50 Best Knotless Braid Hairstyles (Trending This Year)

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50 Best Knotless Braid Hairstyles (Trending This Year)

What Best Knotless Braid Hairstyles Are Trending This Year?

For women of color with curly hair, there are a few protective hairstyles that are super trendy and practical. These include hairstyles like cornrows, twists, and box braids, but these hairstyles can pull very tightly on your hair and cause traction alopecia (hair loss).

Because of this, knotless braids have become a really trendy choice for black women. They have less tension in their braiding technique, look very similar to regular medium box braids, and still do a great job of protecting your hair.

They are also versatile as there are a lot of different knotless braid hairstyles for you to try – but which ones are trending?

Check out the list below to find the best knotless braid hairstyles that are trending this year!

1. Butterfly Braids

Butterfly braids are a type of knotless braid that loosens one strand of hair throughout the braid. This creates a butterfly effect throughout the braid for a cool, bohemian-style look!

2. Knotless Space Buns

Space buns are the ultimate summer festival hairstyle – and if you have long knotless braids, you can wear this hairstyle too. Add some beads or bands to complete your look!

3. Baby Hairs

Every black woman knows about baby hairs. These are the small fine hairs that frame your face and are difficult to style. Flatten them down for a gorgeous decorative hairstyle!

4. Bangs

Bangs are a very trendy choice for women with straight hair – but just because you have curly hair doesn’t mean you can’t rock bangs too! Check out this knotless braided bangs hairstyle!

5. Blonde Knotless Braids

Similar to brown knotless braids, blonde knotless braids use extension hair for a great look. They are braided into the base of each braid and shake up the color of your braids!

6. Bohemian Knotless Braids

Bohemian knotless braids feature undone curly ends for a more textured look. They also add volume to the hairstyle and look great with longer knotless braids.

7. Braided Bun

This look is a great idea if you have a lot of thick knotless braids, like jumbo braids. Section them into different parts and braid your bun rather than just wrapping them all together!

8. Brown Knotless Braids

Most black women also have black hair – but this hairstyle uses synthetic hair to help bring a new shade of color to your hair. This can create a totally different look.

9. Bulky Braid Knot

If you have a lot of hair and thick knotless braids, then try this practical hairstyle to keep them safe. It’s very stylish and trendy, and works great with long knotless braids!

10. Classic Knotless Braids

Knotless braids are a trendy style in their own right. They’re easy to do, easy maintenance, and very versatile. So, if you want to wear them in their traditional style, go for it!

11. Criss Cross Knotless Braids

This knotless style may be a little more technical but it’s a newer style that is super popular with modern women. Just cross the base of each braid for a super cool pattern!

12. Curly Ends

This type of knotless braid hairstyle works best if you have used synthetic hair extensions to your hair. If not, just let the ends of your braids fall undone for a stylish two-textured look.

13. Diamond Parts

Traditional knotless braids are sectioned with square-shaped partings. However, a great way to section your hair in a newer style is to try diamond-shaped partings instead!

14. Edge Up

An edge up haircut is a cut that takes away all the baby hairs around your face. It leaves you with a straight hairline for a clean knotless braid look.

15. French Knotless Braids

French braids are a popular hairstyle with women of all hair textures. They’re also easy to do if you have a full head of classic knotless braids!

16. Half Braided Half Loose

This idea involves adding long, wavy hair extensions underneath your knotless braids. This gives your hairstyle a stylish half-braided, half-loose waves effect! It also makes you look as if you have naturally fine hair.

17. Half Up Half Down Knot

This hairstyle is a popular choice with women of all colors. For black women, it looks great with knotless braids and a few extra loose hair extensions for a different type of texture.

18. Half Up Half Down Ponytail

This hairstyle is a practical way to pull those front braids back and out of your face. It also takes less time to style compared to other knotless braid hairstyles.

19. Heart Cornrows

Cornrows are a great way to add amazing line design to your hair while still keeping your braids. Try this heart design with your knotless braids for a protective yet stylish look.

20. Jumbo Knotless Braids

Knotless braids can come in all shapes and sizes, but a very trendy size is jumbo knotless braids. These are big knotless braids that are very thick. So, there are fewer of them!

21. Knotless Braid Bob

This knotless braided look is super short and chic, making it great for its easy maintenance and modern style. Add a quirky side parting for extra shape and try it out!

22. Knotless Braid High Ponytail

Ariana Grande really shook up the fashion world with her high ponytail and front tendrils. This is a great trendy hairstyle to mimic with your knotless braids!

23. Knotless Braid Wrap

This summery knotless braid hairstyle uses a beautiful silk scarf to help manage your braids. Push everything upwards and back using a silk scarf for a classic wrap hairstyle!

24. Knotless Braided Mohawk

For a rebellious, edgy look, try out this knotless braided mohawk hairstyle! It’s a good idea if you have very thick hair and a lot of knotless braids to try and style!

25. Knotless Braids And Cornrows Combo

There are lots of protective hairstyles for black hair, and a popular choice is cornrows. You can section the hair and try different styles all for one trendy, combo look!

26. Knotless Braids With Beads

Beads are a go-to hair decoration for black women. They come in all different styles and colors and can help you add the finishing touches to any trendy look.

27. Knotless Braids With Hair Rings

A great accessory to totally transform your look is hair rings. These are small bands of metal that can either be braided in or fitted over your knotless braids!

28. Knotless Braids With Rubber Bands

Rubber bands come in all cute colors, and they are a great way to shake up your knotless braids. Grab those rubber bands in your favorite colors, and space them apart down your braids!

29. Knotless Braids With Scarf

Want to protect the roots of your braids in a hip, effortless way? Then grab a decorative silk scarf and wrap it around your head. Leave your braids down and voila!

30. Knotless Braids With Wire

For a subtle yet dazzling look, try entwining gold hair wire with your knotless braids. It adds a sophisticated, modern look to your hairstyle that is great for formal and everyday wear.

31. Long Side Bangs

Knotless braids are versatile as you can easily change their direction for a whole new look. Check out this method to get yourself a trendy set of side bangs!

32. Loose Ponytail

This ponytail look uses loose hair to create a classy look. It works best if you use thin or micro knotless braids – and then let your hair loose for the ponytail!

33. Low Knotless Braid Bun

This hairstyle is super elegant and sophisticated, making it the perfect choice for special occasions. It’s formal and very easy to do in no time at all!

34. Medium Knotless Braids

Most black women wear their knotless braids in a medium thickness. They are the perfect balance between being easy to braid and maintain yourself, without being too chunky and heavy.

35. Micro Knotless Braids

This hairstyle allows you to use hair extensions for a straight-haired look while keeping your braids to a minimum. Your micro braids help break up the monotonous texture of your extensions.

36. Middle Cornrow

This stylish idea works best with jumbo box braids for sharper contrast. It involves braiding a single thin cornrow to divide your hair down your middle parting – and letting your thick braids fall to either side of your head!

37. Middle Part

The middle part is currently one of the biggest hair trends for young teens and women. With jumbo knotless braids, you can expertly part your hair for the middle parting effect!

38. Mix n Match Hair Extensions

If you can’t choose between all the colors open to you when it comes to synthetic hair extensions, then why not mix and match? This can help you create a whole new look that is all your own!

39. Red Knotless Braids

For a cool, fresh look, try this shade of red for your knotless braids. It has a very modern aesthetic appeal which is great for young women.

40. Shaved Back

If you have very thick hair, then you may want to consider this knotless braid hairstyle. Tie up your braids in a bulky braid knot and shave the back of your nape to thin out your hair.

41. Shaved Lines

Shaved lines are a good idea if you want an eye-catching, decorative hairstyle. Tie up your knotless braids in a large bun, and the shaved lines make great use of the shaved sides beneath.

42. Shaved Side

Shaved sides are a modern trend with women’s hair and in recent years, more black women are combining this look with their knotless braids. This creates an edgy yet chic new style!

43. Short Knotless Braids

A lot of knotless braid hairstyles feed in synthetic hair for a longer look. However, you don’t have to do that – keep your knotless braids short for a practical yet stylish look.

44. Square Parts

For a traditional, boxer braid look with knotless braids, part your hair into squares. This is where the ‘boxer’ braid gets its name – because the partings look like lots of small boxes!

45. Tassel Ends

A cool, alternative choice of ends for knotless braids is tassel ends. They’re short, fluffy, and come in all kinds of colors for a fun style!

46. Tendrils

If you are looking for a trendy way to frame your face with knotless braids, then try tendrils! Leave two front braids out of your hairstyle so they hang down separately from the others.

47. Thin Knotless Braids

Thin knotless braids may take a longer amount of time to do, but the final look is worth it. With so many thin knotless braids, your hair looks closer to straight hair.

48. Three-Strand Braid

This technique adds additional braiding hair to your short natural hair. This makes it easy to add synthetic hair to your hairstyle at the base of your natural hair.

49. Top Knot With Shaved Sides

Top knots are a super trendy hairstyle – but another modern trend for women’s hair is shaved sides. Combine this look with knotless braids for a protective, fun style!

50. Triangle Parts

Knotless braids are a type of box braids that usually have a square parting. However, you can shake things up by dividing the sections of hair into different shapes – like triangles!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Knotless Braids The Same As Box Braids?

Knotless braids are box braids that use a different feed-in technique with less tension. This technique helps lessen scalp tension and makes them a more comfortable hairstyle.

Some also think that knotless braids look more natural, although they look very similar at a quick glance.

Are Knotless Braids Better For Your Hair?

Knotless braids are considered to be a protective hairstyle, which means that black women with very curly hair don’t have to worry about the weather ruining their hair and manipulating its style.

Not only that but knotless braids use a feed-in technique with less tension. This means that you are less likely to suffer from traction alopecia (hair loss).

Hairstyles like traditional box braids can cause traction alopecia because the hair is pulled very tightly – but this isn’t the case with knotless braids.

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Author - Nia Jones

Nia has been passionate about hair since she was young. Always trying out the latest styles and trying to imitate her musical icons. She studied hairdressing directly after leaving school, spending 2 years at college learning from the best hairdressers in her region. After spending 6 further years learning her trade in different salons across the country, she went on to finally live her dream of opening her own. Today she specializes in the latest African American styles and trends, serving her local community.