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So, you've decided to install your own box braids — along with plenty of other people who have had to become their own hairstylists. The best thing about putting yourself in charge of your own beauty treatments, though, is the amount of money you save. The only drawback is figuring out how to get the same salon-quality looks you'd get from a stylist at home. Box braids in particular, as well as other protective styles, are a special kind of DIY project; they're doable with the help of some handy YouTube tutorials, but it's still helpful to take some cues from a professional on the best ways to pull off your install.
We reached out to Annagjid "Kee" Taylor, celebrity hairstylist and author of All Hair Is Good Hair, for some input on which products are must-haves if you're installing your own box braids. Check them out ahead.