25 Ways to Style Box Braids

Chloe Bailey wearing her box braids in a high ponytail. — Photo:
Getty Images

One of the most popular protective hairstyles, box braids’ chic versatility allows for seemingly endless styling options, while keeping your hair healthy—it’s the best of both worlds. “Box braids are free flowing from the head, rather than an attached braid like a cornrow," says hairstylist Stacey Ciceron. “You can add beads, lace, different colors, long extensions all to create your desired look. I love creating side ponies, buns, half-up half-down looks, and pretty much everything else with box braids.”

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“Box braids give you the versatility and the option to switch your hair often as much as you want.” Richard Grant, professional hairstylists, agrees. Because they’re not braided against the scalp, “you can shake your freestanding plaits to your heart’s desire,” Grant adds. We rounded up our favorite ways to style box braids this season below.

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Bow’d Up

It’s all in the details—this creator braids from the scalp, but leaves her ends loose. She added an extra layer of detail by tacking on braided bows for subtle coquette vibes.

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High Strung

Another way to make braids pop—adding braiding string between the braids. Hairstylist Richard Grant styled actress Laya Daniels from Equalizer in a half-up style with the accent. “Fun fact: her hair was curly for the first season, but we wanted to try braids for the first time during this shoot,” Grant says. “When it was time to go back for the second season, they loved the braids, and it’s now part of her character’s look!”

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Half-Back Bun

This style says easy-breezy, throwing-your-hair-up-and-heading-out-the-door-while-on-vacation vibes. The ends are finished with a French curl, and the gathered bun gives some dimension to the look.

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Pigtails

give you the versatility and the option to switch your hair often as much as you want.&rdquo.

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Parted Pony

There’s nothing like a sleek up-do! This hair has been everywhere lately. Pulling an exaggerated side-part and wrapping a couple braids around the pony to hide the elastic are the perfect finishing touches.

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Puffed Up Bun

This is creator Faith Ifeanyi’s favorite style of the moment. To get the look, follow her tutorial, which she’s posted here.

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Half-Up Top-Knot

In Reid’s selfie, she’s piled her braids high into a voluminous top-knot, with a few facial-framing pieces pulled out in front. It’s like Dolly Parton says, “the higher the hair, the closer to heaven!”

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Goddess Bun

“A high bun is usually a styling favorite,” Grant says. This elegant look pulls the hair into a top knot, filling out with the loose hair of the goddess braids, and leaves out a symmetrical piece on either side of the front and back of the style that is oh-so-satisfying.

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French-Curled and Half-Up

This creator left the ends of her hair unbraided, so pulling it into a half-up style allows the French curls to shine in a way that emulates layers.

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Straight to the Point

Grant’s favorite way to style braids is “just down when they’re freshly done, so they’re nice and neat.” Braids can always be worn as-is, so no styling at all will leave you looking put together and ready for the day once the braids themselves are done. This creator wears hers loose with a little side sweep.

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Power Pony

Chloe Bailey with a high box braid ponytail. — Getty Images

Chloe Bailey goes straight for a power pony, using a few braids to conceal her hair tie, yielding a super-polished finish.

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Long Goddess Braid

Unsurprisingly, Chloe Bailey’s Instagram photo has her comments full of people begging her to drop the hair tutorial. This long look features loose and wavy goddess ends.

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Beaded Bob

One of the best things about braids is the opportunity to accessorize. “You can also add hair accessories, like gold or silver beads, just to add a little creativity as well.” Grant says. They look stunning on this braided bob.

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Do Blondes Have More Fun?

Experimenting with color is another way to style braids—this creator has blonde highlights to perfectly accent her layered French curls.

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Mermaid Crown

True to her iconic role, this real-life Little Mermaid accessories her braids with a jeweled headband as she goes for a swim.

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Flowy Fringe

There’s something to be said about letting your front pieces steal the show. This style features a high top-knot, but leaves a generous side-parted section of braids out, finished off with a feminine twist.

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Braid Within a Braid

Braidception. Storm Reid’s braids across her scalp to push the rest of her hair back, creating a look reminiscent of a tiara.

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Loose Low Pony

After a day at the beach, saltwater hair can add volume for days. Gather up your hair in a loose, low pony that creates a care-free, effortless, endless summer vibe.

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Fulani Crown

Rihanna wearing Fulani braids. — Getty Images

The trend-setter herself, Rihanna rocked Fulani braids to the 2019 Fashion Awards. The Fulani style features cornrows at the front of the head that give way to cornrows in the back.

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Sporty Headband

The sporty look is in. Between The Olympics, The Euros, and the U.S. Open, this summer has been action-packed. What better way to look like you’ve just wrapped a game of beach volleyball than a sporty headband?

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Braided Bangs

Alicia Keys wearing bangs composed of box braids. — Getty Images

At the premiere of "Blink Twice," Alicia Keys wore her lengths in a high, braided top knot. For the bangs, her hair was cornrowed in a subtle swoop before cascading into box braids with curly ends.

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Space Buns

Move over, naughties—Y3K is the newest hot millennium. The world is looking ahead to futuristic styles, braids can be sectioned in two high buns for a functional yet flirty space-girl look.

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Island Time

A thicker, cloth headband is the perfect “throw-and-go” accessory to take any look to the next level. Leave a few pieces out in front for that quintessential laid-back effect.

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Beaded Bun

While accessories can be placed in braids throughout, Storm Reid adorns her side-swept bun with three matching beads, framing her hair perfectly.

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Mermaid Braids

Summer may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave the beach behind. Keep your box braids short with a long, flowing curl for the perfect siren song.