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How Long Does Each Box Braid Last? It Depends on Their Size

Here's How Long Your Box Braids Can Last, According to Their Size

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: Zendaya attends the 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Box braids are one of the most convenient protective styles out there and come in handy when you want to leave your natural hair alone for a few weeks. They're also incredibly easy to style even when your ends are tucked away. Still, if you're someone who's never had them before, there's a lot to think about when getting them for the first time. That includes researching which hairstylist you should trust to do the job, how you want them to look length and colour-wise, and more importantly, how long they'll last.

Generally speaking, when you get box braids, your hairstylist might tell you that the style will typically last around six weeks, and while that's true in terms of most styles, how long your braids last often depends on how large they are: small, medium, large, or jumbo. To get some clarity, we spoke to celebrity hairstylist and natural hair vlogger Annagjid "Kee" Taylor about which box braid sizes last the longest. Read ahead for an easy breakdown.

How Long Do Small Box Braids Last?

Per Taylor's advice, small box braids typically feature parts that are about as wide as a pencil. You can typically expect for braids this size to last between six to eight weeks depending on how you maintain them.

How Long Do Medium Box Braids Last?

Medium box braids, as Taylor explained, "will range in width from penny to nickel sized." Much like small braids, these will last you up to eight weeks.

How Long Do Large Box Braids Last?

As medium box braids are the size of a penny, a large box braid is normally the size of a quarter according to Taylor. These braid sizes typically have a shorter lifespan because the sections are much larger. "For larger braid sizes I would recommend keeping it in for four to six weeks since the sections are larger and won't have access to cleaning your scalp the way you would with smaller braids," she said.

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz
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