Hottest Hairstyles for the Naturalista

I’ve always loved braids because they are easy and convenient. A morning that normally includes a routine of forcing myself out of bed at an inconvenient time, showering, getting dressed, applying a naturally beat face to appear awake, making sure I have everything I need for the day, trying to eat, listen to a devotional AND make my hair look presentable can take at least an hour and a half to two hours. Subtract having to deal with my hair from the equation and I save a good hour, allowing additional time to sleep or get my mind and body right for the day. Thanks to braids and twists, I am able to achieve that.

But, as much as I’ve adored braids growing up, I would get bored after a few weeks of having them because they were one dimensional. There were only a handful of styles available for a rotation: micro braids which easily took 9-12 hours to install and two days to take out on top of them being damaging to your edges - box braids which had me thinking I was Moesha as a child - cornrows, which were my least favorite.

So much for versatility right?

But there is a hair God! With the styles available now, there’s no need to stress over a lack of choices. Add in hair accessories and play around with different colors to make your braids unique to you. And, with summer in full effect, now is the perfect time for protective styling and hair that’s durable yet fashionable at the same time. Here are the top braiding options to keep your hair (and body) on guard from the heat while also slaying.

Lemonade Braids

Thanks to Queen Bey for giving length and funk with this design. Add in some beaded jewels or creative parts to make it your own.

Double Cornrows

We all remember remember sitting in between our mama’s legs to give us “two braids.” It was quick, simple and stylish. The double cornrows style gives us a more mature look while being trendy.

Feed In Braids

This gives your “straight backs” (cornrows) a more updated feel, combining large, medium, and smaller braids in a pattern of your choice.

Fulani Braids

Straight backs, feed ins and individuals all mixed in with a classic “Crooklyn” bead results in the Fulani braided bead look. You can wear them up, down, to the side or in a bun. This style has been worn by the Fulani people of West Africa for centuries, and we appreciate them for it.