From defining tribes and social status to mapping slave escape routes, braiding has been used throughout history for various purposes. Black and African cultures have handed down this skill of carefully intertwining hair through generations.
Today, braids for women offer an opportunity to express their personality and celebrate their ancestral roots. There has never been a fad for braiding like the present!
We all remember those days when our mothers made a three-strand braid. But, now personalized braids are available to everyone. Whatever the occasion, you can find perfect braids for women. It doesn’t matter if it’s a wedding, a business meeting, a gym session, or a date.
Braids for women are versatile, every mood has braided hairstyles. From three-strand braids to Dutch braids, from short hair to long hair, every inch can do a braid. Every outfit looked good with braids.
So, here are the 10 coolest braiding styles for women to help you get your braid on! Make sure to give them a try!
1. Box Braids for Women
Box braids for women are an iconic 90s style, which is ruled by black women. African Americans and African diasporans are primarily known for box braids.
An “enduring style” composed of square-shaped divisions, this hairstyle is “protective” (allowing natural hair to grow naturally and protecting hair ends) and “boxy” because of its durability.
It is common to use synthetic hair for box braids since it adds thickness as well and helps the natural hair inside the braid to grow
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Photo Credit- Alex Robinson for Unsplash
Box braids are not attached at the top of the head, so they can be styled into many different styles. Box braids can take some time to install, but once they’re installed, they can last from six to eight weeks before needing to be changed out. Their ease of maintenance makes them popular.
1.1. Time Required for Braiding-
A braid takes the right amount of time depending on the skill and technique of the braider, as well as the hair type of the person getting the braids. Usually, it takes 4-8 hours to create a high-quality braid style.
1.2. Lifespan of Box Braids-
4 to 6 weeks is the typical duration of box braids.
2. Goddess Braids/Bohemian Braids
There is no longer a time when braids looked the same on everyone. There are so many different types of braids available today that it’s nearly impossible to keep up with them all.
For a casual undone-yet-cool look, this is a newer variation of box braids. Goddess braids can be worn in many ways.
This style consists of simple box braids with curly hair braided into them to create a voluminous, soft look. The wear time of these hairstyles can vary between four and eight months. You should not wear the hairstyle longer than eight weeks, as with any protective style. Adding this style to your box braids will give them a perfectly undone look.
2.1. Time Required for Braiding-
Make sure you have a long Spotify playlist with you as you work on your goddess braids since they can take up to eight hours to complete.
2.2. The Lifespan of Goddess Braids-
Their lifespan is typically 4-8 months.
3. Crochet Braids
To create this style, you braid your natural hair in cornrows first. After weaving the crochet hair into cornrows, a crochet hook is used to secure it. Almost every type of crochet braid can be used in this versatile style.
You can add loose hair extensions to crochet braids to make them look like natural hair, which is one of the reasons they are so ‘in’ right now.
3.1. Types of Crochet Braids for Women
- Twist Out- This hairstyle is perfect for any occasion; it’s soft, stylish, and voluminous. Play around with colors to give your twists a unique twist.
- Faux Dreadlocks- Crochet faux locs are a great way to try out the style temporarily if you aren’t ready to lock your hair.
- Curls- Take a break from natural textures and try something different with try water waves, tight ringlets, or Jamaican waves.
- Short Crochet Braid- If you’re a fan of short hair and African hair braiding then try a textured bob or a curly pixie cut with a crochet braid to frame your face.
- Straight Crochet Braid- Take a break from thick braids and try a straight crochet braid.
3.2. Time Required for Braiding-
It takes approximately 90 minutes to three hours.
3.3. The Lifespan of Crochet Braids-
This braid can last up to eight weeks.
4. Lemonade Braids
Time to say goodbye to basic braids and say Haai to Lemonade braids!
Different cultures have always used lemonade braids, which were formerly known as side braids. The lemonade braid was one of the tribal braids for black women and Beyonce brought it back to life. In her 2016 smash hit Lemonade, she rocked this hairstyle in a big way. During this time, this braid got its original name and became one of the hottest hair trends in this area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiyBysp7LEQ
The classic lemonade braids have their swag. There are long curls swept to one side on these micro braids, inspired by traditional cornrows. You won’t only look good in these gorgeous braids, but they also keep your hair off your face. It will give your natural hair some extra oomph!
Generally, Kanekalon braiding hair is used for lemonade braids. Kanekalon braiding hair has a natural hair texture which helps to create gorgeous braids. It gives you a break from daily hairstyling by protecting your hair, amplifying its natural textures, showing off its volume and denseness, and giving you a break from damaging daily styles.
4.1. Time Required for Braiding-
It takes approximately three to six hours.
4.2. The Lifespan of Lemonade Braids-
This braid can last up to four weeks.
5. Senegalese Twists
Thanks to African American heritage, today’s black braided hairstyles add so much style to the streets, and Senegalese styles are among them.
The Senegalese twist originated in Senegal, a West African country. Senegalese twists are also a protected hairstyle; it doesn’t harm the natural texture of the hair.
In Senegalese twists, two strands are required for every section to wrap around each other. It looks like a rope when it’s neatly tucked away, so this style is sometimes called “rope twists.”
Getting Senegalese twists doesn’t mean that this is the end, you can style this hairstyle with a different hairdo like fauxhawks, princess twists, balayage bob braids etc. You can also add a pop of shine with hair cuffs and colorful extensions.
5.1. Time Required for Braiding-
It takes approximately six hours.
5.2. The Lifespan of Senegalese Twist-
This braid can last up to eight to sixteen weeks.
6. Jumbo Box Braids
Jumbo box braids look amazing when done right, so you’re sure to get attention whenever you wear them. This hairstyle is the ideal protective style for girls.
Creating an edgy and fashion-forward look is easy with jumbo braids. A large girth and enhanced parting give these box braids their distinctive appearance.
You’ll have everyone’s attention with these thick plaits. Additionally, they are easy to add and take out, and they are an excellent canvas for showcasing your brightest colors or accessories like rings, beads, and jewels.
Those with naturally thick hair should definitely try jumbo box braids.
6.1. Time Required for Braiding-
It takes approximately six hours.
6.2. The Lifespan of Jumbo Box Braids-
This braid can last up to eight to sixteen weeks.
7. French Braids
Embrace your inner queen with this queen-worthy hairstyle!
Many believe that the Greeks and Africans used this style first. There is evidence that this braid style was worn by women 6,000 years ago from the Tassili n’Ajjer mountain range in Algeria.
The French braid is characterized by inward-facing sections, as opposed to the traditional cornrows that face outward. The Crown braid is another version of French braids.
7.1. Time Required for Braiding-
It takes approximately ten minutes.
7.2. The Lifespan of French Braids-
This braid can last up to one week.
8. Dutch Braids
People often wonder whether the Dutch braid was invented by the Dutch. The truth is that it was adopted by refugees from South Africa who had come to the Netherlands. It was traditional for African women to tie their hair into various kinds of braids to protect themselves from the damaging effects of the sun. French braids are famous among them. Women in Africa also wore inverted versions of French braids before they were adopted by Dutch people, and that’s why it’s called “Dutch Braids.”
This is more like a French braid style which is why it’s called an “inverted French braid.” If you decide to go for a natural hair weave look, this specific style works best for you. Here is the updated version of the Dutch braid!
- Halo Braid- The high-looped side part has a bit of extra height at the back. It sweeps your hair down into a neat huddle at the crown. Halo Braid A more advanced version of the crown braids.
- Two Dutch Braids- Looking for a gym hairdo? Try this braided style. Besides keeping hair off your face, these thin braids also look great! Having a fitness routine that makes you look like a queen is now possible.
8.1. Time Required for Braiding-
It takes approximately ten minutes.
8.2. The Lifespan of Dutch Braids for Women-
This braid can last up to 4 days to 10 days.
9. Cornrow Braids
Cornrows are multiple Dutch braids arranged next to each other.
In the cornrow hairstyle, the hair is braided closely to the scalp. To achieve chic cornrow braids, you’ll need a highly skilled stylist and a lot of patience. Classic cornrows are created by adding one hairpiece, plaiting begins with a knot, and everything is braided.
A person’s tribal affiliation and status are typically indicated by their patterns. Creating patterns with cornrows is a breeze, famous ones are:
- Curvy Cornrows- This style is elevated by keeping the ends of the cornrows loose to give the bun its beautiful curly texture. Getting the braided style right also depends on the natural texture of your hair. The finer your hair is, the better it will work in smaller braids, and the thicker your hair, the better it will work in thicker braids.
- Curly Cornrows with a Bun – Simple yet elegant cornrows that look amazing and keep your curls healthy and strong! Also prevents split ends.
9.1. Time Required for Braiding-
Depending on the complexity, this can take from 15 minutes to four hours.
9.2. The Lifespan of Cornrow Braids-
This braid can last up to 2 to 4 weeks.
10. Ghana Braids
It is one of the tribal braids worn by black women to show the wealth and status in the tribe. The braids are usually thicker and braided straight back from the forehead, requiring hair extensions (you can use human hair extensions to stitch a few loose strands into the braids) to achieve a thicker appearance.
Adaptable to various hair textures, as well as styling with cute updos, they can also be used on various hair types. For something different, experiment with colorful extensions.
10.1. Time Required for Braiding-
This can take only 2 hours.
10.2. The Lifespan of Ghana Braids-
This braid can last up to 2 to 5 weeks.
Some Honorable Mentions-
i) Knotless Braids-
A knotless braid is started using your hair and the braiding is slowly woven in as the stylist moves along. It is easier and less painful to braid knotless braids because they lack a knot.
ii) Feed-In Braids-
Braided hairstyles are usually made by weaving sections of hair together. However, feed-in braids are created by building them from the bottom up. Your edges don’t get excessive tension from too thick extensions since hair is “fed-in” to the braid so the size of it will grow gradually.
iii) Fulani Braids-
A tribe called Fulani is the source of these tribal braids for women, which are now dispersed throughout Western, Northern, and Central Africa.
iv) Fishtail Braids-
Braid hairstyles for long hair are both beautiful and practical. For example, fishtailed braids double up on the back of your head for an elegant look. Two braids pulled into a bun ride the new wave of popularity.
v) Curly Faux Tribal Braids-
You can get curly faux tribal braided wigs if you want braided hairstyles with an interesting and voluminous finishing touch. It can either be created with extensions or if the braid ends are left curly.
vi) Bob Braids-
Bob braids are awesome because they’re simple, effective, quick, and comfortable for long tresses too!
Well, these were some easy braid types for you to try. We hope you found this article useful. Make sure to drop in your favorite braided hairstyles from the list in the comments below!
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Last Updated on by ritukhare
