This was the first time I tried box braids, and it encouraged me to experiment more with my natural hair. What I learned from braiding with synthetic hair is that it is extremely important to go to a reputable stylist (unless you can do it yourself). You've got to be careful not to braid your edges and not to make the braids too tight or it totally defeats the purpose of a protective style.
To keep my braids fresh and my scalp healthy, I oil my scalp every few days with Taliah Waajid - Vitaminn E Hair & Scalp Oil (£9) and wrap my hair in a Silke Hair Wrap (£50) when sleeping. When the braids get fuzzy, I use a bit of Bouclème Curl Defining Gel (£15) on the lengths of the braids to smooth down flyaways and finish it off with Windle London Light Shine Spray (£23). I also realised that synthetic braiding hair has an alkaline coating that slowly sheds away with increased wear, and that alkaline layer can create major irritation on your scalp. To ease irritation, many people recommend soaking the braiding hair in Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother (£7) before installation. Because I'm a bit too lazy for that, I washed my scalp in apple cider vinegar after the braids had been installed, and I found it worked really well for getting rid of itchiness and dry scalp.