Box braids and tropical vacations just go together. Traveling with natural hair can be a hassle, especially in humid climates, so knotless braids are my go-to vacation style. But my next trip is actually my honeymoon, so I wanted something a little more glamourous. Enter, boho braids.
READ MORE: How to keep your boho braids looking fresh
Bohemian braids, or boho braids, are not new. In the 90s and early 2000s, they were called pick-and-drop braids and you could find It Girls like Brandy rocking the style. Pick-and-drop braids were braided a few inches down from the scalp, and then the rest of the strand was left unbraided, leaving you with a cascading mane. Today’s style is different as they’re done just like regular box braids, but then have the wavy or curly hair added into the braid, giving you a breezy Bohemian vibe, hence the name.
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While these braids are perfect for vacation, they are higher maintenance than standard box braids because of the added curly hair. When I booked my appointment with my braider, Shanna of TropixBraids, her instructions were very clear: You need human hair for the curly tendrils.
READ MORE: Why you should try knotless braids with human hair
This is the mistake I see a lot of women making when it comes to this style. In order for the style to last and not be a complete tangled mess, good quality human hair is needed. The braids can be done with synthetic hair but you can’t skimp on curly part if you want your boho braids to stay looking chic. If you opt for synthetic hair for the curls, your hair will be ratty in no time, especially if you get it wet with salt water on vacation. Don’t risk it. Invest in the 100% human hair so your style can be long lasting. Braids are too expensive to be taken out after two weeks. Not in this economy!
For my braids, I got two packs of the Starlet Human Hair Wet and Wavy Super Bulk in P4/27. For the braiding hair, I bought Abellee Pre Stretched Braiding Hair in 1B/30/27 from Amazon. Another braiding hair I love is Sensationnel Ruwa because it’s water repellent and super soft. So far, I haven’t had any tangling or shedding. At night I put my hair in a loose low pony and wrap it into my bonnet, ensuring I don’t wake up a tangled mess in the morning.
Boho braids are my new favorite style and I’m definitely getting them again for my vacation in July. Only next time, I think I’m going to do all human hair, that way I can get the braids a smaller, as human hair puts less tension on your scalp than synthetic hair. I’ll report back when I do.
If you’re thinking about getting boho braids, take this as a sign to do it!
I absolutely love this style! It definitely is my go-to when it comes to vacations or over the summer. What size did you get your braids (small, medium, etc.) and is this bra length by chance?
Thank you! I got smedium (small medium lol) and this is waist length.
what curl type do you recommend for the curly pieces i’m in between deep wave and water wave
I’d do water wave but either would work.
What color blend do you have in the picture?
For the human hair – Starlet in P4/27 https://amzn.to/3tMtnOm, for the braiding hair – Abelle pre-streched braiding hair in 1b/30/27 which is unavailable right now but this is similar https://amzn.to/3VIOGdB
Hi. First, let me say Gorgeous. I’m not sure if you’ve mentioned already, but what length of braiding hair and human hair did you use? Does it matter the length of human hair, since it’ll be added throughout the braid?
Hi, thank you so much for the compliment! For the braiding hair, I usually get between 24 inches to 26 inches. I like my braids mid back. For the human hair, it doesn’t need to be that long, because like you said, it’ll be added throughout. The human hair I got for my boho braids was 20 inches.
How do you maintain your scalp feeling fresh and non-freezing/non-flaky? I’ve gotten braids before but take them out within 2 weeks because I either have visible dandruff/dryness or my scalp where the braid starts looks frizzy? Do you wash your scalp when you have braids? HelpðŸ˜
Hi! So I like to use the SheaMoisure Anti-Dandruff Leave In: https://amzn.to/4fksvDj
I also like to oil my scalp! I do wash my braids and scalp at least once while I have them in. I have a blog on washing braids too 🙂 Hope that helps! https://aisleonebeauty.com/2024/03/how-to-wash-box-braids-and-make-them-last-without-damaging-your-hair/
I want to get boho braids with Brazilian hair wool. I’m not planning on going in the water at all. I just wanted to know what you thought about the Brazilian hair wool. Like how long would it last? Or would it work? I’ve seen alot of people do it with Brazilian hair wool and it turns out just fine. What do you think?
(I don’t like the feel of human hair so I was wondering if there was a alternative)
I’ve never used Brazilian hair wool. From what I gathered after looking it up, it’s not something I’d put on my hair personally. It’s made of acrylic, a synthetic fiber, which is rough on hair. If you’re looking to save money, the options I have are pretty affordable but if not, I’d look for human hair blend.