50 Jaw-Dropping Braided Hairstyles to Copy This Year

Braided hairstyles are by far the oldest way to style your hair. Women all over the world use braids to protect their beauty from environmental damage as well as show off their wild imagination.

Get inspiration and find a way to express your creativity through one of these sophisticated yet not so hard to recreate hairstyles!

1. Big Top Knot. One of the sweetest styles to get that extra height. The look starts with small box braids leading to a chunky, statement-making bun.

2. Medium Box Braids. A great chance to show your creativity! Alternate braided parts with delicate curls. You can also play with your parting and try different patterns to diversify your hairstyles.

3. Big Cornrows and Buns. Multiply your favorite hairstyle and get a cute crown updo. Easy and showy!

4. Afro Updo. This stunning updo gives a whole new twist to afro hairstyles. Plaitings can be incorporated into any hairdo of any length and it really brings extra something to your look.

5. Pulled-Back Cornrows. When it comes to African hairstyles, a variety of shapes and patterns is impressive. Look at this stunning lady and save the idea for inspiration!

6. Lengthy Pony. While we love the charm of plaited hairstyles in all possible versions, this combo of regular cornrows and a high pony deserves praise for its simplicity and chic.

7. Bob with Beads. Short-haired ladies can wear their locks as proudly and loudly as their long-haired sisters.

8. Asymmetrical Lob with Curls. Who said you shouldn’t mix plaits and curls in your styles? Leave that misconception behind and try this cute hairdo instead! The style will look gorgeous in the shape of an asymmetrical lob.

9. Thick Stitch Cornrows. Show your luxurious locks to the world with one of the most sought-after hairstyles. Not many styles can boast such perfection, so this one is a gem!

10. Toffee Brown Boho Style. This girl has dressed up her lavish brown braids that flatter her skin tone and added loose pieces throughout the style to maximize the volume and unleash boho vibes.

11. African Halo Hairstyle. You won’t find cool hairstyles with as many cultural references as you see in this cute afro. From the masterfully highlighted kinky halo through the cornrows and to the golden accent beads, it oozes authenticity.

12. Cherry Red Bob. Matching plaits with a long bob shape is a stunning idea, as illustrated by this vibrant, beautifully textured hairstyle that retains its clean shape and boasts a sophisticated color.

13. Micro Plaits with Edges. Here’s another inspo for those who want to turn a usual bob into something special. Not only are those tiny braids smartly highlighted and intricately styled, but they are also curled into neat edges to add bounce and spice.

14. Asymmetrical Highlighted Bob. Here is a fresh take on black hairstyles for women who would like to brighten up their casual hairdo. By adding soft shades of gold, you get a chic two-tone look that flatters your skin tone.

15. Cornrows with Twists. Keep your natural hair protected with this hairstyle! Let your curls stay safe and accumulate strength while looking dashing with these fun cornrows and thick twists.

16. Crown Hairstyle. Feel regal with this queen-worthy hairstyle! When a halo-like plait wraps around your head, it’s hard not to feel special.

17. Protective Hairstyle. Help your hair maintain health and glow with a similar professional protective hairstyle.

18. Bob with a Cornrowed Temple. Box braids or Goddess braids? Grab both to recreate this edgy style that has some plaits pulled back on one side to shift the length and volume to the other side for an eye-catching mismatch.

19. Afro-Pony Hairstyle. Such hairstyles bring so much creativity to the streets. Update our all-time favorite by mixing thin and thick cornrows, sleeking the sides and puffing up your pony.

20. Cuffs and Curls. Wear your mane loud and proud with this chic style for short curly hair. Look put-together by plaiting one section of your hair and let the rest of it bounce freely.

21. Jumbo Square Parts. This plaited hairstyle comes with many disconnections to put a twist on the traditional box braids for women who dare to be different. However, note those sweet baby hairs that soften the sharp feel of the parting.

22. Two Upside-Down Plaits. Achieve this truly magnificent powerful look by braiding up from the nape to the crown and finish with a lovely “halo” sitting right at the top of your head.

23. Chocolate Brown Bob. Short hairstyles are no less trendy and sexy than Rapunzel’s hair, which is proven by this asymmetrical rounded bob with a playful and bouncy feel.

24. Beaded Side Bangs. Apart from the choice of cool hairstyles demonstrated in the pictures, this set of perfectly smooth and even plaits offers a truly creative approach to the side bangs styling.

25. Black and White Braiding. Mix tight and loose, black and white in your hair for a cool look. For something different, experiment with colorful extensions.

26. Intricate Rows with Edges. This edgy style happily combines straight-back plaits with intricately curved cornrows and adds bounce to the mid-length hair with a mix of beads strung on every strand.

27. Heart Parting. This updo is full of drama, but we want to channel your attention to the fancy details, such as the springy wisps flowing down from the knot, heart-shaped parting on the temples, and neat baby hairs framing the face.

28. Multidirectional Cornrowed Style. African hairstyles come with many designs and patterns, which lets you adopt an off-beat, asymmetric style like this.

29. Long Asymmetric Hairstyle. This fanciful hairstyle takes an unexpected twist when changing the plaiting direction halfway through the head and creates an edgy asymmetric look emphasized by the swirly baby hairs.

30. High-Contrast Curls. We can’t but adore hairstyles that mix and match different textures, but this style goes beyond an average braid and curl combo and illuminates the ringlets with a contrasting honey blonde.

31. Low Bun with Face Framing. It’s a great example showing how to customize tribal hairstyles by brightening up the natural hair with golden blonde extensions and framing the face with a couple of shorter strands.

32. Thick Curled Plaits. Tame your unruly curly hair with these chunky long plaits. They are easy to put together and will help protect your hair from breakage. Definitely one of the best plaited styles to try.

33. Geometric-Pattern Hairstyle. Stand out with angled partings, cute hair pieces, and a top knot! This look is perfectly sculpted and spiced with accessories.

34. Bob with Spiral Curls. Here is another idea for women wishing to pair them with a curly texture — this springy bob starts with tiny box braids and then transitions to dense corkscrew curls.

35. Low Bun Updo. Protect your natural black hair with a few tight plaits easy to wrap into a bun. A bright or subtle color accent won’t hurt.

36. Bun with Flyaways. While the huge top knot creates a stunning focal point here, some curls left outside the bun ensure that the face will also get its portion of attention.

37. Thin Curly Strands. If you want to arrive at a mermaid-like wet look, swap the relaxed curls of the typical goddess braids for these fine and sleek loose streaks twined into irregular plaits.

38. Center-Parted Knotless Hairstyle. These waist-length light brown plaits have a nice pop of color chiming well with the girl’s base hair shade and complexion, and they don’t have something that limits the flexibility of other plait hairstyles — knots.

39. Mid-Length Tribal Hairstyle. Cool hairstyles don’t need to be super long, and you can opt for a more comfortable length while striking the eye with an intricate design and playing with dimensions.

40. Classic Box Braids. Even the most basic braids will ooze special charm when an African American woman wears them. So, if you are going for classic plaited hairstyles, fear not: you will shine bright!

41. Bun and Cornrow Design. Use this bold hairstyle to make a strong statement. Added hair will provide thickness and length, while the creative parting is the cherry on the cake!

42. Pink Lemonade Braids. Lemonade braids are fancy and simple at the same time. If you want to amp up their fancy factor, opt for a pretty hair color, and you are ready for both a casual brunch and a professional interview!

43. Snail Braid Updo. Sometimes all you can wish is a simple style for your formal event. The low plaited bun can be done with extensions, so you can wear it even with short hair.

44. Bun with Curvy Partings. This bun is amongst fancier ideas of plaited styles. Work your way up to the thick bun with thin cornrows, repeating the curved partings around your head.

45. Cornrows with a Bun. A simple and easy bun that works amazingly well for all ages and helps prevent hair breakage.

46. Black and Blue Blend. These lengthy micro plaits get a good shot of bold color, filling the style with a neon shine and making the hair feel even fuller.

47. Wedding Cornrowed Style. Cornrows and curls are the perfect style to wear to a special event! You can play with new designs. Adding sparkly accessories or fresh flowers is always a win-win.

48. Lightweight Smedium Plaits. Smedium is a hot trend in braided styles, referring to pencil-size plaits that are smaller than regular yet larger than micro-sized ones. When coupled with the knotless technique, they deliver the best flexibility in styling, which is kindly illustrated by this girl.

49. Half-Plaited Hairstyle. Look beach-ready with this stylish hairdo. Insert shells or whichever beads you like into your plaited strands and leave the rest of your hair curly and free.

50. Micro Braids. These are a lot of fun and a lot of work to do, but the effect is stunning! Works best on short to middle length hair, as they might get a tad heavy due to the number of plaits.

So, there are a lot of options to choose from. Whether you are after classy chunky square-parted plaits or a more creative parting pattern, we hope you’ve found what you were looking for among these fantastic hairdos.