Protective hairstyles are becoming a trend for curly-haired girls. Dreadlocks and different braiding hairstyles not only elevate your personality but also help protect your hair from environmental factors. Now, the question is, how do box braids be done?
This blog will provide detailed guidelines on how to start box dreads and what accessories you need to get this hairstyle. So, let’s dig in.
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What Are Box Braids?
As the name reveals, box braids are the type of braids in which your hair is sectioned into three square-shaped boxes, and then braids are made. This style allows you to style your entire hair and add some extensions. You can get human or synthetic hair extensions if you have short hair and rock the look.
Box braids are considered a protective hairstyle as the braiding process wraps your natural hair for a long time without damaging it and promotes hair growth. If you are thinking about how to do box braids yourself, here is the complete guide.
How to Prep Your Hair for Box Braids?
The beginners must learn to start box braids and prep their hair for this hairstyle. It is essential to ensure your hair is detangled, clean, and trimmed before starting the braids.
If you are considering starting braids on short hair, you must know that human and synthetic hair extensions can serve this purpose. So, the first step is to clean your braids, install extensions, and gather the required box braiding tools and accessories.
Guide to DIY Box Braids at Home
There are a few steps that you must follow if you start box braids for your natural hair. So, here we help you with a step-by-step guide that will answer all your questions regarding how to do box braids. Follow these simple yet basic steps:
Step 1: Cleanse & Condition your Hair
The first step in the process is to ensure that the hairs are ready for braiding. Make sure you wash your hair. Do not skip a conditioner; it will ensure your hair is detangled and ready for sectioning. Moreover, separating hair strands while sectioning your hair in square sections will be easier.
Step 2: Separate your Hair
The next step is to section off your hair using the tail comb. It will help make the braids easier with the sections. Moreover, you can do further sub-sectioning in your hair to ease the whole process.
This step is fun as you can subsection your hair into a triangular box or even zig-zag, depending on your skill level.
Step 3: Start braiding
The next step is to start the braiding by beginning to tie the naturally thick hair into the braiding sections. Grab some hair from one section and separate the braid hair into two pieces. Keep one slightly thicker than the other.
Cross the two sections of hair at their centers, then fold the thin strand back on itself. You’ll end up with three strands of hair about the same thickness because the thin strand is now doubled. Hold the extension at the base of the loop with your thumb and forefinger to keep it in place.
Now, take the thin hair and loop it around the thicker section. The aim is to create three strands of braiding hair, which will be helpful when creating box braids.
Step 4: Braiding
Once you have three hair strands, start braiding and streamline this process by creating tiny Bantu knots of your sectioned hair. Here, you can apply holding gel to keep them in a sleek look.
Go deeper into the process by repeating the braid formation for all sections. Making braids to the whole length will be easy once you section your hair into thicker and thinner sections. Continue braiding the hair until you complete all hair lengths.
While braiding, ensure your hair is not too tight, as it can damage it. Remember to tie your hair at the end with rubber bands.
Step 5: Cover the head
Once you get into the process, cover all hair strands. Use a braids gel control or holding spray so that the braids stay in good condition for a long time.
Step 6: Set your hair
Use an edge brush or toothbrush to lay your baby’s hair to complete the look. Ensure you do something with the baby’s hair for a classic and polished look.
Although the braids are made, the work still needs to be done. Ensure your braids stay frizz-free; otherwise, they will ruin your look. You can use a satin bonnet or a silk scarf at the head while sleeping to keep them frizz-free. Further, you can also use an itchy scalp toner to help control the frizz.
Is it Better to Start Box Braid in Wet or Dry Hair?
When your hair is wet, braids seem easier as the strands are untangled and easy to section. But, the issue is that box braids on damp hair will make it heavy and create frizz once they dry. Moreover, it can cause unnecessary tension in your scalp and cause breakage.
A more practical approach is to use a leave-in conditioner in your hair and let it air dry. If you want to add extensions, ensure your hair gets dry, and then start box braids with hair extensions.
Take Away
To summarize, box braids are the best way to start dreadlocks in men and women. With the recent influence, this is the best approach to learning from online tutorials and starting dreads at home without spending hefty amounts on hair locations.
FAQs
How do you start a box braid?
To start Box braids:
- Make sure your hair is clean and dry.
- Start by sectioning your hair in three equal sections.
- Sub-section your hair into squares, zig-zag, or any other way.
Is box braiding easy?
Box braiding is easy to perform at home if you love doing your hairdos. You can also learn this technique from YouTube tutorials and get your hands on it with a few attempts.
How much do box braids cost?
Box braids are pretty pricey. The loctitions and hair styling experts charge almost $100 to $400 depending on several factors, such as their hair expertise, location, hair volume, and length.
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