French Curls

What French curls are

French curl is a finish on top of a base braid, either box or knotless.¹ Your stylist braids your hair and adds extension hair with a long, loose spiral curl, so the curls hang free from the braid. It is a close cousin of boho braids.¹

The curls are what make it. They add volume and softness, 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

Soft, romantic and full, with the curls moving freely through the lengths.

The curls add weight as well as volume, and longer, heavier hair pulls harder on the hairline.² Shorter lengths feel lighter.

Who they suit

French Curls is a good choice if:

• you want a soft, romantic finish with a lot of movement
• you are happy to spend a minute every day or two on your curls
• you like a fuller, curlier look 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 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.³ The braid care guide explains how to tell if your scalp is ready.

Length and time

Length changes the time and the weight. Longer hair hangs heavier from the hairline, so shorter lengths are gentler.² Your stylist balances length and curl volume with you. If you are unsure, add a note when you book.

Your French Curls install, step by step

The whole appointment takes about 5 to 6 hours, and most clients read, work or watch something.

1. Arrival and chat. We confirm your look, length and hair history.
2. Assessment. Before any braiding, your stylist checks strand support, density, breakage, your hairline and your scalp.
3. Preparation. Your hair is cleansed, conditioned and blow-dried straight.
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 is made and the curly extension is added 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 French Curls grow out

Dermatologists advise taking any braids out within 6 to 8 weeks.² The curls look freshest in the first weeks and need more care as new growth shows at the root.¹

Looking after French Curls

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 French Curls 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.³ 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.

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.

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. 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 Afro Boho braids guide, the knotless braids guide, or the braid care guide.