For the longest time, people have been braiding their hair to protect it from heat, damage, and breakage.
Braiding hair has been a one-stop solution for people who have long and unmanageable hair.
There are various braiding styles that you may want to try out, but the first braids that were used on African hair were the box braids.
Box braids have been very helpful for the longest time. It has protected our hair and scalp from the scorching heat of the sun. It protected our hair from extreme damage and intense dryness in dire times.
Then came the knotless braids.
People fell in love with the knotless braids as soon as they came into existence. The knotless braids felt like an upgrade from the box braids.
Knotless braids were less bulky. They were easier on the scalp, and they looked pretty cool too.
If your curiosity is killing you to solve the mystery of the differences between the knotless box braids and the box braids, you must read this entire article.
In this article, we will understand the difference between these braids. We will also decipher which braid is better for you and better in general, and we will come across a few knotless braids and box braids to inspire you to pick up what you like.
Table of Contents
Difference Between Knotless Braids Vs Box Braids
Knotless braids are basically box braids that are braided without the knots. These braids begin with your natural hair, and you add in the fake hair as you go. You will add as much hair as you need, depending on how long and thick you want it to be.
These braids are painless, easy to take care of, and great for your scalp. They do not cause inflammation on your scalp as no knots are involved in this braid.
Box braids are braids that require knots. You have to tie tight knots on small strands of hair to braid them. The knots cause inflammation on your scalp. The main goal of this braid is to protect your hair, but it can cause damage too. The tight knots may lead to hair breakage and turn your hair frizzy.
Below are a few knotless braids vs box braids that you can look at to get inspiration for your next braid appointment:
Knotless Braids
Knotless braids are good for your hair growth and blood circulation, and it prevents your hair from being damaged.
It is great looking, and it puts less pressure on the roots of your hair due to less bulk. Below are a few great knotless Braids that you can choose to get your next hairstyle.
Middle Part
The middle-parted knotless braids are very popular right now. They make you look posh and elegant. If you wear your knotless braids in this style, you can show off your long braids.
The middle parting is the easiest to style and manage. This style is a classic because it looks great with almost all hairstyles.
If you are confused about how to style your hair, you can just part it in the middle and let it flow naturally.
Side Part
The side part is an all-time favorite for people who are all about angles. This style makes your face look smaller and adds dimensions to your structure.
If your face is round then the side part is perfect for you. It makes you look sexy, and sensuous and exudes elegant energy.
The knotless braids go hand in hand with the side-parted style, and you look absolutely gorgeous in this style.
Pulled back
The pulled-back style is different, it is unique, and it is super stylish. This style seems like an adaptation of a hairstyle when it is pulled back with the help of a hairband. Except, here you braid the top half of your hair and let the rest flow naturally.
This knotless braid hairstyle is perfect for all settings. You can wear this style to a wedding, a picnic or just when you go out for a walk in the park.
If you are more into the street-chic vibe, you can wear a pair of ripped jeans with tank tops which will look great with this hairstyle. You can tie up the whole look with a pair of Nike Jordans, and get ready to rock the day.
High Bun
The high bun is another great style to wear your knotless braids in. It is fun and exciting. It is a perfect style if you want to go out shopping or just hang out with friends. It is an almost half updo hairstyle, except you do a high bun here.
If you like to read and remain unbothered by the hair that keeps getting into your eye, this style is made just for you.
It holds your hair securely in a bun, and it does not allow the little one to poke you in the eye every now and then.
This is also a great hairstyle that you can wear to an arcade where you have to do a lot of physical activity or on a coffee date where you can sit and talk.
Big Bun
The big bun is a great way to style your hair for fancy occasions. A lot of the time, girls who have braids become clueless when it comes to styling their hair.
The braids itself is such an amazing look, but the big bun just makes it more posh and presentable. You can wear this hairstyle to a high-end party or an important meeting where you need to look the best to lock a deal.
This is a very easy style to achieve. You barely need to spare two minutes to get a perfect big bun. All you have to do is gather all your hair, twist it and form a big.
You now have to secure your bun in place with bobby pins to make it long-lasting. You are now ready to flaunt your marvelous hairstyle and receive compliments for this beautiful look.
Box Braids
Box Braids have been famous for a few decades now, probably more than a few decades. It has been helping us tackle and protect our hair for ages.
The box braids are great, but the only drawback it has is that we require knots to achieve these braids.
Other than the knots everything else is great. To find your next style, have a look at these box braids that I gathered for you:
Jumbo
The Jumbo box braids bring more volume to your hair. It makes your hair look extra volumized and textured.
The Jumbo braids are a sensation, and people love them. One of the main reasons is that this style does not make your hair look flat or dull.
You could style this look with a black side slit satin dress and a pair of Louboutins if you plan on going to a party in the evening.
If you plan to go out with friends, you can just tie up your jumbo box braids and match them up with a white t-shirt, black ripped jeans, and a pair of sneakers.
Waves
If you are tired of the same old box braids, your solution is here. The waves are a great way to renew the box braids and make them look more interesting.
It is a different take on your generic box braids. The waves make your braids look 10 times better, and the best about the waves is that anyone can rock this style.
It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 or 50 years old. If you like it, you get it. You can wear this style on any occasion and at any event.
If you have a kid with long hair, you could do a fun activity with them, and you could both get the same hairstyle and bond over it.
Triangles
The triangles are another twist on the box braids. These are similar to making box-shaped partitions, but instead of using the box shapes, the person chooses to use other shapes.
For example, triangles are my favorite because it is easier to make triangle partitions compared to the box-shaped partitions for me.
It is not just easy but quite playful too. Your hairstyle looks more aesthetic with the triangles, and it becomes pretty noticeable from far away.
Angled Bob
The angled bob looks fantastic when your hair is in braids. The amalgamation of these two beautiful hairstyles just takes your whole look to a different level.
It is super stylish, sleek, and very modern. This hairstyle is perfect for disco nights, raves, or a romantic date night.
If you like this style and want to try it out, you must show it to your hairstylist and ask them to help you out with it.
The angled bob adds dimensions to your facial structure and makes your face look slim and contoured. So, don’t waste more time and go to your nearest parlor to get the best hairstyle in town.
Bow Bun
Have you tried all the styles out there to make your box braids look interesting? Well, you haven’t seen this one yet. This is the cutest-looking bun, and people are loving it.
The bow bun style has recently gained fame on social platforms and has become the talk of the town amongst the braided community. If you want to light up your hair game, you must go for this style.
Don’t be left behind on the bow bun trend when all your friends think it is the best style for you to try out.
If you think you cannot achieve this style on your own, you can ask for help from one of your parents, siblings, or friends, if needed.
How To Do Knotless Braids?
Doing knotless braids at home is a great way to save money. You will just have to spend it on locs to make your braids longer. Now, before you jump right into it, you have to prepare your hair for braiding.
- Before you begin any braid on your hair, you have to make sure it is well washed and properly cleaned. There should be no remnants of your shampoo or anything you used earlier on your hair, left.
- Moisturize your scalp. It is an essential step to moisturize your scalp because it may dry out and become itchy. A bad scalp leads to bad hair. Hence, you must make sure that your scalp is well moisturized using the best oils and oil sprays.
- Keep your packs of fake hair nearby because you will need to use them. You can buy the freetress water wave hair pack. Depending on the length, you may require at least 3 packs. More for longer braids.
- You must have your mousse, hair gel, oils, sprays, and Shine N Jam around you to make the neatest braids.
Now that you have prepared your hair, Read the steps below to get the best looking knotless braids on your own:
Step 1: Part your hair into multiple sections, depending on how thick or thin you want your braid to be.
Step 2: Use Shine N Jam to make a perfect section and start braiding the small sections. Once you have braided it twice, you add the fake hair from here on, and you braid everything down.
Step 3: Repeat the braiding for all the sections, and voila! You have your knotless braids.
The knotless braid is not very difficult to do, but it is a lengthy process, and you should do it with care.
Your hair will look so much better with this hairstyle, and it will be protected in the process too.
You can tie up your braids in a ponytail or any other style, and it will not hurt your scalp as these are knotless braids.
How To Do Box Braids On Your Own?
If you want to know how to do box braids on your own, you have to read the simple steps mentioned below.
The first thing before you start doing your braid is to prep your hair. You can follow the same preparation steps for box braids as mentioned above for knotless braids.
Once you are done preparing your hair, you can now follow these simple steps to box braid your hair:
To do the box braids, you will need a pack of pre-stretched hair, lots of rubber bands, a comb, and patience because this will take some time. Follow the simple steps below to do box braids on your own:
Step 1: First, you should part your hair in multiple sections.
Step 2: Use the elastic bands to tie all your parted hair in sections.
Step 3: Take the hair from the pack and separate them into the same number of sections as the partition of your hair.
Step 4: Now wrap that hair tight to the roots of your hair like a knot and start braiding your hair.
Step 5: Repeat the same action for all partitions until you are done with braiding all your hair.
Following the simple steps mentioned above, you can very easily box braid your hair.
FAQs
This article covers everything about knotless braids vs box braids. There is information about how these two differ, and which one is better for your hair depending on its type. You also come across simple steps to do these braids on your own.
Even though this article has all the information, below are some questions that you might want to check out for your reference.
How long do knotless braids and box braids last?
Ans. Both of these braids stay for a long time if you take good care of them. The knotless braids can stay for as long as two months. The box braids will stay intact for 2-3 months, and if it is well taken care of, they may last for more than two months.
Knotless braids vs box braids, which one is better for me?
Ans. If you have a sensitive scalp and it is not in very good condition, knotless braids are your best bet. But if you want to get box braids, you have to ask your hairstyle to box braid your hair, but with loose knots, so your roots don’t get inflamed.
Knotless braids vs box braids, which one is more expensive?
Ans. The expense of both these braids change depending on the type of products you use and how long your braids are.
Usually, they cost around $150 to $400, and the amount may increase for knotless braids. Knotless braids take longer. Hence, they cost more than traditional box braids.
Verdict
Considering both the styles and learning about their differences, it is the best advice that you go for knotless braids.
The knotless braids vs box braids both are great, but the knotless braids serve your hair better and will keep your hair healthier for longer.
The box braids can also be painless and easy to handle, just request your hairstylist to braid them without knots or make the knots as loose as possible.
Either way, both the braiding styles are great, and if you like one better than the other already, you know what you have to do.
You should not get a hairstyle just because it is trending. You may end up not liking it, and you would also have to wear it for months. So, think carefully before you make any rash decision.
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