If there's one hairstyle I love, it's a braid. Whether it's a simple hairstyle like a braided ponytail or long, dramatic knotless box braids, the look is versatile, timeless, and undeniably chic. Braids can be a quick and impromptu option for straight and wavy hair or double as a protective style for those with textured hair.
If you're new to braids, don't worry — getting started is easy. "The classic three-strand braid is the foundation for all braided styles. Mastering this basic technique is essential to tackle more complex looks," explains Kendall Dorsey, celebrity hairstylist and Color Wow Curl Global Ambassador. The hairstyle options are endless once you have the classic braid down to a science.
There are fishtail braids, waterfall braids, or French plaits if that's more your speed. For those with textured hair, protective styles range from box braids—and all of the respective variations, like goddess braids—to cornrows or straight-back braids. (The latter are typically the setting place for a wig application or a weave install, but they're gorgeous worn on their own, too.)
Still looking for amazing braiding inspiration? I've scoured braid hairstyle ideas from celebrities far and wide to present you with looks suitable for every occasion and hair texture, along with pro tips from celebrity hairstylists and braiders to help you achieve the look for yourself.
Keep scrolling for 50 beautiful braided hairstyle options.
Which Type of Braids Last Longest?
As with any style, the longevity of its wear depends on how much care you put into its upkeep. "The longevity of the style relies mostly on how it’s maintained and manipulated," explains celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen. "So that could be very subjective depending on the individual.”
According to celebrity braider Xia Charles, box braids and knotless braids are the braid styles that will last the longest. "Any single braids that appear to grow out from the root to the ends, with proper care, won’t get messy. The only thing you see is the new growth." Knotless or box braids, should be kept in for six to eight weeks.
What are the Easiest Braids to Do?
In terms of ease, the simpler, the better. Pigtail braids and fishtail braids—or any style braided on the ends, not the roots—shouldn't take too long (10 minutes or less). Charles says that simple, straight-back cornrows are the easiest option for more in-depth styles. ”Either two, four, or six cornrows braided back is an under two hours style, which is easy for the client and braider,” she explains.
How to Make Braids Last Longer
Braid style longevity is two-fold: there's pre-prep and post-care. Before going to your stylist, make sure your hair is clean. "It helps with longevity," explains Charles. "You won't have to take your hair out after two weeks." Next, make sure your stylist is braiding with proper tension and technique. Braids with looser tension tend to last less time than if the tension of the braid is tighter. That said, you don't want your braids to be too tight and risk tension alopecia on your scalp.
Aftercare also extends the life of your braids. Both Charles and Stephen recommend sleeping with a silk or satin hair wrap to tie your hair down and protect it. Too much friction from your pillowcase can cause frizz. In addition, to make braids last longer, Stephens recommends using braid sprays, pomades, and edge control gel, as well as oiling your scalp every few days with a light scalp oil to keep it fresh.
What Are the Most Popular Braided Hairstyles for 2024?
According to Charles, boho braids and knotless box braids with added pieces of curly hair are some of the most popular of braids hairstyles for 2024. Side-swept long, waist-length cornrows or “lemonade braids” (a nod to Beyoncé’s Lemonade) haven't stopped trending since the album's release eight years ago.
In general, designed cornrow braided styles, like Coco Gauff's go-to look or the braids Alicia Keys rocked in the ‘90s, are the most popular of the year.
Andra Day, you've done it again. This gorgeous style features double the fun—lengthy Dutch braids and bouncy ringlets are equally the main event. And for a bit of extra intrigue, the hair left out at the end of the braids allows for even more curl and ties everything together.
Retiring your signature top knot or ponytail is difficult, so why not switch it up a bit with box braids styled into a high pony à la Chloe Bailey? It's a protective style that's perfect for the warm summer months. "Most braided styles have some type of longevity," says Dorsey. "Whether it’s knotless braids, knot braids, cornrows, box braids, or Senegalese twists, these protective styles are designed to last and keep your hair healthy."
Teyana Taylor is looking fabulous (as per usual) with crisscrossing cornrows and laid baby hairs. To replicate the slicked look, apply edge control on your baby hairs using a small toothbrush, then tie your hair down with a silk scarf.
Jumbo knotless braids are always a good idea. Right, Whitney Peak? This style is painless to install, but you can cut styling time in half compared to small individual braids. Dorsey agrees: "One of the top requests I receive is for knotless box braids. By incorporating human hair, I can enhance the length and fullness, creating that effortless, bohemian look."
If looking regal is your thing, do like Olivia Culpo and add a unique twist to your formal updo with a medium-sized braid placed along the side. Then, pull it back into a bun of ringlets. Gorgeous hair, your highness.
Justine Skye, how does it feel to wear the world's most perfect fishtail braid?
"If you're looking to elevate your braiding game beyond the classic three-strand, I recommend trying a fishtail braid or a Dutch braid," explains celebrity hairstylist Harry Josh. "The fishtail braid offers a more intricate, woven appearance and is surprisingly easy to master with a bit of practice. The Dutch braid, also known as an inside-out or reverse braid, sits on top of the hair rather than blending in, creating a bold, dimensional look," adds Josh.
Embellish your cornrows with beads or try a vibrant color like bleach blonde. If you're as bold as Solange, do both.
Stephen likes using clip-ins and hair pieces from The Hair Shop when working on extra-long styles. "They have a very wide selection of colors and lengths," she notes.
"Some of my favorite braids to work on are big bold plaits," Stephen tells Marie Claire. "One of my favorites that I’ve created lately is the long blonde plait that I did on Zendaya for the Challengers premiere in London."
While walking the red carpet, Zendaya kept the style in motion, swaying back and forth and back and forth. We'll call that a serve.
At the 2024 Met Gala, Quannah Chasinghorse's long locks featured a selection of intricate braids: multiple twisted strands were woven on each side of her head before they were worked into an inverted French braid.
“The braiding and use of accessories with native beadwork in this year’s look shows the artistry and creativity of her people,” her hairstylist, Paula Peralta, told Allure. “It shows that beauty is not a monolith.”
While this style on Laura Harrier is beautiful, please note that long micro-braids take quite a while to complete (usually six-plus hours, depending on the braider). The plus side? They're so versatile. Rock your braids half-up like Harrier, in a low ponytail, or even up into a top knot—the styling options are endless. "Maintaining teeny tiny braids like this look I created on Laura Harrier is simple," explains hairstylist Lacy Redway. "You need mousse to help minimize the frizz, and oil to keep it looking fresh."
America Ferrera appeared at a Barbie premiere in 2023, wearing her soon-to-be-chopped hair in the cutest pigtails. Simplicity is key here—you need a slicked-back part and some tiny elastics to secure the look.
"For added security with a braid, I like to use a light-hold hairspray before braiding to give the hair some grip, and a small dab of the Kerasilk Finishing Cream at the ends before tying them off," notes Josh. "This combination ensures that the braids stay intact throughout the day."
Here, Gabrielle Union showcases the versatility of tiny box braids. The movie star looks incredible in this '90s staple, the half-up, half-down hairstyle.
Riley Keough's 2024 Golden Globes hair, a side-parted, undone, low-bound braided ponytail, was inspired by Victorian and Edwardian-era hairstyles. She worked with hairstylist Adir Abergel to craft the "romantic, yet undone" look.
Feed-in braids look divine and take no time. Curly girls: Yara Shahidi proves you can pull off this style. “The most important thing to consider when wearing a protective style is maintaining the health of your scalp and adding moisture to your hair," explains Dorsey. "For most styles (like box braids and cornrows), your scalp is more exposed than usual. As a result, it can be more prone to dryness, irritation and/or flakiness. To avoid that, it’s important to hydrate the scalp and hair regularly using a leave-in conditioning spray, which adds and locks in moisture."
Who said braids have to be ankle-grazing? Here, Willow Smith's take on a braided bob is a fashion-forward take. "I think it's super chic and beyond the trend," says celebrity hairstylist Dharius Wright, who predicts you'll be seeing this style more in the coming fall.
Deva Cassel's simple pigtails are the perfect accent. Dutch braids don't always have to invoke The Sound of Music. "Simple pigtails will never go out of style and come in so many iterations that translate well on all hair types," says Redway. "Depending on your hair type and the control you desire in the base of the ponytail, many products can work to create the look." Try a wax stick to help tame flyaways and provide control to sleeker looks.
Emily Ratajkowski is giving golden goddess with her loosely weaved crown braid. She couples it with face-framing layers and a dainty headband for an extra ethereal effect.
Tortured Poets Department-core, anyone? Emma Chamberlain's long, skinny, waist-length braids are bedecked in bows of velvet and string varieties for a little excitement. This style is so easy to emulate. Middle part your hair, braid it up, and tie on ribbon.
Adwoa Aboah can often be spotted with gorgeous cornrows. This style is simple and classic and plays well with her fresh-faced glow. Charles loves cornrows as a style during the cooler seasons, too. "If you’re looking for a simple protective style to carry you through the season, opt for straight-back cornrows. That's an easy way to keep your hair moisturized while also having access to your scalp. You can wear a beanie with a satin insert and keep your hair moisturized and protected, too."
Love Island USA winner Serena Page's boho braids had viewers buzzing during the summer of 2024. "People are wearing boho-style braids, but they're tricking it out and making it their own as opposed to wearing it a traditional way," explains Wright. The best way to maintain boho braids? Using human hair instead of traditional kanekalon braiding hair.
Josh crafted major loop braids for Irina Shayk at the 2024 King's Trust Global Gala. According to an Instagram post by the artist, the loops were connected at the nape of her neck.
"One of my go-to products for braided styles is a good texturizing spray, which adds grip to the hair, making it easier to braid and ensuring they stay put," Josh says.
Here, a gorgeous-in-green Ashley Graham goes simple chic with one long braid that hangs effortlessly over her shoulder. Her slick middle part and face-framing strands tie the look together.
Leave it to Issa Rae to rock a side bun. Let the lower half of your strands hang freely while braiding the top up. Bonus points for accent braids near your ears—they're so fun.
While this styling can be a great way to extend the lifespan of your braid install, remember that protective styles can also have their own counterproductive ways. "Don't be quick to put in another protective style after you take one out," advises Charles. "Moisturize and deep condition your hair, get a trim. And then two to three weeks before putting your hair back in another protective style."
If only for a second, try to take your eyes off of Jorja Smith's angelic face and focus on her box braids. These tiny, individual braids grant you the freedom to wear your hair in an array of styles, like a simple low bun.
Just when you thought Lupita Nyong'o couldn't look any better, these single cornrows add a dimensional layer of elegance to her braided updo. The lesson here? Cornrows can easily upgrade a classic look.
While Storm Reid's soft waves are pretty on their own, the braid at her crown brings this look to a whole new level. Now, imagine if she pulled her hair back. So many options!
Getting braids of any kind, especially the micro braids worn by Zoë Kravitz here, into a bun is a test of strength and patience. "One tip I like to share with clients that get these braided styles is to go easy on products such as mousse, gels, and sprays because they can cause build-up on your scalp and make your braids look old a lot quicker," explains Janice Smith, Unruly hairstylist. "Instead, cover your braids at night and keep up with simple maintenance."
Kate Hudson, I'm sorry we can't see your face here. But we'd know those California blonde strands anywhere. Tie a bow around a soft, segmented French braid, and it becomes decidedly less elementary.
Soft and sleek, Jennie's halo braid isn't a feat of magic but the result of gently tugging and pulling each section of the braid for a semi-undone feel.
The beauty of this braid is that it's not overly perfect: It's pancaked enough to avoid looking too precious, and it makes a cool contrast to Amanda Seyfried's polished red carpet gown.
Margot Robbie's "method dressing" didn't start with the Barbie press tour—she's been doing it for a while. At the premiere of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, she recreated a look Sharon Tate (who Robbie plays in the film) wore to the 1968 Cannes Film Festival. With two thin braids framing each side of her face, she looks like she was pulled straight from 1969.
According to the very wise Alicia Keys, the bigger and bolder, the better. Here, she piles an impressive braid atop her head for a halo-like effect.
A braid crown is the unofficial hair mascot of your average music festival, and for good reason: it's pretty and prevents any sweaty hair moments in the sun. Here, Kate Bosworth translates the look to the red carpet. (And yes, it works!)
Tennis star Coco Gauff is known for her braided looks when she's not on the court. Wright, who is her hairstylist alongside Yohanse Jimenez, explains: [Coco] loves mixing her texture hair with braids. If she gets all braids, she has to have a curl in hair somewhere, reminiscent of the '90s and '00s. The texture in the back can always change, but she likes that signature style," he explains.
Kate Middleton is an expert at weaving braids into her elegant hairstyles, and her daughter Princess Charlotte is following in her footsteps. For Christmas 2023, she tucked a simple braid under her fascinator.
At the 2024 Grammys, Taylor Swift teased her upcoming album with a diagonal French braid that snaked down the back of her head. Lucky for you, beauty writer Gabrielle Ulubay explained exactly how to get the look here.
If there's one thing about Tyla, she's always going to have her hair on point. Here, she's rocking the 2024's hottest trend: butterfly braids. "These are little soft braids, as opposed to it being so tight," explains Charles. "Having the weave hair in at the corners and intertwined in the braid is great for vacation hair, too."
We dubbed this look by Rachel McAdams one of the sweetest hairstyles to get married in and you can see why: the double braids and the flower tucked behind the ear are pure magic.
A stunning take on the fishtail braid by Cara Delevingne: half of the hair coiled up in a tight side braid and the other half left loose and flowing on top. "A bed-head fishtail braid is a good intro style for someone learning to braid," shares Redway. "This style leaves room for error as it is not intended to look perfect, and is also great for end-of-the-week hair."
It's been a while since Rihanna wore braids (she's more into blonde blowouts these days), but her cornrows will always be classic. On this particular evening, she chose a crisscrossed scalp pattern for her look.
The pattern here makes it special and what Charles likes most about braiding: "A true braider hairstylist will do something to fit the person's face and shape, as opposed to just copying what somebody did—It’s a form of self-expression," she shares.
Kim Kardashian knows better than anyone that cameras might be around every turn. With that being said, her off-duty looks—like these simple three-strand braids—are always something to behold.
What's a braid story without a double appearance from the IRL Lara Croft of braids, Blake Lively? Pro tip for this look: loop a length of hair around the top of your braid and secure it just as you would hide a hair tie.
Meet the Milkmaid. Scarlett Johansson's style does wonders when you don't want a single hair in your face.
Leave it to Chloë Sevigny to bring one of the most intricate (and interesting) hairstyles to the 2024 Met Gala. "We’re incorporating a lot of hair and an homage to the Victorians, and in the Victorian era, how they celebrated their loved ones who passed away by making ornaments and jewelry out of their dead or their loved one’s hair," she told Vogue.
The Bailey sisters are young, but they already have hundreds of looks banked in the braided hair hall of fame. Halle Bailey wore these jumbo braids to Paris Fashion Week in fall 2023 and, although the look is gorgeous from top to bottom, the transition to curls at the base of each braid is perhaps our favorite element.
Cara Delevingne does it again. She's rocking a braided mohawk that blends into a twisted ponytail, all with a sleek, slicked-back style. Every hair trend got together to hang out right on top of her head, and she makes it look so good.
"This has been a hit all summer, and now, going into the fall, a lot of girlies came in for this look," says Charles, who explains that this look trends not only because of its versatility but also because you won't have a back covered in sweat during the summertime. "With the braided bob, you could do a lot of different styles with it. You could do half up, half down; I even see people come in and ask for space buns," she adds.
Only Anya Taylor-Joy can manage to make a sporty look seem so elegant. What keeps these Dutch braids from giving off real Rocky Goes to the Met Gala energy is that they are only on the side, leaving the center part untouched, so it all merges into one sleek style in the end.
It's hard not to be obsessed with Tyla's cornrowed side part. It's the perfect compliment to the chic, messy bob, giving it a tiny bit of edge. It's also great for those who like to oil their scalp to keep it moisturized. "When it comes to the braid styles, the key is to having styles where you can reach your scalp so that you can oil your scalp in between," explains Wright, who recommends oiling your scalp at least twice a week if you have any braid style.
Tanner Adell's cowgirl outfit from the 2024 BET Awards was completed with this gentle, easy braid in a platinum blonde.
