Cornrows are one of the most well-known braided styles, and they are incredibly versatile. You can braid your natural hair or opt for extensions. To achieve the look, start by portioning out the hair into the desired-sized sections. Braid from front to back, feeding more hair into the braid as you go.
Box Braids
Box Braids are another classic braided style-it’s characterized by its square parting and uniformly shaped braids. “With box braids, the [braiding] hair is wrapped around your hair, creating a ‘knot,'” Sims says. Historically, synthetic braiding hair, like Kanekalon, has been used to achieve the look. However, there are now plant-based hair options like Rebundle.
Knotless Braids
Knotless Braids differ from regular box braids. As the name suggests, they don’t use a knot at the scalp to attach the extension. “With knotless braids, the hair is fed into the braid, which creates a more seamless appearance and less tension on the scalp.
Fulani Braids
Fulani Braids are a style popularized by the Fulani people of Africa and are typically medium in size. These braids feature cornrows in the front with a center part, then box braids in the back.
Pigtail Braids
Pigtail Braids are a simple way to protect your natural hair while creating a cute, low-maintenance look. Start by parting your hair down the center and dividing it into two sections. Then, brush your hair up into two high pigtails and secure it with elastics. Braid each side and add extensions if you want more length.
French Curl Braids
French Curl Braids are one of the most popular iterations of box braids. The style combines both braids and curls. Essentially, the hair is braided at the root, and the braids release into loose curls at about shoulder length. For this look, we recommend using synthetic hair to achieve French curls at the ends.
Stitch Braids
Stitch braids look similar to cornrows but are achieved with a slightly different technique. “The protective style uses the ‘stitch in’ technique, where the hair is braided like a traditional cornrow but in a horizontal pattern,” Sims says. “In addition to their horizontal pattern, stitch braids use a different finger technique by using the nail on the pinky finger to create the beautiful, clean lines of the stitch braids.”
Flat Twists
Unlike traditional cornrows and twist-outs, flat twists are two-strand twists done on the scalp and work well for relaxed and natural hair. Here’s how to get the look: “Before twisting, thoroughly wash your hair and properly cleanse your scalp. A hydrating shampoo will help lock the moisture in your clean scalp. Using a rat-tail comb will help simplify parting your hair before twisting. Once twisted, keep your flat twists nourished by moisturizing every couple of days before bed.
Marley Twists
Marley twists are two-strand twists that mimic more of a textured appearance with a soft blown-out finish. Marley twists are often compared to Havana twists. However, Marley twists tend to be thinner in size and more affordable. Marley hair is typically recommended for this style for its coarse, textured nature.
Passion twists
Passion twists are a protective hairstyle created using two-strand twisting with water wave hair extensions, giving them a natural, curly, and voluminous look. This method was developed by hairstylist Kailyn Rogers and provides a relaxed, bohemian, and glamorous style, similar to Senegalese twists but with a softer, more natural feel.
Senegalese twists
Senegalese twists, or rope twists, are [two-strand] twists that look like a rope, when it comes to the types of extensions you should use, we recommend using a smooth type of braiding hair.
Two-Strand Twists
Two-strand twists work best on natural hair. This style can last for weeks and requires minimal touch-ups. To achieve the look, portion your hair into sections of the desired thickness. Divide each section in half and twist both pieces around each other from root to end. Extensions can be added to enhance volume and length or create more complicated styles.
Jumbo Twists
Jumbo-sized twists follow the general idea of two-strand twists but are much chunkier. They may require additional extensions depending on your hair length—but overall, this low-maintenance style is easy to achieve as it requires less time on average to do compared to other twisted and braided looks.
Bantu Knots
Bantu knots can be created in various ways: twisted or braided, and with extensions or without. Begin with freshly cleansed, conditioned, and dried strands. Next, section the hair into manageable portions. Take the first section and create a twist from the roots to the ends. Then, wind the twisted strand up into the knot and tuck the end under. Continue until you’ve knotted all the sections.
Boho Braids
Boho braids are a cute and curly refresh on the classic box braids. This popular style is achieved with three-stranded plaits, weaving in synthetic or human hair throughout to add length and volume. You can stick with your natural hair color or add bits of differing hues, as seen on Blue Ivy Carter above.
Low Buns
If space buns aren’t your jam—or you want to mix it up—a low bun is just as simple and chic. You can achieve this look with your natural hair or opt for a braided bun, as seen above.
Classic Ponytail Braid
A braided ponytail can be created with natural hair or braiding hair. If you opt for the latter, start by slicking your hair back into a very sleek ponytail. Once your ponytail is secure, begin braiding your hair, weaving in braiding hair as you go to achieve your desired length and thickness.
Classic Cornrows
Cornrows are a classic, timeless style and can be customized to your liking. You can keep them long, short, or somewhere in between.
Micro Knotless Braids
Micro knotless braids are a protective hairstyle that uses a “feed-in” technique to create very small, individual braids without the traditional starting knot. This method creates a lighter, more seamless, and natural-looking style than traditional box braids.
Cornrows and Curls
For this look, go with large cornrows in the front and leave your curls loose in the back. This is the perfect vacation style.
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