I searched the web for stylist around my area that knew how to braid; my first finding was a fail, but the second person that I contacted seemed more helpful and a lot more professional. On June 10th, after church, my mother drive me to her house (because her salon is in the basement of her house) and after a 30 minute wait, a woman working with her did my hair. It took almost 6 hours to do my hair. I specifically told them that I did want box braids, but I did not want them to be very big, because my hair is thin & I knew that they would look awkward on my head. At first I was skeptical, but after a couple of minutes of having them in my hair, I began to love my braids and now I do not know what I would do without them LOL!
I did get stares from my classmates and wherever I went, but people that I am close with and family loved them and gave me compliments. Even the people that I work with complimented me on my braid (and they don't even like me that much) :)
I will most likely get these braids after the 3 month stretch, because that is when I will need to take them out. I'll continue to get them until I feel comfortable with my natural hair and the length.
I WILL continue to post more on here, because I am out of college for the summer and I will have a little more time on my hands to get things done.