Alright fam, lemme tell you about my wild ride getting these bob short box braids with curly ends done. Saw it all over my feed, right? Everyone rockin’ that juicy curl bounce at the ends. Looked so easy-breezy. Figured, “How hard can it be?” Spoiler: HARD.
The “Easy Start” That Wasn’t
Grabbed my stuff: pre-stretched braiding hair, some curly hair packs for the ends (big mistake buying the cheap stuff first), my rat tail comb, clips, edge control – the whole kit. Cleared my bathroom counter like a war zone. Started sectioning my hair. Big problem number one: Making those boxes neat on my own head? While holding a mirror? Felt like playing Twister blindfolded. My parts looked more like wobbly rivers than straight lines. Gave up after 30 minutes of misery. Ended up with like, six messy big sections instead of cute little boxes. Good enough.
Braiding Battles & Burning Scalp
Started braiding the first one. Realized my arms ain’t built for this marathon. Braiding short hair TIGHT is a workout! Near my crown? Forget it. Needed arms like Inspector Gadget. Big problem number two: Keeping the tension even. Some braids felt loose like they’d pop off any second. Others? Felt like my scalp was screaming for escape. Seriously questioning my life choices by braid number three.
Finally got the base braids done, feeling half-dead but proud. Time for the fun part? NOPE. Attaching the curly hair to the ends. Got out the little hooks. Tried threading the curly hair through the braid end… and my fingers felt like sausages. Couldn’t grip anything! Big problem number three: Knotting it secure WITHOUT making a huge, ugly knot showing. This part took FOREVER per braid.
Curly Chaos & Snip Snip Happies
Got all the curly ends attached, finally. Looked in the mirror. Disaster. Like my braids were throwing up frizzy curls. The cheap hair looked dry and sad. Panic set in. Googled frantically. Needed moisture, STAT. Drowned the curls in some leave-in conditioner spray and sealed with oil. Grabbed my shears. Took a deep breath and just started snipping.
- Cut some curls shorter so they didn’t all hit the same spot.
- Thinned out the super thick ones.
- Just kept hacking until it looked less insane.
Then I fluffed. Shook my head. Fluffed some more. Looked back in the mirror. Hold up… It kinda looked… intentional? Messy? But kinda FRESH. The curls bounced when I moved my head. They framed my face. Felt playful but still put-together.
Why This Mess Might Work For YOU
Listen, the process SUCKED. Sweat, tears, probably mild scalp injury. BUT. The result? Super low-maintenance. Wake up, fluff the curls, maybe a little oil on the braids – DONE. The short length doesn’t pull or feel heavy. Looks dope peeking out from hats and hoodies. And those curly ends? Automatic texture and movement. Makes a basic braid look way more interesting without needing a ton of beads or extra stuff. It’s giving effort, without actually needing daily effort. If you got patience and strong arms? Maybe try it. Just… buy GOOD curly hair packs!
