Is It Easy to Put a Braid Back in

Download Article

Download Article

Box braids can give you the chic, bohemian look you've always wanted and make maintaining your hair day-to-day much easier. Getting box braids professionally done at a salon can be expensive, but you can create this hairstyle at home. By attaching synthetic hair to your natural hair with some patience, you can achieve beautiful box braids in no time.

1. 1

   Shampoo and condition your hair. Start by washing your hair with your normal shampoo in the shower or bath. Then, apply a moisturizing conditioner so your hair does not become frizzy when you dry it.^[1]

   • Use a leave-in conditioner if your hair tends to be very dry or frizzy.
   • You should shampoo and condition your hair even if you are going to use hair extensions for the braids, as this will ensure the hair extensions attach properly to your natural hair.

2. 2

   Detangle your hair with a comb. Let your hair air dry completely if it is straight and fine, and then use a plastic wide-tooth comb to gently remove any tangles or knots. Start combing your hair at the ends, and work your way up the strand, gently removing knots and tangles as you go. Do not tug or pull at your hair too hard, as you do not want to tear or rip your hair. Try to remove as many tangles as you can so your hair is easy to braid.^[2]

   Advertisement

3. 3

   Blow dry your hair straight if it is very curly. Apply a heat protectant gel or spray to your hair before you blow dry it. Use a brush to blow dry your hair in sections so it lays flat and straight. This can make parting your hair for the braids easier, especially if you have very curly hair.^[3]

   • If your blow dryer comes with a comb or pick attachment, you can use that.
   • You can also flat iron dry hair with a hair straightener if you'd prefer. Make sure you apply heat protectant before you straighten your hair.

4. 4

   Trim the ends of your hair if they are dry or split. If you have ends that feel dry when you rub them or appear flat and frizzy, you may trim them carefully. Trimming the ends can help to prevent fuzziness at the ends of the braid and keep the braids locked in for a longer period of time.

   • Trimming the ends is especially important if you are using synthetic hair to create the box braids, as synthetic hair tends to attach better to fresh, clean ends.

5. 5

   Divide your hair into 4 box shaped sections with a wide-tooth comb. Create 4 sections by dividing your hair down the center from your forehead to your neck, then from ear to ear. Leave the first section you plan to work on undone. Make sure the sections are evenly parted, with a clear straight line at the roots, forming a box shape. Use 3 large hair clips to keep the remaining 3 sections out of the way.^[4]

   • Make sure your hair is evenly divided between each section. You may need to do the parts in front of a mirror to get a better sense of their shape.

6. 6

   Apply hydrating gel or cream to the ends of your hair to prevent frizz. Use your hands to run a small amount of hydrating gel or cream on the ends of your hair, rubbing in the gel well. This will help to keep the ends of your hair moist, reduce frizz, and make it easier for the synthetic hair to blend in with your natural hair.^[5]

   • Look for hydrating gel or cream at your local beauty supply store or online. Gels and creams that contain coconut oil and argon oil are usually good options.

7. 7

   Part your hair into a 1 inch (2.5 cm) section with the pointed end of a rat tail comb. Take the pointed end of the comb and run it through 1 of the front parts you made earlier in your hair. Section out a .5 inches (1.3 cm) section of hair above your ear if you are doing small to medium-sized braids. If you are creating jumbo box braids, section out 2 inches (5.1 cm) of hair.^[6]

   • Make sure the part above the section of hair is straight. Use the comb end of the comb to brush away any flyaways above the part so the part is straight and clean.
   • Tie back the rest of the hair in the section so it is out of the way.

Advertisement

1. 1

   Get 6-8 packs of synthetic hair for long, thick braids. Use synthetic hair, rather than human hair, for the box braids, as it will not frizz. Shorter, thinner box braids may require fewer packs of hair. Look for synthetic hair that is smooth and soft at your local beauty supply store or online.

   • When in doubt, get more hair than you think you might need. You can then use any leftover hair for another style later or return it, if the retailer allows returns.
   • Soft-pressed Kanekalon Expression hair and pre-stretched Kanekalon hair are the most common types of synthetic hair used for box braids. You could also use human hair or yarn hair.^[7]

2. 2

   Take 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of synthetic hair. Place the hair extensions between your fingers in a staggered line. Break the hair into 3 sections. Place 1 section of the hair extensions between your pointer and middle finger. Then, take the next section and place it between your middle finger and ring finger 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) below the first section. Hold the third section between your ring finger and pinkie 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) below the second section.^[8]

   • Staggering the hair in a line will give the ends of the braids a feathered, rather than blunt, look, making the hair appear more natural.

3. 3

   Remove ⅓ of the hair. Set it aside, as you will not be using it to form the braid. You can use it later when you make new sections of hair for your braids.

4. 4

   Form a loop with the remaining hair. Take 1 section of hair and place it over the remaining section of hair so they interlock into each other to form a loop. Make sure 1 section has more hair than the other. The 2 pieces of hair should create a loose loop, where the smaller section hangs over the bigger section.^[9]

   • You should now have 3 even sections of synthetic hair to work with.

Advertisement

1. 1

   Place the synthetic hair over your natural hair at the roots. Turn your hand so your palm is facing inward. Then, hold the synthetic hair at the middle section with your thumb and pointer finger and place it over your natural hair right at the roots. Hold the synthetic hair in place with your fingers, lining up the synthetic hair with your natural hair.^[10]

2. 2

   Allow your natural hair to fall in the middle section of the synthetic hair. You should have 3 strands of hair, 2 strands on the outside and 1 strand in the middle. Your natural hair should fall underneath the synthetic hair in the middle section.

3. 3

   Braid your natural hair in with the synthetic hair. Hold tight to the middle section and reach underneath to 1 of the outside sections. Pull hair from the outside section to the middle. Then, reach underneath again and pull hair from the other outside section to the middle. This is the start of the braid, with your natural hair tightly integrated into the synthetic hair. Begin your braid tight near the scalp so that it will look new.^[11]

   • Maintain a firm grip on the synthetic hair and your natural hair with your fingertips so the synthetic hair does not slip off.
   • Continue braiding the hair all the way to the ends, reaching underneath the middle section to place the hair sections on top of each other.
   • You don't need to braid your hair tightly to get it to stay.^[12] Braiding your hair too tight can actually lead to damage. Keep even, firm pressure as you braid so the braid appears uniform and smooth.

4. 4

   Secure the end of the braid with a hair elastic, if needed. If the synthetic hair is thick, you may not need a hair elastic to secure the end of the braid, as it may stay in place on its own. If the hair is thin or fine, use a non-snag elastic to keep the braid in place.

   • Elastic bands can cause frizzing, so only use one if you need it.^[13]

5. 5

   Braid each section one at a time, taking breaks as needed. Work section by section, parting a small, smooth section of your natural hair. Then, section the synthetic hair and attach it to your natural hair to braid it in. It may take several hours to do your entire head in box braids so take breaks between each section, or as needed.^[14]

   • Make sure you create each braid quickly and evenly, as braiding your hair too slowly can cause frizziness. Apply the same amount of pressure so the braids all have the same thickness and shape.

6. 6

   Trim off any flyaways with scissors. Once you have braided your entire head, use scissors to remove any flyaways at the ends. Snip them as close to the braids as possible so the braids appear smooth, being careful not to snip any of your natural hair.^[15]

7. 7

   Dip the ends of the braids in hot water to seal them. Pour boiling water in a bowl and dip each braid from the midsection to the ends in the water. This will help to remove any remaining flyaways and frizziness on the braids, along with sealing the braids and preventing them from unraveling.

   • You can remove the hair elastics once you have sealed the braids if you prefer not to have elastics on the braids.

Advertisement

1. 1

   Cover your braids with a silk or satin scarf at night to prevent frizziness. Tie the scarf around your braids at the scalp. If your braids are longer than the scarf itself, you can loosely pin the braids up before wrapping the scarf, effectively shortening them while you sleep, or leave the ends exposed.^[16]

   • You can also sleep on a silk or satin pillow cover to keep your braid smooth and frizz free.

2. 2

   Wipe your braids with witch hazel 2-3 times a week to keep them clean. Dab a damp cloth with witch hazel and wipe down the braids one at a time. This way, they stay clean without having to get too wet in the shower or bath. Box braids can feel incredibly heavy when wet and are prone to frizziness when they are soaked in water.

3. 3

   Wash your scalp with shampoo and water to prevent itchiness. Part the braids and clip them up, exposing your scalp. Wash your scalp one section at a time, being careful not to get water on the braids.^[17]

   • You can try washing your scalp 3-4 times a week, rather than every day, so you do not risk getting the braids wet.

4. 4

   Massage natural oils into your scalp once a week to keep it hydrated. Coconut oil, almond oil, and shea butter are good options. Using a cotton pad or cotton ball, or clean fingers, rub a generous dab of oil over your scalp in sections. Try to cover as much of your scalp as possible without getting any oil onto your braids.^[18]

5. 5

   Take the braids out within 2 months to prevent hair damage. Box braids usually last for 6-8 weeks, but even if they still look great past that point, take them out so your hair stays healthy. Keeping your hair braided for too long can cause it to break away from the scalp, leading to long-term damage to your hairline and your scalp.^[19]

   • Use your fingers to gently unravel the braids from the spot where the synthetic hair attaches to your real hair. Avoid using a fine-tooth comb when taking your braids down, as this can lead to rips and tears in your hair.
   • Ask friends or family to help with the unbraiding process in order to cut down the time and effort needed.
   • Throw away the extensions once you have removed them.
   • Wait 3-4 weeks to put new box braids in so your hair can recover.

Advertisement

Add New Question

• Question

  Can you get in the pool with box braids?

  

  Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

  

  Professional Hair Stylist

  Expert Answer

  Yes, you can get in the pool with box braids. You should tie them up prior to getting in the water (only if your entire head will come in to contact with the water) because once they get wet, they'll become heavy.

• Question

  Can you get in the pool with box braids?

  

  Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

  

  Professional Hair Stylist

  Expert Answer

  Yes, you can get in the pool with box braids. You should tie them up prior to getting in the water (only if your entire head will come in to contact with the water) because once they get wet, they'll become heavy.

• Question

  How long does it take to do medium sized box braids?

  

  Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

  

  Professional Hair Stylist

  Expert Answer

  Medium box braids can take several hours to do, usually about 5-8 hours, depending on your speed and how long the braids will be. Waist length box braids would take much longer to do than mid-back length box brids.

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Things You'll Need

• Clarifying shampoo
• Conditioner
• Hair dryer (optional)
• Wide-tooth comb
• Large hair clips
• Synthetic hair extensions
• Hair elastics
• Boiling water
• Witch hazel
• Cotton pad
• Satin or silk scarf
• Natural oils

About This Article

Article Summary X

To do box braids, start by parting your hair down the center into 4 equal sections. Clip 3 of the sections so they're out of your way, and leave 1 section down to start with. Then, working 1 section at a time, braid strands of synthetic hair that are 1-2 inches thick into small strands of your natural hair. Once you've finished braiding synthetic hair into all 4 sections, dip the ends of the braids in hot water to seal them. For tips on caring for your box braids so they stay looking beautiful, read on!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,086,512 times.

Did this article help you?

muellerwessin.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Box-Braids

Bagikan Artikel ini