A red braid, the name of the style itself sounds quite alluring, and we can assure you that it’s not just the name that will be pleasing you, the entire hairstyle is a hit. Box braids are a traditional African hairstyle that offers protection to your hair for longer periods at a stretch, and they also look dope at the same time. Box braids are an integral part of the African culture and also a celebration of their rich culture, traditions, and history. Box braids get their name from the fact that the hair is divided into tiny and equal square sections that look like a box before braiding the hair in each section.
Today, we are going to look at how you can do a red braid by yourself at home. Now, a red braid is essentially the same as the box braid, but the only difference is that your hair will have various streaks of red all over your head. You can either get this style through highlighting your hair or simply by using red extensions. Dark red, cherry red, burgundy… no matter what shade of red is your color of choice, surely it is going to look stunning because what could possibly go wrong with being a redhead, right?
Supply You’ll Need To Make A Red Braid
The red braid requires only the supplies that you’ll be needing for the normal box braids which are:
Red hair extensions Comb Styling wax Styling gelThe styling gel and wax are really optional and need to be used, only if required.
Steps To Make A Red Braid
Here, we have explained in the most detailed yet simple manner on how you can do a box braid by yourself with just 5 easy steps.
The first and most important step is to wash your hair with shampoo and a soft conditioner. With the extensions going to be locked in inside your hair for more than a couple weeks, your hair needs to retain moisture content for as long as possible until your next hair wash. Once this is completed, let your hair either air-dry or blow-dry completely. Apply some styling wax to your hair if there is too much frizz, or you can reduce frizz by blow-drying your hair straight. In the next step, we begin the braiding process. Box braids are an intricate hairstyle and require extra time and effort. If you are trying it for the first time, you are going to find it to be extremely difficult, but with practice, you will definitely get better at mastering the art of box braids. That is why to make the process easier; you should first divide your whole hair into 4 sections, secure 3 of these sections so that the hair strands don’t mingle with other strands, and then slowly begin braiding your hair from the undone section onwards. Make sure all sections are equally separated to ensure even thickness and spacing. No, we will start doing the box braids. Take the red hair extensions, fold them, and gently tuck them with the hair strand that you will be first braiding. You can start by braiding your hair in the typical 3 stranded braids style where the extension will come in as the middle strand. Repeat this process till your real hair ends and then again, continue with the braiding by dividing the rest of the hair into three strands till the very bottom. Once you finish one section, move on to the next section and continue the same braiding process until your whole hair is done.As a final step, use the styling gel on the roots of your strand at the hairline so that the braids stay secured and locked in till the next time you remove it.
How much time will it take to do a box braid by myself?The duration would depend on the length of your hair, length of extensions, your experience in box braiding, etc. For beginners, it may take around 6-10 hours, and if you are experienced, it would only take around 4-6 hours.
How can I maintain new hair growth in a box braid?Baby hair can take away the perfection and neatness of your look, so it is important to trim them and keep them at bay regularly. Another method to maintain your braids overall is to apply styling gel to your braids. It will give a fresh and breezy look.
How often should I wash my braids?Regular washing is not at all recommended for box braids. The suggested duration to wash them is once in a week or once in 2 weeks.