8 Types of Braids to Protect Your Hair With Style

The foundation of braid styles, this technique uses three strands of hair crossed over one another. It works on most hair types—from straight to curly strands—and can be worn as is or incorporated into more complex styles like braided buns or boho braids.

Box braids are sectioned into square-shaped parts and braided using extensions for length and fullness. Knotless braids, unlike traditional box braids, start with your natural hair, reducing tension on the scalp.

Both are long-lasting protective styles, great for natural hair—and they help retain hair length by minimizing breakage.

These braids follow the scalp, starting at the crown and working back. A French braid crosses strands over the middle, while a Dutch braid does the opposite, resulting in a raised effect.

Both styles are ideal for long hair and offer a flexible hairstyle for daily wear or workouts.

Also called feed-in braids, Ghana braids use a braiding technique that gradually adds hair as you go. This creates a sleek, scalp-hugging style that can be worn in horizontal Ghana braids, chevron Ghana braids, or twisted Ghana braids.

This braiding style originated in Africa and are now one of the most popular protective styles, often styled with added curls for extra texture.

Fulani braids blend cornrows and box braids, often adorned with beads and accessories. Lemonade braids, made famous by Beyoncé, sweep horizontally across the scalp.

These braid styles emphasize intricate patterns and work well with textured hair.

Micro braids are tiny and often take hours to finish, but their versatility makes them worth it. Rope braids use two strands twisted together to form a rope-like shape, making them great for formal looks or adding structure to braided bobs.

Though technically twists, these styles fall under the braiding umbrella. Senegalese twists use smooth synthetic hair for a sleek look, while Marley and Havana twists embrace a more natural texture. All three styles are protective and low-maintenance.

Crochet braids involve adding extensions to cornrows using a crochet hook. Styles like goddess locs and faux locs mimic the look of locs without the commitment. Crochet hair is a favorite for quick installs and lovely braids with lots of volume.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.