Short braids

What you need

What short braids cost in South Africa, and how long they take

Variations

Bob braids and knotless bob

The short-braid staple. SA salons list them as bob braids, knotless bob, box braids short and knotless braids short length.

Short boho and French curls

Bob-length braids with curls, listed as short boho braids, boho knotless bob and short French curls. In the 26 listings we read they cost R650 to R900 in the middle half.

Short Fulani and tribal braids

Listed by salons as short Fulani and short tribal braids. In the 7 short Fulani and tribal listings we read, the middle half is R500 to R700.

Short twists

Salons list short twist, twist braid short and short Fulani twist. Curl Centric says Marley twists are twisted in rather than tied on at the root, which reduces tension.

How long they last, and care

1. 1
   Wash the scalp
   Curl Centric suggests washing your scalp every 1 to 2 weeks with diluted shampoo applied to the roots, and avoiding excess product.
2. 2
   Cover at night
   Sleep with your braids gathered loosely in a satin bonnet or scarf. If anything feels tight, loosen it.
3. 3
   Check the tension
   The American Academy of Dermatology says pain, stinging or crusts mean a style is too tight. Ask the stylist to stop or loosen it.
4. 4
   Plan the take-down
   Ywigs says most braided protective styles are worn up to about 6 to 8 weeks, and Curl Centric treats eight weeks as the maximum.

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Short braids hairstyles, explained

What short braids are

Short braids are braids that stop at bob, chin or shoulder length. SA salons list them as bob braids, knotless bob, box braids short, short boho braids, short Fulani braids, short twists and short French curls, and describe the length as short, bob, neck length, collar-blade length or shoulder length. The length is the only thing they share, so ask your braider to name the style as well as the length.

Curl Centric says shorter lengths can significantly reduce the weight that your roots carry. That is one reason people choose shorter lengths. It is not a guarantee, though, because a short set can still be braided too tightly.

How many packs of hair you need

Ywigs puts bob length, from chin to shoulder, at 3 to 4 packs, and says light styles can run as low as 2 to 3. Shoulder length is 3 to 5 packs and mid-back 4 to 6. Eayon Hair says 3 to 4 packs for short boho braids at 12 to 16 inches, but gives no pack weight. Ywigs advises adding one pack for matching colour and texture, and says to compare grams rather than pack names.

Length labels on hair packs can mislead. Hair So Good says pre-stretched hair is packed folded in half, so a 32 inch pack finishes at about 16 inches and a 42 inch pack at about 21 inches. For bob and shoulder lengths, look for a pack that is roughly twice as long as the length you want.

In the stores we checked on 6 Oct 2026, 20 inch One Million Braid hair cost R31.90 at Cosmetic Connection, which labels it as needing 3 packs per head, so about R96 for a head. Takealot sold 3-pack sets of Darling's 20 inch One Million Braid at R159 to R197. The price table above shows each row with the store, the pack size and the date.

What short braids cost in South Africa

We read the prices SA salons publish on Fresha, leaving out salons that specialise in children's hair. There were 69 listings for short, bob and shoulder-length braids across 34 salons in 16 towns and suburbs. The middle half costs R500 to R800, with a median of R650, and takes 3 to 4.5 hours, with a median of 3.5.

Curls change the figures. The 43 listings without curls cost R500 to R700 in the middle half, with a median of R600, and take 3 to 3.5 hours. The 26 with curls or boho cost R650 to R900, with a median of R800, and take 3.5 to 5 hours. Seven of the 69 say in the name that the hair is included, and most do not say, so ask what the price covers. For Fulani braids, short listings have a median of R650 and long ones R750, so length does move the price. Taking braids out is priced separately: the middle half of 75 SA listings for removing braids is R150 to R280, with a median of R180, and about an hour.

Questions to ask before you book

Short braids are sold under many names, so a few questions help you compare quotes fairly.

• What will the finished length be, in inches?
• Are the braids knotless or box braids, and what size?
• How many packs do you use, and is the hair in the price?
• How long will it take, and is a wash included?
• What does the take-down cost?

Styles that use only your own hair

If you do not want extensions at all, Curl Centric lists bantu knots, two-strand twists and halo braids among the low-tension styles that use only your own hair. Bantu knots need no extension hair, so there is no added weight at your roots. Keep twists around the edges loose, and use bobby pins rather than tight elastics around the hairline.

How long short braids last and how to look after them

Ywigs says most braided protective styles are worn up to about 6 to 8 weeks, and Curl Centric treats eight weeks as the maximum. The American Academy of Dermatology says to wear weaves and extensions for two or three months at most before giving your hair a break. For shorter braids, plan on the lower end.

Wash your scalp every 1 to 2 weeks with diluted shampoo, cover your braids at night in a satin bonnet and watch for warning signs. The American Academy of Dermatology lists pain, stinging, crusts on the scalp, broken hairs around the forehead and a receding hairline as signs that a style is too tight. The British Association of Dermatologists says the first step is to stop tight hairstyles.

Short braids: questions