The E-Z Braider Automatic Hair Braiding Machine

Braided hairstyles are very popular amongst many African American women. The variety of styles that can be worn are virtually endless, with many of the do's relying on the addition of synthetic (or human) hair to add length and/or volume to the style. Women wearing their hair in this fashion are more than familiar with the lengthy amount of time it takes to achieve these styles. Finally, a mechanical braiding tool has been developed to alleviate much of the hassle associated with creating these elaborate hairdos.

What is the E-Z Braider?

The E-Z Braider is essentially a machine onto which three strands of hair is attached. The motorized mechanism then braids the hair with almost lightning speed, eliminating manual braiding altogether. The basic E-Z Braider kit (which costs around $150.00) comes with a set of "arms" and "hands", an AC adaptor, and an extension tool---in addition to an instructional DVD and written users' manual.

The "arms" are long cylindrical devices which have been split into three separate chambers and hold the actual strands of hair. They can store hair with lengths up to 20 inches. The "hands" are the mechanisms that actually control the tightness of the braids---named so because they clutch and release the hair in the same way that human hands do.

How does the E-Z Braider work?