It is relatively easier than some other methods, yet still looks more creative than simpler styles.

No doubt, the side swept is a good option for those who want a style in between too intricate and too simple. It is great for special events and voluminous styles.

9. Gems and Decorations

What this does is to create an elaborate style by adding gems or any decoration to your hairline. Even a few jewels placed deliberately on your baby hairs will do the magic.

However, you will need to create any style of your choice first. You can go for swirls, zigzags, or a natural look before arranging your pearls to the hair.

10. Combed Down

This is a simple way to lay your edges. It is not complex or hard to achieve. It simply involves combing your edges to the front before using the tail of a rat-tail comb to straighten them to the sides. It gives you a unique style that's different from all I've mentioned earlier.

For the sideburns, you can create an S-pattern or whatever style you want to finish the look. Pair this with a ponytail or bun, and you'll love it.

11. Fluffy Edges

This style is super cute, and it's a completely different way to create edges than other styles.

This involves curling your edges with a mini curler, then applying mousse to your baby hair, shaping the edges with an edge brush, wrapping a headband to define the pattern, and letting it dry. Then, here we come to the most important part: remove the headband and brush the dried edges to follow the edges' texture. Tada! Now you get a fluffy edge style!

Do Laid Edges Damage Your Hairline?

No, laying your edges does not cause damage to your hairline. However, it can cause breakage and hair loss if you use heavy products, brush roughly and aggressively, brush dry hair, and never wash out the gel.

This is because baby hairs are the finest and most fragile strands of hair. They can easily get damaged with heavy or harsh products that weigh them down or dry them out.

Other issues like scrubbing the hairline with hard brushes and layering gel daily without washing it off can create friction that tears fine hairs at the root and clogs the hair follicles, causing inflammation.

So, try to use the best products, apply pea-sized amounts, hydrate regularly, and avoid touching them too often.

Conclusion

Edges are like a canvas you can work on to achieve beautiful designs to brighten up your whole look. Now you know the different ways you can style them within minutes. However, be sure to use the right products and take breaks from styling to avoid damaging your hairline.