Hi, I’m Lena, a professional hairstylist with over a decade of salon experience specializing in braids and textured hair. In this post I showcase 9 braid hairstyles for women—box braids, French braid, Dutch braid, fishtail, cornrows, halo braid, milkmaid braid, rope braid, and boho braids—each paired with an image and quick styling notes. These looks suit a wide range of hair types and lengths: French and Dutch braids flatter fine to medium hair, fishtails add texture to long hair, cornrows and box braids work as protective styles for textured hair, and halo or milkmaid braids beautifully frame round or heart-shaped faces. My go-to tips: always start with clean, detangled hair, use a lightweight leave-in and a small amount of styling product for grip, protect edges with a satin scarf at night, and loosen braids slightly for a softer, modern finish. Whether you want a low-maintenance protective style or a polished look for an event, these nine braid images will inspire your next salon visit or at-home styling session.
Bandana Boho Waves with Micro Braids — Textured Beachy Hairstyle
Suitable for medium to long hair, this boho bandana look works best on naturally wavy or slightly curly hair; straight hair can be pre-textured with heat or overnight braids. Technique: create loose, undone waves with a 1 curling wand or by braiding damp hair and blow-drying; pull out a few face-framing pieces. Add several small, random micro-braids toward the ends and secure each with tiny elastics to achieve the lived-in texture. Position the bandana across the forehead and tie at the nape or side for a relaxed finish. Tools needed: 1 curling wand or flat iron, tail comb, sectioning clips, small clear elastics, paddle brush, blow dryer or diffuser. Products required: heat protectant, sea salt spray or texturizing spray, light-hold hairspray, dry shampoo, and a lightweight finishing oil for ends. Difficulty: easy–moderate (20–35 minutes depending on skill). Maintenance tips: refresh waves with a water + salt spray mix, re-tighten or redo micro-braids after 2–4 days, use dry shampoo at roots to extend wear, and sleep with a silk scarf to preserve texture.
Messy High Bun with Blue Bandana — Textured Updo for Curly & Wavy Hair
This relaxed, textured high bun paired with a folded bandana works best on naturally wavy to curly hair or on straight hair that’s been texturized. Start on towel-dried or second-day hair: apply a lightweight leave-in or mousse through the mid-lengths, rough-dry with a diffuser for lift, then gather hair high at the crown. Secure with an elastic, twist into a loose bun and anchor with bobby pins, leaving a few face-framing tendrils out for softness. Fold the bandana into a 2–3 inch strip and wrap it around the hairline, tying it at the top or slightly off-center. Tools: elastic, bobby pins, wide-tooth comb or fingers, rat-tail comb, diffuser (optional), and a bandana. Products: leave-in conditioner or mousse, texture or sea-salt spray, dry shampoo, light-hold hairspray and heat protectant if using heat. Difficulty: easy–moderate — quick to execute with basic skills. Maintenance: refresh with dry shampoo or a spritz of water and texturizer, re-tuck loose pieces with pins as needed, and sleep with a silk scarf to preserve shape and reduce frizz. Replace or wash the bandana regularly to keep the style fresh.
Textured Crown Braids with Loose Fishtails and Face‑Framing Tendrils
This romantic, textured crown-to-fishtail style suits medium-to-long hair and works best on naturally wavy or slightly textured hair; straight or fine hair benefit from a texturizing spray or light backcombing, while very thick hair may require extra pins. Start on second-day hair for grip: create a deep center or soft off-center part, French-or-Dutch braid along the hairline into two low sections, then convert each section into a loose fishtail braid. Pancake the braids gently to widen and soften the shape, and pull a few face-framing tendrils free. Tools: fine-tooth comb, sectioning clips, small clear elastics, bobby pins, and a 1–1.25 inch curling wand (optional). Products: dry shampoo or salt spray for texture, light hold mousse or texturizing powder at the roots, a smoothing serum on ends, and flexible-hold hairspray to finish. Difficulty: moderate — allow 20–35 minutes depending on skill and hair thickness. Maintenance tips: sleep with a silk scarf, refresh texture with dry shampoo, retighten pins as needed, and avoid heavy oils that weigh braids down.
Textured Dutch Double Braids with Face‑Framing Pieces
Suitability: Ideal for medium-to-long hair and works on straight, wavy, or slightly curly textures. Fine hair benefits from added texture for grip; very thick hair may require smaller sections. Styling technique: Create a deep side part and start Dutch (inside-out) braids at the hairline, braiding toward the nape on both sides. Use large sections to form chunky braids, secure with low elastics, then pancake each braid by gently pulling the outer loops to widen and soften the profile. Leave a couple of face-framing pieces out and lightly tug the crown for lift. Tools needed: tail comb, sectioning clips, small elastic bands, bobby pins, paddle brush and an optional 1–1.25 inch curling wand for finishing pieces. Products required: dry shampoo or texturizing spray for grip, light styling cream or smoothing serum for flyaways, flexible-hold hairspray, and heat protectant if using hot tools. Difficulty level: Intermediate — requires confident braiding and pancaking technique; allow 30–45 minutes. Maintenance tips: sleep in a silk scarf or low bun, refresh with dry shampoo and texturizer, re-tighten elastics as needed, and touch up front pieces with a small barrel iron.
Chunky Double Dutch Braids with Braided Crown and Face‑Framing Pieces
Suitability: Best for medium-to-long hair and medium to thick textures; fine hair works with light clip-in extensions, and textured or wavy hair will hold the style most easily. Styling technique: Start with a clean, detangled base. Section a front crown panel and create a Dutch braid along the hairline into two mirrored Dutch braids, adding hair as you move down. Finish each braid and pancake (gently pull) the edges to create the chunky, soft look. Leave a few face-framing strands out for a relaxed finish. Tools needed: fine-tooth tail comb, detangling brush, sectioning clips, small clear elastics, bobby pins, and optional extension clips. Products required: lightweight mousse or root-lift spray for grip, texturizing or sea-salt spray to add body, smoothing serum for flyaways, and a flexible-hold hairspray to set. Difficulty level: Intermediate — requires comfort with Dutch braiding and even tension control; allow 25–45 minutes. Maintenance tips: Sleep on a silk pillow or wrap with a silk scarf, refresh with dry shampoo and re-pancaking, tighten elastics as needed, and avoid heavy oils at the roots to keep hold.
Loose Textured Side Dutch Braid — Romantic Pancake Braid
This soft, pulled-through side Dutch braid works best on medium to long hair and flatters fine, medium and thick textures — light-density hair benefits from added texture, while thick hair creates more dramatic volume. Start with a deep side part and mist roots with texturizing spray. Create a Dutch (inside-out) three-strand braid along the crown, adding sections until you reach the nape, then transition into a loose three-strand or pull-through braid; gently pancake each section to widen and soften the shape. Tools: tail comb, sectioning clips, several small elastics, bobby pins and a wide-barrel curling iron (optional for face-framing waves). Products: salt or texture spray, lightweight smoothing serum for flyaways, medium-hold hairspray and a dry-shampoo for grip. Difficulty: intermediate — allow 20–35 minutes depending on length and practice. Maintenance tips: refresh volume with dry shampoo at the roots, re-pancake sections that collapse, secure loose ends with discreet pins, and sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely wrap braid to preserve shape. Avoid heavy oils that will weigh down the texture.
Voluminous Dutch Pancake Braids — Boho Textured Braids
Suitable for medium to long hair, this double Dutch pancake braid look works best on naturally thick or textured hair but can be achieved on fine hair with texturizing products or clip‑in extensions. Start on dry, slightly dirty hair: apply a texturizing spray or mousse, create a deep center part, and Dutch‑braid each side from the hairline toward the nape, adding hair as you go. After securing each braid with an elastic, pancake (gently pull apart) the braid sections to create width and soft volume; leave a few face‑framing strands loose for a relaxed boho finish. Tools: tail comb, sectioning clips, brush, small elastics and clear bands, bobby pins. Products: sea‑salt or texturizing spray, light‑hold mousse, dry shampoo for grip, smoothing serum for flyaways, and a flexible hairspray to set. Difficulty: Intermediate — expect 20–40 minutes depending on experience. Maintenance tips: refresh roots with dry shampoo and lightly re‑pancake any flattened areas, secure loose pieces with pins, apply a dab of oil to ends to prevent dryness, and sleep on a silk pillowcase or loosely wrap with a silk scarf to preserve shape and reduce frizz. Trim ends regularly to keep braids looking neat.
Viking-Inspired Multi-Braids with Fishtails and Accent Plaits
This dramatic multi-braid look works best on medium to long hair and is ideal for thick or textured hair; fine hair can achieve the same volume with clip-in extensions or light teasing. Start on clean, detangled hair sprayed with a texturizing mist. Section the crown for a Dutch/inside-out braid, create multiple side braids (regular and fishtail variations), then secure and pancake each braid for width. Add small accent braids and wrap or bead ends for a lived-in finish. From salon experience, you’ll need a tail comb, sectioning clips, small clear elastics, bobby pins, a light curling iron (optional to add body), and a boar-bristle brush. Use a dry shampoo or texture powder for grip, smoothing serum on ends, and a flexible-hold hairspray to set. Difficulty: intermediate–advanced (45–90 minutes). Maintenance tips: sleep on a silk pillowcase or wrap with a silk scarf, refresh roots with dry shampoo, tame flyaways with a drop of serum on fingertips, and re-tighten elastics after 24–48 hours. Undo gently after 3–4 days to prevent breakage and deep-condition if braid tension was high.
Romantic Crown-to-Side Textured Braid — Loose Dutch with Pulled-Apart Finish
This romantic crown-to-side textured braid suits medium to long hair, and works best on medium to thick textures; fine hair benefits from light volumizing mousse or clip-in padding to achieve the same fullness. Prep clean, towel-dried hair with a heat protectant, then apply a texturizing or sea-salt spray for grip. Create a Dutch (inside-out French) braid along the hairline, feeding sections to the crown, leave out a few face-framing pieces, then gather remaining hair and transition into a loose three-strand or fishtail braid down the shoulder. Gently pancake each braid section for width and soft texture. Tools: fine tail comb, sectioning clips, small clear elastics, bobby pins, and optional curling iron to add soft bends before braiding. Products: heat protectant, volumizing mousse (for fine hair), texturizing spray, smoothing serum for flyaways, and a flexible hold hairspray. Difficulty: intermediate — requires coordination but no advanced techniques. Maintenance: refresh texture with dry shampoo, re-pancake braid if it tightens, secure stray pieces with pins, and sleep on a silk pillowcase or loose braid to preserve shape; expect 1–3 days of wearable style depending on activity.
Choosing the right braid is as much about hair health and lifestyle as it is about aesthetics. As Lena, my professional advice is to assess your hair length, density and current damage before committing: short or fine hair often benefits from accents or looser braids, while longer, thicker hair can support intricate fishtails or full box braids. Maintenance matters—moisturize your scalp every 7–10 days with a lightweight oil, avoid excessive tension to protect your hairline, and deep-condition between installs. Sleep on a silk pillowcase or wear a satin bonnet to extend wear and reduce frizz. If you’re recreating a style at home, practice clean sectioning and start with gentler tension; for complex or protective installs, book a consultation so I can recommend the right technique, extensions (if needed), and products. Want personalized guidance on which of the 9 braids fits your hair and routine? I’m Lena—feel free to book a salon consult or leave a comment below.