6 Popular Braid Styles

Hair

Braiding is the perfect way to showcase your style while also protecting your natural hair from the elements. However, many women struggle to select the best type of braids for their hair. The countless options make it challenging to pick which braid style is the right one.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide to showcase six popular African-American braid styles. We’ll help you narrow down the options and provide greater insight as to which are the optimal styles of braids for each hair type.

Keep reading to learn more about our six favorite looks and how to find a stylist or hair salon in your area using an online booking app to install braids.

Style 1: Box Braids

Box braids are one of the most popular braided styles. They’re incredibly versatile and look amazing. The box braid style is also pretty low-maintenance and can last for up to six weeks.

This style gets its name from the small “boxes” formed when the hair is parted. After parting, the hair is braided to the desired length. Typically, synthetic hair is woven in to add volume and thickness to your braids.

You can style box braids in many different ways once they’re installed, including:

Ponytails
Buns
Woven together in larger braids
With curly ends

Flexibility is one reason women love the box braids hairstyle. This style is never dull. You can even incorporate flashes of color by using colorful synthetic hair during installation. Synthetic hair extensions come in different lengths, which means you can achieve a box braid hairstyle whether you prefer a shorter or longer length of hair.

Hair Best Suited For Box Braids

A nice thing about box braids is that they mesh well with most natural hair textures. When learning how to style box braids, the key is to match your synthetic hair texture to your natural hair for a smooth finish. Your hair will need to be longer than four inches to incorporate extensions and get long braids.

Box braids might not be for you if…

Your hair is prone to breakage.
Your natural hair grows quickly.
You’re prone to headaches.

Braiding Timeframe for Box Braids

This braided style can take between four to six hours to install depending on the length of your hair and the thickness of the braids. They’ll last up to six weeks if you properly care for them. And if you have short hair and want to know what it feels like to have long hair, you can style your hair with box braids and incorporate braiding hair extensions in each section.

Style 2: Knotless Braids

If you suffer from frequent breakage or thinning hair from other braid installation styles, then knotless braids might provide you with some relief. But, what are knotless braids? This style differs from a typical box braid because it feeds the synthetic hair into the braid rather than anchoring it to your natural hair.

This technique creates less tension and thus puts less pressure on your natural hair while still protecting it from the elements. The result is a look comparable to box braids but will have less potential for damage.

Hair Best Suited For Knotless Braids

Knotless braids are perfect for:

Natural hair with a coarse or curly texture
Hair that’s longer than four inches
Women who want a long-lasting style

Braiding Timeframe for Knotless Braids

Knotless braids last up to eight weeks if properly cared for. However, if your hair has a finer, silkier texture, your braids may only last for about four weeks. The thinner the braids, the longer the style will last. Plus, they are much easier to style. So much so that you can incorporate them into a braided ponytail.

Before delving into the following two braid styles, you might be interested to know where they were inspired from. The next set of styles are generally known as tribal braids. But, what are tribal braids exactly? They are a style of African braids that ultimately gained popularity in America and everywhere else. Some of the tribal braids you can experiment with include Fulani braids, Ghana braids, and cornrow braids.

Style 3: Fulani Braids

One of our favorite tribal braids, Fulani braids, comes from the Fulani people of West Africa. This style is steeped in tradition and can be traced back thousands of years.

This alluring style features a single cornrow down the middle of the head. Then, braids go from the top of the ear toward your face on each side. The remainder of your hair is then braided into thin rows on either side of the center braid.

Often, this style is enhanced by adding beads or other decorations to the braids.

Hair Best Suited For Fulani Braids

This style is great for curly hair with enough texture to hold the style. The natural hair length should be at least four inches so that the synthetic hair can be comfortably woven in.

Fulani braids may not be a good choice if…

Your hair breaks easily.
You have a sensitive scalp.
You’re prone to headaches.

Braiding Timeframe for Fulani Braids

Compared to box braids or knotless braid styles, Fulani braids don’t last quite as long. Typically, you should expect them to look their best for three to five weeks. The front will begin to frizz if they’re kept in for longer than this.

Style 4: Ghana Braids

Ghana braids are a style of cornrow that range in thickness from medium to jumbo. They’re unique in appearance because of the method used to feed in the extension hair. Instead of braiding in hair from underneath, hair is fed over the top of each braid. This makes it look like there are rings around each braid.

This style can be done in different patterns to create a unique appearance. A fishbone or whirling design looks fantastic with Ghana braids.

Hair Best Suited For Ghana Braids

Curly hair holds Ghana braids very well. Additionally, Ghana braids can be installed on short and long hair. The only consideration will be the length of your natural hair. You don’t want extensions that are too long if your natural hair is less than four inches, or else there will be too much tension on your hair.

Braiding Timeframe for Ghana Braids

Because Ghana braids are thick, they aren’t as long-lasting compared to other types of braids for Black hair. Typically, they’ll only stay in place for about two weeks before they’ll need to be redone.

Style 5: Cornrow Braids

Cornrow braids are one of the most versatile styles out there. The width ranges from thin to thick. They’re also easy to customize to your taste and creative design ideas.
Cornrows are braids that lay close to the scalp. You begin by dividing your hair into the number of sections you want to use. Cornrows can be thin or thick, so the number of braids you have depends on the desired width. This style is ideal if you want tight braids. If you’re wanting a hairstyle you can experiment with, all it takes is to be creative with the pattern. These days, lemonade braids, braided bob, halo braid, and goddess braid are in style.

After your hair has been divided, you’ll begin braiding. As you go, you’ll continue to add hair to ensure that the braid is connected to your scalp.

Many people love cornrows because they’re easily customizable. Add a personal touch by:

Using interesting patterns such as waves, zigzags, or criss-cross methods
Adding colorful beads
Varying the section size

Hair Best Suited For Cornrow Braids

Another benefit of cornrows is that they’re a good choice for those rocking short hairstyles. Unlike some of the other styles on our list, cornrows:

Can be installed on hair as short as two inches in length
Don’t take as long to put in
Are easier to take out

Like many styles, cornrows will stay most effectively in curly or coarse hair. If installed too tightly, they’ll cause discomfort and might damage your hair.

Braiding Timeframe for Cornrow Braids

Cornrows take as little as one hour to complete, depending on the complexity of the desired design. The length of time they’re able to remain in your hair varies, depending on:

Maintenance
Hair type
Speed of hair growth
Thickness of braids

The range is usually somewhere between two to six weeks.

Style 6: Crochet Braids

Crochet braiding is also known as latch-hook braiding. It’s a method of adding extensions to your hair for an endless selection of finished style possibilities. The first step in the process is always to braid your hair into cornrows. This creates a base to which the extensions will be attached.

You can then go with any style of extensions that you’d like, including:

Medium or long braids
Loose curls or waves
Tight curls
Straight tresses
Faux locs

Once you’ve selected the extensions, they’re attached to the cornrows using a crochet hook to loop through the base.

This method is very flexible and offers you the opportunity to experiment with new hairstyles.

From casual to elegant, your choices are endless given the many types of crochet braids.

Hair Best Suited For Crochet Braids

This style is an excellent option if your hair is too short to accommodate longer extensions for another braid style. The same guidelines that apply to installing regular cornrows apply to crochet braiding. Your hair should be at least two inches long. Coarser textured hair will hold the braids better than fine hair.

Braiding Timeframe for Crochet Braids

The length of time your crochet braids will take to install will depend on the length of your natural hair and the style of extensions you want to use. Cornrows are generally done rather quickly. Then, the process of attaching the extensions takes an additional hour or two. As box braids and some of the other more intricate styles that can take up to six hours, crochet braiding is fast by comparison.

Crochet braiding lasts for several weeks, depending on how well you care for them. Typically, you should wash your hair every two weeks with crochet braids. Protecting your hair with a silk scarf while you sleep will extend the lifespan of your style, too.

Remember To Care For Braided Hair Properly

Whichever of these is the braided hairstyle for you, make sure to properly care for your locks for however long the braided hair stays. Rule number one is to moisturize before going to the salon. For those that want to keep a specific braiding style for an extended amount of time, visit your stylist for a touch-up. Most importantly, know when to take the braids out because keeping them on for too long can damage your hair. So, how do you find the best hair stylist for the job? Whether you are looking for the best hair braiding San Diego, New York, or even Atlanta offers, look no further than StyleSeat.

Book Your New Hairstyle Today With StyleSeat

Navigating the best braid styles for your hair is a challenge. Sometimes you need professional advice to make the perfect choice. That’s where we step in. If you are finding yourself googling, “how to find a good hair braider near me?” you’re in luck. StyleSeat lists all the highest quality, experienced stylists in your area. You can see the services they offer, their pricing, and even book an appointment.

There’s no need to spend hours calling around and searching for someone who is available. We make it easy — all you need to do is schedule your style and enjoy your gorgeous new look.

Sources:

I Want You To Know. How to Choose the Perfect Braids (if You’re a Little Bit Clueless). https://iwantyoutoknow.co.uk/2017/10/how-to-choose-best-braids-for-afro-hair-texture.html

Carol’s Daughter. What Are Knotless Braids? https://www.carolsdaughter.com/blog/hair/braids/knotless-braids.html

Ebena. Fulani Braids. https://ebena.net/style/tribal-fulani-braids/6685

Ebena. Ghana Braids. https://ebena.net/style/ghana-braids/914

Curl Centric. Protective Styles: How to Do a Protective Style on Natural Hair. https://www.curlcentric.com/protective-styling/

Byrdie. Crochet Braids. https://www.byrdie.com/crochet-braids-400224