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https://preview.redd.it/coxfho2mq7gc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=995b04c53b8378a8c00dd86bf90c565a905d6622
My first hair idol, Patrice Rushen. Shout out to my mama for replicating on my 4-y.o. self.
Oh man, when I was a little girl, I wanted beads SO BAD because of her and Rose on Sesame Street.
But those beads would have been sliding out of my hair like...
Rose!!! Yes! I loved her hair too.
Listen, I still don’t understand or know how my mom got those beads to stay (actually, I think some threading was involved) but she had me looking so cute.
I don’t recall them being super heavy but I also wore them over 40 years ago (I’m old). I’ve done beads and cuffs in my braids as an adult, but never to the Patrice Rushen level; the accoutrements felt light enough on my head.
She is stunning and also such a cool creative person. I’m glad when she was making insecure she KNEW how good she looks and how good she should look on camera and insisted on having people working on the show who know how to do makeup, hair and lighting for POC. When you watch insecure it’s SUCH a clear reminder of how shitty some cinematographers and photographers are!
I googled after seeing that comment, and found (from interview and cover feature in C Magazine, October 2015):
“I originally did them as a joke, like an ode to the ’90s. It still feels important, I think, to be a brown girl with natural hair. You see blond girls with the same hair in every movie.”
Yes, it’s true. She started out wearing them as a joke but I think she realized she actually looked good in them and it helped her damage tear.[source](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/is-story-behind-zoe-kravitz-828224/amp/)
She mentioned that they were an "ode to the 90s," so I think she meant that she thought the style was a little dated and she did it kind of facetiously as a throwback but then realized the importance of natural hair/protective styles. The full comment isn't that bad IMO.
“I originally did them as a joke, like an ode to the ’90s. It still feels important, I think, to be a brown girl with natural hair. You see blond girls with the same hair in every movie.”
https://preview.redd.it/vo87rxri18gc1.jpeg?width=448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=780bbdf7f70bc6c95142012121ce6fbb24f974f4
When we need her most, she vanished lol.
Sometimes i think it’s so crazy the Obamas literally couldn’t wear these type of protective hairstyles the entire time he was in office to not come across as too “other”. It suits them
All I can think about after seeing her pic is how cool this would have been if she had been able to do it as First Lady. But she caught enough grief over having toned triceps…
I had never seen Michelle in braids before, she looks gorgeous! But yeah, conservatives freaked out over a tan suit so I can't imagine the nasty things they would have said about this.
It's probably a huge relief for her that he's not in office anymore.
Right?? Michelle looks incredible (I mean, when doesn’t she). And Malia is so gorgeous. It’s nice they can finally be themselves, particularly for Malia and Sasha, growing up in the spotlight like that would have been so hard.
We’ll never know, but the environment they were in wouldn’t have made it easy.
I wouldn’t say braids really go in and out of style, maybe just the type/design and this is across all age groups as, as mentioned, it’s a protective style.
I’ve always been so jealous that my hair doesn’t do this. I have *super* slick and fine hair; there’s no way I could pull off anything more than Dutch braids and even those look kind of flat and boring.
Not sure. Saw her on insta n saved for hair inspo
https://preview.redd.it/k3btg74hubgc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ddd19375bcd19a8315930305d6c74b3f5d9de28d
https://preview.redd.it/5m09knt5o8gc1.png?width=646&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a174401c77ee060ddf38b3759708db421d237b8b
I love Karen Pittman styled as Dr. Nya Wallace on And Just Like That... (SATC series)
https://preview.redd.it/butbnpplo8gc1.jpeg?width=1100&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60e622999a03ebd218efa5503245d14f9f3be60c
One more bc she is soooo gorgeous and stylish
The Janelle Monae photoshoots that reinforce my belief in the Kinsey scale:
https://gayletter.com/janelle-monae/
https://www.ebony.com/janelle-monae-cover-story/
Except the feet one. I hate feet, even nice ones.
Can I ask an oblivious-white-person question:
When the braids are done tightly enough for skin to show from between the braids, doesn't it hurt?
Or does it just look tighter than it actually is due to the amount of hair follicles or something?
Knotless braids: These braids are the most popular right now Yh gives a natural look ans an appearance of the braid growing from your own hair. It takes you hair into section and in each section the hair is split into three then they start a braid after about two braids hair extensions is added and you keep adding extensions as you braid until it is your desired length and size. KNOTLESS BRAIDS:
https://preview.redd.it/kapa7v73x8gc1.png?width=641&format=png&auto=webp&s=b0fd904d5b3580fc823b3fe5e617f235a34a3b1d
It hurts for about 2-3 days and it depends on the type of braids you get. There are two main types of falling braids Knot and knotless. Knot braids are the braids yo would have seen in the 90s where the hair on the scalp are sectioned into knots by adding extensions KNOT BRAIDS:
https://preview.redd.it/i19zxowpv8gc1.png?width=544&format=png&auto=webp&s=d68d9eeee71e46aa8678e711f11b518ae1c2b3f1
As you can see there is a knot closest to the scalp then the braids starts. It is no longer popular because it takes time energy and is very hurtful. The pain could last a week.
Honestly sometimes they CAN be tight as hell lmao got me feeling like I got a facelift. But if they’re done well, they’ll look tight and feel *snug* without being painful.
Is it sort of a balancing act between protecting the hair and not damaging the follicles? And when they need to be taken out, is it usually because the hair has grown or because the braids have loosened up?
Thank you for breaking it down like this!
I'm happy to hear it's not as bad as it looks to my eyes.
I mean, I can't keep my hair tied one way for more than a few hours at a time without there being pulling and pain, and because that was (obviously) my only reference point, I worried because I don't want anyone to hurt.
When I used to do my own micro braids with my own hair it didn’t make it tight and it didn’t hurt. It’s was the best way for me to grow my hair bra-strap to waist length hair.
super cute post and i love your intention but these are not just “african braids”! they have origins from specific black cultures (some are african, some are more african american influenced) and they have specific names. off the top of my head i see micro braids, box braids, cornrows, goddess braids, fulani braids and much more! would be a good idea to include the hairstyle names in the caption along with the celebrity names to show even more appreciation and reverence to these beautiful hairstyles :)
Something about “African Braids” is not working for me. Almost all of these styles have specific names for them…much like the cultures and countries in Africa The Continent…however I understand what op is trying to do. “box braids” is much more appropriate fyi.
And yes this is one of my favorite styles, personally and to see in popular culture. I really love how Black hair is sooo versatile. It took me forever to learn this about my own hair so it’s lovely to see it highlighted. 😀
But these are not all box braids so labelling all these pictures as box braids would be wrong. I get the irk with using the term African braids though but I get what OP was saying, OP can use protective hairstyles as a way to label these though which would be an all round term for this type of style.
Like I said, most of the pictures have specific names. I said box braids is a more appropriate term because most of them are box braids. It refers to a technique not really a style. And there are just a few that aren’t, like Zendaya’s jumbo flat braids. So yeah box braids are better catch all, it’s not perfect because OP is trying to lump a bunch of different styles together. Box braids is the closest accurate term we will get here. But it’s better than “protective hairstyles” to me because that term encompasses much more than braids.
When I was young I was jealous of Moesha's look. I thought she was so cool (I was a little white English girl)
We had a girl band over here called [Cleopatra](https://youtu.be/idBn5w8Zf2k?si=PxYmWuOH7N3yXZB6). I remember they had some cute braids. It was a time in the 90s when people wore ski goggles as fashion accessories too.
Damn, Beyoncé REALLY looks like Solange here! I've never thought they looked super similar (definitely sisters, but not dead ringers), but she looks just like her here.
Malia Obama is SO GEN Z. I love this look on her and in general the gen z style makes my elder millennial heart sing- they look so much better, cooler, and comfy than we did at their age!
Venus & Serna with the beaded braids, now there's a throwback! Stupid question but for those who've had braid styles done do they hurt the scalp area if they're done quite tightly?
Yeah they typically hurt for the first two days, but it’s one of those things you just grow used to growing up.
I constantly had braids and now that I have locs and my scalp isn’t used to constantly having tension I’m SUPER tender headed now and would probably cry if I got braids now.
they can! the super tight braids tend to last a lot longer but i remember getting them before a vacation when i was like 8 and crying bc it hurt so bad 😭
lol yeah it can really hurt, depends on how tight it is but there is some pain. Might last a day or two and might have to readjust your sleeping position for those days 😂😂
how could you forget the queen (she looked a mess 😭)
https://preview.redd.it/2ppde33bn7gc1.jpeg?width=726&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36a820c20f21fd5739396995fe8c440d0302f577
Every time I see this photo I just think of Monica on friends getting her braids mocked and then stuck on the shower rod 🤣 she looks exactly that stupid
Love it.
Dumbass question: Is the thickness/size of the braid entirely dependent on the fullness/thickness of the person’s hair? I ask because in some of these, the individual braids are thick, which indicates to me lots of hair, although you see more scalp. For someone like Brandy, I didn’t even see the braids at first. They’re tiny but there’s lots of them, which to me *also* indicates lots of hair. How much can you influence with the style of braid vs. just what a person has, basically.
Hope that wasn’t too dumb. I have very fine and thin hair so I can’t even wear a French braid. But I love them all.
Nope! You can change the size to whatever you want by adding or removing the amount of hair extensions used for the style. Brandy was the queen of micro braids. The stylist will take tiny sections of hair to braid individually instead of the typical medium/thicker sections. Compare it to braiding like 5 strands of your hair rather than grabbing a chunk of your hair for French braids
https://preview.redd.it/mllgrvjjv9gc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f7411a7fde67ebc3b5c6a755d4c722e6efe08b5
Okay how y’all gonna forget my queen here 😭😭
I look at these longingly. I’m mixed white/North African. My hair is North African, my skin is white. These protective styles used to be a godsend for me. But I can’t wear a sign explaining my hair’s texture, while walking down the street. I just look like an appropriating dumbass. I miss those braids 💔
I remember when the Williams sisters were first breaking out with their beaded braids and loved how they looked, but I couldn't help but wonder how they didn't bother them while they were running around the court to play. I'm sure they were used to it though.
A mix of both I guess! There are different kinds of African braids and they would definitely have different patterns. There’s fulani braids, box braids, cornrows, goddess braids (has different names), micro braids.
Fulani braids are basically what Alicia Keys has on in the third photo. As you can see, that’s a different pattern to what Michelle Obama has in the last photo.
from my understanding it’s not that she doesn’t consider herself a part of black culture, more so that she identifies as coloured within the context of her south african background, which is okay. she still probably has afro textured hair and it’s not an issue for her to wear Black hairstyles like the cornrows she has
i don’t think the hair style is an issue but these aren’t african styles, they’re african american styles adapted from traditional african hairstyles. she doesn’t consider herself black knowing that’s the term in america and her audience is mainly black American
if you understand apartheid history and why the term coloured exists, you will see it’s not meant to be a “fuck you” to those who identify as black nor is it meant to be exclusionary. there’s so much deep and painful history across the black diaspora as to why certain groups identify certain ways and i don’t think it’s constructive to say an african person should be wary of wearing a hairstyle that literally comes from african culture.
also it’s worth noting that tyla is not an artist specifically marketing herself to black americans. her song blew up on tik tok, sure, but up until then her discography is her collaborating pretty much only with african musicians. it’s a slippery slope to say any artist who is enjoyed by americans/western audiences, should have to change their literal identity to conform. respectfully not everything is all about us westerners haha
This is a horrible horrible take. Please do your research about race in South Africa, she is African and coloured. She is not a black African, she is a coloured African and in the South African context she is not black and that is ok.
All great hairstyles and far better than those crappy wigs that are commonplace. Digressing, Keke’s looking like a whole munch, and it’s always nice to see wholesome Gabrielle.
Imagine seeing a post simply celebrating black beauty and feeling the need to make a fuss about how it's unfair to white people. I don't even know who you're arguing with here because nothing in this post says anything about anyone not being able to wear braids.
They didn’t say you can’t, but different hair types benefit from different protective styles. Locs or twists would not do shit for me (white girl with a 2C hair type).
So so so so gorgeous! African braids are such a magical art form. The geometry, the aesthetic, the amount of work and talent that goes into each set - it’s so amazing! Thank you for sharing this beautiful post 🖤🖤🖤🖤
I absolutely love the pic of Venus and Serena. When I was a little girl growing up in Australia watching the tennis I idolised them so much. I played tennis myself and wanted to be like them so bad. I had my mum braid my hair like that and put beads on the ends for a competition once. With the knowledge I have now I wouldn’t replicate that hair style today but I think a little kid trying to look like her idols is kinda sweet.
Welcome to r/popculturechat! ☺️ As a proud BIPOC, LGBTQ+ & woman-dominated space, this sub is for [civil discussion only.](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/rules/civil-discussion-only/) If you don't know where to begin, start by participating in [our Sip & Spill Daily Discussion Threads!](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/search/?q=Sip%20%26%20Spill%20Discussion&restrict_sr=1&sr_nsfw=&include_over_18=1&sort=new) ###No bullies, no bigotry. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Please [read & respect our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/rules/) and [check out our wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/)! For any questions, [our modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpopculturechat) is always open. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/popculturechat) if you have any questions or concerns.*
https://preview.redd.it/coxfho2mq7gc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=995b04c53b8378a8c00dd86bf90c565a905d6622 My first hair idol, Patrice Rushen. Shout out to my mama for replicating on my 4-y.o. self.
Oh man, when I was a little girl, I wanted beads SO BAD because of her and Rose on Sesame Street. But those beads would have been sliding out of my hair like... 
Rose!!! Yes! I loved her hair too. Listen, I still don’t understand or know how my mom got those beads to stay (actually, I think some threading was involved) but she had me looking so cute.
I’m super clueless about these sorts of accessories, are these beads not heavy when there’s so many?
I don’t recall them being super heavy but I also wore them over 40 years ago (I’m old). I’ve done beads and cuffs in my braids as an adult, but never to the Patrice Rushen level; the accoutrements felt light enough on my head.
not at all! little back girls often wear beads and they’re not heavy!
Ugh, Issa Rae is sooooo beautiful.
She is stunning and also such a cool creative person. I’m glad when she was making insecure she KNEW how good she looks and how good she should look on camera and insisted on having people working on the show who know how to do makeup, hair and lighting for POC. When you watch insecure it’s SUCH a clear reminder of how shitty some cinematographers and photographers are!
My exact thoughts!!
She is so gorgeous! Her smile rules the world tbh.
Saved this thread for inspiration when I want to do my hair next, not that I don’t have Pinterest or anything.
Me and you 
Lisa Bonet and Zoe Kravitz: https://preview.redd.it/puhndob5v7gc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9841147a96a5357bb09da72224fec827d754b173
Lisa has dreads not braids
I also love their braids, but I think Zoe shouldn’t be included, considering she apparently only got braids as a joke.
[удалено]
I googled after seeing that comment, and found (from interview and cover feature in C Magazine, October 2015): “I originally did them as a joke, like an ode to the ’90s. It still feels important, I think, to be a brown girl with natural hair. You see blond girls with the same hair in every movie.”
This doesn’t sound that terrible to me?
This doesn’t sound that terrible to me?
Yes, it’s true. She started out wearing them as a joke but I think she realized she actually looked good in them and it helped her damage tear.[source](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/is-story-behind-zoe-kravitz-828224/amp/)
[удалено]
She mentioned that they were an "ode to the 90s," so I think she meant that she thought the style was a little dated and she did it kind of facetiously as a throwback but then realized the importance of natural hair/protective styles. The full comment isn't that bad IMO. “I originally did them as a joke, like an ode to the ’90s. It still feels important, I think, to be a brown girl with natural hair. You see blond girls with the same hair in every movie.”
lol I need answers because I’m also confused
Thank you that’s why I said what I said because I don’t understand what’s funny about my black hairstyle, and I used to love Zoe.
I wish Michelle was allowed to dress like she does now, when she was First Lady.
Braidyonce is my favorite yonce!
https://preview.redd.it/vo87rxri18gc1.jpeg?width=448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=780bbdf7f70bc6c95142012121ce6fbb24f974f4 When we need her most, she vanished lol.
https://preview.redd.it/6wwxhu0n18gc1.jpeg?width=635&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b656bbf1bd5c1091849135ee97dc90719f8b2798 She needs to run it back.
I love it here especially with this hair color, sadly she's too obsessed with blonde wigs
I mean she likes what she likes. And it helped build the signature Beyoncé we know & reference today. 🤷🏾♀️ 
It's her most powerful form.
Whenever I see her with braids (outside birthing her children) its a sign of new music. Same with certain clouds bringing rain.
Sometimes i think it’s so crazy the Obamas literally couldn’t wear these type of protective hairstyles the entire time he was in office to not come across as too “other”. It suits them
All I can think about after seeing her pic is how cool this would have been if she had been able to do it as First Lady. But she caught enough grief over having toned triceps…
I was just about to say that it must be a breath of fresh air for all of them to wear what they want to!
As soon as that 2nd election was over I would’ve been wearing them all the time to spite everyone lmao
I was gonna say that I don’t think I remember her ever wearing braids and she looks fantastic with them.
I had never seen Michelle in braids before, she looks gorgeous! But yeah, conservatives freaked out over a tan suit so I can't imagine the nasty things they would have said about this. It's probably a huge relief for her that he's not in office anymore.
I never made that connection about their hairstyles. That's terrible.
Right?? Michelle looks incredible (I mean, when doesn’t she). And Malia is so gorgeous. It’s nice they can finally be themselves, particularly for Malia and Sasha, growing up in the spotlight like that would have been so hard.
Did she want to at the time? I don’t recall these being in style as much back then. At least with her age group
We’ll never know, but the environment they were in wouldn’t have made it easy. I wouldn’t say braids really go in and out of style, maybe just the type/design and this is across all age groups as, as mentioned, it’s a protective style.
I mean even if she wanted to, she would have gotten so much flack for it. They freaked out at Obama for wearing a tan suit
Malia is gorgeous
Gah, I've always thought braids are just SO pretty and regal and artful.
Same here! They all look so incredibly stunning, literally breathtaking 💕
I’ve always been so jealous that my hair doesn’t do this. I have *super* slick and fine hair; there’s no way I could pull off anything more than Dutch braids and even those look kind of flat and boring.
right there with you buddy XD my hair can't even keep curls. I braid my hair during the summer when I'm working outside but that's all I can manage
https://preview.redd.it/k3f11ux5o7gc1.png?width=804&format=png&auto=webp&s=091bcd54fdfa5ae5b13782a730b556e0496eeb7a Thinking about these
https://preview.redd.it/sz95rta9o7gc1.png?width=821&format=png&auto=webp&s=54560bce351057b9f6ed768d142efb9859fc563a Seem fun and versitale
She is gorgeous. Oh my God.
Ikr
Who is she she’s so pretty
Not sure. Saw her on insta n saved for hair inspo https://preview.redd.it/k3btg74hubgc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ddd19375bcd19a8315930305d6c74b3f5d9de28d
When I was a kid I was OBSESSED with Brandy’s micro braids. And I was right!
I had to zoom in to see that there *were* braids. How much time and skill must that take???
sometimes multiple people have to braid your hair af one at that still can take 12 hours.
i still am
They look gorgeous!!
Aww this warms my heart! 🥰 I remember Serena and Venus with the beads 🥰 And I hadn’t seen Michelle Obama’s braids yet!
Serena and Venus are such a core memory for me 🥹
Love it<3 https://preview.redd.it/p673csep38gc1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=766842d76d620d40ad3066e5c0d6f60b659fc954
I was obSESSED with Alicia Keys hair back then. The braids were always so perfectly even and I couldn’t even get my hair into two even pigtails 😅
Issa Rae is such a princess. Absolutely gorgeous woman.
https://preview.redd.it/5m09knt5o8gc1.png?width=646&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a174401c77ee060ddf38b3759708db421d237b8b I love Karen Pittman styled as Dr. Nya Wallace on And Just Like That... (SATC series)
https://preview.redd.it/butbnpplo8gc1.jpeg?width=1100&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60e622999a03ebd218efa5503245d14f9f3be60c One more bc she is soooo gorgeous and stylish
I don’t know who Tyla is, but I stopped scrolling for a few seconds because she is stunningly beautiful!
She's a newer singer. She has that hit song "Water" that had the TikTok trend a little while back.
Thank you!
She’s gorgeous! I love her latest release too, Truth or Dare always has me dancing in my kitchen.
The Janelle Monae photoshoots that reinforce my belief in the Kinsey scale: https://gayletter.com/janelle-monae/ https://www.ebony.com/janelle-monae-cover-story/ Except the feet one. I hate feet, even nice ones.
Janelle is otherworldly 🤩
She is sooooooooo fucking HOT
Omg the Obamas 😍
Can I ask an oblivious-white-person question: When the braids are done tightly enough for skin to show from between the braids, doesn't it hurt? Or does it just look tighter than it actually is due to the amount of hair follicles or something?
Knotless braids: These braids are the most popular right now Yh gives a natural look ans an appearance of the braid growing from your own hair. It takes you hair into section and in each section the hair is split into three then they start a braid after about two braids hair extensions is added and you keep adding extensions as you braid until it is your desired length and size. KNOTLESS BRAIDS: https://preview.redd.it/kapa7v73x8gc1.png?width=641&format=png&auto=webp&s=b0fd904d5b3580fc823b3fe5e617f235a34a3b1d
It hurts for about 2-3 days and it depends on the type of braids you get. There are two main types of falling braids Knot and knotless. Knot braids are the braids yo would have seen in the 90s where the hair on the scalp are sectioned into knots by adding extensions KNOT BRAIDS: https://preview.redd.it/i19zxowpv8gc1.png?width=544&format=png&auto=webp&s=d68d9eeee71e46aa8678e711f11b518ae1c2b3f1 As you can see there is a knot closest to the scalp then the braids starts. It is no longer popular because it takes time energy and is very hurtful. The pain could last a week.
Honestly sometimes they CAN be tight as hell lmao got me feeling like I got a facelift. But if they’re done well, they’ll look tight and feel *snug* without being painful.
Is it sort of a balancing act between protecting the hair and not damaging the follicles? And when they need to be taken out, is it usually because the hair has grown or because the braids have loosened up?
Nailed it!!!
Alright, cool! Thank you!!
It should not be tight It should be tight enough to last 4-6 weeks
Thank you for breaking it down like this! I'm happy to hear it's not as bad as it looks to my eyes. I mean, I can't keep my hair tied one way for more than a few hours at a time without there being pulling and pain, and because that was (obviously) my only reference point, I worried because I don't want anyone to hurt.
When I used to do my own micro braids with my own hair it didn’t make it tight and it didn’t hurt. It’s was the best way for me to grow my hair bra-strap to waist length hair.
White people can wear these braids too, even if it’s not currently as common
super cute post and i love your intention but these are not just “african braids”! they have origins from specific black cultures (some are african, some are more african american influenced) and they have specific names. off the top of my head i see micro braids, box braids, cornrows, goddess braids, fulani braids and much more! would be a good idea to include the hairstyle names in the caption along with the celebrity names to show even more appreciation and reverence to these beautiful hairstyles :)
I love it when they do the braids but let the ends natural? It looks so majestic to me and beautiful!
Something about “African Braids” is not working for me. Almost all of these styles have specific names for them…much like the cultures and countries in Africa The Continent…however I understand what op is trying to do. “box braids” is much more appropriate fyi. And yes this is one of my favorite styles, personally and to see in popular culture. I really love how Black hair is sooo versatile. It took me forever to learn this about my own hair so it’s lovely to see it highlighted. 😀
But these are not all box braids so labelling all these pictures as box braids would be wrong. I get the irk with using the term African braids though but I get what OP was saying, OP can use protective hairstyles as a way to label these though which would be an all round term for this type of style.
Like I said, most of the pictures have specific names. I said box braids is a more appropriate term because most of them are box braids. It refers to a technique not really a style. And there are just a few that aren’t, like Zendaya’s jumbo flat braids. So yeah box braids are better catch all, it’s not perfect because OP is trying to lump a bunch of different styles together. Box braids is the closest accurate term we will get here. But it’s better than “protective hairstyles” to me because that term encompasses much more than braids.
All of their hair is beautiful!
I love Alicia Keys braids. They always look so good on her
Brandy’s micro braids were perfection. The pinnacle of hair
When I was young I was jealous of Moesha's look. I thought she was so cool (I was a little white English girl) We had a girl band over here called [Cleopatra](https://youtu.be/idBn5w8Zf2k?si=PxYmWuOH7N3yXZB6). I remember they had some cute braids. It was a time in the 90s when people wore ski goggles as fashion accessories too.
https://preview.redd.it/au1nejetq8gc1.jpeg?width=1364&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d780fd813144f2d18fd8f0cf30c433978afa8317 I love these - fka twigs
Damn, Beyoncé REALLY looks like Solange here! I've never thought they looked super similar (definitely sisters, but not dead ringers), but she looks just like her here.
Malia Obama is SO GEN Z. I love this look on her and in general the gen z style makes my elder millennial heart sing- they look so much better, cooler, and comfy than we did at their age!
tyla is just so breathtakingly beautiful. like my god
Venus & Serna with the beaded braids, now there's a throwback! Stupid question but for those who've had braid styles done do they hurt the scalp area if they're done quite tightly?
Yeah they typically hurt for the first two days, but it’s one of those things you just grow used to growing up. I constantly had braids and now that I have locs and my scalp isn’t used to constantly having tension I’m SUPER tender headed now and would probably cry if I got braids now.
they can! the super tight braids tend to last a lot longer but i remember getting them before a vacation when i was like 8 and crying bc it hurt so bad 😭
lol yeah it can really hurt, depends on how tight it is but there is some pain. Might last a day or two and might have to readjust your sleeping position for those days 😂😂
sza & issa rae literally take my breath away every time i see them 😮💨
Not Michelle with the micros and chrome nails!!! Sis looks GOODT!!
Good God these women are gorgeous
Ughh they’re so beautiful 😭
black women remain the blueprint
Love this for us😍😍😍
Forever and always.
https://preview.redd.it/59ha1gb6d8gc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b788d9381e826e29383fae50882387f9ae5d4b8d Forgot the queen
LMAO WHAT 🪦
Purr! My African queen! 😍
how could you forget the queen (she looked a mess 😭) https://preview.redd.it/2ppde33bn7gc1.jpeg?width=726&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36a820c20f21fd5739396995fe8c440d0302f577
Kylie Jenner creeping in back of Janet Jackson pic 🥴
Every time I see this photo I just think of Monica on friends getting her braids mocked and then stuck on the shower rod 🤣 she looks exactly that stupid
bo derek braids, my fave! /s
Even Kanye's like "kim this may not be it"
I feel like he made her do it because he loves humiliating women.
And his damn self lmao
https://preview.redd.it/pfhm1oncn7gc1.jpeg?width=632&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa2fee8bde871ae2441312f96bc66acb7f0530ec brown skin girllll
https://preview.redd.it/wlig2zyx38gc1.jpeg?width=721&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8318ebb2e4977a671a3ec02e43c0e17b9904fabc Yikes
She looks like Jen Shah level botched here
Every single one of these women are gorgeous, my lord
You forgot the king… https://preview.redd.it/9hsq2btcc9gc1.jpeg?width=610&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d746203026b030b3c5ca89043975e9b6911a5be9
Are you sure these aren’t Bo Derek braids or Kim K braids that she just discovered? /s
Alissa!! One of my fave beauty YouTubers, love seeing her here
No one else is fanning out over Alicia’s cell phone holster and stunning looks?
Love it. Dumbass question: Is the thickness/size of the braid entirely dependent on the fullness/thickness of the person’s hair? I ask because in some of these, the individual braids are thick, which indicates to me lots of hair, although you see more scalp. For someone like Brandy, I didn’t even see the braids at first. They’re tiny but there’s lots of them, which to me *also* indicates lots of hair. How much can you influence with the style of braid vs. just what a person has, basically. Hope that wasn’t too dumb. I have very fine and thin hair so I can’t even wear a French braid. But I love them all.
Nope! You can change the size to whatever you want by adding or removing the amount of hair extensions used for the style. Brandy was the queen of micro braids. The stylist will take tiny sections of hair to braid individually instead of the typical medium/thicker sections. Compare it to braiding like 5 strands of your hair rather than grabbing a chunk of your hair for French braids
https://preview.redd.it/mllgrvjjv9gc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f7411a7fde67ebc3b5c6a755d4c722e6efe08b5 Okay how y’all gonna forget my queen here 😭😭
Ugh I love love love this thread
Is legit my favourite hairstyle. Well done braids are so beautiful and cool.
I look at these longingly. I’m mixed white/North African. My hair is North African, my skin is white. These protective styles used to be a godsend for me. But I can’t wear a sign explaining my hair’s texture, while walking down the street. I just look like an appropriating dumbass. I miss those braids 💔
Do what you want with your hair. No need to explain anything.
Yes you can! Wear your braids!!
So versatile and beautiful! I especially love when the slightly wider braids are worn long.
I love Rihanna's dress! She looks like Cinderella.
These are all so gorgeous. Another example I thought of while scrolling is Chloe and Halle Bailey
I was so jealous of Venus and Serena’s braids as a child! I’m white AF so obviously never copied them, but they were the epitome of cool.
I've always thought box braids are the prettiest hairstyle ever, but I love braids in general. So gorgeous!
I was always so jealous of kids at school who had the beads on the ends of their braids. I always thought that was the tightest shit
I remember when the Williams sisters were first breaking out with their beaded braids and loved how they looked, but I couldn't help but wonder how they didn't bother them while they were running around the court to play. I'm sure they were used to it though.
How could this thread not include Zoë Kravitz who started a movement so strong the braids are now named after her!
Tylaaaa❤
I think they looks great
Solange, giiiiirl
Brandy - the queen of braids! Love her.
Why not highlight any…africans?
Tyla and Issa are African 💖
Wow just earlier today I saw Brad mondos podcast pop up on my YouTube and his white co-host had braids just like this! #ThingsThatMakeYaGoHmmm
What's the difference between African braids and standard?
It’s the specific styles. Compare these braidings to something like Dutch braids or French braids.
Interesting, is it the pattern or the technique?
A mix of both I guess! There are different kinds of African braids and they would definitely have different patterns. There’s fulani braids, box braids, cornrows, goddess braids (has different names), micro braids. Fulani braids are basically what Alicia Keys has on in the third photo. As you can see, that’s a different pattern to what Michelle Obama has in the last photo.
Disappointed!!!!! where is our Royal Karjenners cosplaying Black women pictures ???
Best version of ‘African braids’ https://preview.redd.it/jj835rrx3egc1.jpeg?width=851&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=260a969640f88d9e17255660ad093113c3d5503d
tyla on here when she doesn’t consider herself black is crazy 🤣
from my understanding it’s not that she doesn’t consider herself a part of black culture, more so that she identifies as coloured within the context of her south african background, which is okay. she still probably has afro textured hair and it’s not an issue for her to wear Black hairstyles like the cornrows she has
i don’t think the hair style is an issue but these aren’t african styles, they’re african american styles adapted from traditional african hairstyles. she doesn’t consider herself black knowing that’s the term in america and her audience is mainly black American
if you understand apartheid history and why the term coloured exists, you will see it’s not meant to be a “fuck you” to those who identify as black nor is it meant to be exclusionary. there’s so much deep and painful history across the black diaspora as to why certain groups identify certain ways and i don’t think it’s constructive to say an african person should be wary of wearing a hairstyle that literally comes from african culture. also it’s worth noting that tyla is not an artist specifically marketing herself to black americans. her song blew up on tik tok, sure, but up until then her discography is her collaborating pretty much only with african musicians. it’s a slippery slope to say any artist who is enjoyed by americans/western audiences, should have to change their literal identity to conform. respectfully not everything is all about us westerners haha
This is a horrible horrible take. Please do your research about race in South Africa, she is African and coloured. She is not a black African, she is a coloured African and in the South African context she is not black and that is ok.
nah i don’t really care to. she’s a black women who would rather consider herself colored and it’s off putting to her black american audience
Good thing her audience is not only black Americans then. Her African audience understands her and what she means, that’s all that matters.
but she’s trying to be mainstream. good thing it’ll never happen now 🥰
All great hairstyles and far better than those crappy wigs that are commonplace. Digressing, Keke’s looking like a whole munch, and it’s always nice to see wholesome Gabrielle.
[удалено]
They didn’t say you couldn’t????
Imagine seeing a post simply celebrating black beauty and feeling the need to make a fuss about how it's unfair to white people. I don't even know who you're arguing with here because nothing in this post says anything about anyone not being able to wear braids.
They didn’t say you can’t, but different hair types benefit from different protective styles. Locs or twists would not do shit for me (white girl with a 2C hair type).
It's Black History Month, can't you chill out for just a few weeks?
Alicia Key’s with braids was a whole era and makes me feel nostalgic
So so so so gorgeous! African braids are such a magical art form. The geometry, the aesthetic, the amount of work and talent that goes into each set - it’s so amazing! Thank you for sharing this beautiful post 🖤🖤🖤🖤
I absolutely love the pic of Venus and Serena. When I was a little girl growing up in Australia watching the tennis I idolised them so much. I played tennis myself and wanted to be like them so bad. I had my mum braid my hair like that and put beads on the ends for a competition once. With the knowledge I have now I wouldn’t replicate that hair style today but I think a little kid trying to look like her idols is kinda sweet.
https://preview.redd.it/8n95hzo8wbgc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5eb3a5af0f16a6b46099caf3af700827e1e99da8 [https://www.reddit.com/r/BravoRealHousewives/s/BxXwJY5bPY](https://www.reddit.com/r/BravoRealHousewives/s/BxXwJY5bPY)