SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Watch
  • 2024 Event
    • General Info
    • Presenters & Speakers
    • Tickets
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQ
  • Shop
  • TOPICS
        • CONCERNS

          • Frizz
          • Hair Growth
          • Hair Loss
          • Regimen
          • Scalp Care
        • CURL CARE

          • Braids & Protective Styles
          • Color
          • Haircuts
          • Hairstyles
          • Locs
          • Straightening
          • For Kids
          • For Men
        • LIFESTYLE

          • Business
          • Celebrities
          • Trends
  • PRODUCTS
    • Top Products
    • Cleansing
    • Ingredients
    • DIY Products
    • Hair Tools
    • Moisturizing
  • TEXTURE
        • FINE (1A-1C)
          Straight with minor waves.
        • WAVY (2A-2C)
          Forms a loose “S” very easily straightened
        • CURLY (3A-3C)
          Forms a definite “S” shaped like a corkscrew
        • COILY (4A-4C)
          Very tight curl when stretched creates an “S”
        • LOCS
          Hair intentionally matted to form "ropes"
        • QUIZ
          Take our quiz to learn your curl pattern
      • 1a
        1b
        1c
        2a
        2b
        2c
        3a
        3b
        3c
        4a
        4b
        4c
        Locs
        Discover your curl pattern, the best hairstyles and products just for you!
        Take the quiz now
  • TEXTURE TALES
  • TEXTURE ON THE RUNWAY
  • LEADERS IN CURL
  • BEST OF THE BEST 2024
  • ASK A CURL EXPERT
  • GET INVOLVED
Home • Protective Styles

How Long Do Box Braids Last

Share this Article
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
How Long Do Box Braids Last
By Elizabeth Tosanwunmi · Published July 5, 2023

How long do box braids last? How long should I keep my box braids in? How do I take proper care of my box braids to keep them looking fresh? If you’ve been searching for the answers to these questions, you are in the right place. Today, we will be discussing all you need to know about maintaining your box braids for as long as possible so keep reading.

How long do box braids last?

You may have seen or heard of some people keeping their box braids in for as long as 12 or even 16 weeks but according to All Things Hair resident hairstylist, Elena Diaz, you should not keep them in for that long. “Box braids can last from 4 to 6 weeks. 6 weeks is the most time I would recommend keeping them in your hair and two months is the absolute max I would suggest leaving your box braids in,” she advises.

Why is this? you may wonder.

Award-winning hairstylist, Jennifer Cherilus, explains that you need to take down your protective style (box braids) at eight weeks at most so you can properly cleanse your scalp and let it breathe. “When you leave any hairstyle in too long, there’s nowhere for those (natural) oils, (dead) skin cells, and shed hair to escape. So those things sit underneath your wig, your sew-in, your crochet braids—whatever style—and they start to build-up on your scalp,” she told Buzzfeed.

Tips to Make Your Box Braids Last Longer

Now, whether you’re keeping your braids in for four weeks or eight, you will notice that after the first week or two, it may start to look a bit not-so-fresh. While this is perfectly normal, there are some things you can do to help it look neater in appearance.

1. Snip out the flyaways

Flyaways are strands of hairs that pull apart (they don’t come off) from the braids to stand on their own, thus giving the braids a disheveled look. They usually start to appear on the shaft of your box braids (and the roots if you scratch them) a few days after you’ve had the hairstyle installed. You can get rid of these to keep your box braids looking fresh by trimming the flyaways along the hair shaft of the extension with a pair of hair scissors. However, if you did your box braids with your natural hair only and not with the addition of hair extensions, you may want to embrace the flyaways as trimming will only reduce your hair length.

2. Wash every two weeks

Products, sweat, dirt, and dust can accumulate on your scalp and hair leading to itching, flaking, and odor. As such, it is advisable to wash your box braids every two weeks with a mild shampoo and conditioner to get rid of these build-ups and leave your scalp and braids feeling clean and fresh. If you are skeptical about or uncomfortable with pouring water on your braids and washing them, you can dip finger-sized cotton balls in shampoo diluted with water and use that to gently scrub your scalp. Wipe the shampoo suds by dipping cotton balls into clean water and rubbing it on your scalp. Use the same method to apply conditioner to your hair. After that, thoroughly dry with a hair dryer and moisturize with a lightweight hair oil or hair moisturizing cream.

3. Style your edges

You’ll agree with me that styling your baby’s hairs can help give your box braids a neat appearance even if it’s a few weeks old and the roots of your hair are not as tight as they originally were. With your edge brush and edge control, get your edges laid sleek and flat in any style of your choice.

4. Avoid re-twisting

In a bid to get their box braids to remain firm, some wearers like to re-twist them at the roots. While this may achieve the goal of helping the hair to be firm, it can also be detrimental. Re-twisting puts tension on the natural hair at its roots and this may cause it to break or shed. As such, it is advisable to avoid re-twisting.

Article continues after video.

Check out: How To Care For Your Natural Hair While Wearing Box Braids

5. Never go to bed without your satin or silk scarf on

It is essential for you to wrap your hair in a satin or silk scarf to bed as this helps prevent dryness and minimize flyaways that can happen as a result of turning and tossing your head on your pillow or bed.

6. Wear a shower cap

Water splashing on your box braids whether intentionally or not can mess up its neat appearance. Worse is, if the braids don’t get dried, you may start to experience itching or other discomfort. As such, it is advisable that you wear a shower cap on your box braids before hitting the bathroom.

7. Oil your box braids

APRILSKIN Pink Aloe Facial Polish Cleanser
Amazon
APRILSKIN Pink Aloe Facial Polish Cleanser
SHOP NOW
Top Product.
Briogeo Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff
Briogeo
Briogeo Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff
SHOP NOW
Holler & Glow 12 Days of Self Care 12 Piece Masking Set
Target
Holler & Glow 12 Days of Self Care 12 Piece Masking Set
SHOP NOW
Lanolips Day & Night Lip Minis
Lanolips
Lanolips Day & Night Lip Minis
SHOP NOW
Ruby Kisses Lip Oil Booster
Amazon
Ruby Kisses Lip Oil Booster
SHOP NOW
Melanie Mills Hollywood Gleam Body Radiance
Amazon
Melanie Mills Hollywood Gleam Body Radiance
SHOP NOW
Catrice Under Eye Brightener
Amazon
Catrice Under Eye Brightener
SHOP NOW
Curlsmith  Shake + Shine
Amazon
Curlsmith Shake + Shine
SHOP NOW

Oils help to give your hair the moisture it needs to stay healthy and brighten its appearance. You can use lightweight oils like jojoba oil or argan oil to give your braids some much-needed shine.

8. Turn them into curls

Did you know that instead of taking your box braids out completely, you can turn them into a curly hairdo? This can be done by cutting the braids – if done with extension – from the desired length (as long as they’re a safe distance from where your natural hair stops), unraveling all the way up and stopping some three to two inches away from the base. The result of this is a new hairstyle – bouncy curls that you can rock for some extra days.

Read next: 12 Ways to Style Your Box Braids

Read More

How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Beauty
How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards
Beauty
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women ...
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
Curly
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My Curls
Curly
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My...
Jayda Cheaves Is Revolutionizing Hair Culture One Style At A Time
Shop
Jayda Cheaves Is Revolutionizing Hair Culture One Style At A...
Company Information
  • Customer Service
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Subscribe
  • Newsletters
FOLLOW US
  • Home
  • Watch
  • 2024 Event
    • General Info
    • Presenters & Speakers
    • Tickets
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQ
  • Shop