I’ve been a box braids girlie for about five years now.
When I was younger, I used to hate box braids, but that’s only because I didn’t know what to do with them. I usually had them black and straight down my back, barely passing my shoulder blades.
Now that I’m older and can experiment with my hair more, I find that box braid styles are perfect for the summer, especially if you experiment with them.
RELATED: 7 Laws To Keep Your Summer Braids Fresh & Healthy
Auburn, Red Or Ginger Brown Box Braids
Every Black girl, once in her life, should try a different color for her box braids.
I know that it’s important for a lot of people to still have a color that’s somewhat natural since purple, pink or blue might not be comfortable for your current environment. That’s why reddish brown, ginger brown, or auburn in your hair will definitely spice up your summer look while still allowing you to have a natural color.
Your ginger hair during the wake of the golden hour will complement your skin and overall give you a warmer look.
If you’re afraid to go full ginger, I would recommend only changing the color of the first two or four braids so you can get a feel of how it would look and frame your face.
Curling
Curling your box braids will give you more volume, especially if you tend to have smaller braids. You could either curl just the ends, curl half the hair, or go for volume and curl the whole head.
There are many ways to curl your box braids, so I’m sure your hairdresser has their own method.
But if you’re doing these yourselves, and you’re slightly old-school with hair like mine, you can curl your box braids at home with no problem.
First, braid your box braids into sections, then dip the hair into a pot of boiling hot water. How far the hair goes depends on how far up you want the curls.
Leave your hair in for around five minutes to ensure that curls stay in place until you redo or try a different style.
Banana Clip
Banana clips are one of my favorite things to use for the summer. Not only is it a cute style, but depending on the clip, it can also complement your outfit. As a lover of pastels, I enjoy finding hair clips in light pink, blue, or white colors, and searching for more unique and specific ones in stores is always fun.
The clip also helps to keep your hair off your neck, which can be really helpful when it starts to get hotter. And if you hate hair ties, then, once again, the clippers are perfect for you because it doesn’t grip onto your hair as tightly as a hair tie might.
Braids on Braids
Do not be afraid to braid your braids. I’m talking about one big French braid. Or two big braids that flow down your back. Or possibly a braid that wraps around your head, giving you a medieval look.
It’s fun to braid your box braids because the final product gives your hair a complexity that’s elegant and represents the unique and adaptable nature of Black hair.
Short
It’s known that before it’s time to take out your box braids, everyone cuts it to the length where your own hair stops. And every time that happens, most of us remember that we look good with short box braids.
But the next time we get box braids, we never get them short.
I’m here to tell you that this is your sign to try short box braids.
If you don’t wanna go for short, I would start with collarbone length just to see if you like them shorter. But for the full look of short box braids, I would recommend braids that only flow to the shoulders, or a chic bob style.
This is the perfect look for summer because it’s cute, easy to style, and keeps you from having a lot of hair on your head while the heat comes in. It also gives you a crisp new look that may encourage you to try more new things throughout the summer.
Box braids are a protective style, so no matter what you do, your hair will be protected from the humidity. But if you’re someone who always wears box braids and wants a change of pace for the summer, you can always try one of these styles so you can start the summer feeling fresh.
