Boxbraid (normal/french braid version)

[Phalaenopsis]

I searched the forums and I couldn't find anything about the boxbraid aka square fourstrand braid. On the old forums I was always jealous when I saw a nice boxbraid and it surprised me there still wasn't a topic dedicated to this braid. So here a topic devoted to the boxbraid. (and sorry if I may have been blind and there is already a topic out there :o) Anyway I really really really love this one :)

And some days ago I finally managed to do one in a french braid version:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a6/naturalgirl/05_15_3.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a6/naturalgirl/05_15_4.jpg

My sister said I look like Lara Croft with that braid :bigtongue:

Anyone else who loves/hates this braid? Other example pictures are always welcome!

[Gumball]

That looks wonderful! I'm glad your fingers didn't get lost trying to do it. It really is an awesome style.

[bugeyedmonster2]

Is there a good video link (like on youtube) that shows how to do a box braid? Everytime I do a braid with written instructions, I end up with my hands tangled in my braid. Ergh. :silly: I'm a hair idiot.

(^_^)/
BEM

[eadwine]

No worries, you are not an idiot, you are just more of a visual learner, just like I am :) I need a slow thing AND done on oneself. Videos of people doing things on others do nothing for me :lol:

[Phalaenopsis]

Well yes, there are :)

This is the video of a member from the flemish/dutch hairforum mentioned in my sig, here you can see how it's done on somebody else:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMMy4Dra0Ng

And the other one which really helped me is the instructions video of Kupferzopf (also a LHC-member), but the instructions are in german (luckily I study German :D)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KinZkPE22Dk

The gist of what she is saying is: the most outer strand under the two middle strands, then that strand that just went under the two strands, goes back over one strand. then you do the same on the other side.

[eadwine]

Ohh that second video looks like it would work for me.. *crosses fingers*

Thanks!

Mind you, you did really well there :)


Edit: does anyone know if there is a slow motion button on youtube? She is going a bit too fast for me to follow along :lol:

[freznow]

Phalaenopsis, your hair is nicely thick and your braid is perfect! Makes me really want to try it but my hair would probably never come out that great.

Sorry if this is a bit OT, but how exactly do you start your french type braids? Do you get the strands from your front hairline and start there, or do you start more towards the crown of your head? And how thick do you make the strands at first?

Oh and I personally like the twisty 4 strand better :p It looks distinctly like a 4 strand, whereas this one a lot of people (note: the random people in my school, who don't know munch about braids) mistake for a 3 strand...

[Phalaenopsis]

[quote=freznow]Phalaenopsis, your hair is so thick and your braid is perfect! Makes me really want to try it but my hair would probably never come out that great.

Sorry if this is a bit OT, but how exactly do you start your french type braids? Do you get three strands from your front hairline and start there, or do you start more towards the crown of your head? And how thick do you make the strands at first?
[\quote]

Thank you :o

And oh gosh, this is hard for me to explain (english isn't exactly my mother tongue :p) Actually, I have made a french braid video for the members of the flemish/dutch forum I'm on, but those are flemish instructions. But maybe I could edit my video, so you could just see how I do it.
But I'll try to explain anyway: take your index fingers and put them on your temples and then you go through your hair and make a triangle with the tip on the pointy end of your head. Then you have enough hair to start your braid with. (You can also start earlier on your head, but that's more difficult since you have less hair to braid with.)
And then I just divide my hair in three strands.

I hope it helps. Sorry for my bad english :o

[freznow]

I understand, thank you!

I just tried the boxbraid, it worked really well! I made a hair style of the week social group for it - http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/group.php?groupid=131 - you can see my pictures there. This is a pretty neat braid, thank you for reminding me of it.

[Phalaenopsis]

Wow, that's very nice! A very beautiful, long boxbraid! I'm jealous :o

[GlassEyes]

That's a really awesome braid, and from behind I can agree with your sister. XD

[spidermom]

Beautiful! I like this braid a lot, but it isn't snug enough for my all-length hair. It becomes fluffy looking in about 45 seconds.

[Tigerdawn]

I did it!! I actually understood better with the first video. I'll have to practice a bit more and then I'll take a picture.

[Tigerdawn]

Ok, I tried a couple more times and here's what I got.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/tigerdawn47/boxbraid1.jpghttp://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j94/tigerdawn47/boxbraid2.jpg

I like it! It's really hard to make, but I like it.

[Irishred]

Tigerdawn, That looks GREAT!

I have yet to keep my fingers untied when doing this braid. I really like the look of it though.

[eadwine]

Wow, very nicely done!!

I took Kupferzopf's (sp?) video and and saved it on my desktop, then converted to half the speed.

I don't know if I will ever master this one, maybe I should try from the text again, then it may make more sense :lol:

[freznow]

I turned it into a bun!

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k132/freznow/0519080640.jpg

sorry for the blurriness, I only have my phone camera. It makes a very nice bun :D

[Anje]

I'm not a fan of boxbraids when I've tried them on myself. I think because they're more 3D than flat (like most braids), they tend to make hair appear thinner than flat braids. (Hmmm... maybe I need to go work on my 5-strand braids...)

[Phalaenopsis]

Wow, very nicely done!!

I took Kupferzopf's (sp?) video and and saved it on my desktop, then converted to half the speed.

I don't know if I will ever master this one, maybe I should try from the text again, then it may make more sense :lol:

The text makes more sense ;)
And you can see how she does it on some whooltreads
Try to take a good look at the pictures and see how she sets her fingers

@freznow: very nice! I wish my hair was already long enough to try that...

[FrannyG]

Your boxbraid is awesome. It's one of my favourite braids to do, but I'll never get one as thick as yours. Truly lovely. :flower:

BTW, it gets so much easier with practice. You'll find it will quickly become as easy as French braiding. :)

[DavidN]

What a wonderful job on your braid, Phalaenopsis, and one of these days, I need to try a braid of some kind in my hair.

[birthmarkie]

I love this braid! It reminds me of a craft we did as kids, weaving keychains. I will have to try it on my hair :D
ETA: here is the link to the "craft" I'm talking about (it is a little "out there" but I think the concepts are simlar): http://youtube.com/watch?v=qM_mLMdKPk8