How to Make Boho Braids Faster Without Losing the Full Look

The method is based on three simple steps:

1. Create larger parts in the back so you have fewer braids to complete.
2. Feed more curly pieces into each back braid to fill in the gaps.
3. Use smaller parts across the top and front to create the appearance of small boho braids throughout the entire style.

The curls provide coverage and fullness, while the smaller visible parts make the overall install look more detailed than the braid pattern underneath.

Start by separating the front and top sections from the back of the head. These visible sections will be braided later using smaller, neater parts.

In the back, create larger square or rectangular parts. Larger parts immediately reduce the total braid count because each section covers more of the head.

This is where most of the time savings come from.

You do not need to make every part perfectly small or spend too much time creating an intricate parting pattern in an area that will eventually be covered by curls. Keep the sections consistent enough for the braids to sit evenly while allowing the larger parts to reduce the number of braids required.

Because you are installing fewer braids in the back, add more curly pieces to each braid to maintain a full boho look.

Feed the curly hair into the braid close to the root instead of waiting until farther down the braid. Starting the curls near the top provides better coverage over the larger parts.

Continue adding curly pieces as you braid down. The extra curls help:

• Fill in the gaps between the braids
• Hide the larger parting spaces
• Create more volume and movement
• Make the boho braid install look fuller
• Keep the reduced braid count from being noticeable

The goal is not to make each braid thicker. The goal is to use the loose curls to fill the space between fewer braids.

Once the curls are separated and fluffed, they should cover most of the parting pattern underneath.

As you move upward from the back toward the crown, gradually make the parts smaller.

This creates a smoother transition between the larger back sections and the smaller sections that will remain visible at the top. Avoid moving directly from very large parts to very small parts in a single row because the difference may be easier to notice.

The braids closer to the crown can also be slightly smaller than the braids in the lowest rows. This helps the install blend naturally and prepares the style for the smaller top section.

The top, front, and hairline are the most visible areas of the hairstyle, so this is where you should spend more time creating clean parts.

Use smaller parts in these areas to create the appearance of small boho braids across the entire head.

When someone looks at the finished hairstyle, they will mainly see the neat parts at the top and front, along with the full curls throughout the style. The larger parts in the back will remain covered underneath the curly hair.

This creates the illusion of a full head of small boho braids without having to install small braids everywhere.

The smaller braids at the top and front do not need as many curly pieces as the larger braids in the back.

Adding too much curly hair to every small front braid can make the area feel bulky or overly dense. Use fewer curly pieces in the front and focus on even curl placement.

The back needs more curls for coverage. The front needs enough curls to blend with the rest of the hairstyle while keeping the smaller braids visible and neat.

Prepare the curly pieces before beginning each braid. Separate the hair according to the amount needed for the back and front sections.

1. Divide the natural hair section into three equal pieces.
2. Braid down once or twice to secure the base.
3. Place the straight end of the curly hair into the braid.
4. Clip the loose curly end out of the way.
5. Braid down once before adding the next curly piece.
6. Repeat until the desired number of curls has been added.
7. Add a curly end piece near the point where the natural hair ends.
8. Continue braiding about one inch past the natural hair to secure it.

Starting the curly pieces close to the root helps the curls fall over the parting spaces instead of leaving the upper portion of the braid exposed.

The time savings come directly from reducing the number of braids.

Larger back parts mean fewer back braids. Fewer braids mean fewer individual sections to part and fewer braids to complete.

The extra curly pieces create the visual fullness that would normally come from having more braids. Instead of installing a large number of small braids throughout the back, you create fullness with curl placement. The smaller parts across the top and front complete the illusion by making the visible portion of the install look like small boho braids.

In the video tutorial below, the creator used this method to reduce her self-install time from approximately nine hours to a little over five hours.

She prepared four bundles of 18-inch water deep wave human braiding hair and used about three full bundles to complete the style.

She created only five rows of braids throughout the main back section:

• Bottom row: 3 large boho braids
• Second row: 6 boho braids
• Third row: 6 boho braids
• Fourth row: 6 smaller boho braids
• Fifth row: 5 smaller boho braids

She gradually reduced the part size as she moved toward the crown. This helped the larger bottom sections blend into the smaller sections at the top.

Each back braid included approximately 7 to 8 curly feed-in pieces.

The pieces used in the back were also almost twice as thick as the pieces used in the front. This added more curly hair to the areas with fewer braids.

She began feeding in the curls close to the top of each braid. This allowed the loose hair to fall across the larger parting spaces and fill in the gaps between the braids.

After finishing the five back rows, she released the smaller section above them. The braids in this area flowed over the back section and helped conceal the larger parts behind them.

From this point forward, she used smaller, cleaner parts because these sections were easier to see and would remain more visible in the finished hairstyle.

For each front braid, she added approximately 4 curly pieces, plus a separate curly end piece.

The front sections did not require 7 to 8 curly pieces because the parts were smaller and the braids were placed closer together.

To create curly ends, she divided a piece of bulk hair in half and overlapped the two straight ends to form a horseshoe shape.

She added this piece near the end of each braid and continued braiding until she passed the end of her natural hair. This created a loose curl at the bottom while helping secure the braid.

After completing the braids, saturate the curly hair with water.

Gently squeeze out the excess water, then apply a curl-defining gel or styling product throughout the loose hair. Rake the product through the curls and scrunch upward to encourage definition.

Allow the hair to air dry before shaping it.

Once the curls are mostly dry, trim the ends as needed to create the desired shape. You can also carefully trim any straight pieces that remain visible near the top of the style.

Avoid overtrimming the lower sections. When the curly hair is full enough, the curls should naturally cover most small straight ends and the braid pattern underneath.

Gather the braids and curls into a large satin bonnet before going to bed. Make sure the ends are tucked inside so they do not rub against bedding.

In the morning, remove the bonnet and gently fluff the curls with your fingers.

To refresh flattened or frizzy areas:

1. Lightly mist the hair with water.
2. Apply a small amount of curl-defining gel.
3. Rake the product through the affected curls.
4. Scrunch the hair to bring back the curl pattern.

Avoid adding too much product because heavy buildup can weigh down the curls and reduce movement.

The back parts can be larger, but they should still follow a consistent row pattern. Random section sizes can make the braids sit unevenly and make the larger spaces harder to cover.

If the first curly piece starts too far down the braid, the larger parting spaces near the roots may remain visible. Begin adding curls near the top for better coverage.

The back requires more curly pieces because there are fewer braids. Without enough curls, the gaps between the braids will be more noticeable and the style may not have the desired fullness.

Make each row slightly smaller as you move toward the crown. A gradual transition will look more natural than an immediate change from very large parts to small parts.

Spend more time perfecting the top, crown, and front. These areas create the impression of small boho braids throughout the entire hairstyle.

Human braiding hair gives boho braids soft movement and allows the curls to fall naturally over the larger sections. It can also be refreshed with water and styling products when the curls become frizzy or flattened.

The video below shows the complete installation process, including how the hair was prepared, how the five back rows were divided, how the curly pieces were fed into each braid, and how the smaller top sections concealed the larger parting pattern underneath.

Pay close attention to the difference between the back and front sections. The back uses larger parts, fewer braids, and 7 to 8 curly pieces per braid for coverage. The top and front use smaller parts and approximately 4 curly pieces per braid for a neater, more detailed finish.

Once the curls are defined and fluffed, the larger back parts become difficult to see. The finished style looks like a full head of small feed-in boho braids, even though far fewer braids were installed underneath.

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