How Much Braiding Hair Do I Need | Kelly Beauty Supply

How Much Braiding Hair Do I Need?

For medium box or knotless braids at shoulder length, five to six packs is the usual answer. Jumbo braids need three to four. Small braids need seven to eight, and micro braids can run past ten. Length adds to all of these, and knotless braids take about one pack more than box braids of the same size because hair is fed in gradually rather than knotted on at once.

Size drives it more than length

Braid size is the biggest variable, because it determines how many braids there are. Halving the section size roughly doubles the braid count, and each braid needs its own hair regardless of how long it is. This is why jumbo styles are cheap in hair and expensive in nothing else, and why micros cost more in hair than any other braid style even at the same length.

Length and the packs

Most braiding hair is sold pre-stretched at a set length, commonly in the 20 to 36 inch range, and one pack goes further on a short style because you use less of each strand. Going from shoulder length to waist length on the same braid size typically adds two to three packs. If you are unsure of the length you want, buy for the longer version, since you can always trim.

Style adjustments

Feed-in braids and cornrow styles need much less, often two to four packs, because only the rows carry added hair. Fulani styles land around three to five for the same reason. Twist styles vary by hair type: spring twist hair is light and covers well, marley hair is denser and heavier, so marley twists take more packs than spring twists at the same size. Crochet styles are counted in pre-looped packs rather than bulk, usually six to eight.

Always buy one spare

This is the most useful thing on this page. Running out mid-install means either stopping or buying a pack from a different batch, and color codes shift between batches enough that the difference can show. An unopened spare pack keeps indefinitely and can be returned unopened at most shops. The cost of one extra pack is small next to the cost of a mismatched crown.

Buying to match

Bring the wrapper or the code if you are matching hair you have used before, since the same number can look different across brands. Buy all packs for one head in a single purchase. Our Warren store on Van Dyke in the Majestic Plaza is open until 9 PM Monday through Saturday if you need hair the evening before an appointment.