Boxer Braids Step By Step

Only a few short months ago, the term “boxer braids” was not even in our vocabulary, but that feels like a lifetime ago. Now boxer braids have become a cool-girl staple—the It braid you need in your hairstyle repertoire (the Kardashians are huge fans). There’s only one issue: They’re not exactly intuitive. How many times have you started with the intention of creating boxer braids and halfway through realized you’re actually just french-braiding. No more. We called in the L.A.’s most in-demand hair guru, Anh Co Tran (he’s the one responsible for those perfectly imperfect beach waves you see all over Instagram) to show precisely how it’s done—step by step. And we spared no detail.

Scroll through to see how easy it is to do boxer braids!

Part

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Start with center-parted hair. Use a comb to make sure your part is straight all the way back to the nape of your neck. Split your hair so you have one section over each shoulder.

Section

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Grab three small pieces (about half an inch or less) at your hairline.

Dutch Braid

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The key point to remember with Dutch braids is that weave each piece under, rather than over (basically the opposite of a French braid). The piece on the right goes under the middle, and then piece on the left goes under that.

Continue Braiding

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Repeat the pattern of crossing the right section under the middle strand, and then the left section under the middle strand. Keep adding more hair (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch) from the root every time you weave a new section.

Regular Braid

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Once you reach the nape of your neck, switch to a regular three-strand braid.

Secure

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Tie it off at the end clear hair tie. We love the ones from Blax

Other Side

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Repeat the process on the other side.

Keep Braiding

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Maintain tension as you braid—the tighter the better. You can always loosen them up when you’re done.

Done

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If you want your boxer braids a little messier, just pull the loops to open them up.

Keep scrolling for bonus tutorial on how to take your boxer braids from day to night!

Start

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Start with braided hair.

Crisscross

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Grab each braid and pull them across your head to the opposite side.

Place

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Lift the tails up, lining them up against the inside edge of the existing braid.

Pin

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Using bobby pins , pin the ends of each braid into the braid it’s lined up next to. Insert the pin in a downward motion, away from your face—the pin should go into the braid so you don’t see it.

All Done

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And that’s it! Your beautiful boxer-braid updo is complete