Leg-Length Box Braids

Box braids are a staple that never goes out of style. If you have long locks like Zendaya, you can skip the addition of Kanekalon hair and, instead, use the knotless braiding technique by adding a small amount of hair and keeping the braids in place longer.

Rapunzel Braid

Halle Bailey can do it all. While her style starts out with major braiding on her scalp, she threw her lengths in a thick braid for (extra-long) measure. If you’re planning on adding hair to your style, celebrity hairstylist Dhairius Thomas has some advice. Long braids with added hair require more maintenance, and the hair is more prone to breakage due to the added weight.

“If you’re going to wear long braids, I recommend medium to large size because the hair at the base will create a solid foundation for a long braid to hang.” On the other hand, he says that small-sized long braids shouldn’t be worn for more than three weeks. “A thin base to start a long braid will only become thinner as the hair grows because of the weight,” he explains.

Center-Parted Braids

We love the way this middle part frames Gabrielle Union’s face. To keep flyaways and new growth frizz to a minimum when rocking a visible part, keep a mousse and a silk scarf handy.

Looking to keep your braids looking fresh for longer? Take hair stylist Cassandra Olivia’s advice:

“If you plan to keep your hair in braids, plan to wash them once a week, or every other week. This helps remove oils and impurities that accumulate at the scalp and on the hair,” she says. “At night, wrap your braids in a silk bonnet or scarf to protect them from friction. You can skip the bonnet if you sleep on a silk pillowcase—just carefully tie your braids up in a bun at the top of your head with a hair tie. Don’t use a rubber band or anything not designed for hair—it will pull at the braids and potentially damage hair.”

Fulani Braids

Fulani braids are perfect for protecting long coils. Channel your inner Alicia Keys and add beads or gold accessories for some extra oomph.

Bora Bora Braids

Behold, the best way to get vacation vibes going all year long: Bora Bora braids.

Dutch Braids

We promise you can rock these Dutch braids without looking like a kid. You might even look like a super model.

Slicked High Ponytail

A slicked-back high pony, braided to the very end, is a simple way to show off your unique features and pull a look together in a snap. It also gives off a very Barbie vibe, which is right on trend these days.

Twisted Braid

This braid-twist combo on Cara Delevingne is rockstar chic with its barely there pompadour, sleek sides, and swirly length.

Braided Bun

A braided bun, like Issa Rae’s shown here, gives the hair extra texture and height. To keep your look in place, secure your bun with Scunci’s Curved Bobby Pins.

Box Braid High Ponytail

Pulling box braids up and away from your face is easy and quick, plus it gives you a completely different look. Don’t forget to wrap a couple of braids around the base of your ponytail for some depth.

Baby Hair and Braids

When slicking back or braiding long hair, it can be fun to pull a few face-framing pieces free, like Tessa Thompson does with her baby hairs here. They show off your hair texture and allow the look to feel more lived-in.

Cornrows and Braids

This simple look takes us back to the ’90s and can be easily recreated at home.

Want to keep your braids in tip-top shape, control flyaways, and care for your scalp? Olivia recommends clients who wear protective braid styles or who often style their hair in braids use products with cannabinoids, more commonly referred to as CBD, CBC, and CBG—”chemical compounds that have anti-inflammatory benefits that can help to soothe the scalp and boost blood circulation.”

She adds that the fatty acids in CBD also help to nourish hair and provide a boost of moisture for the hair and scalp for shinier, more manageable hair.

Braided Crown

Haven’t had the time to wash your hair? We get it. Use it to your advantage and go for a look that makes use of your less-than-clean strands. Your natural oils and grity texture will make stylishly tucking your hair away a breeze.

Loose Side Ponytail

A loose braid with a wispy, face-framing tendril is the perfect combination of elegant and effortless—see Shay Mitchell above for proof. Let Oribe’s Superfine Hairspray be your assistant to lock in this look, but keep the messy texture.

Boho High Ponytail

High ponytails don’t always have to be boring or feel like a gym style. Blake Lively’s imperfect braided look on a red carpet proves just that. Pro tip: Wrap some hair around your hair tie to elevate your look instantly.

Side-Parted Low Ponytail

This side-parted low braid would have been a winner solo, but the accessories really make it pop.

Messy Fishtail Braid

The juxtaposition between Ciara’s structured fishtail braid and the loose undone texture around her face keeps things interesting and fresh. If your hair is straight, use a curling wand to add some movement.

Braided Crown with Long Fishtail Braid

For a more classic look, take a few notes from this gorgeous look and braid the base of your head and the length.

Cornrow Low Bun

Both protective and beautiful, this cornrowed look provides the best of both worlds.

Claw-Clipped Mini Braids

Small box braids can last a while, but if you get tired of leaving them loose, you can twist them up with a claw clip. Grab one, and you can recreate Zoë Kravitz’s look in no time.

Scarf with Box Braids

Adding a scarf to braids can instantly add interest, plus, depending on the scarf you choose, it can make a fashion statement as well.

Cornrowed Finger Waves

We still think about this Beyoncé look often. With the right stylist, these finger-waved cornrows are totally attainable.

Long Blonde Braid

Latto has long, gorgeous curls, but she isn’t afraid to play with even more length. An XXL braid with the help of some hair extensions looks extra special.

This style is one of Olivia’s favorites. “I personally love a sleek pony to the crown of the head, with a long, flowing braid to the end of the hair. It allows you to show off your gorgeous face, while still making your hair interesting with a sleek braid.” She recommends spritzing hair so it’s barely damp before using a comb to pull hair back sleek against your head. Then, use a hair tie the same color as your hair to create the ponytail.

“Leave a small section of your hair free before dividing up the rest of your hair into three sections for the braid,” Olivia explains. “After you braid your ponytail, take the piece of hair that isn’t part of the braid and wrap it around the hair tie for the pony so it hides it. Secure the hair with bobby pins so it stays.”

Sleek Braided Crown

Braids and straight, sleek hair work well together, as seen on Lily Collins. To minimize flyaways, use a touch of pomade or hairspray, which will keep things in place without leaving the hair crunchy.

Braided High Pigtails

Yara Shahidi has so much fun with her hair, and it shows. Braids across the forehead might not be for everyone, but they look perfectly at home with her lengthy pigtails.

Braided Locs

Chloe continuously reminds us that locs are both beautiful and versatile. If you have locs, try adding some extensions to create braided hairstyles.

Double Loc Braids

These loc’d pigtails are a reminder that our favorite grade school hairstyle isn’t off-limits in adulthood.

Extra Long Side Ponytail

Chriselle Lim’s extra long ponytail is the epitome of “that girl” vibes. To tame the flyaways and make sure the look stays super sleek, use the Kristin Ess Anytime Anywhere Recovery Balm with Coconut Oil and Castor Oil.

Long Blonde Cornrows

If you want to change your hair color but don’t want to go through the potential hair damage from dyeing it, opt for blonde cornrows, like Colombian rapper Farina.

If you don’t want to worry about damaging your hair, take Thomas’s advice:

“If you have long braids with your natural hair, it should be low maintenance. I recommend oiling your scalp twice a week to avoid itching and dry scalp. Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength 7 Oil Blend Hair & Scalp Oil is my go-to.”

Micro Braids

Micro braids are incredibly chic, as evidenced by Susan Kelechi Watson’s side-parted look. Switching up which side you part your hair on is an easy way to refresh your style.

Messy Side Braid

If you want to give off “I woke up like this” vibes but in an ethereal way, go for a messy side braid. Make sure to leave out some face-framing strands to complete the look.

Goddess Braids

Goddess braids are trending, and we’re obsessed with their versatility. These half-up, half-down strands give off a boho chic style.

Half-Up, Half-Down

You can also style your long goddess braids into a fun, half-up, half-down style like actress Lexi Underwood. But before you snatch your braids up, Thomas explains that “the biggest mistake when wearing long braids is that most ladies want to style their hair in an updo right away, and this is a no-no,” he warns.

The reason: “When hair is freshly braided, it’s usually too sensitive to withstand multiple styles.” He says that it’s best to wrap edges in a silk scarf while sleeping and to wait at least one week “before manipulating the braids.”

Side-Parted Cornrows

Instead of going for classic straight-back cornrows, try a side parted look like actress Alicia Hannah-Kim. Even if your hair isn’t long, you can add in extensions.

Bangs and Braided Pigtails

Xochitl Gomez’s blunt bangs and long braids are the perfect nod to her Mexican heritage. We especially love the gold accessories at the end of the braids that take the look up a notch.

Braided Bows

Every day presents a new way to style braided hair. Take a look at Chloë Sevigny’s coquette spin at the 2024 Met Gala. She wore a braided bun and elevated it with a braided bow to match on the side.

Braided Double Buns

Willow Smith is constantly reinventing the braided wheel. During Paris Fashion Week, the pop star wore her box braids in two symmetrical space buns.

Intricate Cornrows

If you want to spruce up the regular cornrow look, channel your inner Tia Mowry and consider an intricate pattern. Complete the look by styling your edges.

Pigtails and Ribbons

Emma Chamberlain’s double pigtail moment at the Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2024 show will always be iconic. Not just for the office siren vibes she exuded that day, but also for the black-and-red ribbons she intertwined in her hair. The balletcore-coquette agenda strikes again.

Sculptural Braided Updo

A basic high bun isn’t the only way to style box braids. Danai Gurira is the perfect example of elevating the updo to literally new heights, as seen with her sculptural updo at the 2024 Tony Awards. She left out a few face-framing braids on the side to complete the look.

Braid to the Back

Sometimes, just one braid is all it takes to turn a simple hairstyle into a memorable one. Taylor Swift’s 2024 Grammys look was fully side-swept and wavy, with one singular braid in the back to emphasize her side part.

Ombré Braids

One of the easiest yet most underrated ways to spruce up box braids is with a touch of colored braiding hair. Singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock embraced the two-toned look in 2023, mixing her dark hair with copper-brown extensions.