These days, Asprilla Garcia says, braiding has become a way of communicating pride and freedom from oppression.
Blow has said that Braid takes its inspiration from, among other sources, Italo Calvino's "Invisible Cities" and David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive".
She said she braided hair to earn money, but as her son, now 5, grew, so did the bills.
In 2017, Mya and Deana Cook, twin sisters in Massachusetts, were forced to serve detentions because officials said their braids violated their school's grooming policy.
Christy Carty, 30, a secretary who lives in Flatbush, said that braiding "is a great way to beat the heat," adding: "With the perspiring, you constantly have to wash your hair.
The athlete, who lost a point as a result, said she braided her tresses to avoid such entanglements.
"In my country, everyone knows how to braid," said Djeneba Coulibaly, 40, a co-owner of Mali African Hair Braiding in Harlem.
"It's peaking right now," Mr. Braid said.
It's about opposing something, a woman with a long braid said.
"And Claudia wants to take that art class, and you know my dad won't let me stay out late," Mary Anne said, tossing a braid over her shoulder.
