20 Stunning Braided Hairstyles for Natural Hair (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular braid style? ›

Scroll through any braider's Instagram right now and you will see that boho braids are the most popular hairstyle. Also known as goddess braids, this look incorporates loose, wavy, or curly pieces of hair into box braids for an effortless style.

Small box braids might take a lot of time, but the end result is well worth it. They last longer than most braids and look the most similar to your natural hair while having all the protective benefits of a braided hairstyle.

Pancaked Big Braid

Flattens out the hair to add more width and fullness. Create an inverted French braid and pause every three to four inches to “pancake” the braid by separating and spreading out each individual part of the braid. Finish with a regular braid and hairspray for added volume.

Try a partial braid (like Blake Lively) that frames a side of the face or a loose side-swept braid that diffuses unnecessary attention to your aging features. A braided ponytail wrapped up into a messy bun like that of Jessica Alba is another way to take some years off your look.

Braided fishing line colors are broken down into high-visibility or low-visibility categories. Bright yellows, greens, pinks, and whites round out the most common high-visibility varieties, while hues of greens and grays tend to blend best with the water and cover.

If you're after a protective style that's versatile and stylish, look no further than box braids. Whether worn long or short, chunky or thin, box braids are super chic and on trend.

No hairstyle can directly promote healthy hair growth. However, natural styles that don't need a lot of maintenance may prevent damage to your follicles. Some hairstyles could damage your hair, such as ponytails, buns, and cornrows.

If you opt for a simple protective hairstyle like a bun or a wig, you should undo the style before you go to sleep. For a more long-term style like box braids or faux locs, you can keep that style for anywhere from six to 12 weeks (as long as you properly care for your strands).

Similar to the blonde streak hair trend, peekaboo braids refer to box braids whereby a section of the hair is braided with extensions in a bright colour in contrast to the rest of the hair which stays a different colour.

Are braids better on clean or dirty hair? ›

Here's a good rule of thumb: never braid dirty hair or wet hair. This means that you need to wash your hair really well.

Like any protective braid style, if not properly installed and cared for, there are risks of damage to the hair. However, for knotless braids, those risks are far less. That's due to the preparation of the braid, which begins with your own hair rather than added hair.

Styling your hair into braids doesn't directly make it grow faster. However, these styles can help nurture and protect your hair, making it stronger and less likely to break.