Braided hairstyles are loved by celebrities like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Zendaya for many reasons. They protect your natural hair, boost hair growth, and give you a much-needed break from daily styling.
These hairdos are often installed with extensions and come in various lengths, sizes, and colors. Compared to your loose natural hair, braided styles are low-maintenance. They won’t tangle or frizz out. They also reduce manipulation and keep your ends safely tucked away, so long as you maintain proper care and avoid excessive tension.
Ahead, we show you timeless braids that shape today’s trends. Whether you’re looking for a new style or some inspiration to switch up your look, you’ll find something here that fits your vibe.
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10 Chic Braided Hairstyles For Modern Women
Braid hairstyles are beautiful and versatile. They offer endless styling options, often featuring intricate designs and simple patterns that blend practicality and self-expression. Beyond its protective power, braids hold cultural significance and serve as a stylish means of identification for black women.
While many braid styles exist, these ten have proven evergreen. Install them today, tomorrow, or in a few years, and you’ll still have that ultra-chic, timeless glow:
Cornrows braided hairstyles
On the days you want all your hair to lie low on your scalp, cornrows are a classic choice. Their sleek and tidy look suits any occasion, whether it’s a brunch, business meeting, or a date. Rock them straight, all the way to the back, or spice them up with intricate patterns, curves, and lines. If the regular cornrows with your natural hair are too basic for you, use extensions with the feed-in technique or try the inverted cornrows, aka didi.
Box braids
This classic hairdo comes in various styles like micro, medium, jumbo, and knotless. It requires minimal daily styling, making it perfect for a quick get-up-and-go. They’re also a fun way to experiment with different colors without dyeing your natural hair. Just pick a colored extension and your hair wears a new look.
Senegalese twists
Senegalese twists are incredibly easy to install and take out. Once your hairstylist gets to work, rest assured they’ll be done in a couple of hours. And when you’re ready to loosen them, simply unwrap each strand—even without using a comb—and in no time, you’re done. Rock them long, medium, thin, chunky, loose, or firm; the choice is yours.
Watermelon braided hairstyles
This is a unique one. Rather than braiding your hair all the way down from the roots to the ends, your stylist stops at the midpoint, then twists and dips the undone parts in hot water to create pretty curls or waves.
Updo braided hairstyles
Popularly known as shuku, updo braids are a must-wear. They take all your hair up, away from your face, and can sit either as a top knot or dangle around your back for a ponytail effect. It’s often achieved using the Ghana-weaving technique.
Stitch braids
Stitch braids are an offshoot of cornrows achieved by braiding the hair close to the scalp with neat spaces and intentional, distinct lines that create a “stitched” appearance. They often feature thin, straight partings made in the hair while braiding. Go for it if you want an elevated version of cornrows.
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Fulani braids
Looking for a tribal hairdo to boost your style? Try Fulani braids. They incorporate cornrows in front, a center part, and long braids that extend to the back. Add accessories like beads, rings, and cowrie shells to achieve that authentic Fulani cultural look.
Bohemian braids
Bohemian braids are box braids with free-spirited, wavy, or curly hair. They often feature curly ends and wavy strands attached to the braids, creating a soft, fuller, and voluminous look. Rock this style if you want to exude a carefree, juvenile vibe. It’s a great choice for any season, be it summer, spring, or winter.
Bantu knots
This low-maintenance hairdo is the true taste of Africanism. Beyond its Afrocentric look, it’s also comfy, chic, and perfect for days you want to stand out from the crowd.
Passion twists
If you want to give Senegalese twists a more personalized touch, try this hairdo. What sets it apart is the beautiful curls that give the twists a more textured and voluminous look.
How to Elevate Your Braided Hairstyles
Braids are beautiful on their own. But when you take them up a notch with these tips, they become works of art:
- Accessorize: Hair accessories never fail to elevate your look. So, embellish your braids with beads, cowries, cuffs, scrunchies, or headbands. They add an unignorable detail to your ‘do.
- Curl the ends: Instead of leaving your tips as they are, try curling them to add some flair. Curls give your braids more visual interest.
- Vary the lengths: Short lengths offer comfort. Medium lengths strike a perfect balance between easy maintenance and versatile styling. Long lengths bring the drama. Pick your preferred length depending on the look you want to achieve and go for it.
- Try different extension colors: Braids let you change your hair color without actually changing your hair color. So, if you’ve always wanted to go blonde, black, maroon, orange, or green, don’t sweat it. Just buy an attachment extension in that color and use it to install your braids.
- Switch up the patterns: Try center parts, side parts, heart shapes, triangles, and zigzag patterns. The more you explore and let your creativity shine, the more stylish your braids become.
Before Getting Braid Hairstyles…
Braids are one hairstyle that’ll always serve you. But before getting one, there are several things to note. First, shampoo and blow-dry your hair to make the installation process easier for your stylist. Also, ensure your stylist doesn’t put excess tension around your scalp to prevent breakage. In fact, avoid braided styles that involve pulling your hair tight, especially if you have thin hair. Finally, sleep with a satin scarf or bonnet on to retain moisture and help your braids last longer.
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