create your own

A Collection of Braids / Popular Hair Braiding Styles and Looks

96
rate or flag this page

By Dottie1


 


Hair braids have been a popular braid hair style for people since the beginning of time. If you have long or medium length hair, then you have probably experimented with braiding before. In days of long ago, men braided their long beards as well as the hair on their head. Today, men and women alike often braid their hair to make it look stylish and is still especially popular in Jamaica.

Braids are for everyone from your own school age children to some rising movie stars. Popular braided hair styles have appeared on Sienna Miller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen, and Penelope Cruz just to name a few. Throwing your hair up in braids is an easy way to disguise your hair if you don't have time to shampoo and also helps your hair stay put on the windiest of days.


There is nothing more elegant than a braid in long hair
There is nothing more elegant than a braid in long hair

Popular Braiding Styles and Looks

The Basic French Braid

This is a picture of the basic french braid which appears to sit on top of the head. A good technique to show off longer hair or give volume to fine or thin hair. The funniest thing about a French braid is that it's much easier to learn how to do one than describe how to do it. A french braid hair style is only a little harder to create than a regular braid style, and it looks very pretty and sophisticated. Almost like something you would pay a professional to do. You don't even need really long hair. Many describe it as making a braid backwards.


Learn How to French Braid


Hair that is braided around the head, or braided and then wrapped around the head gives a regal and beautiful look. Crown and Heidi braids are flattering ...
Hair that is braided around the head, or braided and then wrapped around the head gives a regal and beautiful look. Crown and Heidi braids are flattering ...

The Crown Braid

This is a picture of a crown braid. The twist produces a rope like effect and also appears to sit on top of the head. It is great for proms and formal hair styles. A crown braid stays up very well, and looks good on almost everyone.


How many mornings have you wished you could simply get up and go to the office or the gym without the hassle of styling your hair?
How many mornings have you wished you could simply get up and go to the office or the gym without the hassle of styling your hair?
Slide Choker Necklace Slide Choker Necklace
Price: $32.78

Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore

The Plaited or Pleated Look

The lovely Drew Barrymore showed up for a promotional interview, wearing a plaited modern day Grecian style updo, to promote her new movie Grey Garden in New York's ABC studio with Regis and Kelly.

A plaited hairstyle is very simple and worn to keep long hair neat and up off the face. There are three variations of the normal plait: the French plait, the rope, and the scrunch.

Barrymore is seen here with the normal simple plaited look and then pinned to form the stunning Grecian style up-do.


Flower Hair Pins Flower Hair Pins
Price: $29.95
Girl Thing Rhinestone Star Hair Pin Girl Thing Rhinestone Star Hair Pin
Price: $2.50
Thumper's Rhinestone Hair Pins Thumper's Rhinestone Hair Pins
Price: $14.99
List Price: $19.95

Christina Aquilera
Christina Aquilera

Rasta Braids

Rasta braids actually are lots of fine braids. Almost always synthetic hair is woven into the natural hair from the hairline until at least 1 to 2 cm. more than the natural hair length. The braids are often decorated with pearls.

They can be worn three to five months. The finer the braids the longer the hairstyle that can be worn (maximum five months).


Bob Marley
Bob Marley

Dreadlocks are for men and women. There are several methods of dreadlocking hair. After dividing hair into sections, you can either braid, hand roll, or allow the hair to naturally "loc" on its own.

How to wash Dreadlocks Some people think that when you have dreadlocks you don't have to wash them. But that is a dreadlock myth that keeps a lot of people who want dreadlocks from getting them. Washing your dreadlocks and keeping them clean is the first step in having healthy, tight dreadlocks. You should wash your dreadlocks every 2 or 3 days. Always wash your dreadlocks with a residue free shampoo. If you wash your dreadlocks with a shampoo that leaves residue behind, it will slow down your dreadlocks locking up process by coating your hair with lubricants and scents, these residues will lubricate your hair and keep it from locking up inside your dreadlocks. That fact is clean hair make dreadlocks faster and looks better at the same time.

Hot Braids

Since the 40's braiding hair has been very trendy. Braids can give you a natural and stylish look and are easy to wear.

The often young and girlish like braids match the actual Fashion Trend of the romantic retro look.

Claudia Schiffer
Claudia Schiffer

Fishtail Braids

Fergies fabulous fishtail braid hopefully will encourage more fun
Fergies fabulous fishtail braid hopefully will encourage more fun
Fishtail braids are also known as herringbone or fishbone.  This looks time-consuming but is actually easy to braid.
Fishtail braids are also known as herringbone or fishbone. This looks time-consuming but is actually easy to braid.

The First In A Series / Brought To You By:

Answering Request asked by Ryan Hupfer:   All About Various Popular Hair Styles: Their history and how to create them
Answering Request asked by Ryan Hupfer: All About Various Popular Hair Styles: Their history and how to create them

Comments

RSS for comments on this Hub

ASHWINSPGA profile image

ASHWINSPGA  says:
14 months ago

Hair hubs seem to be the order of the day. Even about hair your writing just grips me and make me read this hub from the top till bottom and your photos are as intriguiging as your writing. great work Ms Dottie. once again i love your writing style

pcjunkychick profile image

pcjunkychick  says:
14 months ago

Luv this Hub great video & pix too ;)

SweetiePie profile image

SweetiePie  says:
14 months ago

I absolutely love your hub! Braiding is great, and thanks for including this really good tutorial on French braiding. I always found my arms were getting tired towards the middle of the French braid, so I have to concentrate.

B.T. Evilpants profile image

B.T. Evilpants  says:
14 months ago

I love braids! I wish my fur was just a little longer. I would totally get it braided!

Bob Ewing profile image

Bob Ewing  says:
14 months ago

My wife, when her hair was long, loved braiding it. She now and then braided mine, when I had hair.

Ryan Hupfer profile image

Ryan Hupfer  says:
14 months ago

I had no idea that you washed dreads...hmmm, maybe I SHOULD get them?

Of course, it would be about 10 years until I had enough hair to actually have them, but still...

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Thanks Ashwin for the many kind words. I am still learning to write. I love the researching and hardly ever get around to writing. That's why I jumped to this challenge. Someone's got to give me a good push every now and then. Thanks for dropping by.

Thanks pcjunkychick (love the name!) for passing through and appreciating the vid and pix.

Hey SweetiePie I'm glad you enjoyed the hub. I am a master pro at French braiding and I bet I could do it in my sleep! Keep practicing and you'll get it. It's just like learning to ride a bike, once you learn you'll never forget!!

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

B.T your top 10 hairstyles hub is priceless. I see your wearing your new antler wig today. It's looking good. ~Dotti~

Bob, your wife can braid her own hair? Now that is hard to do but I am proud to say I have mastered that too. It takes some good finger work to french braid hair! Thanks for visiting.

To Ryan Hup. I think you should take your own advice and walk on the wild side, grow those dreadz, and I'll even wash them for you! P.S. I just noticed something, is Bob Marley rolling a joint in that pic????

compu-smart profile image

compu-smart  says:
14 months ago

Dottie, i love braids, mainly the thin styles and anything that looks like Rasta Braids like Miss Aquileras has is Urgh!! not my cup of tea! talking of cups of teas, when are you coming over for one? I keep looking up and down my driveway for your arrival!!

:)

Shirley Anderson profile image

Shirley Anderson  says:
14 months ago

I learned a lot here, Dottie! I also didn't know that you were supposed to wash dreads....I'm glad you do, tho. They seemed kind of gross never seeing shampoo. Also, I had never heard of a crown braid - it looks so cool...and difficult!

I often braid my hair. My hair is so thick and curly, that I don't even have to put an elastic in it to keep it in place, which is a bonus if you don't have one with you. Love French braids, used to do my daughter's. I have done my own, but I don't have the patience any more.

Great HubMob hub, Dottie!

VioletSun profile image

VioletSun  says:
14 months ago

Hey, just finished reading Shirley's hair hub which was fun, and here I am being treated to another one. Hmmmm... I think I am going to try a braided pony tail as my hair is also curly and thick. Good hub!

G-Ma Johnson profile image

G-Ma Johnson  says:
14 months ago

So cool...wow if I get a braid will it make me look younger???or just feel younger..LOL..sounds like fun and I have a wedding to go to this week-end with lot's of Italian men gonna be there...shoot am too slow.....thanks sweetie...G-Ma :o) hugs

Uninvited Writer profile image

Uninvited Writer  says:
14 months ago

Excellent hub. It is great to learn about how to care for those styles.

funride profile image

funride  says:
14 months ago

Great hub, it was nice to see Claudia with those really hot braids and of course the great Bob Marley (what do you think he could possible be doing besides that LOL). Now we can all feel safe here with so many great HubMobsters ;-)

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Compu-smart, I think you would look very cute in the thin braids. Do you ever braid Kitty's fur? You've got to stop looking down the driveway for my arrival and start looking UP! LOL

Shirley, I got that side seat built on our transportation so you won't fall off!!! Ya know I just had another thought. R. Hup assigned me designated driver of the crazy bus, did you see that? We can only take the bus so far to the UK , then we will have to "Walk on Water". That should be fun though, we'd do anything for crumpets right? Oh and I'm really glad you learned something today from this hub. I'll be over to your's in a bit. ~Dottie~

Hi VioletSun, I'm just on my way over to Shirley's hair hub too to have some fun! There's a bunch of hair hubs today answering Ryan's request. It's always good to braid hair when the weather is so humid and our hair goes wild!!! thanks for stopping by.

Shirley Anderson profile image

Shirley Anderson  says:
14 months ago

Dottie!  No, I didn't know about the bus or the all-important installation of the sidecar.  I haven't been over there lately, but that's where I'm heading from here.

We can walk on water, Dottie. 

Do anything for crumpets?  Darn tootin'! 

I have to run and put the coffee on if you're coming over.  TTYL!

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Shirley, you've got to see this. I work for hubpages now. I got a job driving the bus! Here's the link to the bus, then follow it down 7 people and you'll see I got hired! http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/7046#post74633

Hi G-Ma, a Wedding with Italian Men. Repeat after me: I am Young and Beautiful. I am always on time for a good time, now GO and have fun! Hugs back 2u ~Dottie~

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Thanks Uninvited Writer for stopping by and commenting. I believe I read on the forum today that you wrote a hair hub too. Must stop by and read ya. ~Dottie~

Hi funride, I liked the hot braids too and that was a really stupid question I asked about Bob Marley now wasn't it!!!!! Have a fun and safe Hubmobsters!! ~Dottie~

Shirley Anderson profile image

Shirley Anderson  says:
14 months ago

Dottie, that is GREAT! And, it's a double-decker, perfect for the U.K!

Congrats on getting the job, I'm so proud of you!

dineane profile image

dineane  says:
14 months ago

We found the same french-braid how-to video (I think...not going back to double check). I love braids. I love to braid. But I don't have the patience for all the little ones, as pretty as I think they are :-) Very nice hub!

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Shirley thanks and wasn't that sooo coool. So now lets hit the road Jack!~

Hi dineane, I love braids and love to braid to. I cannot imagine braiding rasta braids just because I'd need a full week to do it! Whose got that kind of time?

dineane, do you know when I was in the 3rd grade I went to school with 2 braids in my hair and came home with 1. Willie Fitzgibbons, I'll never forget you. Hope you read this one day!!!! To think your punishment was to stay in for a 10 minuite recess. You got away with it that day, now didn't ya boy!!! It's a good thing you liked me though. You're lucky my mother didn't kill you.)

compu-smart profile image

compu-smart  says:
14 months ago

lol,! No i have never braided my kitty or me although i am looking for a new hair style! and ouch!! my nech is hurting from all this looking up!!:D

Mmm,Did someone mention crumpets!! lol

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Oh I'm sooo sorry Compu-smart. I hope you don't mind that I ordered a neckbrace for you. We'll come by driveway to save the neck!!! YOU have never braided Kitty's hair? When I did have Kitty's I glued AND braided them!!!!

ripplemaker profile image

ripplemaker  says:
14 months ago

Hi Dottie, french braids are my favorites. But I could never do mine on my own head. Need help on that one. LOL I would like to try the crown braids...it looks cute! :)

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Hi ripplemaker, it's not easy to do your own braids because you have to think in reverse and you can't see what your doing! It's takes practice, practice, and more practice. I would have never learned if I didn't have a daughter that sometimes owned me! LOL

compu-smart profile image

compu-smart  says:
14 months ago

lol! Thanks!!:)

and hey, i added Joe Perrys video especially to Eileens bday hub!:)

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Hey, that was really nice of you to add the video. I told Eileen that you did that!:)

Shirley Anderson profile image

Shirley Anderson  says:
14 months ago

Hey, who are you and what'd you do with our Dottie! :)

I'm just jumping in here to compliment you on your great new avatar pic!! I love being able to see your face and big, beautiful smile better!

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Thanks Shirley, from the unrecognizable one!

compu-smart profile image

compu-smart  says:
14 months ago

Hey! I love your new pic! ;)

Let me know if Eileen wants a different Joe Perry song!

Research Analyst profile image

Research Analyst  says:
14 months ago

Good one on braids, I have seen so many variety of braided hairstyles in my lifetime and some are really awe inspiring.

http://Awsome-Hair-Style-Hubpage-from-the-HubMob

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Thanks compu-smart. I'll ask Eileen and let you know!

Thanks for stopping by Research Analyst. I'm on my way to check out your hub.

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Research Analyst the link you posted is broken so I'm posting it again here.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Awsome-Hair-Style-Hubpage-

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Hey Tracey, I miss you and I miss french braiding your hair too! I'm sending you this braid hub so you can comment and let me know which braid hair style you like best so that I can braid your hair next time you come home to visit. Thx ~Lv Mom~

tracey  says:
14 months ago

hi mom, good hub...i miss having you always braid my hair though

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Hi again Tracey, you want me to move into college with you so I can always braid your hair? I have no problem with that! Sign me up!

dayzeebee profile image

dayzeebee  says:
14 months ago

hello dottie --- wow what a beautiful new avatar --- dottie revealed! i am so happy to see you clearly. it captures the loving energy that surrounds you and i really ike reading the sweet notes you and tracey leave around. this hub is also very informative and fun to read. thanks for giving me a beautiful morning...:)

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Hi dayzeebee, thx - I love your new avatar too. Ripplemaker took that photo of you? I didn't know she was a photographer! She really captured your sweet bundle of energy in that photo. Did you take the photo of ripplemaker for her avatar? Nice to have a visit from you and glad you had fun reading on a beautiful morning:)

Moon Daisy profile image

Moon Daisy  says:
14 months ago

I love all kinds of braids. I used to experiment with all sorts of different kinds in my younger days... And just this week my daughter's started letting me braid her hair (so she's looking just like Claudia Schiffer right now, lol!) She wouldn't let me do anything girly with her hair before. She looks so sweet :0)

A great hub!

(Btw. in the UK we call braids "plaits". I don't think I realised before that we use different words for this. So I've learnt something today, thanks!)

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Hi Moon Daisy, it's nice to meet you. I'm wondering how old your daughter is. I know from having a daughter that once they love you braiding their hair it becomes a looong time habit. Once I got through the frustration of learning to braid, it became less a chore and a very relaxing time to just sit and talk without a lot of distraction.

And plaits, I didn't know about plaits until I did the research to write this hub. LOL. It's fun to learn something new. Hope to see you around some more. ~Dottie~

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

ooops, double post!

gjcody profile image

gjcody  says:
14 months ago

Dottie ...nothing so cool as a braid. Thank you for sharing ...my best to you!

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Hi gjcody, thanks for the visit and comments. My best to you, too!

Shari Ilsen profile image

Shari Ilsen  says:
14 months ago

Hi Dottie- great hub! I think we all are quick to discount braids as too complicated, too hippy, or too young to be a legitimate hairstyle, but I love them. And as someone who did try dreads for about six months in college (without any guidance whatsoever), I definitely would have appreciated this article back then! Ah well, my hair grew back. :)

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

Hi Shari...You're a brave soul to try out dreads in college. I am thinking it would take an exuberant amount of patience to weave this hairstyle together. I am glad that your hair grew back. LOL It is always nice to see a new smiling face visit my hubs and greatly appreciated. Hope to see more of you around. Take Care. ~Dottie~

JKSophie profile image

JKSophie  says:
14 months ago

This is great! I have two kids and both are girls so I can definitely use this hub. Thanks :-)

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
14 months ago

I hope if you choose to braid your daughters hair JKSophie that you find it as relaxing and enjoyable as I did with my daughter. Best of Luck ~Dottie~

Arian Won profile image

Arian Won  says:
13 months ago

Hello Dottie, great information. I enjoy braiding my younger sister's hair. I think its one of the great ways to bond with her besides shopping = )Take Care!

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
13 months ago

Hi Ariana, (funny story about your name, I hope I got it right) - I agree that it is a great way to bond. You have to sit still during braiding. No jumping up to check emails or answer phones. We all need more braiding time with each other! I'm wondering whose hair I can braid now since my daughter is off to college!

Susie Writes profile image

Susie Writes  says:
12 months ago

Thanks for this hub Dottie! I have long hair and have alwyas braided it. I too did not know about dreadlocks. I wonder if some people that have them know you're supposed to wash them? LOL! Where I live I have seen some that looked pretty dirty. They weren't good dreads either. Some were way fat adn others very small. Guess they didn't put a lot of effort into forming them. Hey! There's another hub for ya! How to form and care for dreadlocks!

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
12 months ago

Your very welcome Susie....I was just wondering if you braid your own hair? I know braiding your own is sort of hard to do. I can do my own but first would need to grow more hair. I wonder how I'd look in dreadlocks? At least I'd know enough to wash them! Take care, Susie, see ya around!

Meg McNeal profile image

Meg McNeal  says:
10 months ago

Great hubpage. Thanks for all the great information. My sister has hair down to her behind and braid's her hair all the time. It is very thick like mine. It does take time to braid her hair about an hour I guess and she keeps it up all the time.

http://www.hairbraided.com

PR: wait... I: wait... L: wait... LD: wait... I: wait...wait... C: wait... SD: wait...

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
10 months ago

Thanks for stopping by Meg and thanks for your comments. I like your name...I have a relative named Meg McNeal who lives in Florida!

Shirley Anderson profile image

Shirley Anderson  says:
10 months ago

Peek-a-boo, Dottie! Popped in for some braiding instruction...needed to find something to do with my hair until Stu takes care of it upon our arrival in London.

Thx for adding the hub link about me and Stuey!

Did you know that Fergie is marrying Danny from the TV show, Las Vegas? Yup on Saturday. Danny is hawt, though a tad young for me. Still....

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
10 months ago

Peek-a-boo, Shirl, I see you. Need Braids? I can help! Now that we've talked on the phone, it's time to meet in person. Coffee's on! Come on in friend. I've been dying for this moment. We can catch up on the latest hawties then.....

Melody Lagrimas profile image

Melody Lagrimas  says:
7 months ago

I love braids. I can do the first one with my hair. The corwn braid is simply marvelous! I showed this to my 8-year old daughter who always wants to wear her hair long and loves it braided once in a while. She loves the numerous little braids.

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
7 months ago

I love braids too Melody. And I love watching the little girls get their hair braided by the vendors at the beach. My daughter was the same, she loved her hair down most often but also loved when I braided her hair for special occasion.

Charia Samher profile image

Charia Samher  says:
3 months ago

Lovely lovely braids. When I was just a little girl, my mother used to braid my hair. But right now I'm just letting my long hair flow. Love to try some of them again but not the dreadlocks though LOL.

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
3 months ago

HaHaHa...you don't want dreadlocks Charia? I see many young girls wearing them most often when they return from a tropical vacation. Some look nice but not all. I'm with you on that one!

Sexy jonty profile image

Sexy jonty  says:
3 weeks ago

Very well written hub .....

very much informative ......

Thank you very much for your great hub, for good advice, good wishes and support. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.

Dottie1 profile image

Dottie1  says:
3 weeks ago

Thanks for stopping by Sexy jonty and checking out my braid hub and taking the time to comment.

Submit a Comment

Members and Guests

Sign in or sign up and post using a hubpages account.


optional


  • No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked
  • Comments are not for promoting your hubs or other sites

A Collection of Braids / Popular Hair Braiding Styles and Looks in the News

  • Hairstyles and Nail Trends That Turn HeadsThirdAge26 hours ago

    Sure, they say the clothes make the man (or woman), but without the right canvas, you might as well go naked. OK, not really. This is not advocating using a bad hair day as an excuse to go streaking down the street. Frizz happens; it's not worth getting arrested over.

  • Video: Rocking hairstyles rule the ramprediff.com3 days ago

    Haircare giant L'Oreal Professionnel launched its autumn/winter hairstyle trends in Mumbai on November 2 with a high-energy fashion show. Take a look.

  • 'V' has it down to the letterMinneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune16 hours ago

    The ABC remake compares well with the original alien-invasion miniseries from the 1980s.

working