The Best Way to Keep Your Bohemian Box Braids Tangle-Free, According to a Hairstylist

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 box braids (those that are installed using a feed-in technique) and bohemian box braids. Also referred to as “goddess box braids” and “boho box braids,” the latter style is a perfect one to take on if you want to give your regular box braids a chic upgrade, but before you book an appointment, you should know that these require a bit more maintenance than traditional box braids.

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,” celebrity stylist Annagjid “Kee” Taylor told POPSUGAR. “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.”

In a previous POPSUGAR article, Taylor described the style as a blend of faux locs and goddess locs. 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 said. “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 said. “Let it sit for about 30 minutes and it’ll look brand new again.”