You dont actually need to group your prop first . If you take it into the setup room , and add bones to it you can use autogroup in the group editor.  That allocates the closest polygons to each bone . For a hair with braid it should work ok.  Leave bend on for each section and adjust the inclusion and exclusion angles. You may not need spherical zones.

One it has bones it is a figure .

Multiple braids that are too close together may be a problem :(