

You don’t necessarily have to go long, though! Consider bob braids for a shorter and spunkier look. When we think box braids we often think long elbow-length styles. Blonde Box Braids Lighten up and go a few shades lighter.īlonde box braids give you the chance to play with your hair color and opt for a lighter hue. Large box braids are just what they sound like! Slightly bigger box braids that do the same protective work of their smaller counterparts. Big Box Braids Large box braids make a big statement.

The origin of these braids can be traced back 5000 years and was an identifier of sorts for different African tribes. The term ‘African braids’ includes a range of different braided styles. African Braids African braids are a 5000-year-old culturally significant style. This results in a natural, thick-looking braid. Rather than tying the synthetic hair at the root of your strands and then braiding, the hair is added to the braids farther down the shaft. Two Feed-In Braids Feed in braids use synthetic hair to add depth and thickness to your braids. Need more style inspiration? Don’t worry, keep scrolling to find out some of our favorite braided looks. From feed-in braids to Fulani braids there are endless possibilities when it comes to wearing this popular type of style. There are so many braid styles for black women. You may be wondering: What hair do you use for braids? What is the best hair to use when braiding hair? How can I get my braids to last longer? Keep reading to find out! And they’re great for men and women!Īmongst the many types of braids for Black hair that exist, here are some of our favorite looks. Box braids, in particular, are a diverse hairstyle with many different variations. No one expects anyone to know everything about braids, but these conversations are shedding some light on the types of braids for black hair that have a powerful representation. Many celebrities of all ethnicities are wearing different types of braids for Black hair not knowing what they are called or what the reference or context behind each one is. While braids are a type of hairstyle anyone can wear, there are some braid styles for Black women that have a more cultural meaning behind them and as such, should be celebrated not only for their aesthetic but for their heritage behind them as well. Here are 20 braided hairstyles to think about the next time you're ready to try a new 'do.We’re admiring the way women of color are speaking up more and more about black braid styles. Whether we're spending upwards of ten hours in our stylists' chair getting box braids as a protective style or cornrowing our hair in our home bathrooms, there are many styles we can try when we want to change it up.

Thanks to women like Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Serena Williams, Beyoncé, and Bozoma Saint John, Black women like myself are now unapologetically wearing braided (and twisted) styles in spaces where they have often been labeled "unprofessional" or "ghetto." This wave of Black women embracing our hair texture and historical styles is allowing us to express ourselves in new ways, even if the white gaze, thanks to social media, is causing our culture to be appropriated daily. While some might say her feeling about braids was wrong, if we look at how society has viewed Black hair in the workplace, in media, and beyond-her point of view in the '90s wasn't too far off. My mom wanted to make sure my sister and I weren't mislabeled when we stepped out into the world. Growing up, I wasn't allowed to wear my hair braided.
