Braids for men haircut can tell you a lot about him. Many times more so when the style isn’t as common as another buzz cut. You can pretty easily judge someone based on their music choice, fashion sense, or even the job they have. It’s not so much the hair; it’s more about how we naturally like to look like other people in our tribe.
That thought has always been taken further by braids. The style has been around since prehistoric times. People from Africa to Scandinavia and China have worn it to show their power and rank. Additionally, braids are becoming more popular among men again, in part because long-haired men are tired of the man bun.
The styles come from thousands of years of history and all over the world, so there is one for everyone, whatever heroes, like A$AP Rocky or Vikings, move you. The way knots are done is pretty much the same as it was 5,000 years ago, but the style has changed. The hair is first split into three equal parts. As it goes from left to right under the middle and back again, it is braided.
WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND BRAIDS?
Many people believe that braids were the first hairstyle. A stone lady of fertility called Venus of Willendorf was found in Austria in 1908. It says that these things are about 30,000 years old. Braids have been used for a long time to show group membership and marital status.
This style has been adopted by many countries, as shown by the example of indigenous pigtails and Chinese stair braids. Some guys, like fighters, wore braids, but most women did too. This was true for all groups, from the Vikings to the Celts to the Ethiopians. Indeed, the past of the barbershop in your neighborhood is likely more recent.
When black people started to reject white beauty standards that said hair should be long and smooth after the 1960s and early 1970s, braids became very popular.
They liked more traditional hairstyles instead. Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder made this style well-known. It was used politically again after the LA riots in the 1990s and again after the deaths of young black men by US police in recent years.
Styles of hair are different because of this. It is generally thought that black hairstyles like tighter styles like cornrows, and Caucasian hairstyles like looser styles like French brands. People might say you’re stealing an art form if you’re white and wear fancy box braids. Take a look at David Beckham’s hair from 2003 and decide if it matches the style you want.
But hairstyles aren’t just a way to study people. They look good too. When guys have long hair, they give it shape and texture right away, which waves of hair don’t always do. You can use plaits or knots to soften or improve the hair below them, whether you choose a few or a lot of them. May says that braids look great on all face shapes, but they look best on oval faces. It’s simple: try different things until you find what works best for you.
If your hair is long enough, braids let you style it in unique ways that no other style can match. If you can find a good enough stylist (you can look for them on Instagram or our list of the best ones below), they can create almost any design in your hair. When braids were first made, they were a way to show who you were. If you wear them right, they can still do that today.
STYLE OF BRAIDS THAT LOOK GOOD FOR MEN
1. BRAIDS FROM CORNROW
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Men like to wear their hair in cornrows, which are tight bands that are tied close to the head. They can be styled as easily or carefully as you like with single or double braids so that you can change the texture of your hair. Black men like cornrow braids the most, and a fade is often added to make them look more edgy.
2. BRAIDS WITH ONE
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For guys, a single braid can look like a French braid, a braided ponytail, or something else. Some men might find this braided hairdo too girly or childish, but it’s a great choice for men who are fashion-forward (or street-style fans?) and like to keep things simple. If you have a lot of lo, all you have to do is braid it back in one strong braid to keep it out of the way and stylish.
3. TWO BRADLEY
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Although most men probably don’t want to wear their hair in pigtails because they feel girly and retro, they can try pulling their hair back into two French-style braids on either side of their head for a more modern and manly look. Men with two braids also look great with a clear undercut. The undercut not only adds style but also gives the hair more depth and structure.
4. THREE HAIRSTYLE WITH BRAIDS
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Men’s hairstyles with three braids usually have two braids that go along the sides of the head and one braid that goes through the middle. It looks best to keep these braids tight and close to the head. These look like cornrows, but they are a bit thicker and wider. Get a low fade or trim if you want something even more complicated.
5. FOUR BRAIDS FOR MEN
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If you have long hair, you can wear four braids for guys as cornrows or just let them hang down. Travis Scott’s signature braided style has more than four braids, so the cornrow style, where the braids are close to the head, looks more put-together and formal. You might look good with some stacked braids that hang loose, but the whole thing might look too sloppy.
6. BRAIDS IN FRENCH
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From the head to the base of the neck, French braids go all the way down. It’s not as hard as it looks to learn how to do French braids. Your hair doesn’t have to be very long all over, but it should be long enough on top so that you don’t have to deal with flyaways or braids that aren’t neat.
7. BOX BRADLEY
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For longer hair, add hair extensions if you can’t wait for it to grow out before doing box braids. Box braids on their own can be very hard on the head. Box braids without knots, on the other hand, don’t hurt the hair by pulling on it like traction alopecia does. Bring something to pass the time because tying all that extra hair could take a few hours.
8. BRIDALS FOR MEN WITH SHORT HAIR
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For guys with short hair, braids can be a little tricky, but they’re not impossible. The two-strand twist is a great style for guys with short hair. First, split two parts of hair on the front of your head into two different ones.
Next, take a piece of hair from each side that is close to the edge of your part. To do this, just twist each hair strand over the other one, adding new pieces of hair as you go. Additionally, remember that your hair doesn’t need to be shoulder-length, but it should be pretty long.
9. BRAIDS FOR MALE HAIR THAT IS LONG
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Men can wear their hair in a lot of different braids if they have long hair. If you have long hair, you can wear it in any style, from cornrows to French braids. If your hair is usually frizzy, keep some light hair clay on hand to keep your braids clean, crisp, and free of flyaways.
10. SWITCH BRAIDS
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Men who don’t want to style or change their hair every day should get twisted braids. Twist knots have their shape and can be of different thicknesses. They last from two to eight weeks. You may like the thicker style, but smaller twist braids last a lot longer.
11. BRAIDS FROM THE NORTH
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Ragnar Lothbrok, the king of the Vikings, wore his long hair in this way, which is a deep, single braid. If you work in an office or other business setting, you might want to choose something a little more chic or classic. If you want to look like a real Viking, though, braid your beard to make a matched look that will get people’s attention.
12. SEW BRAIDS
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The name “stitch braids” comes from the way they look on the head, which looks like stitches. The braid grows from the head to the nape of the neck, which is a lot like cornrows. You can choose how thick or thin you want your braids to be based on how much hair you have.
13. BRAIDS THAT FADE
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One of the most common hairstyles for black men is to mix cornrows with a fade. The intricate braids go well with the short, sharp fade, giving you a stylish and flexible look. Even though the braid is very complicated, the fade makes it less so without taking away from the art of weaving.
14. BRAIDS BY IVERSON
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Iverson braids are still one of the most popular braid styles for guys, even though they became popular more than 20 years ago. By using different parts and patterns of hair, Iverson braids make a beautiful effect that is great for the creative man who uses his hair to show who he is.
15. BRAIDS WITH ZIGZAGS
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It’s not nearly as hard as you might think to make zigzag braids, even though they look super cool. Do not part your hair in a straight line. Instead, use a zigzag design to separate each section. Then, just braid the hair in the direction of the part. It is important to braid the hair close to the head so that the braids have a unique shape and style. Also, use pomade or wax to keep the hair from frizzing up and hiding the zigzag look.
16. BRAIDS FROM MOHAWK
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For guys who like to keep things retro and rock, mohawk braids are a way to make a statement. You probably wouldn’t be able to wear this to the office every day, but it’s a cool choice for guys who like to be different. Mohawk braids keep your hair out of the way and up, but they still give you a grungy look.
17. A MAN BUN BRAIDS
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If you know you want to keep your man bun, add some texture by braiding your hair from your forehead to the top knot. You can wear this look with one or more plaits. To pull this off, you’ll need long hair.
18. BRAIDS MADE OF FISHBONE FOR MEN
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The most eye-catching braids for guys are fishbone braids. These braids are close to the head and look a bit like cornrows, but they are a little more delicate and have a more complicated pattern. Even though they sound alike, the fishbone braid is not the same as the fishtail braid, which is a popular hairstyle for guys with long hair.
WHAT TO THINK ABOUT WHEN MAKING THE BEST BRAIDS FOR MEN
There are a few things you should think about before you get braids that spell out your address if you want to keep your style more Lil Uzi Vert than Riff-Raff.
LENGTH OF HAIR
If a man hasn’t embraced the long hairstyle yet, he can forget about cornrows. Charmaine Haughton, a trichologist and owner of Nefertiti Hair & Beauty in London, says that braids won’t stay in if your hair is shorter than three inches.
That’s the bare minimum, though; you should have a lot more covering. The longer your hair, the more creative braiding options you have.
WHAT KIND OF HAIR
How long your braids last will also depend on the type of hair you have. According to May, braids can be done on any hair type, but wavy or curly hair looks best when they’re done. It can be hard to keep things in place if they are too thin or slippery, so you might have trouble with more complicated knots or need a lot of elastic bands to keep them neat.
THICKNESS OF HAIR
Also, you should stay away from braids if your forehead is quickly taking over your hairline. This style can make thinning or receding hair stand out even more because it shows off your skin.
You might even make things worse. If you leave your braids in for months at a time, they can damage the roots and make splitting and hair loss worse. You might end up with more in the bristles than on your head when you brush out the knots.
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BRAIDS FOR MEN FAQs
MEN’S BRAIDS: WHAT KINDS OF BRAIDS DO MEN WEAR?
Layered braids, box braids, Viking braids, and single-plait braids are some of the most common braids for men. You can make loose knots and plaits at home if your hair is long enough. For styles like cornrows that are more difficult, you should get help from a professional.
HOW TO DRESS MEN IN BRAIDS
If you want to try your hand, you should get some items that make things stiff. For best effects, use hair that is thicker or wavier. Thicker or wavier hair tends to stay in place better, but you can cheat your way to the same effect. May says, “We like tools that add some texture to hair without making it too stiff and sticky.” “Polish with wax or sea salt spray can help your braid hold together a little better.”
Haughton says that cornrows are becoming more popular after Kendrick and A$AP wore them lately. But the way they are made is pretty much the same as it was when they were first made, which was about 5,000 years ago. First, the hair is split into three equal pieces. Then, it is braided, going from left to right under the middle and back again.
Keep each strand tight to keep the braid neat, and braid from front to back until you run out of hair. For a regular look, try to use the same amount of hair in each braid. A rubber band around the end of the hair will help it stay in place if it isn’t very sticky. After that, you can wear your braids in an open ponytail or a topknot or just let them hang loose.
For looks with more going on, get help from professionals. It’s hard enough to shave your neck hair without having to try to make complicated box braids behind your ears the hard way.
BEING CAREFUL WITH BRAIDS
Braids don’t need much care once they’re in. To keep them clean, sleep in a do-rag at night to keep them from getting frizzy or dirty. Being careful when washing is important because if you rub too hard, the braids could come undone. To keep your braids sealed, use a leave-in conditioner or put water and coconut oil in a spray bottle and spray them every day.
There are different kinds of braids, but May says that if you have small, tight braids, you should use oil to keep your hair and skin moist. Look for items with shea butter or mature oil in them. These will keep your braids and the skin underneath them moist.
