How do you fix flyaways in box braids?

Low-maintenance hairstyles? Yes, please! For days you don’t feel like dealing with your hair (think vacations getaways or a hectic work week), braided ‘dos are the way to go. Though the day-to-day upkeep of braids requires minimal effort, it’s only a matter of time before your tightly woven locks turn into fuzzy, frizzy hair ropes. What’s a girl to do? Not much, luckily. There are ways of maintaining neat and fresh braids without having to resort to crafting another style after a few days. To stick to your lazy gal hair routine, all you need is consistency and some occasional fine-tuning. Scroll below for our braid maintenance tips!

(via Getty)

How to Maintain Braids

Polish Your Edges

The best way to make your braids look brand new every single time is by slicking down your edges. Frizzy hairlines and flyaways hint that your braids are old. Fool ‘em all by taking an edge-control gel and brushing down your baby hairs with a toothbrush (one that’s used only for your hair).

Don’t Forget the Hairspray

Dull, dry braids are no match for a good can of hair sheen. Get into the habit of refreshing your locks with hairspray and a conditioning hair mist. This will help your hair stay healthy and hydrated while prolonging your look for another day.

Sleep in Satin

You can literally do this one in your sleep! If you want to keep your strands smooth and frizz-free, sleep on a satin pillowcase or wear a satin bonnet or scarf. Cotton pillowcases can rough up your hair cuticles and absorb all of the moisture, resulting in frizz, dryness, and dullness.

Get a Touch-Up

Cornrows or boxed, long or short, natural hair or extensions—all braids need a touch-up to stay fresh. After a couple of weeks of cornrows, it’s a good idea to redo them to sustain the look. If you’re rocking box braids, look out for frizz as that’s a clear indication that it’s time for a refresher.

Now that you know how to keep your braids fresh, HERE is how to wash them!

Braids are a popular hairstyle that is suitable for almost every hair type. This style can be easy and low-maintenance, but if you are experiencing frizz, it can be challenging to tame the problem. Learn how to fix frizzy braids and make sure your braids are sleek and smooth.

Fixing Frizzy Braids: A Summary

If you love the look of braids but hate when they get frizzy, there are simple acts you can put in place to prevent this from happening. Some of these things are easily accessible. Some may require a trip to the store or some online shopping.

1. Wash Your Hair with High-Quality Shampoo and Conditioner
2. Be Mindful about How Often You Wash Your Hair
3. Avoid Excessive Hair-Damaging Practices
4. Deep-Condition Regularly
5. Silk Pillowcases/Sheets
6. Get Regular Trims
7. Use Soft Elastics
8. Incorporate Gel Into Your Braids
9. Protect Your Hair From Pool Water
10. Avoid Excessive Hair Color

We understand that hair wrought with frizz can ruin the stylish look of your braids. We want to help you achieve your hair goals! You have already made the right first step by being here.

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How to Tame Frizzy Braids: 10 Tips

Likely, just one trick will not completely erase the fizzy nature of your hair when in braids. Instead, you will have to look at the entirety of your hair care routine. Here we dive in, step-by-step, on what to address to achieve frizz-free braids.

1. Wash Your Hair With High-Quality Shampoo and Conditioner

Washing your hair is when it is at its most vulnerable. The hot water opens up the hair follicles, and the products we put on it in this state will show in the appearance of our hair post-shower. 

Certain ingredients in popular shampoos and conditioners that are especially problematic are sulfates. Make sure to choose products that do not have this on the ingredient list. They dry out hair, contributing to a frizzy texture. 

As for an ingredient to look for, check if glycerin is present; it is an ideal ingredient for hydration and keeping your hair smooth in complicated styles such as braids.

Read Next: The 5 Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos in 2022

2. Be Mindful About How Often You Wash Your Hair

Washing your hair every day can put a lot of stress on your strands. This stress will lead to breakage and a frizzy appearance. Don’t wash your hair every day.

Instead, try washing it every other day and using dry shampoo on the days you skip washing your hair. This habit will alleviate the damage that washing causes and decrease the frizz in your style. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to how often you should wash your hair.

Although washing every other day will work for many people, it may not work for you. Visibly oily or dirty hair indicates your hair does better with an everyday wash routine.

Read Next: Take Our “How Often Should I Wash My Hair Quiz”

3. Avoid Excessive Hair-Damaging Practices

The positive thing about wearing your hair in braids is the lack of heat in the styling process. Heat is the primary way most people damage their hair. These damaging practices include acts such as hair straightening, curling, and blow-drying.

If you are doing these things often, try finding heatless styles. You are already on the right path by wearing braids. These are great styles to protect your hair.

Heat styling leads to breakage over time. This breakage causes the hair to be frizzy and unruly. Minimizing breakage by avoiding hot tools and styles will advance you to frizz-free braids.

Read Next: How to Plop Your Hair

4. Deep-Condition Regularly

Deep conditioners are the perfect tool when looking for hydration in your hair. Typically, you will apply them in the shower after your shampoo and instead of your regular conditioner.

The deep conditioner will sit in your hair for a few minutes before being rinsed. Hydrated hair is much less likely to have frizz that will disrupt the appearance of braids. Deep conditioners also prevent and heal split-ends.

Split-ends are when your hair frays at the end of the shaft. This fraying leads to breakage, frizziness, and overall unhealthy appearing hair. Try a deep conditioner that will hydrate and heal damaged hair.

Read Next: How to Deep Condition Your Hair

5. Silk Pillowcases and Sheets

One trick to keep your braids smooth might seem unconventional, but it works wonders. Try switching cotton pillowcases and bedsheets for silk ones. The silk texture against your hair is much less damaging and has less friction than cotton. Less friction will keep your hair smooth all night and into the morning.

6. Get Regular Trims

Trimming your hair often is one of the simplest ways we can reduce frizz and unattractive-looking hair. Trims can be done by your regular stylist or yourself at home if you learn how to do them yourself.

Regular trimming will prevent split-ends and breakage. Trims will not impair the ability of your hair to grow long and may even help it grow longer than it would without being regularly trimmed.

7. Use Soft Elastics

Many braid styles require elastics to be tied at the end to hold up the design throughout the day. Often, these elastics will be small plastic pieces that resemble everyday rubber bands. While cheap and practical, these can damage hair due to their grip and difficulty to remove.

Try opting for elastics that have a soft fabric over the stretchy material. This soft fabric will make the removal process painless. Additionally, soft elastics are often more attractive.

8. Incorporate Gel Into Your Braids

Another product that can smooth the look and feel of your braids is a simple gel. Hair gel is available for cheap at almost any store. Once your braid is complete, take a small amount of gel and run it over the style. This practice will not only hold frizz at bay but also prolong the life of your braids. 

9. Protect Your Hair From Pool Water

It can be tempting to dive into the pool without thinking about the effect of the harsh chemicals on your hair. However, continued exposure to pool water can dry your strands leading to frizz and breakage.

If you regularly swim in a pool, try using a swim cap to protect your hair. This tip is especially emphasized in the summer when the pool water chemicals mix with blistering heat and sunlight.

Read Next: Can You Swim With Box Braids?

10. Avoid Excessive Hair Color

Coloring your hair is fun and a creative way to express yourself. However, continuously coloring your hair is stressful for the health of the strands. This damage is particularly relevant when you are bleaching your hair lighter than its normal state.

To avoid this damage from taking place, try rocking with your natural color. Some hair experts say that the natural color you are born with is the color that will most fit your skin tone and eye color anyway.

If you love to dip your toes in the world of hair color, try not to do it too often and space it out to give your hair breaks.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Here we answer some frequently asked questions about hair braiding and how to keep braids frizz-free.

Learning how to braid your hair can take some time and effort. For some, it comes naturally. For others, it can be a daunting task that takes a lot of practice to master. The best way to learn is hands-on! Try watching online video tutorials and sitting in front of a mirror. The mirror allows you to see what goes on during the process.

There are endless types of hair. Therefore, some hair types will have much more of a frizz problem than others. This variation is expected and normal. Some hair types that experience more frizz than others are curly and kinky. This frizz is due to the pattern of the hair.

Braids do not have a time limit on how long they can stay in place. However, they may get messy and need to be re-done after sleeping on them or being physically active. If your braids look great the next day, don’t be afraid to wear them again.

Braids are not damaging to hair as long as they are not too tight on certain textures. Thin hair should not be pulled back into very tight braids as this can lead to unnecessary hair damage. When braiding your hair, it will be possible to tell what is working and what won’t. If you notice pain or discomfort, loosen your braid.

In a broad sense, any hair type can be braided. However, the hair type should be in mind when choosing the braid. Some hair types may also be simpler to braid than others.

So, How Do You Fix Frizzy Braids?

There are several ways to reduce the frizz in your hair which will make your braid styles sleek and smooth. Pay attention to the products you use daily, how often you wash your hair, and get a good trim routine. You’ll be on the path to frizz-free braids in no time.