Maintaining your hair day-to-day is much easier with box braids.Box braids can be done professionally at a salon, but you can make your own at home.You can achieve beautiful box braids in no time if you attach synthetic hair to your natural hair.
Step 1: You should wash and condition your hair.
It's a good idea to wash your hair in the shower or bath.When you dry your hair, apply a hydrating conditioner.If your hair is dry, use a leave-in conditioner.If you are going to use hair extensions for the braids, you should wash and condition your hair, as this will make sure the extensions attach to your natural hair.
Step 2: Attach a comb to your hair.
If your hair is straight and fine, air dry it and then use a plastic comb to remove knots and tangles.Start combing your hair at the ends and work your way up the strand, gently removing knots and tangles as you go.You don't want to tear or rip your hair if you tug or pull at it too hard.Your hair is easy to braid if you remove as many tangles as you can.
Step 3: If you have very curly hair, blow dry it straight.
Before you blow dry your hair, apply a heat protectant gel or spray.Use a brush to blow dry your hair.If you have curly hair, this can make it easier to split it.If you have a comb or pick attachment, you can use it.If you prefer, you can use a hair straightener.Before you get your hair straightened, make sure you apply heat protectant.
Step 4: If your hair is dry or split, trim it.
If your ends feel dry when you rub them, you may want to trim them.It is possible to keep the braids locked in for a longer period of time by trimming the ends.Synthetic hair tends to attach better to fresh, clean ends, so it's important to trim the ends.
Step 5: Use a wide-toothed comb to divide your hair into 4 boxes.
Divide your hair down the center from your forehead to your neck and ear to ear.The first section you plan to work on should be left undone.Make sure the sections are evenly parted, with a straight line at the roots.3 large hair clips are needed to keep the remaining 3 sections out of the way.Make sure your hair is in a straight line.To get a better sense of their shape, you may need to do the parts in front of a mirror.
Step 6: It's a good idea to apply a hydrating gel or cream to the ends of your hair.
Use your hands to rub a small amount of hydrating gel or cream on the ends of your hair.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.You can find hydrating gel or cream at your local beauty supply store.Coconut oil and argon oil can be found in gels and creams.
Step 7: Attach a rat tail comb to your hair with a 1 inch section.
Take the end of the comb and run it through the part you made earlier.If you are doing small to medium-sized braids, section out a small section of hair above your ear.To create jumbo box braids, section out 2 inches of hair.The part above the hair needs to be straight.The part should be straight and clean if there are flyaways above it.The rest of the hair should be tied back in the section.
Step 8: Synthetic hair is good for long, thick braids.
Synthetic hair can be used for the box braids.Shorter, thinner box braids may require less hair.Synthetic hair can be found at your local beauty supply store or online.Get more hair than you think you need.If the retailer allows returns, you can use any leftover hair for another style.The most common synthetic hair used for box braids are Kanekalon hair.Human hair or yarn hair could be used.
Step 9: Take 1 to 2 inches of hair.
The hair extensions should be placed between your fingers.The hair should be broken into 3 sections.The hair extensions should be between your pointer and middle finger.Take the next section and place it between your middle finger and ring finger, below the first section.Below the second section, hold the third section between your ring finger and pinkie.The ends of the braids will look more natural if the hair is staggered in a line.
Step 10: The hair should be removed 13 of the way.
You won't be using it to form the braid, so set it aside.When you make new sections of hair, you can use it later.
Step 11: Wrap the remaining hair around the loop.
Take one section of hair and place it over the other so they interlock into each other to form a loop.Make sure the other section has more hair.The loose loop should be created by the smaller section hanging over the bigger section.You should be able to work with 3 sections of synthetic hair.
Step 12: Place the hair on the roots.
The palm of your hand should be facing in the opposite direction.Place the synthetic hair over the roots of your natural hair with your thumb and pointer finger.Attach the synthetic hair to your natural hair with your fingers.
Step 13: The middle section of synthetic hair is where your natural hair should fall.
You should have 3 strands of hair, 2 on the outside and one in the middle.The synthetic hair should be in the middle section.
Step 14: Synthetic hair can be braided with your natural hair.
To reach underneath one of the outside sections, hold the middle section.The hair should be pulled from the outside to the middle.Pull hair from the other side of the body to the middle.The start of the braid is when your natural hair is tightly integrated into the synthetic hair.The braid needs to be tight near the hair to look new.If you keep a firm grip on the synthetic hair and your natural hair with your fingertips, it will not slip off.Continue braiding the hair all the way to the ends, reaching under the middle section to place the sections on top of each other.You don't have to braid your hair to keep it.Damage can be caused by braiding your hair too tight.The braid should appear uniform and smooth if you keep even, firm pressure.
Step 15: The end of the braid should be secured with a hair elastic.
You don't need a hair elastic to secure the end of the braid if the synthetic hair is thick.If the hair is thin, use a non-snag elastic to keep the braid in place.If you need it, only use one elastic band.
Step 16: Taking breaks as needed, braid each section one at a time.
A small smooth section of your natural hair is parted by section.Attach the synthetic hair to your natural hair and braid it.It may take several hours to do your entire head in box braids.Make sure you braid your hair quickly and evenly, as braiding too slowly can cause hair loss.The braids all have the same thickness and shape.
Step 17: Remove flyaways with scissors.
Scissors are used to remove flyaways at the ends of braided hair.Being careful not to cut your natural hair, place them as close to the braids as possible.
Step 18: To seal the braids, dip the ends in hot water.
The braid should be dipped in the water from the midsection to the ends.It will help to seal the braids and prevent them from unraveling.Once you have sealed the braids, you can remove the hair elastics.
Step 19: It's a good idea to cover your braids with a scarf at night.
The scarf should be tied around your hair.If your braids are longer than the scarf, you can pin them up before wrapping them, shortening them while you sleep, or leave the ends exposed.It is possible to sleep on a pillow cover to keep your braid smooth.
Step 20: Keep your braids clean by wiping them with witch hazel.
The braids should be wiped down one at a time with a damp cloth.They don't have to get wet in the shower or bath.When it's wet, box braids can feel heavy and prone to frizziness.
Step 21: It's a good idea to wash your hair to prevent itching.
Pull up the braids and expose your hair.Being careful not to get water on the braids, wash your hair one section at a time.It is possible to wash your hair 3-4 times a week instead of every day.
Step 22: You can keep your hair hydrated by massaging natural oils into it.
Almond oil, coconut oil and shea butter are good choices.Use a cotton ball or clean fingers to rub a generous amount of oil on your hair.If you have oil on your braids, try to cover as much of your hair as possible.
Step 23: If you want to prevent hair damage, take the braids out within 2 months.
If you still want to keep your hair healthy, take your box braids out.If you keep your hair braided for too long, it can cause it to break away from the scalp, which can lead to long-term damage.If you want to untangle the braids from the spot where the synthetic hair is attached to your real hair, use your fingers.Don't use a fine tooth comb when taking your braids down, as this can lead to tears in your hair.To cut down on time and effort, ask your friends or family to help with the unbraiding process.Once you have removed the extensions, throw them away.If you want your hair to recover, put new box braids in 3-4 weeks.