Box Braids....

Box Braids…

I recently ventured into the world of natural hair and I researched a lot of hairstyles to find out what could work for me during my transition. Twist outs and cornrows had long worn out their welcome so I figured I’d try something new. I had already done crochet braids but wasn’t a fan of not being able to get to my whole scalp effectively since my real hair was hidden in cornrows. But I knew that my best bet was to find a protective hairstyle that worked for me. Hence research into box braids….

I looked up many Youtube videos, blog posts, articles, and hair forums on the style to get an overall consensus about what I was getting into. There were of course many tips and warnings about box braids but I’ll give you the main ones.

Tips included:

1.     Find out if you want to install your hair or if you want someone else to do it. I chose to do my own hair since I had the time and it worked with my lifestyle.

2.     Can you afford the cost? To have someone else do it will cost more money but save you time. To do it yourself will cost more time but save you money.

3.     Prepare yourself with plenty of patience and time. Seriously evaluate your braiding skill. If you are a beginner, that may affect the neatness and overall look of each braid if you choose to do your own hair. Even if someone else doing your braids, you will still be sitting in the chair for a substantial amount of time. (At least 4-6 hours, maybe more) The first time I installed them, it took me a solid 12-13 hours. The second time, it took closer to 19 because the parts were smaller, hence more braids.

4.     Determine how long you want the braid to be and the kind of part you want. Length and parting directly affect your hairstyles, look, and installation time.

5.     While wearing your style, you will still need to take care of your own hair underneath. Be prepared to routinely moisturize and clean your scalp because the style will work only if you take care of it.

6.      Beauty is not pain. Braids that are installed too tightly can cause breakage and hair loss from the root. The braid should be firmly attached but not painfully placed.

7.      Know that the extension hair’s texture does affect how smoothly installation goes and the overall look. The first time I tried box braids, I came across some really cheap Kanekalon hair ($1.59 a pack) but as I tried to separate it to apply it to my hair, I found that it tangled extremely easily and it did not braid neatly in comparison to another brand that was a little more. So I grew more frustrated trying to untangle it when I could’ve just spent about 50 more cents for a much more manageable brand. Be aware of the quality you could be receiving when getting the absolute cheapest pack in the store and know your beauty store’s return policies. Many of the stores I’ve seen will not exchange or accept purchased extensions. 

8.     Practice makes perfect. My first time was exactly that: my first time. My second time installing box braids took longer but I had worked out a system for what worked for me. I found that having plenty of space, adequate lighting, a comfortable chair that I didn’t mind hair getting on, and an old sheet on the floor to catch the excess hair made things a whole lot easier for me. Taking plenty of breaks as well and having plenty of entertainment made the time go by smoothly. I also noticed that I still have room to improve, mainly towards the ends. I haven’t completely mastered neat tapered ends, but they are much neater than the first time.

Often people get burnt out on the look of box braids because they don’t look up hairstyle options for box braids. There are plenty of ways to style your braids to have a fresh look every day. Simply search for box braid styles on Google or Youtube. Hopefully this has been helpful for you and know there are plenty of videos on the subject of box braids online. Leave questions and comments down below!!! Happy braiding!!!