7 Braid Trends We Can't Wait to Wear This Year—From Braided Lobs to Micro Braids

Braids will forever be one of the most popular protective styles. They give us a break from day-to-day hair care, help maintain hair health, and are incredibly stylish. We also love that braids offer endless styling options—you can go for simple straight-back cornrows or elaborate, curly knotless braids.

Since there's so much variety, there's always a new batch of braid trends to draw inspiration from. To find out what we can expect to see this year, we spoke with three braid experts. See all of their 2024 braid trend predictions ahead.

Meet Our Expert

• Courtney Foster is a licensed cosmetologist, trichologist, and the author of The Beautiful Hair Diet.

• Deyonna Lewis is a professional braider based out of Elizabeth, New Jersey.

• Senna Muhammad is a professional braider in the Washington, D.C., area based at the Braid Bar.

Boho Braids

"Boho braids are still trending," Muhammad confirms. "Any boho style right now is super trendy." Celebrities like Zoe Kravitz, Jordyn Woods, and Jhene Aiko are big fans of the style, which features loose, curly hair pieces throughout the braids. Some versions achieve a fuller, more voluminous look by adding a ton of curly hair, while others only leave a few tendrils out in select places.

Braided Bobs

After knee and butt-length braids trending for years, Lewis believes people are ready to try something new, like a braided bob. "People are leaning towards switching it up, so they want to try bobs," she says. "Braids can help you achieve the [look of a bob] without cutting your natural hair."

Curly Feed-In Braids

Lewis is seeing an uptick in requests for tightly curled ends, especially with styles like straight-back feed-in cornrows. "The nice, luscious curls [give your hair an island vibe]," she said. "People like how it looks. Even when you're styling it in a bun, you'll have a few curls hanging down."

Butterfly Cornrows

Muhammad is frequently asked for butterfly braids, a style featuring chunky cornrows and lots of curls. "We're getting a lot of requests for butterfly cornrows," she says. The key to this look is creating loose cornrows and gently pulling apart the braids to achieve the desired volume and texture.

Braids with Human Hair

While synthetic braiding hair is less expensive, braiders are seeing clients invest in human hair more often. Our experts say human hair is preferred because it looks more natural, is lighter, and is less prone to tangling. "Back in the day, braids were usually done with synthetic hair, but human hair allows for a lighter feel and more styling options—you can straighten it or wear it curly," Foster adds.

Micro Braids

Micro braids were trendy in the '90s and early aughts—often worn by the likes of Brandy and Beyoncé. Today's versions of the extra-small braided look are more creative and playful—ranging from flippy bobs to micro boho braids.

Low-Maintenance, Soft Edges

While we'll always love to sculpt and style our edges, Lewis says more clients want "low-maintenance, soft edges." To achieve the look, she chooses products that promote flexibility and prevent breakage. "I use no edge control and no hard sprays."

To that point, clients are also asking for less product overall. "When I braid, I tend not to use a lot of grease or gel because it causes buildup on the scalp, and it's hard to remove," Foster says. 

Read the original article on Byrdie.