Afro Boho braids

What Afro Boho braids are

Boho braids combine neat braiding with loose, curly strands for a full, soft look. Boho is a finish on top of a base braid, either box or knotless.¹ At our salon the base is knotless: your own hair at the root, with extension added a little at a time, and curl blends worked in so the curls fall loose through the lengths.³

The curls are what set this style apart. They add volume and texture, and they need more day-to-day care than a plain braid.¹

Our curls can be human hair or synthetic. Human hair curls can be refreshed with water, and synthetic curls frizz faster. Human hair costs more.¹ Ask us which suits your budget and how much daily care you want to give.

How they look and feel

Full, soft and textured, with natural movement through the lengths. The curls make the style look fuller than a plain braid of the same size.

Because the curls add volume, they also add weight, and longer, heavier hair pulls harder on the hairline.² Shorter lengths feel lighter.

See the look.

These images are illustrations, not photographs of our clients.

Who they suit

Afro Boho is a good choice if:

• you want a bold, natural look with texture and movement
• you are happy to spend a minute every day or two on your curls
• you like a fuller finish than a plain braid

If you want a low-maintenance style, a plain knotless braid asks less of you. If your hairline is fine or tender, ask for a shorter length, because the curls add weight.²

If your scalp is sore, itchy or inflamed, or you had a chemical treatment in the last one to two weeks, wait and talk to us first.⁴ The braid care guide explains how to tell if your scalp is ready.

Size changes the look. Length changes the time.

Smaller braids mean more braids and more places for curls to tangle, a longer install and a longer take-down.⁴¹ Larger braids mean fewer, fuller braids and, as a general rule, less pull on each root.²

Length changes the time and the weight. Your stylist balances size, length and curl volume with you.

Your Afro Boho install, step by step

The whole appointment takes about 4 to 6 hours, and most clients read, work or watch something.

1. Arrival and chat. We confirm your look, length and hair history. You do not need to wash your hair first, because the wash is included.
2. Assessment. Before any braiding, your stylist checks strand support, density, breakage, your hairline and your scalp.
3. Wash, condition and blow-dry. Your hair is cleansed, conditioned and blow-dried straight. Straighter hair is easier to blend with the extension.³
4. Planning. Your look becomes section sizes, a fibre plan and a plan for how full the curls should be.
5. Braiding with curls. Each braid starts from your own hair, with extension added a little at a time, and the curl blends are worked in so the curls fall loose. Tension is checked section by section as we go.
6. Finishing and home care. We shape and set the curls and check the ends. You leave with a finished style and a walk-through of curl care and warning signs.

As your Afro Boho braids grow out

Looking after Afro Boho braids

The curls are the part that needs you. They tangle, starting at the nape.¹ Every day or two:

• Mist the curls with water, scrunch in a little mousse, and separate them with your fingers.¹
• Check the nape, where tangles start, and loosen any knots gently from the ends.
• Mist your scalp lightly between the braids every 2 to 3 days.
• Cover your hair at night with a satin bonnet or scarf, pulled on loosely.²
• Pain, stinging, crusts or tenting mean the braids are too tight. Tell us, or take them out early.²

The seasons in Pretoria, the gym, the pool, sleep and the warning signs are all in the braid care guide.

Taking Afro Boho braids out

Open each braid from the ends up towards the root. Allow extra time at the nape, where curls tangle most, and use slip to separate them before you cleanse.¹

Taking braids out yourself takes far longer than people expect. If you remove medium braids on your own, it can take four to six hours, because each braid is opened one at a time, and smaller braids take longer.⁴ Many people dread it, put it off and wear the style too long.

Why the take-down matters, and how a careful one goes, is in the braid care guide.

Afro Boho against other styles

Words used in this guide

Extension (or fibre): the synthetic or human hair added to your own hair to make a braid longer and fuller.

Strand support and density: how strong each strand is, and how much hair you have in each section.

Curl blends: curly extension hair mixed into the braid to add texture.

Slip: a slippery conditioner or detangling product that helps hair separate without pulling.

Take-down: taking the braids out.

Unplait: to open braids back out into loose hair.

Sources

1. Luxe Digital Editorial Team, Braids for Black Women: 24 Styles, From Box Braids to Fulani, Luxe Digital, 30 September 2026.
2. American Academy of Dermatology, Hairstyles that pull can lead to hair loss. Updated 6 November 2024.
3. Florie Mwanza, Are knotless braids the low-tension answer to box braids?, Stylist, 20 May 2022. Quotes afro hairstylist Gemma Moodie of Neville Hair and Beauty.
4. Diane C. Bailey, Milady Standard Natural Hair Care and Braiding, Cengage Learning, 2014.

Keep reading

If something here gave you pause, one of these may suit you better: the knotless braids guide, the box braids guide, the French Curls guide, or the braid care guide.