27 Braided Summer Hairstyles to Ask for at Your Next Hair Appointment

There is something powerful - almost magical - about switching up your hairstyle. That salon chair is known to transform women into new beings with fired up ambitions. Your beautiful hair is an extension of your being, your personality, your style, and we're lucky to know an infinite amount of ways to style it.

Braided hairstyles are gorgeous ways to switch up your look and play with different identities. Not only are they versatile (seriously, there's no shortage of ways you can braid your hair), but they are protective styles for black women and men to prevent sun damage, which makes them a go-to style for the beach, vacations, and general summer cool. And while there's no shortage of ways you can twist and turn those locks, sometimes an overwhelming amount of options is just that: overwhelming. So to make decisions more easy for you, we've rounded up 27 braided hairstyles to bring to your hair stylist or to try out at home.

Whether you choose to go the goddess braid style that never fails to make you look like royalty, or a classic boxed braid look - whether you opt for thick or slim braids, any of the following 27 braided hairstyles will have you fully marveling at the beauty staring back at you in the mirror.