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23 Braided Hairstyles for Black Girls & Women

Hey sis! If you wanna see braided hairstyles that look great and can also serve as dope protective hairstyles to help your hair grow and let you show off more natural hairstyles.

You’ll also get the names and locations of the braiders who’ve created these masterpiece Black hairdos, cornrows & braided styles for girls.

That way, you can book with them or if they aren’t in your area atleast you can show these cute hairstyle creation photos to the stylist in your local salon.

AND HEY! If you’re a professional braider with high-quality photos of your work, email your pictures of Black Hairstyles for a chance to get featured. Hit Melissa up at: 

NHP [@] naturalhair-products.com

So listen:

I bumped around the internet for gorgeous quick braiding styles for natural hair, styles with extension hair and hairstyles for kids.

The versatility of African braided hairstyles is well known because they can be used to make long, short and medium hairstyles!

Many of these chic hairstyles for melanin-blessed Black women are DIY too…

Best Braided Hairstyle Sizes for Hair Growth & Length-Retention

When it comes to using easy braided hairstyles for hair growth, there are correct and incorrect ways to rock them. If you wanna keep maximum length retention and minimizing hair damage and destroyed edges you need to know more about the best and worst sizes used for braiding hair.

Best Braided Hair Sizes for Length-Retention

Pen or Pencil Sized Braids: The tensile strength of your braids makes a big difference in whether they are helpful or harmful to your hair growth and length-retention efforts. is important and this particular size is the most ideal. Small enough to easily style and maneuver when washing, conditioning or coating the hair with your favorite products.

Chunky Braids: The chunky variety make very good length retention boosting braided hairstyles, the only problem is that they but require more takedowns for proper conditioning, washing, and hair health regimen maintenance. These thick braids don’t work for everybody and can look rather overpowering at the time of presentation.

Worst Braided Hair Size for Edges & Scalp

Micro Braids: First off, let’s be real. Microbraids are super cute, but looks aren’t everything sis. And not every braided hairstyle can be called a "protective hairstyle". Some are just the opposite.

This popular braided hairstyle technique was once the dominant braid style in urban areas. I mean, hey, they look good and many women love them. Still though, they are one of the most dangerous Black braided hairstyles for your hairline edges, scalp, and hair health.

Microbraids are very stressful on your natural hair, scalp, and roots. If you rock microbraids don’t do it for too long, this braid style can cause traction alopecia if worn too often or for extended periods of time.

This is a cute 2 feed in braids hairstyle with dramatic edges to complete the look. This creation was done by Braids by Ash, the stylist who professes to be the “Self-taught Braid Queen” and celebrity braider from Baltimore, Maryland. 

Ashley also sells a line of hair products, including parting combs, durags, bonnets, hair & body all-natural oils & kids bonnets.

If you visit her page salon or braided hairstyles for kids on IG, tell her "NHP sent me!".

Shanees Touch salon hooked up these flawless victory box braids. This stylish has a nice mink lash collection and you can see the pretty lash extensions on her client here. Shanee is a licensed cosmetologist in Cleveland, Ohio.

If you book to get one of these posh braided hairstyles or visit her salon's Instagram page, tell her "NHP sent me!".

I love everything about this look on Afro-Brazilian named Rary Kasousa. The makeup, the golden brown box braids, the shell jewelry and all.

You can see more easy braided hairstyles from her on her beauty and fashion IG account.. 

If you visit her page, tell her "NHP sent me!".

This heavenly melanated beauty is wearing Boho Goddess knotless braids that are styled half up half down.  

And here's the kicker. She's also the hair stylists from the Es Styles salon in NW London, so if you live in this part of the UK, you can have her give you one of the gorgeous braided styles that she installs. She also does quick braiding styles for natural hair.

If you visit her salon or Black braided hairstyles IG page, tell her "NHP sent me!".

This Triangled Out Braided Hairstyle was created by Tiffany Allen, this hair stylist is an award winning stylist, Dudley Cosmo Graduate, Legion of Glam stylist from the Main Attraction Hair Studio in Kernersville, North Carolina.

Her braided hairstyles for Black girls & women have been featured in many magazines.

If you visit her braiding salon Black hair IG page, tell her "NHP sent me!".

Thismaster braider's Black braided hairstyles are Bronner Brothers ready, here’s a unique cotton candy mermaid braided hairstyle fashion! This is one of the braid ideas that really get your mind racing!

This was also done by @tiffsmainattraction on IG, she shows off a lot of cute Black hairstyles and she has a creative flair for the dramatic. If you visit her Black hairstyles IG page, tell her "NHP sent me!".

These braided hairband ponytail fashion with triangle parts are too adorable and makes great braided hairstyles for black girls.

It's shiny, sleek, neat and curly all in one. Another bronner bros runway ready Black hairstyle.

Let's keep it 100... It feels amazing to see so much #BlackGirlMagic all coming from one salon. That's when you know you've found a winner. If you ladies live in NC, you need to get in touch with Tiffany Allen, she is killing the game!

Giving you some ocean vibes with these aqua mermaid braided hairstyles. The coloring is so unique and the edge are laid to THA GAWDZ!!

FAQs About Braided Hairstyles

What are some good braided hairstyles?

Classic box braids are one of the most iconic styles for Afro-textured hair. French braids are also a timeless and feminine style, other good braided styles are braided ponytail, dutch braids, crochet braids, lemonade Braids, large jumbo box braids, fishtail braid, feed-in braids, box braids with curls, tribal braids, goddess braids, center parting ghana weaving, ghana weaving hairstyles with beads, Suku ghana weaving hairstyle, crown braids, butterfly braids, mohawk braids, cornrows braided hairstyles, snake braids, triangle box braids, Ghana braids, side braids, Senegalese twist braids, ombre braid, halo braids, tree braids, half-up half-down braids, and braided updos.

Are braids good for your hair?

Braiding can be good for your hair as a good, protective practice that can save your hair from breakage as it strengthens the hair structurally. In fact, a loosely-tied braided hairstyle can work alongside your body's natural process to boost hair growth.

Is a braid good for your hair?

Braiding can be good for your hair as a good, protective practice that can save your hair from breakage as it strengthens the hair structurally. In fact, a loosely-tied braided hairstyle can work alongside your body's natural process to boost hair growth.

Is it bad to sleep with braided hair?

It can be bad if you sleep in braids that are too tight. high braid tension on your scalp can cause hair to break. If you wear it that way every day, permanent hair and edge damage can occur. Avoid sleeping in overly-tight braids every single night. 

Does your hair grow faster when braided?

Braiding your hair can make it appear to grow faster although it’s usually not growing faster but instead protecting your hair from breakage. Braided hairstyles also protect your hair from daily contact with textiles and objects that may cause additional friction, which can lead to breakage.

This dope braided fashion is crisp, neat and sharp. This clean look was done by the Trap Star Beauty salon in North Miami, Florida.

If you book with her or visit her Black hairstyle ideas Instagram page tell her "NHP sent me!".

Master braider, Pearl The Stylist is responsible for this long and curly braided Black hairstyle. This braiding salon is located in Atlanta, Georgia.  

Those curly ends are soooo cute!

Pearl The Stylist also specializes in Butterfly Braids, Feed-ins and Stitch Braids, Knotless Braids/Box Braids, Protective Styles Over Locs, Soft Locs, Distressed Locs, Butterfly Locs, Twist hairstyles, Traditional Faux Locs, and more.

If you book with braided hairstyles salon or vist salon's IG, tell her "NHP sent me!".

OK! I’m feeling this one somethin’ tough! This is a shiny and clean box braid look, long with colored gel bands for that extra splash of pizazz! Pearl The Stylist has over 50 colored gel bands to choose from. This is an ENTIRE VIBE!

This is a crazy cute curly hair knotless bob with premium-quality extension hair. This is 100% non-stop #BlackGirlMagic, straight-up-and-down.

Can't nobody fix their face to lie and say that these braided hairstyles aren't the hotter than chicken grease,

So curly, intricate, defined and sexy!

If you visit this natural hair salon's Instagram page, tell her "NHP sent me!".

SouthernSophis here wearing another dope Black hair style, these long kinky curly crochet braids are shiny and sleek.

This is a great party vibe hairstyle.

How Do You Style Long Braided Hair?

If you want to see different styling ideas for long braided hair I think you'll enjoy this styling idea video from GloryOkings natural hairstyles Youtube channel.

More Braiding Hairstyles for 2021

I'm not only luvvin up on this gorgeous Black hairstyle but I'm loving the mink lashes too! This whole look is Hollywood-ready.

OMG, the cotton candy blue color on this Black braided hairstyle is easily one of the unique short hair styles for Black women on this page.

Since this is a shorter style some of her viewers wondered if Pearl used prestretched braid extension hair or just regular braid hair that was cut in half to get the length. I don't know, either way though, it's very cute.

Here's one of Pearl's braided hairstyle installs, that just screams "FIERCE"!

It's the reddish hue color, the crispness of the braids and the swoops of baby hairs that make this style so funky and cool! POW!

This salon is killin' the crochet braid game in the ATL!

Everything from the ice blue fingernail paint color to the purplish-blue extension hair is stone cold! 

Off-the-chain different.

The curls and swirls in this braided updo are classy and elegant, this would fit on any red carpet walk.

Can you imagine yourself rockin' one of these updo braided hairstyles?

The triangle parts are so extremely neat and clean, this is highly-professional work by Irenes Braids in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Mary is a Master braider in Duluth, GA. She's also a Black hair Youtuber. If you visit her salon or see more Black hairstyle ideas on her IG, tell her "NHP sent me!".

Below I posted one of Irene's impressive braid install jobs on a client with Alopecia hair loss problems.

NEW TECHNIQUE! ALOPECIA + HAIR LOSS ISSUES| BOX BRAIDED HAIRSTYLES

This is a STUNNING Black hairstyle!

The precision of these braid hairstyles are impeccable. Those triangle hair parts are seperated to the most perfect angles and equal size. See 101 more African hair braiding styles HERE.

Best Products for Braided Hairstyles

The type of hair you use for braided hairstyles can make-or-break the look. So, I busted my butt to organize a definitive list of popular, best-selling and well-rated braid hair and styling product options to purchase.

In a nutshell, here are the best hair brands you’ll see many people using:

Sensationnel Synthetic Hair Braids XPRESSION 2X Pre-Stretched Braid 48" (3-PACK, 1) - See Current Pricing & Reviews Here.

Pre-stretched Braiding Hair Easy Braid Professional Itch Free Synthetic Fiber Crochet Braids Yaki Texture Hair Extensions - See Current Pricing & Reviews Here.

DAN NING 24'' Pre-stretched Original Kanekalon Braid Hair Extensions Yaki Texture Crochet Twist Hair Braids without Irritation 7 bundles (1b#)

Ombre Kanekalon Braiding Hair 5 Pack Jumbo Braiding Hair Extensions 24 Inch Jumbo Braid Synthetic Hair for Braiding (5 pack, Black-Dark Brown-Light Brown)

ShowCoco Pre-stretched Braiding Hair, 8 Packs/Lot 20 Inch Professional Itch-Free Low Temperature Synthetic Fiber Crochet Braiding Extensions 20 inches 8 packs 1B#

Synthetic Braiding Hair Fiber Synthetic Hair Extensions for Braiding Crochet Twist Box Braids 24 Inch Natural Black Jumbo Braiding Hair (100G) 

3 Tone Pre-Stretched Braiding Hair, 28 Inches Ombre Yaki texture Extensions, 6 Bundles 100% Top Quality Kanekalon Synthetic Colorful Hair Braids 

Admutty Havana Twist Crochet Hair 6 Packs 18 inch Senegalese Twist Crochet Braiding Hair - See Price & Reviews of this Braiding Hairstyles Product Here.

Follow Editor of Braided Hairstyles Gallery

 Enjoy NHP!