Box braids are a timeless hairstyle characterized by individual sections of hair divided into small, square-shaped sections. These braids are popular due to the protection they provide to natural hair. But you can’t enjoy these benefits if you don’t take good care of your braids. Instead, your hair is likely to become frizzy and get damaged easily. Don’t worry; we are sharing tips on maintaining box braids in this blog. So, keep reading and learn to keep your braids stylish and healthy.
1:Select Skilled Stylist For Braiding
Maintenance of box braid hair starts with picking a hairstylist. So, first, you must look for a hairstylist who is proficient in box braids. You can search for them on Instagram, YouTube, and Google. Harlem Natural Hair Salon provides the best box braids and other African hair braiding in New York. The experts at the saloon take care of every small point to ensure your hair doesn’t damage and you get the desired look.
2.Moisturize Regularly
Box braids hairstyles protect the natural hair, but, sun exposure, genetics, smoking, climate change, and heat styling can damage hair and increase dryness. Dry hair becomes difficult to style. Regular moisturization can help prevent dryness and keep hair shiny. To moisturize your braids, you can massage with oils like jojoba and olive or a mix of multiple oils.
3.Say No To Overstyle
Most people style their thick and long natural hair differently every day. However, you must avoid this to keep your braids healthy. Frequently styling box braids requires manipulating your hair, which can result in dryness, brittleness, and split ends. Using heat tools like straighteners or curling irons can cause the hair cuticles to open due to the high temperature, resulting in moisture loss. Using airflow styling, one of the innovations in curly hair styler technology, would be a better choice.
4.Practice Proper Night Care
Proper night care is crucial for keeping your box braid hair healthy and damage-free. It helps the hair heal when the whole body rests and restores itself. Before going to bed, you can wrap your box braids in a silk scarf or a bonnet. It will reduce friction between the pillow and your hair, maintaining its original condition and combat frizz. If you don’t prefer a bonnet or scarf, you can use a silk or satin pillowcase to protect your hair.
5.Wash Braids Weekly
With time, your box braids will experience product buildup. It can prevent your hair from absorbing moisture and leaving it dry, leading to braid breakage. We advise washing box braid hair every two to three weeks to avoid this situation. It will help keep your braids moisturized and remove dirt and dust from the strands, helping the braids stay healthy.
6.Focus On Scalp
The scalp is more than just the skin surface on which hair grows. It requires as much care as any other body organ because a healthy scalp promotes healthy hair growth. So, you must focus on your scalp’s health to maintain your box braids hairstyles. We advise using gentle hair products, including shampoo, conditioner, and oil on the scalp. You should also massage your scalp regularly to stimulate blood circulation.
7.Trim Your Hair
Due to poor weather conditions, pollution, and hair dehydration, split ends occur. It can weaken the hair strands, so they break easily. You must trim your box braid hair regularly to prevent split ends. Also, regular trimming encourages the hair to grow in the right direction and maintains the texture and length of the hair. We recommend trimming your hair every 12 weeks if you are growing it out.
Now, you must have learned how to maintain box braids hairstyles. These hairstyles symbolize economic status, so you can impress everybody with your style. Although these hairstyles can be worn with every hair texture, they are best suited for thicker types of hair.
