Updated by the AI Hairstyle team
Box Braids Try On
Box braids take time and money to install, so it helps to know how they will frame your face first. Upload a selfie and preview long box braids on your own photo. Each generation gives you 2 variations to compare, and you can pair the braids with a new hair color.
What Are Box Braids?
Box braids are individual three-strand braids, each starting from its own square or "box"-shaped section of the scalp. Extensions are usually braided in for length and fullness. They are a protective style: the ends of your own hair are tucked away inside the braids, which reduces daily handling.
Because the size, length and color of the braids change the whole look, previewing them is a good way to decide before your appointment. The preset shows long braids past the shoulders.
Things to Discuss With Your Braider
- Size: smaller braids take longer to install and look finer; larger braids are quicker and bolder.
- Length: longer braids are heavier, so think about comfort as well as the look.
- Tension: braids should not feel painfully tight; tell your braider if they pull at your hairline.
- Color: extension hair comes in many shades, so preview a color here and bring the image along.
Caring for Box Braids
- How long to keep them: braids are not meant to stay in indefinitely. Ask your braider how long your set should stay in for your hair.
- Scalp care: keep your scalp clean and moisturised the way your braider suggests, and tell them if anything feels sore or too tight.
- At night: a satin or silk scarf or bonnet helps keep the braids neat and reduces frizz.
- Hair type: braids with extensions can be done on most textures. If your hair is fine or fragile, ask about smaller, lighter braids or the knotless method, which many braiders use to reduce tension at the root.
- Taking them out: take them down gently, and many braiders suggest giving your hair a break before the next set.
Other Textured Styles to Try
The natural afro is also a preset, and you can compare it with braids on the same photo. See every option on the women's hairstyle try on page, or browse shades on the hair color changer.
See Box Braids on Your Own Photo
Each generation gives you 2 variations, and new accounts get 1 free generation. The button opens the generator with the box braids already selected.
Try Box BraidsBox Braids Try On FAQs
What do the box braids in the preview look like?
The box braids preset shows long, neat braids that hang past the shoulders, with even thickness and clean, square-shaped partings across the scalp.
Can I preview knotless, short or jumbo braids?
Not as separate presets: long box braids are the only braids preset. Use the preview to judge braids past the shoulders on your face, then talk through size, length and the knotless method with your braider.
Can I see box braids in a different color?
Yes. Every generation pairs a style with a color, so you can preview the braids in any of the 15 preset colors, such as a blonde or copper red, or pick a custom color.
Does it matter what my hair looks like in the photo?
Use a clear, front-facing photo with your hairline visible. The AI redraws the hair as braids, so your current length and texture matter less than the photo being well lit and unobstructed.
Sources
- Hairstyles that pull can lead to hair loss (American Academy of Dermatology)