How to Do Boho Braids for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide

Braids have endorsed itself as an eternal hairstyle. For ages, people have worn braids and adapted them to different forms to express themselves. Boho braids have topped the chart for trendy braids hairstyles in 2024 with its massive publicity on TikTok.

Boho braids (also known as Bohemian braids) feature precise box braids infused with textured hair (curls/waves) to add volume and give the appearance of a carefree effortless beauty.

This hairstyle is easy, playful, and great for summer or a fun time at the beach. In this article, you will learn how to do boho braids as a beginner, including the tools you need, hair products, and care tips.

Prepping for Boho Braids Installation: Techniques and Help Tips

Before you start doing anything on your head, it is important to clean your hair to get rid of impurities and product buildup.

To clean your hair:

1. Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo.
2. Condition and oil to seal in moisture.
3. Dry for easy manipulation. You can air dry it or use a blow dryer on low heat.

Once your hair is prepped, you can assemble a few tools we will need to install the boho braids.

You will need the following:

1. Braiding hair (pre-stretched braiding hair).
2. Your go-to hair braiding products (braiding gel, hair cream, edge control gel, hair mousse, etc).
3. A sectioning comb, a wide tooth comb, a rat tail comb, and an edge brush.
4. Butterfly clips or hair bands for sectioning.
5. Prepare to boil some water (skip this part if you will be using bulk human braiding hair and curly human braiding hair).

 

Boho braids feature straight box braids and loose strands of curly or wavy textured hair. This combination gives it a laid back beautiful look.

The kind of hair you use will determine the result you get. So, here are the options.

1. Use your natural hair.
2. Use synthetic braiding hair extensions (Kanekolon or Yaki hair).
3. Use bulk human braiding hair extensions.

Your braiding hair choice depends on how long you wish to wear the hairstyle, hair texture, budget, and scalp sensitivity. 

Using Your Natural Hair for Boho Braids (Benefits and Requirements)

Your natural hair has the best weight (compared to hair extensions). Using your natural hair for boho braids might be the best option especially if you have thin/fine hair. Having naturally wavy hair makes the installation process quicker.

Using your natural hair might leave you struggling with daily maintenance to retain curl patterns, and protect your hair from natural elements and product overload. Synthetic braiding hair is another option.

Using Synthetic Hair for Boho Braids (Benefits and Requirements)

 

Synthetic braiding hair is cheap, easy to manipulate, and gives you beautiful boho braids after installation. However, there are downsides. You will spend more time trying to curl them up (if they are not pre-curled).

Your boho braids will look great just days after installation, afterwards, you will experience tangles, matting, etc. This makes it more difficult to maintain and affects how long it lasts. Synthetic hair may irritate your scalp if you also have a sensitive scalp.

Using Bulk Human Braiding Hair for Boho Braids (Benefits and Requirements)

Human hair is the best type of hair to use for boho braids. Boho braids look their best when done with natural hair. Braiding human hair is lightweight, maintains waves/curls for a longer time, and is easy to maintain and manage.

If you want to wear natural-looking light-weight boho braids that won’t add tension to your natural hair, then straight and curly bulk human braiding hair is your best option. 

Parting your hair lays the foundation for your braids. Start by parting your hair from side to side in a straight line. Proceed to divide the parts into small squares (each square represents individual braids).

You can use clips or hair bands to secure the parted hair. Braiding gel or edge control will help to define the parts and tame stray hairs.

Step 2: Start Braiding the Hair

 

Start braiding once you have parted and sectioned your hair into individual squares. To do this:

1. Separate the hair into three sections (they should have equal size).
2. Start braiding with your natural hair. Most boho braids are knotless, so start by making two braid steps with your hair before adding your first braiding hair extension.
3. Braid down at least three times (depending on what you wish to achieve) before adding a piece of curly braided hair.
4. Repeat this method and alternate between straight and curly braided hair.
5. Finish the braids by braiding as far down as possible. If you want to infuse curls at the end of the braids, then you can stop box braiding when you get to the ear region.

You can finish the ends using your preferred method. You can dip the ends in hot water, or simply braid down if you are using a sleek human braiding hair from Waviyhair.com. 

Note: The method you use to add curly/wavy hair depends on what you wish to achieve and your preferred style.

Boho Braids Curl Infusion Methods

There are different methods for adding curls while making boho braids. You can leave unbraided hair at the end. Add more curly hair while braiding towards the end.

You can leave out unbraided curly hair while braiding after adding the curly hair extension. Once you add the curly hair extension, secure one end of the braiding hair while leaving out the other end. This may appear as a flyaway, but this is what gives it the boho effect.

Add curly braiding hair (using a latch) after complete braiding. This method allows you to infuse the braiding hair at strategic points in your box braid after braiding. You can also do this after styling your braids to create a custom boho braids style.

How to Maintain Your Bohemian Braids: Care Tips and Techniques

Maintaining your boho braids is as important as installing them. If you plan to wear your boho braids longer than two weeks, then this is how you can care for them:

1. Wash regularly: Just like you wash your natural hair, it is also important to wash your braids. Use a moisturizing shampoo and wash-out conditioner to wash and condition your hair. Washing your hair regularly helps to remove product buildup and keep your hair fresh and long-lasting.(Dry your washed hair by air or use a blow dryer on low heat. )
2.  Keep your hair moisturized: Moisture is what helps to keep the curls/waves in boho braids defined, especially if you are using your natural hair. A water-based leave-in conditioner helps to keep the scalp and hair strands moisturized.
3.  Maintain edges and add shine: Your edges and the shine of the braids affect how good they look. A good hair mousse and sheen spray are great products to use on your boho braids, especially if you use synthetic hair. (Edge control gels like Eco Styler gel, edge wax, etc. can help tame hair around the edges or lay baby hairs for a more sleek look. )
4.  Wear a satin bonnet to prevent contact:Wearing a satin bonnet helps protect your hair from contact with other materials like dust, cotton, and natural environmental factors. If you use synthetic hair, wearing a satin bonnet can help prevent tangle and matting.