I’ve been busy getting everything ready for when my baby arrives; washing clothes, manically cleaning, preparing freezer meals. I know once he’s here, things are going to dramatically change (which is a good thing!) and I won’t have the same time I used to have for certain things, one of those things being my hair. I’ve definitely simplified my weekly washday routine, but I know in the first months of motherhood, every single minute is precious. That’s why I decided to get boho knotless braids as my labor and postpartum protective style.
I’ve written before about how boho braids are high maintenance and require the right hair and proper upkeep. But, I’ve cracked the code on how to get boho braids that are long lasting and easier to maintain, without sacrificing the beauty and glamour of the style.
This time around, I used 100% human hair for not just the left out pieces, but the braids as well. (I made the switch to only using human hair for braids after studies found toxic chemicals in synthetic braiding hair.) For the entire style, I used body wave hair from Y Wigs, specifically four packs of 18 inch body wave in color 4/27/30. I asked my braider, Imani at The Coily Collective, to do my braids in the goddess style — the ends loose — and only add the loose tendrils to the top two rows of braids. I find that one of the things that makes boho braids look messy so quickly is all the extra loose hair; by only doing tendrils on the top two rows, you minimize the tangling while still getting the signature, mermaid look. Also, I personally prefer the wavy, more Zoe Kravitz look, which is why I chose body wave hair over curly. Curly hair tangles more and requires more upkeep. If I want to add a little bit more curl to my braids, I can just use my Dyson Airwrap on the tendrils and ends.
If I look good, I feel good. When I’m sleep deprived and covered in spit up, having my hair look nice and glam is definitely going to help keep my spirits lifted. I plan to keep these braids in for at least two months, and get the top rows redone so I can keep them even longer.
