The braids hairstyle is one of the most popular in Africa. African women love braids! Do you know that braids can be traced back more than 5,000 years ago to about 3500 B.C.?
For ages, African women carrying braids has been a thing. And till date it’s never out of fashion. It just continues to trend, making old school feel like new school all day long…
On countless streets of many African countries, seeing ladies and women wearing long and colorful braids is a colorful and gorgeous scene. Some love them short, while others love to go wild as the braids flock around their knees.
Wherever you find black women, be sure to find braids 🙂
Let’s explore 15 gorgeous women braided hairstyles that might just inspire your next look:
- The Bayang
Complete beaded braids, embellished with wooden flourishes and a gorgeous fringe.
- The Jumbo Box Braids
It’s dark-brown and almost black with a touch of blonde giving it a creative dimension outlook.
- Child’s Play
Child’s play? Child’s Play. Like child’s play, braids like this can actually take hours to achieve. Usually braids take some hours to achieve. Nostalgic, it makes your mind wander to the 80s and 90s. But this Child’s Play is also for grown ups now.
- Side Chick
Short side ponytail braids with a modern twist. Very creative as the braids come together to form the pony rather than the usual straight hair pony.
- Bantu
The Bantu knot is a good way to rock a new look. Plus, it’s one of the protective braids styles, and an alternative for a versatile pattern when you already have box braids in.
- Fully Fulani
The Fully Fulani is epic and royal with highlighted braids sitting at the top of the head like a throne in majestic display.
- Sultry Straight Backs
Call it one of the African root classics. No debates, you’re correct. The straight-back cornrows hairstyle go way back. Although this looks basic, but more can be done to reveal the African beauty.
- Fulani Fab
Here’s an amazing Fulani braid hairstyle which can also be worn with wooden beads at the ends 🙂
- Pop the Bubbly
Are you wearing a natural hair? Have the guts to flaunt your Africaness. Braid it all the way that fits your personality. You can also borrow hair bubbles from your childhood 🙂
- Unicorn Rave
Twerk your braids to anywhere you want it. The Unicorn Rave hairstyle goes with the waves and beautiful color like the rainbow. It can also be styled with pigtails.
- Cinnamon Bun Braids
Cornrows braided way back in a slightly swoopy pattern, brought together at the nape of the neck into a low bun.
- Mix & Match Plaits
Thread your way to looking this good if not better with a mix and match plaits hairstyle.
- Kandy Kornrows
Wait a minute, check it out queen. Kandy Kornrows’s kreativity is all around your head including the name of the hairstyle as the C in Candy and Cornrows turns K and gets more liKes on social media. Everyone kinda like the taste of kandy korn 🙂
- Loose Ends
We are not leaving a stone unturned neither are we leaving a loophole or any loose ends. The Loose Ends braids is definitely a mention on our list. It’s wavy, half-up, half-down, and it’s a sleek slicked-down beauty.
- Braid in, Braid-Out
We braided in and now we are braiding out. Honestly, you can do anything with braids to bring out that special African beauty you got there. Just braid in and braid out 🙂
Bonus
You should be getting hairspiration by now. Here’s a mind-blowing bonus just for you.
The Electric Lady
Braids are all colorful for women of color. There are different available colors to complement your skin tone.
Now, let’s take a YOU-turn.
Men’s haircut!
Looking at the opposite sex, sometimes men love to keep their hair full and rough or get a great haircut. Certainly some like to go out of the box while others simply don’t carry hair at all 🙂
- Afro Fade
Afro Fade never fades. If this haircut is the very type that will look good on you, then get ready to catch ladies staring. While the top is a bit neglected, an amount of time is spent at the lower part, busy making the top obvious and pretty.
- Buzz Cut
You don’t want to deal with so much? It’s okay, buzz it. Buzz Cut is military-hairspired. If you’ve passion to join the military, you don’t have a problem cutting your hair. Maintenance is cheap but sophistication is guaranteed.
- Twists with Fade
What you see here is versatility. The idea is to keep your hair long before going to the salon. Don’t go in looking like Dwayne Johnson.
- Low Afro Fade with Long Twists
To achieve a low afro fade with long twists the hair should be allowed to grow a bit longer.
- High Skin Fade with Twists
High Skin Fade with Short Twists is also a good alternative, if you want to keep the twist on a low key.
- Line Up Taper
Want a Low Afro Fade with Long Twists or a Line Up Taper, pick your devil. They kinda go hand in hand.
- Twisted Curls with Blow Out Fade
With a little fade and low twisted curls, one can get a whole different look.
- High Fade with Disconnected Part
This looks like the lower version of a Line Up Taper with a parting to show a difference.
- Faux Hawk with Blonde Sponge Twists
This is dope and fresh. The combination houses a thick sponge twist and a modern bald fade to give you a great modern-man look.
- Box Fade
Call it high top or flat top, it’s still boxed top due to the rectangular shape. The height is usually 3 to 5 cm. This haircut is iconic. You simply get noticed everywhere, but be sure to know if it’s really going to look good on you or else you become a public joke.
- Line Up
As the name goes, the idea behind this haircut is to definine your hairline on your neck to your forehead. Hairstylists shave a straight hairline with sharp angles into the low hair.
Men who love this style really do line up for it. This style also brings attention to your eyes and brow line.
- Skin Fade with Waves
If you’re comfortable with the shape of your head, this is one to still look dope. The waves fading as it gets to the sides of the head is where the beauty lies.
- Long Kinky Hair
It’s not just the kinky hair but it’s the beards for some men.
- Curly Afro with Long Beard
Beards are now men’s make-up. It brings out the beauty of haircuts like the Curly Afro.
- Clean Shave
Like we said some men simply don’t carry hair at all 🙂
It’s the easiest way out to not worry about shampoo and conditioner and still look fresh. It’s also a protective style if you’re not comfortable with a receding hairline.
A clean shave is solid and it sends a direct message with an aura of self-confidence.
Wanna get one of these haircuts? Find the nearest salon. Look great! Own it!
By Elijah Christopher
Elijah Christopher is a journalist at A New Touch Of Africa, is also a creative writer, a poet, and an IT enthusiast. He contributed to the collaborative poem written in celebration of Edwin Morgan Centenary, the first Glasgow poet laureate and Scottish national poet from the University of Glasgow. He loves meeting people and learning about new places, cultures, events, and lifestyles.
