The moment I walked out the salon with my fresh boho braids, I knew I had found my style for the summer. Boho braids give the convenience of regular knotless braids but with an added touch of glamour.
But while boho braids have an easy going, breezy vibe, they are not a low maintenance protective style. Without proper care, your freshly braided hair can start looking frizzy real quick.
READ MORE: Why you should try knotless braids with human hair
But, don’t stress. With a little preparation and extra care, you can keep your boho braids looking perfectly beachy for a long time.
Here are some tips for keeping your bohemian braids looking fresh:
Use human hair
If you want your style to last, you have to get your boho braids with human hair. This is non negotiable. Curly hair naturally tangles more. Synthetic curly hair will get matted very quickly, especially if you’re going into the pool or ocean. Invest in 100% human hair so your hair can last at least a month.
For my boho braids, I used Starlet Human Hair Wet and Wavy Super Bulk in P4/27. Also, for the braids, I highly recommend Sensationnel Ruwa pre-streched braiding hair as it’s water repellent and great for if you’re going to be getting your hair wet.
USE MY CODE ASHLEYEDWARDS FOR 15% OFF AT YWIGS!
Wear a silk scarf or bonnet at night
Even though your hair is tucked away in bohemian braids, don’t slack off on protecting your hair at night. Wearing a silk scarf or bonnet at night will keep your braids moisturized and prevent them from tangling up while you sleep. Also, sleeping with long braids can be hard — keeping them tied up and tucked away will allow you to get a good night’s sleep!
I swear by Grace Eleyae’s Satin Lined Caps.
Keep your braids moisturized
Moisturizing your braids regularly will keep the human hair pieces smooth and frizz free. It’ll also ensure your natural hair inside the braids stays moisturized and healthy. And moisturizing braids is easy. I put a little of my favorite leave-in condition (Kinky Curly Knot Today) in a spray bottle with warm water and gently mist my hair. I also follow up with a lightweight oil. Do this a few times a week!
Use conditioner before going swimming
When I got boho braids for my honeymoon, I knew I would be doing a lot of water activities. But before jumping into the pool or beach, I would thoroughly smooth some moisturizing conditioner down the length of my braids. Coating my hair with conditioner created a barrier between my braids and the salt water or chlorine.
After getting out, I rinsed my hair thoroughly with cold water and a little shampoo, and followed up some leave-in conditioner and oil. I then blow dried my hair until it was completely dry, concentrating on the roots. Never leave your braids wet — it can lead to mildew which you absolutely do not want!
Building a routine for your protective style like you would for your natural hair is key in making it last. Boho braids are a little high maintenance, but this insanely beautiful style is worth the upkeep.
Your braids looks beautiful. What colors did you use?
I usually get a mix of 1B/27/30. Thanks for reading!
thank you for sharing this blog post ! a great article for those who are new to bohos to read, as a boho specialist and supplier of human boho hair, I can defiantly see the need for more blogs like yours to spread the education ! thanks- Sasheamari
I am relatively new to the new braid styles and certainly appreciate your very detailed and honest blog post. I have a braider but I need to tell her exactly what I want and this will help. I also knew I needed human hair for the curls so thank you for the resources. Additionally, the hair care tips are especially useful as you are so right that braids are generally viewed as low maintenance but the boho style requires more.
I was reticent about trying this style because I once had a wavy human hair weave for summer and while on vacation it tangled so badly I had to wear a shower cap with my hair conditioned beneath a swim cap to avoid complete embarrassment and hassle while on a snorkeling trip with others.