Box braids

[7][8] In Africa, braid styles and patterns have been used to distinguish tribal membership, marital status, age, wealth, religion and social ranking.

[citation needed] In some Caribbean islands, braid patterns were used to map routes to escape slavery.

[citation needed] Layers of finely chopped tree bark and oils can be used to support the hairstyle.

Human hair was at one point wefted into fiber wig caps made of durable materials like wool and felt for reuse in traditional clothing as well as different rituals.

[4] Cowry shells, jewels, beads and other material items adorned box braids of older women alluding to their readiness to have daughters, emulation of wealth, high priesthood and any other classifications.

[9] Members of royalty would often wear elaborate hairstyles as a symbol of their stature, and those in mourning, usually women, would pay some attention to their hair during the period of grieving.

Army policy originally considered African American women's natural hair "not neat" and deemed protective hairstyles "unprofessional".

Once the newly grown natural hair outside of the braid, also known as new growth, reaches 1⁄2 inch [13 mm], the style must be redone.

These braids are termed 'medium' due to their thickness, which is typically about the width of a pencil to that of a felt tip marker.

As a protective hairstyle, medium box braids can safeguard the hair from environmental factors and styling stress.