What Are The Best Tribal Braid Hairstyles?
Black women are always looking to their roots for inspiration for modern hairstyles. In recent years, tribal braids have become especially popular.
African cultures offer many different styles for short hair, natural hair, and long hair – and it’s a great way for black women to get in touch with their ancestry.
So, if you are looking for a tribal traditional hairstyle for you to wear, check out the list below. We have gathered together the best trending tribal braid hairstyles so you can find the perfect hairstyle for you!
There are plenty to choose from ranging from everyday wear to tribal braids for red carpets!
1. Criss Cross Knotless Braids
A trendy, modern way to style your knotless braids includes this criss-cross pattern. It’s a popular choice with young girls and teens, and creates a different look unseen in other tribal hairstyles.
2. Fulani Braids
Fulani braids are a hairstyle that uses cornrows in the front, but box braids in the back. These braids can then be styled into a ton of different looks!
3. Baby Hairs
Baby hairs are the short, fine hairs that frame your face. More modern looks flatten these down into intricate swirls and waves – so try them out with tribal braids!
4. Block Colored Braids
This idea is a huge trend with other hairstyles and now, more and more black women are bringing it to their tribal braided hairstyles. Just dye or use a different colored hair extension for each side of your hair!
5. Blonde Tribal Braids
A popular modern look for black women is to use synthetic blonde hair in their hairstyles. This provides a nice contrast against their natural black hair.
6. Bohemian Braids
Bohemian braids are a modern hairstyle that combines tribal box braids with unraveled strands and ends. This diversifies the texture of your hair for a whole new look.
7. Box Braids
Box braids are a type of tribal braid that divides the hair into small squares for braiding. It’s especially popular in the States but is also worn throughout cultures in Africa too.
8. Braid Parting
A common trend with tribal braid hairstyles is that a straight braid is used to part the hairstyle overall. Rather than leave a gap in the scalp, a lot of tribal hairstyles add this single braid.
9. Braided Bunches
A cute and playful hairstyle to try out with tribal braids in bunches. This hairstyle gives a trendy Y2K look that young girls and teens absolutely adore – Bratz vibes, anyone?
10. Braided High Ponytail
Once you have your desired type of tribal braid, you can wear those braids in lots of different styles. One very popular choice is the high ponytail – it’s cute, modern, and practical!
11. Braided Low Bun
This tribal bride hairstyle is perfect for formal occasions like weddings and red carpets. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and still very practical as it keeps your hair up and out of the way!
12. Braided Mohawk
Instead of a top knot with shaved sides, why not let those braids fall loose for a braided mohawk instead? It’s a good option for women with thick hair and works with all kinds of tribal braids.
13. Braided Pigtails
This hairstyle is a more traditional type of tribal braid hairstyle. It also takes inspiration from French braids for a more modern look – a good option for young girls!
14. Braided Space Buns
Space buns are the classic festival favorite hairstyle. Combined with tribal braids, this look is a great option for young black women heading out to party this summer.
15. Braided Top Knot
The top knot is a favorite hairstyle for women across all hair types and textures. For black women, adding tribal braids helps protect the style to make it longer lasting.
16. Braided Top Knot With Shaved Sides
This hairstyle is an ideal choice for women with very thick hair. If you have too much hair to braid, then shave the sides for a disconnected haircut – and throw those braids in a top knot!
17. Braids With Bands
Adding rubber bands to your tribal braids is a great way to bring some additional color and vibrancy to your hairstyle. Choose what colors go best with your outfit, and try this cute idea out yourself!
18. Braids With Beads
A lot of black women like to add colorful beads to their hair. They’re easy to find and add to your hair, and can bring a lot of vibrant colors to your hairstyle!
19. Braids With Bun
This hairstyle allows your natural hair to shine! Intricate braids decorate your scalp and frame your face, but the high bun is unbraided and left in its natural texture!
20. Braids With Cowry Shells
There are lots of different accessories that African cultures add to their braids. One popular choice is cowry shells – these little shells can totally transform your look!
21. Braids With Rings
For a more rebellious, edgy look, try adding rings to your tribal braids for decoration. They’re very eye-catching and bring a more modern look to your hairstyle.
22. Braids With Silver Coins
A great, trendy accessory to add to your tribal braids for decoration includes silver coins. These shiny flat discs can make your tribal hairstyle look rich (literally) and eye-catching!
23. Butterfly Design
There are lots of unique patterns and designs you can try out with your tribal braids. This design adds a cute butterfly to make a unique style that is a great option.
24. Colored Tribal Braids
Experimenting with color is always fun and tribal braids make it easy to do when it comes to your hair. So – go wild with vibrant colors in your tribal braids!
25. Combo Tribal Braids
Tribal braids are so versatile that you don’t even need to stick to one type of braid all over your head. Try combining different types of braids for some very unique looks!
26. Cornrows
Cornrows are a modern type of tribal braid style that is super popular with black men and women alike. They’re also a great protective hairstyle that lasts a long time!
27. Curly Ends
This hairstyle works best if you are using synthetic hair to help extend your hair’s length. However, you can get away with just loosening your braid ends for a curly look.
28. Diamond Part
This type of parting for tribal braids is extremely modern and a trendy choice for young women. It’s a great way to combine a traditional hairstyle with some modern touches.
29. Entwined Tribal Braids
This tribal braid hairstyle involves entwining the braids on your scalp. This means they gently cross over one another in a very loose braid of their own design!
30. Feed-In Braids
This type of braid is ideal if you want to add hair extensions to your hairstyle. They create a seamless transition, allowing you to add other types of tribal braids for more versatile styles.
31. Flower Design
There are lots of different ways you can section and style your tribal braids. One popular choice with black women is the flower design – it’s one of the best modern looks for tribal braids!
32. Front Tendrils
This modern hairstyle is often seen with haircuts that use straight hair – but they also work great with tribal braid hairstyles. They are also great for framing your facial features!
33. Ghana Braids
The Ghana braid style has taken off in recent years. They have very complicated but beautiful parting designs, each one bringing a different look. Check them out!
34. Goddess Braids
Goddess braids are thicker braids done in the same or similar technique style of cornrows. They also are braided much more closely to the scalp but are just as protective and versatile.
35. Heart Design
Some tribal braids like cornrows can be styled into cool braid designs on the side of your head. This idea adds a cute little heart to your scalp made from your trendy braids!
36. Jumbo Tribal Braids
Thick braids are an extremely popular style thanks to how they help black women manage very thick, natural hair. As a result, these ‘jumbo’ tribal braids are a hot trend!
37. Knotless Braids
Box braids pull very tightly on the hair and this tension can sometimes cause traction alopecia. So, knotless braids are a less tense, safer alternative type of tribal braid.
38. Lemonade Braids
Lemonade braids, of the Beyonce braids, are long cornrows that are typically worn in a side-swept type. They are extremely stylish and a braided style fit for a queen!
39. Long Tribal Braids
Tribal hairstyles can come in all kinds of lengths. One of the trendiest is long tribal braids, aided by the addition of hair extensions and synthetic hair.
40. Micro Tribal Braids
Micro tribal braids are tribal braids which are very, very thin. They take a lot of time and practice to get right but they are great for giving you a straight-hair like look.
41. Middle Part
Tribal braids can be braided in all sorts of different directions, but a lot of modern styles leave a middle parting. Middle partings are extremely popular with young teens and women.
42. Senegalese Braids
Senegalese braids feature a unique look thanks to the twisted technique used to braid them! This makes them a stand-out tribal braid for you to try for an elegant look!
43. Short Tribal Braids
If long tribal braids are too impractical for you, then you can still sport this trendy hairstyle! Try out some short tribal braids instead in any kind of technique you desire!
44. Side Braids
Side braids are a style often seen in tribal hair-dos where one or two braids are braided in a different direction. This causes them to fall before the ear to help frame the face.
45. Square Part
Square parts are often used in tribal braid styles, especially in hairstyles like box braids. They are neat and provide a very modern look to your hairstyle.
46. Triangle Part
Not all tribal hairstyles require square-shaped parts. Some hairstyles (including classic box braids) can be braided with trendy triangle parts for a more chic look.
47. Tribal Bangs
Bangs is a very popular hairstyle with women – and tribal hairstyles have their own take! This idea involves creating a waterfall of braids across your forehead to frame your face!
48. Tribal Braid And Afro Combo
If you want to wear your hair in its natural texture, then try combining it with some tribal braids. These will help make your hair more manageable on your scalp – but let those curls loose in the back!
49. Tribal Side Bangs
Another trendy hairstyle is the classic side bangs. For tribal hairstyles, this involves taking the braids and wrapping them over the forehead at an angle – it’s easy!
50. Zig Zag Part
A very modern way to section and part your hair for your tribal braids is in a zig-zag pattern. This can either be done by twisting the braid in different directions or just by expertly parting your hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Do Fulani Braids Come From?
Fulani braids originally come from the Fulani (Fula) people, who are one of the African cultures in West Africa. They are a nomadic community who have passed down this traditional hairstyle to generations of black women throughout history.
Their braids are known for their amazing, intricate designs and patterns.
Are Tribal Braids A Good Protective Style?
One of the many benefits of tribal braids is that they are very protective. This means they will keep their shape and last a long time, so they’re super low maintenance and easy to manage!
How Many Hours Do Tribal Braids Take?
If you have your heart set on getting tribal braids, then be warned – it can take up to six hours to complete a tribal braid look! This all depends on how long and thick your hair is, and how many braids it will take to get the side you desire.
Make your appointment well in advance and be clear with your hairstylist about what kind of look you are aiming for so they can clear their schedule and be prepared!
