If you’re looking for and chasing a new hairstyle, stylish, and protection, look no further than a box braid. But you may have wondered do box braids damage hair?
Whilst braids can be a great protective style, they can also cause damage to your hair.
If not cared for properly, can cause harm to your hair and scalp. On a delicate scalp or with weak hair, too many braids can clench and pull on the natural hair, uprooting it.
Learn more about the effects of box braids on hair by reading on.
Do Box Braids Damage Hair?
While box braids can help protect your hair from external environmental elements, they often tend to put extra stress on the edges of your hair. It may eventually result in edges with damage or breaks.
Even though none of us wants to self-inflict a receding hairline, box braids and thin edges don’t necessarily have to go together.
As a result, box braids are completely acceptable and won’t harm your hair. It should be noted that if you don’t want to be annoying, don’t braid it too tightly.
Can Too Tight Braids Cause Hair Loss?
Any hairstyle that puts the hair through prolonged stress and strain results in hair loss.
Insufficiently loose box braids are similar. Tight braids or cornrows are secure when worn for no longer than a week or two.
The braids can cause permanent scalp damage or traction alopecia if they are worn for longer than eight weeks.
Getting thicker braids, wearing loose braids, and changing your hairstyle often will help you avoid such problems.
Read More: How to Do Box Braids?
Do Box Braids Help Your Hair Grow?
Our hair’s health is influenced by a variety of factors, just like our skin. Your hair must therefore be healthy and given the proper nutrients in order to grow faster.
By giving it a more stable structure through braiding, hair growth may be impacted. It’s crucial to remember that a hairstyle that is too tight will have the opposite effect and irritate the scalp or cause breakage.
In actuality, because hair can naturally elongate whether or not it is styled, braids are not very beneficial for hair growth.
How Long Should I Keep Box Braids in My Hair?
It’s unfortunate to say that experts advise against leaving braids in for longer than eight weeks.
They should generally only be worn for six to eight weeks at most because the new hair that emerges will mat and tangle as it grows in and damage the hair.
Mini braids will weigh more and need maintenance sooner or later if you wear them with more hair packs on your head.
How to Prevent Your Hair from Suffering Damage?
Here are 3 strategies to guard against such harm to your hair.
Keeping Braids in for Too Long
No longer than 6-7 weeks should be spent maintaining braids. Furthermore, in order to minimize damage, you should redo the outer section of your braids—the section closest to your edges—once every two weeks.
The outer layer of your hair should receive special attention because these hairs are more delicate and prone to damage such as traction alopecia.
Re-do your braids at least once every two weeks to keep your hair protected, and avoid leaving them in for longer than seven weeks.
Not Washing Your Braids
Just because your hair is braided doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t wash it. In fact, if you don’t wash your hair, dirt and bacteria will build up, and this build up can get so bad that the only way to get rid of it is to cut your hair.
The majority of naturals will have observed that when you remove your braids, your hair frequently contains white clumps of dirt. This type of dirt is challenging to remove and, if left in for an extended period of time, requires cutting out. Therefore, it is crucial that you wash your braids frequently.
To achieve this, shampoo your scalp and braids once every two weeks (or, preferably, once a week) using a shampoo free of silicone and sulphates.
Also Read: Can You Swim With Box Braids?
Forgetting the Fact That Your Real Hair is Underneath.
Today, there are a ton of braided hairstyles to choose from, which is in some ways great because it gives naturals more options.
However, some hairdos can harm naturals with medium-length hair, such as pick-and-drop braids. Make sure your stylist (or whoever is doing your hair) is aware of your objectives when having braids done.
Inform them that you want to protect your natural hair and that you are unwilling to sacrifice the health and length of your hair for the purpose of getting your hair braided.
Conclusion: Do Box Braids Damage Hair
Box braids have become very popular in recent years, showing up on everything from red carpets to social media platforms.
This very versatile low-maintenance and protective hairstyle is now considered “more acceptable” than it used to be.
Basically, box braids do not damage your hair if you follow the correct techniques, pay attention to your braid care, do not braid too tightly, and do not leave them for too long.
The box braids that best suit your hair and preferences can be chosen with the help of a skilled braider.
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FAQs
Does Box Braids Damage Caucasian Hair?
Box braids can damage Caucasian hair, just like they can damage any other type of hair.
How Long Does Box Braids Last on Natural Hair?
Box braids can last from 4 to 6 weeks.
Do Knotless Box Braids Damage Hair?
Knotless braids are less likely to cause breakage and damage your hair because they don’t require as much tension.
