The short answer
Boho braids, short for bohemian braids, are braids with soft, loose, curly strands of hair left out along their length, giving a relaxed, romantic, undone look rather than a fully sleek one. They are usually made as knotless braids or box braids with wavy or curly hair added in at intervals so that curls escape from the braid, creating that signature bohemian effect. The look is soft, natural and effortless, and it can be worn long or short, in different braid sizes, and with more or fewer curls. Like other braided styles they are protective, tucking the natural hair away. Braiders offering boho braids work in salons and from home across the UK.
What to remember
- Boho braids, short for bohemian braids, are braids with soft, loose, curly strands left out for a relaxed look.
- They are usually made as knotless or box braids with curly hair added so curls escape along the braid.
- The effect is soft, natural and romantic rather than fully sleek.
- They can be worn long or short, in different sizes, and with more or fewer curls.
- Like other braids they are protective, and they are installed by a professional braider.
For many Black women in Britain, boho braids offer a soft, romantic way to wear and protect their natural hair. There is something lovely about the effortless, curly, bohemian look, a style that feels both relaxed and beautiful, and choosing it can be a way of embracing a softer aesthetic while still giving the hair a proper rest. Along with it comes all the familiar warmth of the braiding chair, the hours of care and conversation, and the pleasure of a fresh, flattering style with curls that move.
There is heritage in it too. Braiding, and the creativity of combining braids with curls, is part of a long tradition of caring for and celebrating Afro-textured hair across the diaspora, and boho braids are a modern, soft-textured chapter in that story. Finding a braider who understands the hair and can create that beautiful bohemian finish, and wearing a style that both looks good and protects the hair underneath, is a small act of self-care and self-expression. That soft, romantic beauty, rooted in the tradition of protective braiding, is the quiet gift of boho braids.
What are boho braids?
Boho braids take the classic braided style and soften it. Instead of a neat, uniform braid all the way down, boho braids have loose, curly or wavy strands of hair left out at intervals along the braid, so soft curls spill out here and there, giving a relaxed, tousled, bohemian look. The braids themselves are usually knotless braids or box braids, and the curly pieces are what transform them into the boho version. The result sits somewhere between the sleekness of ordinary braids and the softness of loose curly hair, and that undone, romantic quality is exactly the appeal.
The style has become extremely popular for its effortless, natural feel and its versatility. Boho braids can be long or short, thick or fine, worn with lots of curls for a very soft, wild look or with just a few for something more subtle, and they can be styled up or left down. Because they combine braids with curly pieces, they read as both put-together and relaxed at once. They sit within the wider world of braiding we cover in our guides to knotless braids, box braids, and Fulani braids.
How the bohemian look is created
The signature of boho braids is the curly strands, and understanding how they are added helps you understand the style. As the braider works down each braid, they leave out small sections of curly or wavy hair, either from added curly braiding hair or from human-hair curls worked in, so that instead of being braided all the way in, these pieces are left loose to curl freely. The placement, spacing and amount of these curly strands are what create the look, from a scattering of curls to a very full, soft, wavy effect.
The type of curly hair used matters too, ranging from loose waves to defined spirals, and it affects how romantic or dramatic the finished braids look. Because the curls are left out, boho braids have a softer, more organic feel than sleek braids, and no two heads look exactly the same. A skilled braider can tailor the density and pattern of curls to suit you, so it is worth discussing the exact bohemian effect you want, ideally with a reference photo, when you book. It is this clever combination of neat braid and free curl that defines the style.
Boho braids and Knotless braids
Boho braids are very often built on knotless braids, so the two are closely linked, and it helps to see the connection. Knotless braids start each braid with your own hair and feed the braiding hair in gradually, with no knot at the root, which makes them lie flat and feel lighter and gentler on the scalp than traditional box braids. Boho braids take that knotless base, or sometimes a box-braid base, and add the loose curly strands to create the bohemian look.
So you can think of boho braids as a variation that adds curls to a braided style, most often a knotless one. If you like the comfort and natural root of knotless braids but want a softer, curlier finish, boho braids are the natural choice, and our guide to knotless braids is a helpful companion for understanding the base technique. The curly pieces do add a little more weight and require the right curly hair, but the gentle, low-tension benefits of a knotless base still apply, which is part of why the combination is so popular.
How to care for your Boho Braids
Boho braids are cared for much like other added-hair protective styles, with a little extra attention to the curly pieces. The scalp should be kept clean and moisturised, with gentle cleansing and a light oil or moisturising spray to prevent dryness and itching, and wrapping the braids and curls in a satin or silk scarf at night, or using a satin pillowcase, helps reduce frizz and keeps both the braids and the curls looking their best. The loose curls can be refreshed with a little water or curl product and defined as needed, since keeping them soft and springy is part of the look.
As with all braided styles, tension matters. Braids installed too tightly can stress the hairline and edges, so it is worth asking your braider to keep the roots comfortable, especially with the added weight of the curly hair. Boho braids generally last several weeks with good care, and they should be taken down gently, with care around the curly strands, to protect the natural hair. Because they are often built on a knotless base, they are relatively kind to the hair, giving it a rest while it is tucked away, in the same spirit as the care in our guide to 4c hair.
Where to get your boho braids done in the UK
Boho braids are offered by professional braiders across Britain, in hair salons and from home, and they are a very popular request wherever there are African and Caribbean communities. Because the look depends so much on the curly hair and the placement of the loose strands, it is worth finding a braider experienced in boho braids specifically and looking at photos of their previous work, so you can see the kind of curls and bohemian effect they achieve before you book.
You can find African hair salons near you to book a braider, and for the braiding hair, the curly or wavy hair for the boho pieces, edge control, scarves and moisturising products, an Afro hair and beauty shop near you will have what you need. Bringing a reference photo showing the braid size, length and amount of curls you want, and asking that the braids not be installed too tightly, helps you and your braider agree on a look that is both beautiful and comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
What are boho braids?
Boho braids, short for bohemian braids, are braids with soft, loose, curly strands of hair left out along their length, giving a relaxed, romantic, undone look. They are usually made as knotless or box braids with curly hair added so that curls escape from the braid, creating the signature bohemian effect.
How are the bohemian curls created?
As the braider works down each braid, they leave out small sections of curly or wavy hair, from added curly braiding hair or human-hair curls, so those pieces are left loose to curl freely rather than braided in. The placement, spacing and amount of these curly strands create the look, from a few curls to a very full, soft effect.
What is the difference between boho braids and knotless braids?
Knotless braids start with your own hair and feed braiding hair in gradually, with no knot at the root, so they lie flat and feel light. Boho braids usually take that knotless base and add loose curly strands to create a bohemian look. So boho braids are often a curly variation built on knotless braids.
How do you care for boho braids?
Keep the scalp clean and moisturised with gentle cleansing and a light oil or spray, and wrap the braids and curls in a satin scarf at night, or use a satin pillowcase, to reduce frizz. Refresh the loose curls with a little water or curl product, keep the tension comfortable, and take the braids down gently around the curly strands.
Where can I get boho braids in the UK?
Professional braiders offer boho braids in salons and from home across the UK, with the most choice in areas with African and Caribbean communities. Look for a braider experienced in boho braids, check photos of their work, pick up the curly hair from an Afro hair and beauty shop, and bring a reference photo of the look you want.
