Braids have been woven into our heritage for thousands of years. Our African ancestors wore braids to signify their age or marital status. Some who crossed the middle passage used braided styles to guide escaping slaves to freedom. Today, braids are a way to celebrate our heritage and look incredible while doing so.
If you’re looking to add some new braided looks to your repertoire without spending hours in a salon, check out these five essential braided wig styles every Black woman should have.
Cornrows
Cornrows, braids that lie close to the scalp, are one of the quintessential braided looks for Black women. Cornrow wigs come in a variety of styles, from simple straight-back patterns reminiscent of Alicia Keys’ early career to more elaborate designs. You can also change up the size of the braids for a different look.
Box Braids
Box braids are another classic braided style that works for any occasion. Instead of braids that lie close to the scalp, the braids emerge from square-shaped parts that form the “boxes.” The beauty of this style is that with braids this long, you can wear them down or style them in multiple ways, from ponytails to scarf looks. Eat your heart out, Janet Jackson.
Goddess Braids
Goddess braids are another variation of the box braid look that has been sweeping the hair world, so it’s a must-have braided wig style for Black women this summer. Goddess braids are box braids that trail off at the end into unbraided curls for a gorgeous look fit for a goddess.
Braided Bob
As show-stopping as long cascading braids are, they can get a little hot in the summer months. But don’t let the heat discourage you from rocking a braid look. A braided bob wig gives you all the style of box braids, but with less length.
Bantu Knots
Bantu knots are a style that came from the Bantu peoples, several African ethnic groups currently found across central and southeast Africa who share the Bantu language. This style involves several two-strand twists wrapped into “knots” on different spots of your head. For people wanting to hearken back to their ancestry, this powerful style is the way to do it.
Note on Other Styles
A lot of people lump locs and twist, braids under the category of “braided wigs.” Although the styles have some similar features, we don’t consider locs and twists braids because they both utilize two-strand plaits instead of three. However, both styles also look fantastic on wigs and would make a great addition to your braid collection. Also, we broadly include wigs made in both styles in our braided wig collection.
Ready to elevate your braided wig collection? Instant Arewa Hair has all these styles and more to give you instant, incredible styles to wear on any occasion.
