57 Gorgeous Black Braided Hairstyles That Will Inspire Your Next Look
Elaborately-braided hairstyles can sometimes take hours to achieve, so of course, you want them to look extra fresh once you finally get out of the salon chair. We're talking about hair that makes you do a double take and then double tap.
Hair braiding, particularly in cultures with a strong African influence, is a tradition that goes back for generations. And classic styles are constantly being reinvented and brought to life with a new-school swag. That's because braids are extremely adaptable, and with a wealth of techniques and traditions to look back on, it should come as little surprise that Black people with naturally Afro-textured hair are embracing and reinventing an important part of our culture.
Be it beads, patterns that swoop and swirl around the crown, technicolor ombré hues, or braid styles adorned with thread, cuffs, and butterflies, the options are endless, which can be a bit daunting if you're trying to decide on a look. But fear not! We're here to help you navigate it all with some major inspiration spied on celebrities and on Instagram. Whether you're looking to rock straight backs, Fulani braids, or the ever-popular Janet Jackson Poetic Justice braids, we've got ideas that will help you achieve your ultimate hair goals.
Paul Morigi/Getty Images1/57Side Lean
Alicia Keys has been known for her unique braided hairstyles since the late ‘90s and shows no sign of abandoning them anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean she’s not experimenting: Her appearance at the Portrait of a Nation Gala in a side-leaning puff and bead-adorned, face-framing braids is proof.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images2/57Stitched To Perfection
Marsai Martin's neatly-parted stitch cornrow braids at the Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul. premiere features an intricate stitch pattern — and that’s not even the best part of this look. The wrapped bun with wispy tendrils in the back is just as eye-catching.
Swan Gallet/Getty Images3/57Babydoll Cornrow Pigtails
Coi Leray nailed the baby doll look with these cornrows, which cascade outward into wavy pigtails. This style is all about the details: Small braids cover the elastics at the base of Leray’s pigtails. Her perfectly laid baby hairs give this nostalgic hairstyle a modern twist.
Sean Zanni/Getty Images4/57Honey Blonde: The Jumbo Way
Honey-hued highlights, like Elaine Welteroth's, will give your braids summertime vibes — even when it's 12 degrees outside. The size of these braids allows the golden brown strands to really pop against the chocolate brown hair for a warm blend that screams beach days.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
NBC/Getty Images5/57Micro Swoop
Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s recent goddess braids have yielded some of her best looks yet. This look, which she wore on The Kelly Clarkson Show, is another example of this. It gathers the box braids with curls into a classic ponytail — one with gorgeous texture and body.
Jean Catuffe6/57Oh, Baby!
Lori Harvey is not immune to the allure of Y2K aesthetic. The proof: These wide-parted baby braids. Box braid hairstyles come in a variety of sizes and lengths and Harvey makes a strong case for a shorter iteration of the look. This hairstyle is equal parts cute and easy to create — and the nostalgic element is just the cherry on top.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images7/57Pinwheels
Danai Gurira attended the 2022 EBONY Power 100 Awards in a pinwheel-inspired hairstyle made up of small braids all wrapped around each other in circular patterns. This look is reminiscent of '90s finger waves and 1920s flapper waves, proving that you really can achieve any hairstyle with braids.
David M. Benett/Getty Images8/57Braided Hot Air Balloon
Janet Jackson’s hair (literally) reached new heights with this epic top knot that features a braided cornrow base. There’s so much to love about this look, including the subtle braids in the front, the big poofy bun, and the gold wire embellishment.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Mike Marsland9/57Reinventing the Wheel
Leave it to Gabrielle Union to pull off one of the most intricate braided hairstyles of 2022. This circular masterpiece, done by Hairstylist Issac Poleon, is a testament to how versatile braids can be. We can only imagine how much hairspray and how many bobby pins went into this look, but Union carries this crown of braided wheels with unmatched elegance.
VALERIE MACON/Getty Images10/57Twist & Turn
This braided updo may just be Martin’s most standout look yet. The gingerbread shade is *chef’s kiss,* the intricate twisted braid is flawless, and the spiky ends add just the right amount of edge.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images11/57Puff Piece
Ebonee Davis is a reliable source for natural hair inspiration, and oh, look, here she is again with another hairstyle we'd like to copy. The model/activist stepped out on the red carpet with a set of gorgeous Afro puffs, boasting a base of tiny cornrows braided in three directions.
Getty Images12/57Golden Girls
A few of the models on the runway at Pyer Moss's Spring 2020 show wore sets of beautiful cornrow braids adorned with gold cuffs forged in the image of Black female music artists. The gilded likenesses of Missy Elliot, Grace Jones, Rihanna, Lauryn Hill, and more graced their plaits, a beautiful tribute to the contribution of Black women to pop culture worldwide.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images13/57Braids on Braids
Anyone who has gotten box braids has likely woven those smaller braids into a set of larger ones, and actor Yvonne Orji is no exception. In 2019, she attended the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards with her blonde box braids styled into a crown braid that transforms into a braided ponytail.
Getty Images14/57Neat and Tidy
Keke Palmer's braids start as cornrows in the front, then cascade down her back to flow freely. A little bit of edge control at the hairline and she was ready to hit the red carpet.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images15/57Waves on Swim
You know if Beyoncé's going to serve a protective style, it's going to be epic. For the premiere of The Lion King in 2019, her hair was braided in a curvy pattern reminiscent of finger waves. It was a beautiful marriage between two hairstyles so important to Black culture.
16/57Yes, the Bayang
To close out her video for "Hit Different" in September, SZA gave fans a little teaser of her single, "Good Days." For the segment, she wore a set of beaded braids, complete with a gorgeous fringe, which was also adorned with wooden flourishes.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
17/57Safety First
Dancehall artist Shenseea wore this mile-long braid decorated with a crap-ton of safety pins for her "Trick'a Treat" music video. Her look is a great example of how you can transform a simple high pony with the right accessories. If you've got a bunch of safety pins in a junk drawer somewhere, now you've got a use for them.
Getty Images18/57Whip-Smart
Tessa Thompson's super long BDSM-inspired braid was one of our favorite hair looks from the 2019 Met Gala, "Notes on Camp." The style comes courtesy of Lacy Redway, who left a little tassel at the end of the 12-foot long latex braid so it could resemble a whip.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images19/57Fiyah Bun
You don't have to do the most to get super gorgeous hair. A simple braided bun is always a good look, as Issa Rae demonstrates here. Here, the base of her hair is kept sleek and the braided bit is just a few shades lighter than her base, hinting at a cool ombré.
Tracee Ellis Ross/Instagram20/57Finger Waves and Length for Days
Tracee Ellis Ross got all gussied up to for the 2020 People's Choice Awards. For the occasion, her hair was styled by Nai'vasha Johnson in a long, textured ponytail with a finger-wave design at the base.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Victoria Monet/Instagram21/57Mumbo Jumbo
Let the beautiful Victoria Monet provide you with a little inspo for your next jumbo box braid sesh. The singer/songwriter's dark brown, almost-black braids are brightened up with some strands of blonde, adding dimension to her look.
Saweetie/Instagram22/57Child's Play
Saweetie never fails to serve us hairstyles that make us press the "save" button on Instagram. These box braids she's wearing are decorated with clear beads at the ends. This kind of look reminds something we wore as kids in the '90s, except the way she's wearing hers in the 2020s is all grown up.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images23/57Side Chick
A high, side ponytail will always remind us of the '80s, but we're loving the modern twist Yara Shahidi's hairstylist put on the look. Instead of styling her pony with a single braid, the actor's got at least four, all tied off at the ends with a little black rubber band.
Getty Images24/57Bantu, Three, Four, Five
Brandy Norwood hit the stage at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards with her long, blonde box braids styled into at least five Bantu knots. It's a friendly reminder of the versatility of protective styles, and another great option to choose from if you already have box braids in.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images25/57Meet Me in the Lob-by
Kiki Layne demonstrates a super-cute way to style lob-length box braids. Her stylist pulled one side of her hair back behind her ears, wrapping the braids in what appears to be silver elastic.
Getty Images26/57Sultry Straight Backs
There is no hairstyle more classic than a good set of straight-back cornrows. While this could be considered one of the more basic cornrow styles, it's easy to elevate the look to make it more special. For the 2020 American Music Awards, Ciara wore hers with a swooping, swirling set of baby hairs.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Tommaso Boddi27/57'90s Baby
Jordyn Woods fêted Justin Roberts's New Music Video 'Way Too Much' with a set of box braids that were left loose and wavy at the ends. Offering proof that scrunchies are making a big comeback, the model used a satiny-looking animal-print version to hold her braids in a half-up, half-down look.
Getty Images28/57Twice Crowned
Stylist Vernon François took the concept of a braid crown to the next level with an actual crown. A few days after Amandla Stenberg debuted long, thick braids with red highlights and a thinner braid split along her hairline, François reinvented the look by pinning it up and topping it off with a starry tiara.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Instagram/Ashunta Sheriff29/57Fully Fulani
Taraji P. Henson decided on a gorgeous set of Fulani braids to promote Empire in South Africa. There's so much gorgeousness going on here, it's hard to choose a favorite element. The braid precisely laid down her middle part? The plaits left loose at the temples? Or the big bun of swirling, highlighted braids sitting high atop Henson's head? One thing is for sure: It all comes together for an absolutely epic look.
Paras Griffin30/57Feed the Pony
Skai Jackson's look comes courtesy of L.A.-based hairstylist LaShondra, who styled the actor's hair in feed-in braids of varying sizes, pulled up into a ponytail. And, of course, the baby hair is slicked to perfection.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images31/57Hoop Dreams
Prepare to be obsessed with this look Janelle Monáe wore for a Today set at Rockefeller Plaza: a thick braid with a black-to-silvery-white ombré. Hairstylist Nikki Nelms finished off the look with a golden ring that cleanly seals the tapered end.
Getty Images32/57Loose Ends
Laurel Harrier wore box braids to the L.A. premiere of BlacKkKlansman for a special reason, according to her hairstylist Lacy Redway. "Most of us remember iconic moments from the '90s of seeing Janet Jackson with box braids in Poetic Justice or Brandy in Moesha," she captioned an image of Harrier's look. "But how many of you guys know that braids can be traced back more than 5,000 years ago to about 3500 B.C. ?" In her post, Redway lays out a brief history of braids before mentioning that Harrier chose the look to "celebrate the history and culture of box braids." Harrier's braids, which boast slightly wavy, loose ends, were styled into a half-up, half-down look, complete with subtle, slicked-down baby hairs.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images33/57Down-to-There Platinum Hair
Many an attendee wore this hairstyle at 2018 Essence Fest but, Mary J. Blige brought it from the New Orleans streets to the stage for her performance at the festival. Blige chose long box braids that reach her thigh — in her signature blonde hue, of course.
Getty Images34/57Fulani Fab
Hairstylist Christina "Tina" Trammell gave multi-hyphenate Erica Ash a gorgeous set of Fulani braids that looked beautiful paired with her head-turning gown. Trammel also added wooden beads at the ends of Ash's braids, tying the whole look together.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images35/57Knot Your Average Pony
This next-level look on the lovely Amandla Stenberg comes courtesy of hair legend Vernon François. François created this multicolor, knotted plait, "because why knot," as he captioned an image of the look on his Instagram page.
Getty Images36/57Cinnamon Bun Braids
Hairstylist Sheridan Ward gave Thandie Newton this hairstyle for a panel at Cannes Lions. Her cornrows were braided back in a slightly swoopy pattern, brought together at the nape of her neck into a low bun that is making us hungry for Cinnabon.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier37/57Flower Power
For the cover of Allure's June 2017 issue, Zöe Kravitz's signature micro braids (this time in platinum blonde) were accessorized with charming faux flowers and butterflies, courtesy of Nikki Nelms. The result? An ethereal, mystical style.
nnescorner/Instagram38/57Pop the Bubbly
Popular natural hair influencer Nneoma is the queen of finessing her protective styles in unique ways. Here, she used one of our favorite accessories from childhood — hair bubbles — and wrapped them around the base and ends of each box braid for a playful look that's simple to replicate on your own.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
magavilhas/Instagram39/57Unicorn Rave
Known for her colorful style, Brazilian blogger Magá Moura looks like she came straight out of the '90s with her face stickers and unicorn braids adorned with pastel beads on the ends. Here, she styled them in high pigtails, leaving some braids out in the front to frame her face.
Getty Images40/57Braid in, Braid-Out
Insecure creator and actress Issa Rae stunned on the red carpet at the 2017 NAACP Image Awards rocking this half-up, half-down look with a cornrowed topknot and two hanging braids on the side. The rest of her hair was left loose in a braid-out pattern at the back. Consider trying the style out on those days when you want lots of volume but also want to keep your hair out of your face.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
NBC41/57Braids and Bouffant
Alicia Keys has been serving us gorgeous braided hairstyles since she burst onto the scene in 2001 with "Fallin'", and she's still in the business of selflessly providing the girls with hair inspo. During her tenure as a judge on The Voice, she wore cornrows that fed into a larger braid with a voluminous bouffant
Getty Images42/57Mix & Match Plaits
When is Solange Knowles not giving us serious hairspiration? After going blonde in September 2017, she later stepped out with this set of braids by Susy Oludele, aka @hairbysusy, we were, as the kids say, shook. We love the mix-and-match feel of these braids, adorned with beads and white thread.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
43/57Kandy Kornrows
Not everyone likes the taste of candy corn, but the look of these orange-and-yellow ombré jumbo braids is making me want to eat a bowl full of them. The braids, done by YouTuber Kersti Pitre, are what she likes to call Kandy Cornrows. We think the name fits perfectly.
Photographed by Nathaniel Wood44/57No-Fuss Muss
Kerry Washington's straight-back cornrows, which she wore to shoot Allure's November 2017 issue, were given an easy, earthy vibe with loose edges and a few well-placed cuffs. Here, hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew shows us you don't need edge control to serve a polished, braided moment.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
@teyonahparris/Instagram45/57Beaded Babe
Just so you know, we're still gathering our collective edges from when we saw this hairstyle on Survivor’s Remorse actress Teyonah Parris. Parris took her Fulani braids to beaded glory with this look.
@africancreature/Instagram46/57Electric Lady
If Beyoncé lets you do her hair, you know you've got the magic touch. @hairbysusy consistently floods our Instafeeds with major hair porn, and this electric, acid-yellow set of box braids adorned with colorful beads is no exception.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
47/57In the Loop
Duh, braids are awesome, but sometimes you want to rock them and your loose natural hair. Tamara, owner of Ancestral Strands hair salon in Brooklyn, created this look on one of her models for CurlFest 2017. The best part? The braided loop in the middle, which gives this style a unique flourish.
Getty Images48/57Purple Unicorn
Songbird Justine Skye has the voice of an angel, and also, great hairstyles. All the time. The self-proclaimed "Purple Unicorn" made a bold statement with this braided ponytail by master braider @guin_gui. There’s some legit whip-ability with this braid… and we wouldn't have it any other way.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images49/57Gettin' Ziggy With It
Speaking of purple, model/dancer Damaris Lewis was a muse to the late great Prince. They shared the stage and the sensibility to be fly and fierce, which is what this look by Felicia Burrows is. We especially like the zigzag part in between the braids; it’s a nice touch. Reminder: Screenshot this and bring to the salon.
50/57Orange Soda
Pumpkins ain't got nothing on this adorable orange bob. We love these bright box braids on Lindiwe Dim, snipped short and secured with yellow, peach, and pink elastics.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images51/57Well-Fed
Jourdan Dunn wore a set of feed-in braids by Lacy Redway to the 2015 Met Gala and, of course, absolutely nailed the look.
@jalicia35/Instagram52/57Epic Bun
St. Kitts–based hairstylist Jalicia created this gorgeous updo, which she punctuated with a bit of colorful thread in the front. While we're sure the braids she twisted into a giant bun look great when they are hanging loose, we're obsessed with the drama this swirly updo is serving.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
@jalicia35/Instagram53/57Spaced Out
This set of braids is giving us '90s, Ethiopian, and Fulani vibes all at once. We love the way they're styled here with two space buns in the front and hanging braids in the back. The accessories just take the look to the next level.
Getty Images54/57Totally Twisted
Lupita Nyong'o is the real MVP when it comes to style and beauty. In the summer of 2017, she rocked this protective style — a lob made of tiny Senegalese twists, courtesy of Lacy Redway. Granted, they're not braids but the effect this look gives is similar.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
@the_braid_lounge/Instagram55/57Shaved Sides
This blonde style, anchored by a set of cornrows done at The Braid Lounge in Virginia Beach, is the stuff dreams are made of. The client's shaved sides give this style an edgy feel.
Getty Images56/57Throwback Slay
An indisputable fact about Nina Simone is that her musicianship and her style can never be duplicated. She proudly wore her natural hair for many years and often tapped into her roots to inspire her hairdos. Here she is with a simple-yet-elegant braided bun. She may be gone, but her proclivity to turn hair into art still influences many today.
- Beauty Product ReviewsThe May Allure Beauty Box Is Mother’s Day Gifting Made Easy
Getty Images57/57Up Top
Fellas love braids, too. Just ask Michael B. Jordan. While prepping for the wildly successful Black Panther film, Jordan grew out his hair and wore braids.
