Guest Post by Xandria Thomison
Hi! You might remember me from such guest posts as ‘10 months post Big Chop’ and hilarious photos with Kaya. Well guest what? IM BACK FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME with another guest post!
This time I want to share with you all my experience with doing my own box braids! Recently me and Kaya spent the weekend going to buy hair, and then braiding together all night and morning long in the most epic of sleepovers.
I first got the idea to do my own hair way back in 10th grade in Calgary AB. High School. What a fun time for all involved. It was summer, and I had just started transitioning to natural. I was obsessed with Jada Pinkett Smith and her bad-assery and hardcore cornrows she was currently rocking, because I was a hardcore angsty teen that needed to prove how hardcore and not here for your nonsense I was. I also wanted to hide the weird texture change in my hair. So I went downtown to the salon and paid 250$ for three lines of box braids in the back, and hardcore cornrows in the front. It was the modern 90’s black girl mullet, ooooh yeeaa. But Cinderella 1997 was my favorite movie and I wanted to be Brandy.
I looked fantastic, but unfortunately I didn’t have a phone and selfies weren’t a thing yet so I don’t have any pics, so just imagine it. I watched intently as they braided, wondering how hard it’d be to do myself. I asked how much for Brandy-esque box braids and was quoted 800$. YA RIGHT. So I decided watching once was enough for me to do the whole thing by myself next time.
The first time I tried it was a hot buttery mess. But I was not discouraged, oh no, not I angsty prove you wrong teen. So I practiced and practiced and finally by grade 12 I got to a level of ‘well that looks good enough for me!’ And ever since I have been relying on the length and cool colors to outweigh the not necessarily straight lines or evenness. It pretty much works, so you’re welcome. My trick is to just take them out before going back to the salon to buy more hair to avoid any real critique from a professional.
Whenever I go to buy my hair, I will always have a color or style in mind inspired by a celebrity, and Instagram photo, or Pinterest. And let me tell you I am very good at not sticking to my original plan at all. I get desecrated by all the colors they have and normally change my mind after 10 mins of staring at the wall and being asked if I’m ok.
I first stared with more tame natural colors like black and brown, sometimes adding a splash of dark red if I was feeling really crazy, then I moved to blonde.
And now, well, let’s say I’m a lot more adventurous now.
My most recent adventure was going with the intentions of doing a SZA ginger color and ending up with a silver Ororo Munro do instead. Oops. But it looks good so, whatever. What color is next for Lady X? Who knows! You’ll know when I know.
That’s it for today friends, I’ll seeya when I seeya!
Xoxo,
Xandria
A huge thank you to Xandria for the Guest Post! Do you think you’ll want to try doing your own box braids? If not, and you need to find a black hair salon near you, check out Ebena!
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