Protective style [1] season will be here before we know it, and there's no look in the spring and summer months that's more fitting for the season than box braids [2]. Convenient and easy to maintain, box braids are a go-to style for many for a multitude of reasons. Not only do they encourage growth by keeping the manipulation of your natural hair at a minimum, but as a bonus, they're also good for helping you shave several minutes off of your getting-ready routine.

With that said, since most people are planning on spending a lot more time indoors in the next few months and less time at hair appointments [3], you might feel inclined to learn how to install your own box braids at home. And while turning this into a DIY [4] project is doable, it's not always easy for everyone, especially if you're not used to doing your own hair. Thankfully, YouTube is a treasure trove of useful information from beauty vloggers and natural hair gurus, and there are enough beginner-friendly box braid tutorials [5] to go around.

Read ahead to check out a few of our favorites.