In a small classroom at West Bloomfield High School, Mesyah was enrolled last week in a braiding camp that teaches Black girls the fundamentals of Black hair, self-love and entrepreneurship.

The salon will provide free hair braiding for children whose families are unable to afford to have their hair braided for the start of the new school year.

To narrow down your next protective style, we got the inside scoop on what to know about hair braiding—from prep to take down—straight from top professionals.