Godwin ShaibuBraided Hairstyles are not just for women but also for men who have the intention of maintaining their natural hair, instead of opting for low cut hair.
Gone are the days when young African men chose to stick to the conventional rules and norms set for men as they are now summoning their guts and daring to venture into hair braiding like their counterparts in the Western world.
So, if you are a guy in this category of guys who are into braiding their hair or you are just about to venture into it, then this is just the perfect article for you. This article will help you decide and choose the perfect braid hairstyle that will suit your taste and your face.
Below are carefully and tastefully selected 40 modern and trending braided hairstyles that you can settle for as a man, no matter your taste or vibe. Be it the celebrity vibe, the classic vibe, hot and simple vibe and so on.
1.Two-Colored Short Braided Brazilian Wool
Wool Braidings
One trending braided hairstyle for men we never seem to get enough of in 2023 is the use of two different colors of Brazilian wool to make short braiding. The two major and trending colors always used are black and silver, which always look hot and stylish on black men.
The use of hair embellishments or beautifying factors such as beads or small and multi-colored hair hooks further enhances the beauty of such hairstyles on men. And, most times, such a hairstyle is usually braided on the full hair. It tends to look more masculine when the back and side hair is shaved and only the front and middle hair is braided, to give the style a hot and full fringe look.
2. Short and Tiny Twists
Twists
For young men, a recommended braid hairstyle which also hit the trend chart in 2023 is short and tiny twists. Short and tiny twists is a very cool braid hairstyle for men who prefer to keep their hair short and natural. The style is rocked better when the back and side hair is shaved and only the front and middle hair is twisted.
3. Single Cornrow with Ponytail
Cornrows
For men who keep very long and full hair, one great hairstyle to rock is the single braided cornrow with ponytail hairstyle. The style does not only give that hot masculine vibe, but is also easy to loosen whenever it gets old or the person gets tired of it.
4. Two Cornrows With Hair Extension
Cornrows
Another amazing braided hairstyle for young men is the two braided cornrows with hair extension. After getting a clean shaved and shaped side hair, one can use any type of hair extension to make two braided cornrows from the beginning of the front hair to the back. One can also give a nice shave and shape to the tip of the front hair to give it a classy look.
5. Braided Long and Tiny Two-Colored Dreads
Braided Dreads
One hairstyle that we’ll never get enough of over the recent years is the braided tiny long dreads. After making long and tiny black dreads, one can tint the tips of the dreads gold or any other color suitable.
To make it more gallant and stylish, one can decide to cut the dreads in different sections, braid as all-back and then give the tip of the front hair and part of the side hair a very good shave and shape.
6. Fat and Long Twists
Twists
Fat and long twists is another amazing hairstyle for men to try out especially the ones with natural long hair. The side and back hair is neatly shaved and then the front and middle hair is cut into two equal halves, cut into small sessions and then tightly twisted.
7. Short Braided Dreads
Braided Dreads
This hairstyle is similar to the long braided dreads, just that it is far shorter and it is done with natural hair. Also, no other color is added to it. Part of the side hair is shaved and the dreads is divided into 2 equal sections and braided as all-back. One can also decide to shave and shape the tip of the front hair.
8. Long Braided Brazilian Wool
Wool Braidings
This time around, only one colored Brazilian wool is used, black preferably and it is much longer. As usual, the side and back hair is neatly shaved and shaped and only the front and middle hair are braided with the wool.
9. Medium sized and Long Triangle Braids
Triangle Braids
Triangle Braids is also an amazing hairstyle for young and fashionable men. The natural hair is neatly cut out in medium sized triangular shapes and afterwards braided. The side and back hair is also neatly shaved and shaped to give the hairstyle a more stylish and classy look.
10. Two-Colored Tiny and Long Triangle Twists
Triangle Twists
This time around the hair is twisted, not braided and the hair is cut out in tiny triangular shapes and then braided a little before being twisted. The tip of the hair can also be dyed in any other color of one’s choice. The side and back hair, alongside the tip of the front hair, is also neatly shaved and shaped.
11. Zig-Zag Cornrows
Zigzag Cornrows
Another stylish hairstyle that you can settle for as a man is the braided zig-zag cornrows hairstyle. The hair is cut out in a zig-zag shape and braided afterwards.
12. Zig-Zag Feedin Cornrows
Zig-Zag Cornrows
Zigzag feedin all-back cornrows can also look great on men who would be daring enough to go for the unusual look. The feedin hairstyle is usually made with hair extensions, but this time around, only the natural hair is used.
It is done by cutting out the natural hair strand by strand and braiding it tightly to the roots into cornrows. The all-back cornrows are cut in a zigzag manner to make the hair more beautiful and stylish.
13. Crossed Cornrows
Cornrows
As a man, if you chose to go for all-back cornrows, instead of settling for a very simple style, you can choose to make it more stylish by overlapping and crossing the cornrows over each other to form a curved “X” shape. One can mix both the all-back cornrows and the crossed all-back cornrows into a fine hairstyle.
14. Basket Cornrows
Basket Cornrows
Basket cornrows are simply braided by braiding the hair from the center of the head down to the tip of all sides of the hair. The tips of the hair are then braided to form the basket shape. This can be done with natural hair or extensions and attachments.
15. Side Cornrows
Side Cornrows
The side cornrows is also a befitting and trending hairstyle to rock as a man, especially if you have very short hair. Instead of making all-back cornrows, you can choose to settle for side cornrows where your hair is divided into two equal parts and the hair is cut out and braided into cornrows from the tip of the centerline, down to both sides of the hair.
16. Zig-Zag Long Braidings
Zigzag Braidings
This men’s hairstyle is a very unique and complex one, so if you are going to go for it as a man, you’d have to find someone who is very professional and experienced enough to make it and it’d turn exactly the way you want it.
The hair is cut out in zig-zag shapes and braided. The center of the hair is styled differently from the rest of the hair because it involves cutting out two strands of hair in the zig-zag shape; one strand is usually very tiny than the other and then it is braided into a very small cornrow, merged with the other strand and then braided. The side and back hair is also neatly shaved and shaped to give the hair a premium stylish look.
17. Box Locs and Twists Braids
Box Locs and Twists Braids
This is another unique style that you can opt for as a man, especially if you have long hair. The hair is simply cut out in small boxes and braided in locs, then the locs are taken in twos and twisted. The whole hair is used to make this spectacular style as the side and back hair are neither shaved nor shaped.
18. Crossed Feedin Cornrows
Cornrows
This sort of feedin hairstyle is absolutely stylish, beautiful and unique. Unlike the other, this type of feedin hairstyle is not made with the natural hair alone but also with hair extension or attachment which is added to the roots of the natural hair to not only add length and density to the hairstyle, but to also ensure that the natural hair doesn’t pull out.
The hair is first divided in two equal halves. One tiny all-back cornrow is made by the side first, then the feedin style is cut out in big strands, followed by another tiny all-back cornrow, then another feedin style of the same size with the first is cut out and after that, both feedin hair are braided in cornrows and crossed over each other, including the tiny all-back cornrow. The style is repeated on the other side of the hair, to make both sides even.
19. Box Beaded Long Braids
Box Braidings
This hairstyle for men is simply cut out in medium boxes and braided. Numerous beads are added to each braid as extra embellishments. The side and back hair is also shaved and shaped to give the style that manly and stylish look.
20. Big and Long Box Braids
Box Braidings
If you have very full and long hair as a man and don’t fancy tiny braids or cornrows, then this might just be the perfect hairstyle for you. The hair is simply cut out in very big boxes and braided. You can shave and shape the tip of the front hair too, if you fancy such.
21. Two-Colored Brazilian Wool Twists
Wool Braidings
This hairstyle for men is simply the mixture of black and any other color of Brazilian wool to make twisting. Both colors are merged or blended to make a braid. You can choose to apply it to all of the hair or do it on a few. As usual, the back and side hair are neatly shaved and shaped.
22. Curved Side Cornrows
Curved Cornrows
This time around, the hair isn’t divided into two equal halves with a straight line. The hair stylist just has to use his/her discretion in making sure that both side cornrows are even. And, the side cornrows are curved into each other, one after the other. The tip of the front hair can be shaved and shaped to add more manliness and beauty to the hair.
23. Long and Tinted Box Braids
Box Braids
This box Braids for men is cut out in medium sizes and braided as usual. The only major difference it has from other natural hair braids is that it is either sprayed or lightly tinted with another color before it is made, so that the natural dark hair color is still prominent on the roots of the hair. The side and back hair alongside the tip of the front hair is shaved and shaped.
24. Love Cornrows and Long Twists
Cornrows and Twists
This is a very beautiful and spectacularly unique hairstyle a young man can choose to settle for. If you have very long and full natural hair and would love to slay as a guy, then this might just be the perfect hairstyle for you.
The roots of the hair are first rectangularly cut out and braided in love cornrow shapes, with the two curves separately braided in cornrows and facing each other, afterwards, the two curves are
twisted together into long twists. To achieve this, the hair is first divided equally with a straight line. The love shaped cornrows are made in the middle and both sides of the hair, on one line each, before the rest of the hair is finally cut out to make the long twists. The full hair is usually used as the side, back and tip of the front hair are not shaved or shaped, though it depends on the individual.
25. Short Side Cornrows
Side Cornrows
It is the same with the other side cornrows, except that it is uniquely made with added exceptional styles and it is quite shorter than the rest as the side and back hair, alongside the tip of the front hair is shaved and shaped. Just go for the hairstyle that you feel comfortable in and will suit you.
26. Tiny Braided and Clapping Cornrows with Hair extensions
Clapping Cornrows
This hairstyle is quite complex and requires the services of a skilled or professional stylist. The beginning or starting is quite different from the rest of the hair as the starting is made in straight and tiny clapping cornrows and later on, the hair is cut out in uneven tiny clapping cornrows. After the clapping cornrows are made and completed in different sections of the hair, hair extensions or attachments are added to the tips and braided into cornrows too. Full hair is usually used for this hairstyle.
27. Two Curved Braided and Clapping Cornrows with Hair Extensions
Clapping Cornrows
This hairstyle is also as complex as the other as it is uniquely made in its own way. The hair is simply divided into two equal parts or sections with a straight line. Each of the sides is also divided into equal parts and cut out in curved and clapping medium sized cornrows. When both sides of the hair are completed, hair extension or attachment is added to the tips and braided into cornrows too. Full hair is also usually used to make this peculiar hairstyle.
28. Hexagon Shaped Big and Long Braids
Hexagon Braids
This braid is simply cut out in big hexagon shapes and then braided. The whole natural hair is used to make this hairstyle as neither the side, back and the tip of the front hair is shaved or shaped.
29. Big and Long Triangle Twists
Triangle Twists
This is definitely one lovely and stylish hairstyle to try out as a man. The hair is divided into two equal sections or parts and then cut out in big triangular shapes and twisted. Every part of the natural hair is usually used for this hairstyle as no part of the hair is shaved or shaped and it always looks very appealing on long and relaxed hair.
30. Big and Long Triangle Braids
Triangle Braids
For this hairstyle to be achieved, the hair is simply divided into two equal parts or sections, cut out in very big triangular shapes and braided. The style is peculiar in its own way as the side and back hair is not shaved or shaped, only the tip of the front hair is. The style will look better on a man with long and full hair.
31. Big Zig-Zag Side Cornrows
Side Cornrows
The difference between this hairstyle and the rest of the side cornrows is the fact that it is cut out in big zigzag shapes and then braided into cornrows on both sides of the hair. The tip of the front hair is also shaved and shaped.
32. Basket Locs and Long Twists
Locs and Twists
This hairstyle for men is absolutely beautiful but complex. It usually looks great on men with natural relaxed and curly long hair. The style is unique because the basket hairstyle is not braided into cornrows, rather the hairstyle is cut out, tightly twisted into locs and finally taken in twos and twisted.
Sometimes, black gels are added to the roots of the hair to make it sleep and remain tightly locked. This time around, only the back and tip of the front hair is shaved and shaped as the side hair is also used to make the style.
33. Big and Tiny Feedin Side Cornrows
Side Cornrows
This side cornrow is different from others because it is mixed with big and tiny cornrows. The big feedin cornrows are made first, followed by the tiny ordinary cornrows. It is also unique in the sense that two tiny all-back cornrows are braided in the center line dividing both sides. Only the tip of the front hair is also shaved and shaped too. This hairstyle can be made with natural hair or with hair extension. Eitherways, it always comes out fine, as long as the hair is well relaxed.
34. Zig-Zag Clapping Cornrows
Clapping Cornrows
These clapping cornrows are simply cut out in zigzag shapes on both sides of the hair. Then, in the middle or center of the hair, a single side zigzag clapping cornrow is braided, to give the hairstyle a unique and a uniform look at the same time. Hair extension or attachment is then added to the tip of the cornrows and braided. The tip of the front hair is shaved and shaped to perfect such a unique and awesome look.
35. Star and All-Back Cornrows
Cornrows
The outstanding feature of this hairstyle is the fact that a star shape is cut out in the center of the hair and braided into a cornrow. The hair is first divided into two equal parts, then each part of the star is cut out on each side of the hair, while an all-back cornrow is braided on the rest of each side of the hair. Both tips of the star are then crossed and braided with each of the all-back cornrows. The side and back hair are neatly shaved and shaped, the front and center hair are used to achieve the hairstyle.
Hair accessories, like hair clips or pins can also be added to add more beauty to the hair.
36. Inter-woven All-Back Cornrows
Cornrows
This hairstyle is absolutely complicated and complex and it takes a professional and experienced hairstylist to be able to fix it perfectly well. The hairstyle involves interwoven cornrows on both sides of the hair, while normal all-back cornrows are braided on the center of the hair. Part of the side and back hair is also shaved and shaped.
37. Long Puzzle Box Braids
Box Braids
This absolutely unique and complex hairstyle for men is simply cut out in the shape of puzzle boxes and braided. Only a professional and well experienced hair stylist will be able to pull off this spectacular hairstyle. The side and back hair are neatly shaved and shaped. The hair kind of gives off a gangster vibe and will be rocked better on long hair.
38. Two-Colored Tiny and Short Dreads
Dreads
If you have very short hair as a man and are worried about what style to settle for, then this is just the perfect style for you. You can simply turn your short hair into tiny dreads and then tint the tip of each dread with any color of your choice. You can step further into being hot and stylish by shaving the side and back of your hair.
39. Tiny Box Braids and All-Back Cornrows
Box Braids and Cornrows
Another beautiful and amazing modern hairstyle you can settle for as a man, is the tiny box braids and all-back cornrows hairstyle. The hair is divided into two equal parts and on both sides of the hair, tiny box braids are first braided, followed by a big curved all-back cornrow, then another line of tiny box braids, both lines of box braids are braided with the big curved all-back cornrow. Finally, two tiny cornrow all-back are braided at the center of the hair. The back, side and tip of the front hair are also shaved and shaped.
40. Big Box Twists and Tiny All-Back Cornrows
Box Twists and Cornrows
This hairstyle is one of the most simple and yet classy hairstyles you can settle for as a man who wants to go into hair making. A tiny all-back cornrow is first braided, then another line is cut out in big box shapes and twisted. It continues like that till all the hair is fully braided in both the big box twists and tiny all-back cornrows. Only the side hair is shaved and shaped this time around and you have that hot and handsome look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Braids Good For Men?
Yes, braids are very good for men because they are very stylish and help in protecting the hair against breakages, especially when it suits the hair and is properly cared for. They also help one to save money and time as they can be carried for very long periods of time if properly maintained.
What is the Best Braid Style for Guys?
If you intend to start braiding your hair as a guy, then cornrows are the best recommended braid hairstyles for you because they last long if properly maintained as the roots of the hair are closely braided to the scalp. Also, they can be styled in different simple or complex designs and patterns, whether you have short, medium or long hair.
Does Braiding Help Men Grow Their Hair Faster?
Braiding hair does not help men grow their hair faster. Hair growth is majorly generic and there are certain factors like bad diet, sickness and so on that can lead to hair loss or breakages.
Is It Considered a Sin for a Man to Braid His Hair?
This is quite unclear as there are verses in the bible where certain men from different places and cultures had long hair and either braided their hair or carried it as dreads. In some other parts of the bible, men cut their hair. Braiding hair is majorly a cultural practice, if one’s culture supports it, then one can go for it, if not, it’s best to keep a low cut as a man, to avoid unnecessary controversies.
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