40 Different Types Of Braids

This three-strand braid is simple, classic, and easy for anyone to execute.

If you’re looking for a braided style that’s got classic charm but also works as a practical way to keep long hair secured while traveling or working out, the classic french braid is your answer. By adding hair into the braid as you go, a french braid stays attached to the head and is fairly simple to execute with a little practice.

Out of all the different types of braids out there, is classic dutch braids style is one of our favorites! If you know how to french braid, learning to dutch braid is easy, as it just involves crossing hair underneath the braid instead of overtop. The end result is a super trendy braid that has a pop-out appearance and keeps long hair securely in place all day.

Cornrows, are not a new style but have become the new hottest trend in the past couple of years. This quadruple braids look is a great and super chic protective style! Add a colorful feed-in extensions and ‘baby hair’ to take this style up a couple of notches!

One of the most romantic ways to style your long hair, the fishtail braid is simpler than it looks but ends up taking more time to complete thanks to all those skinny sections of hair you’ll be crossing from one side to the other.

A great protective style for natural curls, these skinny cornrows can last for weeks if they’re properly taken care of after installation. For more different types of braids styles for black hair click here.

Milkmaid braids are a cute way to wear your hair up, and easy for anyone who knows how to do a three-strand braid. Braid a regular three-strand braid on one side of the head, then wrap it around the top of the head and pin behind the other ear.

This next-level braiding technique is aptly named, making a braid with a cascading waterfall effect. While it may look complicated, anyone who knows how to french braid should be able to master the waterfall technique after a few practices runs. For different types of braids of this style click here.

Combining two different braiding techniques, this style is perfect for anyone with long hair and a little extra time on their hands. Braid three fishtails of the same size on the left, middle, and right side of your head, then weave these three together into a simple, three-strand braid. This is a great style for anyone looking for more complex types of braids.

Protect your natural hair and gain tons of styling versatility by installing a box braided style. Synthetic extensions make it easy to play with length and color and feel much lighter than they look.

If you’re looking for a new braid to master, try the more challenging four-strand braid. We recommend starting with a side braided style that makes it easier to see what you’re doing or grab a braid-loving friend to practice with.

Looking a little fancier than a standard milkmaid braid, this style is made in the exact same way but uses a fishtail instead. Be sure to give yourself extra time, as fishtails are notoriously time-consuming, especially if you’re working with small sections of hair.

Combining the French and fishtail techniques, this braid definitely takes some extra time to pull together but makes for a rewarding and intricate style for a special occasion.

The term crown braid can describe any braid that circles the head, and they’re often referred to as halo braids. To get this particular style, begin a french braid near one ear, and continue braiding in a circular pattern until you’ve come all the way back around. Depending on how long your hair is, continue braiding hair to the ends or simply pin loose pieces into the middle of the crown braid to finish.

Perfect for braiding bangs and framing the face, the lace braid is like a half french braid, with hair only being added to one side of the braid.

Beginning a french braid from the nape of the neck and working upwards puts a new twist on an old classic, and is a unique way to dress up your high bun or ponytail. Amateur braiders might need some help from a friend to pull this style off!

Appropriately named, this ladder braid is created by using the dropped sections from a waterfall braid and adding them into a lace braid that runs underneath it.

The inverted fishtail braid uses the same technique as a regular fishtail, but instead of crossing hair over top of the braid from one side to the other, you pass it underneath. The final braid has a different pattern than a regular fishtail, and many find this technique is actually easier than the original.

While a simple twist or rope braid is formed with only two sections of hair, this waterfall twist adds an extra piece of hair between every twist and drops it out of the bottom.

This boxed fishtail braid looks tricky, but it’s created by simply alternating between the standard and inverted fishtail techniques.

This braided style features two small braids that wrap around to the sides of her head. This gorgeous updo is actually not that complicated to do, unlike many other braided updos. All you need to do is create a simple braid and a twist on each side of the head and then gather them to the back of the head.

Crochet braided styles are created by braiding natural hair in cornrows, then attaching extensions to them using a latch hook method. The end result is a braided protective style where the actual braids are hidden by the installed hair, giving you endless options for playing with different lengths, textures, and colors.

Using the dutch braiding technique, this zig-zag braid crosses back and forth across the hair, creating an intricate and romantic look that’s perfect for a wedding day.

Created with a series of ponytails that are passed through each other, this pull-through braid makes a mohawk hairstyle that will stay put all day and night.

Simple and chic, the rope braid is made by twisting two sections of hair individually, then twisting them around each other. To make sure hair stays put once you’ve finished, be sure to twist each strand in the opposite direction than when you twist them together.

The perfect way to protect your hair without hiding it, this chunky goddess braided style can be dressed down or up for any occasion.

The upward lace braid adds hair from below the braid rather than above, and is perfect for creating braided headband styles.

Also known as a basketweave braid, this intricate looking style weaves strands of hair together to create a lattice that covers the head and shows off dimensional color like this cool pastel palette.

This more complex version of a rope twist braid involves adding hair in from each side of the head before twisting sections together.

To create a fishtail braid with a little more texture, try this bubbled version by tying hair off in several places as you braid.

While the chain-link braid seems crazy complicated, you can get this look by braiding two regular rope twist braids, then twisting these two braids around each other. Hair magic!

This spiral braid begins as a french braid at the crown of the head and continues on in a circular pattern until all hair has been incorporated.

If you’re a fan of Elsa’s look, try this chunky side braid inspired by the Frozen heroine!

Also known as an inverted french fishtail, recreate this style by using an inverted fishtail technique while adding surrounding hair into your braid so that the final product is attached to the rest of the hair. If you’re looking for bohemian style types of braids, this style is gorgeous for a date night or a wedding.

If you’re looking for types of braids with bow shape, check out this style! Taking intricate braiding to another level, these bow braids make hair accessories completely unnecessary!

This spiral braid uses the dutch technique beginning at the hairline and working towards the crown. The end result is a fun, beehive-shaped updo.

This half-up braided style adds hair from both sides to create a unique, mermaid style that’s pretty without being too difficult to pull off.

If you’ve already mastered the four-strand braid, this five-strand beauty is the next step in your braiding education!

One of the trickiest styles on our list, the zipper braid is best attempted with wet hair and a lot of time to practice!

The same cobra stitch technique used to make bracelets can be applied to hairstyling to make a thick, intricate knot at the base of a ponytail.

This lobster tail braid is a sweet and romantic style, perfect for a summer wedding or prom.

Using a five-strand technique and adding hair as you braid, this five strand dutch braid is the height of braiding skill.

This is a super cute and easy braided style! Two simple French braids attached to the head and tied together up into a simple ponytail.

You can upgrade any look with simple accent braids. The model wears 2 tiny accent braids on 2 sides of her hair, one is closer to the scalp and tied to the backside and the other one is loose. You can add extra chicness to your look with more complex accent braids styles such as look or fishtail braids.

The hair is braided so loosely and gently, you can barely see the braid. This is a stunning bridal style of braided ponytail decorated with pearls.

A new hot version of the classic French braids only the bubble Braid style is much more voluminous and chunky, and you can create with it amazing updos, faux hawks, and ponytails.

Simple yet neat and chic!

This type of dutch braid is a new hot trend and looks amazing with highlights!

We love this chic and unique braid style! The mix of blonde and brown colors gives such a dimensional gorgeous look!

We hope you enjoyed this list of all the different types of braids! Which one is your go-to braid style?  Tell us in the comments.