Figuring out how much hair to buy can be a pain! Life’s already a puzzle, so we figured we’d help take the guesswork out of the process with our complete hair-buying guide. Whether you’re getting box braids, cornrows, crochets or a weave, we’ll break down how many packs or bundles you’ll need and share our mobile hairstylists’ favorite go-to brands. (Yup, we have an at-home hairstyling service currently serving NYC, check it out here). If you’re a a stylist and need more clients, apply to join our platform. Show
Note: This post has been updated to reflect new guidelines for Goddess Boho Box Braids. Jump Ahead:
Side Bar: Braiding Hair Brands We Love
Oh by the way 👋🏾, if you’re thinking about getting a protective style, our short film, Pretty Shouldn’t Hurt, is a must-watch. Also learn all about safe protective styling here. Sometimes The Answer Can VaryOne important thing to keep in mind when buying hair (especially when it comes to braids), is that the amount of hair needed can vary from person to person. Why? Because God made us all unique in our own way! 😉 No, but really, it largely depends on three important factors:
Once you’ve taken these factors into account, you then need to determine what look you’re going for. So for weaves and crochets for example, do you want Diana Ross-type volume, a super-sleek look or something in between? It’s a lot to think about, but no matter your texture, our recommendations take into account buying a little more than needed because it’s always better to have too much hair, than too little in this case. As for braids, there may be slight differences in texture and bulk among Kanekalon (synthetic) hair fibers, but for the most part, the standard weight manufacturers put in each pack of hair usually ranges between 3-4 ounces. What Type of Hair Should I Buy?Before we get into how much hair to buy, let’s first start by answering what type of hair to buy! The market is littered with tons of braiding hair brands but some brands in particular that stand out above the rest for cornrows and box braids include: Yeluchi By Un-ruly – Yep! That’s right. We now have our very own line of pre-bundled, hypoallergenic, braiding hair that’s client tested and approved. It takes the guesswork out of shopping for hair by letting you buy all the hair you need for your favorite braided styles in one easy click! We also love X-pression by Outre pre-stretched braiding hair, and EZ Braid Professional (also pre-stretched). The Yeluchi line of braiding hair is convenient because a little goes a long way (each pack consists of 85g of hair), and it’s also hypoallergenic so you don’t have to worry about pre-soaking your hair before it’s used. The main difference between X-pression and other kanekalon brands on the market is its length, the amount of hair in the pack, and its silkier texture. However, it is still a synthetic fiber which means it may have been coated in Alkaline Lye during production, which is what causes scalp irritation for those who have sensitive skin. To avoid this, we recommend soaking the hair in a large bowl of warm water with 1 cup of apple cider vinegar for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water and let dry. EZ Braid Professional on the other hand, is made of Spetra fiber—a patented no-itch, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal fiber that mimics human hair. It’s super-soft to the touch, and did we mention, it does not itch? *Heads Up: In rare cases, some people can have an allergic reaction to synthetic hair, in that it can cause itching and in some cases rashes. If you’re not sure if you might be allergic to synthetic hair, you can rinse the hair gently with apple cider vinegar the night before. That tends to help. How Much Hair Should I Buy For Braids?Box BraidsBox braids aren’t just for vacation anymore. In fact, they’re taking the lead as a go-to style for summer, winter, spring or fall. They’re just so versatile and an easy protective style. Traditional or knotless box braids are probably the trickiest style when it comes to buying hair. You can get them super long, down to your hip/waist or just under your chin. Not to mention the various sizes of the braid (check out our in-depth box braid style guide). To take the guess work out of how much to buy for each width and length, check out the pre-bundled options from the Yeluchi Box Braids & Twists collection. Medium Width
Jumbo Width
**Note: The fuller you want your braids, the more hair you’ll use. But also keep in mind you’ll be adding more weight and thus tension to your strands. Goddess Boho Box BraidsIf you’re interested in getting goddess boho box braids with wavy ends a.k.a “Zoe Kravitz Box Braids,” you can achieve them with curly or wavy human hair bundles such as Shake-N-Go 100% Virgin Human Bulk by braiding each braid down to a certain point, then leaving the ends loose. **Refer to the recommended quantities for box braids.** If you’re not a fan of human hair or you’re price-sensitive, you can either opt for synthetic braiding hair that’s already curled such as Bobbi Boss King Body Wave braiding hair or their Ocean Wave option (*Important: Be sure that your stylist secures the ends with a slip knot). Another way to achieve wavy ends, is with traditional pre-stretched, synthetic braiding hair such as X-pression by Outre or The Yeluchi line. You can either curl the ends with perm rods or flexi rods and set them with hot water; or braid the ends into one large braid, set them with hot water and then loosen. **Note: The fuller you want your braids, the more hair you’ll use. But also keep in mind you’ll be adding more weight and thus tension to your strands. Senegalese & Marley TwistsLike Box Braids, Senegalese Twists are a great way to add length with a protective style. For that shiny sleek look, X-pression by Outre pre-stretched braiding hair works really well and you can follow the quantity guidelines for box braids. They can be braided at the ends and dipped in hot water to help them stay in place. For Marley Twists, however, hair that’s a little coarser in texture and has more friction, such as 5-6 packs of Cuban Twist Braid Hair (double twist style) produces the best results. Passion TwistsPassion Twists (also known as spring twists) are what happens when Senegalese twistsand goddess locs get together. They’re a new form of two-strand twists that are done using wavy hair extensions, creating a boho look with more texture. 3-4 packs of passion twist crochet hair is more than enough to create a nice full look. Some brands we love include: Yebo spring twist crochet hair, VRUnique spring twists and Bobbi Boss Brazilian Deep Twist. Note: If you’re interested in Crochet Passion Twists, be sure to get pre-twisted hair such as Bomb Twist Crochet Hair. Feed-In CornrowsLet’s keep things moving, shall we? Maybe you’re thinking about keeping things simple with basic feed-in cornrows or getting something a little more elaborate, such as a braided updo, Fulani or Lemonade braids? Here’s the breakdown of what’s needed for each style.
Feed-In cornrows (less than 10 braids) 48 inches
A style like this would require one 2-in-1 pack of hair, depending on how long and think you want the braids
Feed-in cornrows (2 braids)
Fulani BraidsFor Fulani braids you can purchase 4-6 single packs of X-pression By Outre pre-stretched braiding hair. Same goes for EZ Braid Professional or you can simply get this bundle from Yeluchi the line.
Fulani braids usually requires 2-3 singular packs of X-pression pre-stretched braiding hair
Braided up ‘do usually requires 2 packs of singular X-pression pre-stretched hair
Lemonade Braids 🍋Thanks to a certain mega-star from Houston Texas–ahem, Beyoncé–these braids (which were aptly named after her groundbreaking album) are a go-to style. You can purchase 2-3 single packs of X-pression By Outre pre-stretched braiding hair. Same goes for EZ Braid Professional or you can simply get this pre-bundled pack from the Yeluchi line. Braided UpdoFor a braided (or cornrowed) updo, you can purchase 1-2 single packs of X-pression By Outre pre-stretched braiding hair. Same goes for EZ Braid Professional or you can simply get this pre-bundled pack from the Yeluchi line. Did you know?
How Much Hair Should I Buy For Crochets?We love crochets because they’re easier to DIY than a weave install and are the ultimate time hack when it comes to box braids, twists and goddess locs. Learn more about crochets and our favorite brands. How much crochet hair varies depending on the texture and brand, but the general average is 5-6 single packs.
Deep wave (weave-like) crochets
Crochet braids with invisible part
How Much Hair Should I Buy For a Weave?We wrote everything you need to know about weaves in case you’re starting from scratch. For those that already have a basic understanding, peep the breakdown below and our brand recommendations to achieve the look you’re going for.
Full weave install with leave out
Here’s A Name and Bio blah blah Blah
A Full Weave Install
3 Things To Keep in Mind When It Comes To Buying Weave
Kinky Hair Brands We RecommendHeat Free Hair produces 100% virgin hair extensions exclusively for natural textures. What’s really cool about their brand is they own the factory that makes Heat Free Hair and are the creative directors of the entire operation– from sourcing the right kind of hair, to fulfillment. In addition to Heat Free Hair, we also love Curlkalon, Lavy Hair Extensions, Kurly Klips (clip-ins but throwing them in anyway), Bella Kurls Hair Extensions, and April Lace Wigs. Read more and find out pricing for each brand here. Straight Brands We RecommendFor straight hair, we recommend brands such as Mayvenn. They have straight to curly options. Sunny’s Hair is also great; they have straight to kinky options and Boho Exotic Studio is a stylist favorite (update: The recently announced wholesale prices to all!) If you’re looking for wholesale prices, you may want to try your luck with AliExpress (read our AliExpress hair buying guide). Did you know?
Some Tips on MaintenanceWe’re going to close this thing out by providing a word of caution and some tips for protecting your protective style, to get more mileage out of your new ‘do!
How much hair do I need for medium box braids?How Many Packs Of Hair For Medium-Sized Box Braids? It also depends on the size of the hair. If you want medium size braids, then 6-7 would be enough. However, as a rule of thumb, it is wise to get a little more than what you think you'll need to be on the safe side.
How many braids are in medium box braids?Medium : 2-3 rows at the nape | 5 rows at the top. Small : 3 rows at the nape | 6 rows at the top. Xtra Small : 4 rows at the nape | 7 rows at the top.
How many packs of hair do you need for medium knotless box braids?Many stylists suggest 5-7 packs of X-pression pre-stretched braiding hair for medium/long knotless braids and four packs for shorter styles.
Is 4 packs of braiding hair enough?For a fuller look, three (3) packs is recommended, although you may not end up using it all. If you're buying bundles, on average three (3) bundles should do, but you may use 2-4, depending on fullness and length. Generally, for long or full hair, four bundles is usually best.
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