50 Jaw-Dropping Braided Hairstyles to Try

Braided hairstyles have been a timeless and iconic fashion statement for centuries, and they continue to evolve and inspire new trends. Whether you’re looking for a chic and elegant look or something more playful and casual, there is a braided hairstyle to suit every occasion. In this collection, we have curated 50 jaw-dropping braided hairstyles to inspire your hair game, featuring intricate designs, unique textures, and bold colors that are sure to turn heads and elevate your style. From classic French braids to trendy and intricate updos, there’s a braided look for everyone to try.

Braided hairstyles are by far the oldest way to style your hair. Women all over the world use braids to protect their beauty from environmental damage as well as show off their wild imagination.

Get inspiration and find a way to express your creativity through one of these sophisticated yet not so hard to recreate hairstyles!

1. Top Knot for Small Braids. One of the sweetest styles to get that extra height. The look starts with small box braids leading to a chunky, statement-making bun.

50 Jaw-Dropping Braided Hairstyles to Try
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2. Medium Box Braids. Braided hairstyles for black women are a great chance to show your creativity! Alternate box braids with delicate curls. You can also play with your parting and try different patterns to diversify your braids hairstyles.

Box Braids Bob Hairstyle 2024

3. Upside Down Chunky Braids with Buns. Multiply your favorite braid-to-bun and get a cute crown updo. Easy and showy!

Crown Updo with Upside Down Braids
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4. Afro Updo with Braids. This stunning updo gives a whole new twist to afro hairstyles. Braids for black women can be incorporated into any hairdo of any length and they really bring extra something to your look.

Braided Afro Updo for Black Women

5. Pulled-Back Cornrow Braids. When it comes to African braids, a variety of shapes and patterns is impressive. Look at this stunning lady and save the idea for inspiration!

Stunning African Cornrow Braids
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6. Lengthy Braided Pony. While we love the charm of black braided hairstyles in all possible versions, this combo of regular cornrows and a high braided pony deserves praise for its simplicity and chic.

7. Bob Braids with Beads. Short-haired ladies can wear their braids as proudly and loudly as their long-haired sisters.

Short Black Braids with Beads
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8. Asymmetrical Braids and Curls. Who said you shouldnโ€™t mix braids and curls in natural hair braid styles? Leave that misconception behind and try this cute hairdo instead! The style will look gorgeous in the shape of an asymmetrical lob.

Cute Natural Hair Bob with Braids

9. Thick Twisty Braids. Show your luxurious braids to the world with one of the most sought-after braided hairstyles for black girls. Not many braid styles can boast such perfection, so this one is a gem!

Long Black Braided Hairstyle
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10. Toffee Brown Braided Hair with Boho Vibes. This girl has dressed up her lavish box braids with a brown shade that flatters her skin tone and added loose pieces throughout the style to maximize its volume and unleash boho vibes.

Brown Box Braids with Added Curly Pieces

11. African Braids with a Halo. You wonโ€™t find cool braided hairstyles with as many cultural references as you see in this cute afro. From the masterfully highlighted kinky halo through the cornrows and to the golden accent beads, it oozes authenticity.

Half Up Braided Afro Hairstyle

12. Cherry Red Braided Bob. Matching braid hairstyles with a long bob shape is a stunning idea, as illustrated by this vibrant, beautifully textured hairstyle that retains its clean shape and boasts a sophisticated color.

Vibrant Braided Bob Hairstyle
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13. Black Micro Braids with Edges. Hereโ€™s another inspo for those who want to turn a usual bob into something special. Not only are those tiny braids smartly highlighted and intricately styled, but they are also curled into neat edges to add bounce and spice.

Curled Bob with Micro Braids

14. Asymmetrical Bob Braids with Highlights. Here is a fresh take on black hairstyles for women who would like to brighten up their casual hairdo. By infusing your braids with soft shades of gold, you get a chic two-tone look that flatters your skin tone.

Asymmetrical Braided Bob for Black Women

15. Cornrow Braids with Twisted Ends. Keep your natural hair protected with this hairstyle! Let your curls stay safe and accumulate strength while looking dashing with these fun braids and thick twists.

Medium Length Cornrow to Twists Braids
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16. Crown Braid. Feel regal with this queen-worthy hairstyle thatโ€™s ideal for black girls! There are many types of braids, but when a halo-like braid wraps around your head, itโ€™s hard not to feel special.

Crown Braid Updo for Black Girls

17. Protective Braids for Women. Help your hair maintain health and glow with professional protective braids hairstyles.

Braids Updo Hairstyles in 2024
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18. Braided Bob with Two Types of Braids. Box braids or Goddess braids? Grab both to recreate this edgy style that has some braids pulled back on one side to shift the length and volume to the other side for an eye-catching mismatch.

Bob with Box and Goddess Braids

19. Afro-Pony with Braids. Thanks to African-American heritage, todayโ€™s black braided hairstyles bring so much creativity to the streets. Update our all-time favorite by mixing thin and thick cornrows, sleeking the sides and puffing up your pony.

20. Braids and Curls. Wear your mane loud and proud with this chic style for short curly hair. Look put-together by braiding one section of your hair and let the rest of it bounce freely.

Short Natural Curly Hairstyle with Braids

21. Jumbo Parted Box Braids. This plaited hairstyle comes with many disconnections to put a twist on the traditional box braids for women who dare to be different. However, note those sweet baby hairs that soften the sharp feel of the parting.

Box Braid Hairstyle for Women

22. Two Braids and a Braided Halo. Achieve this truly magnificent powerful look by braiding up from the nape to the crown and finish with a lovely โ€œhaloโ€ sitting right at the top of your head.

Halo Braid Updo

23. Chocolate Brown Braided Bob. Short braided hairstyles are no less trendy and sexy than Rapunzelโ€™s hair, which is proven by this asymmetrical rounded bob with a playful and bouncy feel.

Playful Asymmetrical Bob Braids

24. Goldilocksโ€™ Braids for Women of Color. Speaking of fairy-tale characters, these knotless braids merge black hair into golden blonde extensions beautifully, giving you a good portion of customization inspo and a chance to turn into a modern version of Goldilocks.

Golden Knotless Braids for Black Women

25. Black and White Braids. Mix tight and loose, black and white in your braids for a cool look. For something different, experiment with colorful extensions.

Long Braids with Colorful Extensions

26. Comb-Over Braids and Spirals. Donโ€™t miss the chance to play with textures when embracing braids in hairstyles for natural-haired girls. You can let corkscrew curls bounce on the ends or even throughout the head if you opt to wear the style swept to one side.

Braids and Curls Hairstyle for Girls

27. Bombshell Top Knot with Romantic Flair. This braided updo is full of drama, but we want to channel your attention to the fancy details, such as the springy wisps flowing down from the knot, heart-shaped parting on the temples, and neat baby hairs framing the face.

Braided Top Knot Updo

28. Multidirectional Cornrowed Style. African hair braiding comes in many designs and patterns, which lets you adopt an off-beat, asymmetric style like this.

Asymmetric Hair Braiding for Lemonade Braids

29. Crown Bun. Some funky black and blonde dookie braids are a good braided idea if you prefer individual braids. With thick braids holding the โ€œcrownโ€ you will wear this updo for days!

Bun for Dookie Braids

30. Box Braids with Curly Accents. Despite being the most popular braids style among girls of African origin, box braids provide plenty of opportunities to elevate your style, for example, with a few flirty loose curls.

Popular Box Braids with Loose Curls

31. Braids with Heart-Shaped Design. Not only for Valentineโ€™s Day โ€“ this cute design will attract everyoneโ€™s attention.

32. Big Braids. Tame your unruly curly hair with these chunky long braids. They are easy to put together and will help protect your hair from breakage. Definitely one of the best braid styles to try.

Long Braids with Curly Ends

33. Intricate Geometric Braided Hairstyle. Stand out with angled partings, cute hair pieces, and a braided top knot! This look is perfectly sculpted and spiced with accessories.

34. Cornrows for Long Hair. Color adds interest to your long plaits while wrapping a scarf that matches your outfit or hair color does wonders for the overall look.

African American Blonde Long Plaits

35. Low Braided Bun Updo. Protect your natural black hair with a few tight braids easy to wrap into a bun. A bright or subtle color accent wonโ€™t hurt.

Braided Bun for Natural Black Hair

36. Trendy Braid Designs. Braids give you endless possibilities for creativity. Swirl, twist, wrap. Enjoy it!

Black Braid Designs

37. Box Braids with Creative Undercut. How about colorful box braids with a bold undercut for a sweet summer hairstyle?

Undercut Box Braids

38. Center-Parted Knotless Braids. These waist-length light brown braids have a nice pop of color chiming well with the girlโ€™s base hair color and complexion, and they donโ€™t have something that limits the flexibility of other braid hairstyles โ€” knots.

Long Light Brown Knotless Braids

39. Mid-Length Tribal Braids. Cool braids hairstyles donโ€™t need to be super long, and you can opt for a more comfortable length while striking the eye with an intricate design and playing with dimensions.

Mid-Length Lemonade Braids Hairstyle

40. Classic Box Braids for Women. Even the most basic braids will ooze special charm when an African American woman wears them. So, if you are going for classic braided hairstyles, fear not: you will shine bright!

African American Box Braids

41. Fancy Cornrow Design. Use this bold hairstyle to make a strong statement. Added hair will provide thickness and length, while the creative parting is the cherry on the cake!

Designed Cornrows with a Bun

42. Lemonade Braids with Pink Highlights. Lemonade braids are fancy and simple at the same time. If you want to amp up their fancy factor, opt for a pretty hair color, and you are ready for both a casual brunch and a professional interview!

Pink Lemonade Braids

43. Snail Braid Updo. Sometimes all you can wish is a simple style for your formal event. The low braided bun can be done with extensions, so you can wear it even with short hair.

Formal Low Braided Updo

44. Braided Bun with Curvy Partings. This bun is amongst fancier ideas of braid styles for women. Work your way up to the thick bun with thin cornrow braids, repeating the curved partings around your head.

Cornrows and Bun Braid Style for Women

45. Curvy Cornrows with a Bun. A simple and easy braided bun that works amazingly well for all ages and helps prevent hair breakage.

Lemonade Braids with a Bun

46. Cornrows with a Sleek Ponytail. How can you say no to a long luscious ponytail? Particularly, when it has roots in a plentiful number of braids!

Braids and Ponytail Updo

47. Wedding Braids. Braids are a perfect style to wear to a special event! You can play with new designs. Adding sparkly accessories or fresh flowers is always a win-win.

Braids for Short Natural Hair

48. Lightweight Smedium Braids. Smedium is a hot trend in braid styles, referring to pencil-size braids that are smaller than regular yet larger than micro braids. When coupled with the knotless technique, they deliver the best flexibility in styling, which is kindly illustrated by this girl.

Pencil-Size Smedium Braid Style

49. Half-Braided Hairstyle. Look beach-ready with this stylish hairdo. Insert shells or whichever beads you like into your braids and leave the rest of your hair curly and free.

Long Half-Braided Half Curly Hair

50. Micro Braids. These are a lot of fun and a lot of work to do, but the effect is stunning! Works best on short to middle length hair, as they might get a tad heavy due to the number of braids.

Middle Length Micro Bob Braids

So, as you can tell, there are a lot of options for braided hairstyles. Whether you are after classy chunky box braids or a creative parting pattern, we hope youโ€™ve found what you were looking for among these fantastic hairdos.

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