A Hairstylist's Tips For Maintaining Bohemian Box Braids

Traditional box braids have evolved a lot over the years, and they've birthed a handful of different styles that have become popular today. These days, some of the most popular kinds of braids are knotless (those that are installed using a feed-in technique) and bohemian box braids. Also referred to as "goddess" and "boho" styles, the latter is perfect if you want to give your regular box braids a chic upgrade. If a chic maintenance hairstyle sounds right up your alley, we should warn you before you book an appointment: these hairstyles require a bit more maintenance than traditional traditional box braids.

That said, they're well worth it for how good you'll look. To learn more about boho box braids from a professional, keep reading.

Annagjid "Kee" Taylor is a celebrity hairstylist and author based in Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Bohemian box braids are a more updated form of box braids in which smaller strands or chunks of hair are left out of the braid for a more casual, undone-yet-cool look. "They're a bit less uniform in structure than regular box braids since the hair isn't braided all the way and wavy/textured hair is woven into it," hairstylist Annagjid "Kee" Taylor tells PS. "Some stylists use different techniques such as pulling some hair out of the braid, weaving textured hair in, or stopping the braids higher and letting the natural curls flow at the ends. The natural hair peeking out will give a fuller, more voluminous look than traditional box braids."

Taylor has described the style as a blend of faux and goddess locs. Though the base of both styles are inherently different, they both offer a loose, flowy feel to hairstyles that are traditionally very rigid. That being said, even though your real hair is typically tucked into your braids, the perfectly undone look of bohemian box braids requires pieces of hair extensions be left outside the braid, making the hair much more prone to tangles.

To avoid tangles, Taylor recommends sleeping in a satin scarf or bonnet at night, though you could also even keep one on during the day while doing casual activities at home. "The wavy hair is what gets tangled the easiest, especially while we sleep, so it's best to tie it up so they stay in place," she says. "Try to keep it moisturized with an oil as well to keep the hair defined and less frizzy." To keep your braids moisturized, try using a light oil like jojoba, grapeseed, or argan.

How long your box braids last often depends on how small they are or who installs them for you, but they can typically last around four to five weeks. To get the longest time out of your bohemian braids, you can also deep condition them in the same way you would your natural hair and apply a mousse to take care of flyways.

"When it starts to get too frizzy, put some mousse over the hair and tie it down flat," Taylor says. "Let it sit for about 30 minutes and it'll look brand new again."

Box braid maintenance can feel time consuming, but to keep your hair and scalp healthy, it's important that you follow these steps. There's nothing worse than your protective style actually damaging your hair in the process of you trying low-manipulation hairstyles.

Ariel Baker is the associate editor for PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.

Danielle Jackson Danielle Jackson was a former assistant editor for PS Beauty.