We left hair stylist Sereta Johnson at the end of a long September day last year after a marathon hair extension braiding session at Hair It in Pleasant Ridge.

Stylist Sereta Johnson adds extensions to Shannon Ross' hair. (Enquirer file photo) | ZOOM |

        She had transformed Shannon Ross' short hair, attaching extensions, that left her shoulders covered, nine hours later, with thin mini braids ending in gentle waves.

        Nine months later, though many superstars such as rocker Lenny Kravitz and NBA player Ben Wallace have turned to retro Afros, Ms. Johnson's flying fingers are still getting a workout with braids.

        “They are still really popular,” she says. “I'm doing as many as before.” She hasn't seen an ebb in requests for the procedure that can eat up a day's time and take a sizeable chunk out of the wallet.

        “And now that it's getting hot, there will be more braids because you can pull them up, tie them and wear them in different styles,” she says. “People want to spend less time fooling with their hair in summer.”

        The only difference Ms. Johnson has seen is that more clients are asking for twists, in which chunks of hair are sectioned off and twisted tightly to the scalp or combinations of braiding and twists.

        “And I have people who are telling me they are ready for a color change. Many want to go lighter for the summer to the blonds and reds,” she says.

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