Goddess and boho braids

What you need

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

Variations

Light boho

A few curly pieces left loose near the ends. Gyal Braids puts this at 1 to 2 packs of curly hair on top of the braiding hair.

Full goddess

Curls through the length of each braid, for the most volume. Gyal Braids puts this at 3 to 4 packs of curly hair, and says that smaller partings mean more braids and more curly hair.

Human hair curls

Un-ruly suggests curly or wavy human hair bundles for the curls. One natural hair salon lists human hair braids at R950 to R1,800 labour only, and its body wave bundles at R1,060 each for 18 inch, so the total climbs quickly.

Boho knotless

One Cape Town city centre list adds R100 to R200 to its plain knotless price for boho. The Pretoria braider's list is R600 to R950 for goddess and boho, depending on length.

How long they last, and care

1. 1
   Tell your braider how tight
   Goddess braids often run long and heavy. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that longer hair is heavier and pulls more, so ask for a loose start and a length your edges can carry.
2. 2
   Look after the curls
   Gyal Braids says curly pieces tangle faster than braided fibre, so plan a refresh with lightweight water-based products and test a small amount of curly hair first.
3. 3
   Take them out by 6 to 8 weeks
   The Academy advises no longer than 6 to 8 weeks for braids. Take them out sooner if you feel pain, stinging or crusts.
4. 4
   Rest afterwards
   After a tight style, the Academy suggests loose braids or natural hair for a few months so the hair can recover.

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Goddess and boho braids, explained

What goddess and boho braids are

Boho braids, also searched as goddess braids and bohemian braids, are braids with loose, curly pieces left out along the braid, usually on a knotless base. A Pretoria braider lists them together, describing knotless braids accented with soft curls between sections for a boho goddess look. SA salons list them under all three names, so search for each when you compare prices.

Because the base is a braid, the hair you need splits in two: braiding hair for the braids and curly hair for the curls. Gyal Braids calls this a two-cart shop. Get both quantities from your braider before you buy anything.

What goddess and boho braids cost in South Africa

We read service rows from Fresha pages for South African cities and suburbs on 6 Oct 2026. In the 49 goddess, boho and bohemian listings, the middle half cost R650 to R1,250, with a middle figure of R750. The lowest were R350 for a 6 hour set in Pretoria and R500 for boho braids at a Bloemfontein salon, and the highest, R3,000 to R3,500, were for sets using body wave or Brazilian human hair bundles.

One Thembisa braider, with hair included, lists goddess braids at R700 small, R650 medium and R570 large. A Pretoria braider lists boho and goddess braids at R600 to R950, depending on length, for 6 hours. In Cape Town city centre one salon lists labour only prices that are R100 to R200 above the same knotless size for boho. Ask whether curly hair and take-down are in the price.

How long they take

The middle half of the Fresha listings is 3.5 to 5 hours, with a middle figure of about 4 hours 15 minutes. The Thembisa braider lists 5 hours 30 minutes for small and medium and 3 hours 30 minutes for large. The Pretoria braider lists 6 hours. Add the time it takes to arrive and settle, and treat any time as an estimate. Salons say heads differ in size and density.

How much hair to buy

For the braids, Gyal Braids points to its knotless chart: for medium braids, 4 to 5 packs at shoulder length, 5 to 6 at mid-back and 6 to 8 at waist length. For the curls it says 1 to 2 packs of curly bulk hair for light boho and 3 to 4 for full goddess. Eayon Hair gives 4 to 5 packs for goddess braids as a single figure. Packs are not a fixed size, so check grams.

Curly braiding hair cost R78.90 to R129 a pack in the stores we priced, checked 6 Oct 2026, including Disco Curl 24 inch at Cosmetic Connection and Mzansi Curls and Gossip Curl at Be Beautiful Hair and Universal Dealers. Smooth pre-stretched packs for the braids cost R39 to R45.90. Un-ruly suggests curly or wavy human hair bundles for the curls, or curling the ends of pre-stretched synthetic hair with rods and setting them in hot water.

Choosing the size and length

Small braids need more packs of both hair types and more hours, and they cost more. Large braids use fewer packs, as the calculator shows. Length matters most for weight. The American Academy of Dermatology says shorter braids pull less than longer ones, because longer hair is heavier. If you want goddess braids for a matric dance or a wedding, book your take-down date at the same time, so the style does not stay in past 6 to 8 weeks.

Short styles and French curls

Salons also list boho French curls and French curls as separate services. A Durban salon lists short boho French curls at R450 for 4 hours. The Thembisa braider lists French curls at R700 small and R650 medium, and short French curls at R500 small. One natural hair salon adds goddess french curls to its French braids for R100 extra labour. Compare the same length and size when you ask for quotes, because short and long sets are priced differently.

Looking after the curls and your scalp

Curly pieces are the high-maintenance part. Gyal Braids says they tangle faster than braided fibre, so test a small amount first and plan a refresh using lightweight water-based products. For your scalp, the advice is the same as for any braid. The British Association of Dermatologists says tight braids are a common cause of traction alopecia, and early cases can regrow when the tight style stops. According to PubMed, a 2008 study found the highest risk when traction was added to relaxed hair (doi 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.05.036).

Booking tips

Ask for the total in rand on WhatsApp for your size and length, and whether braiding hair, curly hair, VAT and take-down are included. Send a photo of the exact look you want, and say how many curly pieces and where. Ask about the deposit: one Thembisa braider asks 50% non-refundable within 12 hours, and a Pretoria braider asks R100.

Goddess and boho braids: questions