33 Cool Protective Styles for Black Hair—From Knotless Braids to Faux Locs

Cornrows

Cornrows are one of the most well-known braided styles, and they are incredibly versatile. You can braid your natural hair or opt for extensions. To achieve the look, start by portioning out the hair into the desired-sized sections. Braid from front to back, feeding more hair into the braid as you go.

Box Braids

Box braids are another classic braided style—it's characterized by its square parting and uniformly shaped braids.

"With box braids, the [braiding] hair is wrapped around your hair, creating a 'knot,'" Sims says. Historically, synthetic braiding hair, like Kanekalon, has been used to achieve the look. However, there are now plant-based hair options like Rebundle.

Knotless Braids

Knotless braids differ from regular box braids. As the name suggests, they don't use a knot at the scalp to attach the extension. "With knotless braids, the hair is fed into the braid, which creates a more seamless appearance and less tension on the scalp," Sims says.

Fulani Braids

Fulani braids are a style popularized by the Fulani people of Africa and are typically medium in size. "[These] braids feature cornrows in the front with a center part," Ashley explains. "Then, [you install] box braids in the back."

Pigtail Braids

Braided pigtails are a simple way to protect your natural hair while creating a cute, low-maintenance look.

Start by parting your hair down the center and dividing it into two sections. Then, brush your hair up into two high pigtails and secure it with elastics. Braid each side and add extensions if you want more length.

French Curl Braids

French curl braids are one of the most popular iterations of box braids. "[The style] combines both braids and curls," Sims says. "Essentially, the hair is braided at the root, and the braids release into [loose] curls at about shoulder length." For this look, Sims recommends using synthetic hair to achieve French curls at the ends.

Stitch Braids

Stitch braids look similar to cornrows but are achieved with a slightly different technique.

"The protective style uses the 'stitch in' technique, where the hair is braided like a traditional cornrow but in a horizontal pattern," Sims says. "In addition to their horizontal pattern, stitch braids use a different finger technique by using the nail on the pinky finger to create the beautiful, clean lines of the stitch braids."

Flat Twists

"Unlike traditional cornrows and twist-outs, flat twists are two-strand twists done on the scalp and work well for relaxed and natural hair," Sims points out.

Here's how to get the look: "Before twisting, thoroughly wash your hair and properly cleanse your scalp," Sims says. "A hydrating shampoo will help lock the moisture in your clean scalp. Using a rat-tail comb will help simplify parting your hair before twisting. Once twisted, keep your flat twists nourished by moisturizing every couple of days before bed."

Marley Twists

"Marley twists are two-strand twists that mimic more of a textured appearance with a soft blown-out finish," Sims explains. "Marley twists are often compared to Havana twists. However, Marley twists tend to be thinner in size and more affordable. Marley hair is typically recommended for this style for its coarse, textured nature."

Two-Strand Twists

Two-strand twists work best on natural hair. This style can last for weeks and requires minimal touch-ups.

To achieve the look, portion your hair into sections of the desired thickness. Divide each section in half and twist both pieces around each other from root to end. Extensions can be added to enhance volume and length or create more complicated styles.

"After a few days, your twists may begin to feel dry," Sango says. "Simply spritz each of your twists with a small amount of water. This will reawaken the existing products in your hair. If you feel that your hair needs more product, add accordingly."

Senegalese Twists

Senegalese twists, or rope twists, "are [two-strand] twists that look like a rope," Ashley says. When it comes to the types of extensions you should use, Sims recommends using a smooth type of braiding hair.

Jumbo Twists

Jumbo-sized twists follow the general idea of two-strand twists but are much chunkier. They may require additional extensions depending on your hair length—but overall, this low-maintenance style is easy to achieve as it requires less time on average to do compared to other twisted and braided looks.

Passion Twists

Passion twists are essentially a curlier version of two-strand twists. "The protective gives you a bohemian look that's natural-looking and easy to maintain," Sims says. "This hairstyle will look best with hair extensions with a looser wave or corkscrew curl pattern."

Faux Locs

Faux locs are temporary locs and can be installed on natural or relaxed hair.

To get the look, divide your hair into sections based on the number of locs you want and the desired thickness. Then, braid each section in a simple three-strand braid. Once all the sections have been braided, grab your pre-made faux locs and your crochet tool. Use the crochet tool to hook the locs onto the root and weave the braid into the extensions. To finish, roll the locs between your lightly gel-coated palms to secure the ends.

Goddess Locs

Goddess locs are another version of faux locs. This look closely resembles regular locs but has curly extensions weaved in as well.

You can use pre-made faux locs for this look or create them using Kanekalon or Marley hair. For the wavy or curly pieces, it's best to use human hair for easier maintenance.

Butterfly Locs

Butterfly locs are a slightly distressed, more "imperfect" version of faux locs.

"Make sure you prep your hair with hydration," Ashley says. "This will ensure your hair is properly moisturized before [installing] the style." When installing the locs, Ashley says it is important to be mindful of the amount of tension you are using so you aren't putting too much stress on your hair and scalp.

Bantu Knots

Bantu knots can be created in various ways: twisted or braided, and with extensions or without.

Begin with freshly cleansed, conditioned, and dried strands. Next, section the hair into manageable portions. Take the first section and create a twist from the roots to the ends. Then, wind the twisted strand up into the knot and tuck the end under. Continue until you've knotted all the sections.

Bun or Chignon

Buns work on relaxed and natural hair and are a protective style that can be mastered at home.

To achieve this look, it's important to prep your hair properly. "If I use the right products while cleansing and conditioning, it will hydrate and moisturize my hair enough, allowing me to achieve any protective style," Sango says.

Once you dry your hair, choose your part. You can go down the center, to the side, or skip the part entirely. Swoop your hair into a bun, brush down flyaways, and secure it with pins—or add fun accessories like barrettes or flowers. Ensure your baby hairs stay sleek with edge-control products.

Braided Chignon

While buns are one of the simpler protective styles, they can easily be elevated. A braided bun with smoothed edges is perfect, especially for formal occasions.

Double Puffs

"If you are wearing protective styles with extensions and they are taking their toll on your scalp, you may want to alternate with wearing your natural hair in protective styles," Sango says. As an alternative, we love this super cute double-puff style. This look gives your hair a break from braids and twists but is equally chic.

Space Buns

Like the double puffs mentioned above, space buns are trendy and easy to master. Slick the hair at the crown of your head down with gel. Pull the rest of your hair into two high pigtails. Tuck the ends under, leaving the hair curly and natural for a playful, cute look à la Lizzo.

Low Buns

If space buns aren't your jam—or you want to mix it up—a low bun is just as simple and chic. You can achieve this look with your natural hair or opt for a braided bun, as seen above.

Bubble Ponytail

A simple banded, bubble ponytail is playful yet stylish—and even better, easy to achieve.

To get the look, brush clean hair back into a high ponytail, using gel to tame flyaways. Then, attach extensions at the base of the ponytail if using. Place elastics at intervals down the length of the ponytail.

Slicked-Back 'Dos

Slicked-back hairstyles are a trendy, go-to look for many. The simple, sleek style can easily be achieved with a brush and gel. While it's mostly done with buns, a slicked-back, curly ponytail works wonders, too. Pull out this protective 'do on days-old hair or when you want to give your natural hair a rest from heat.

Flexi Rods

A flexi rod set can help you achieve defined, bouncy curls.

When prepping your hair, you'll want to apply products with hold, such as balms. "Apply a small amount to damp hair and wrap your section around the rod," Ashley says. "Remember, your rod size will determine the result. The smaller the rod, the tighter the curl. The bigger the rod, the looser the curl."

Braided Crown

Crown braids are a gorgeous protective style. To create them, you'll want to create two equal-sized braids and crisscross them onto each other. Then, secure them in place with bobby pins.

Classic Ponytail Braid

A braided ponytail can be created with natural hair or braiding hair. If you opt for the latter, start by slicking your hair back into a very sleek ponytail. Once your ponytail is secure, begin braiding your hair, weaving in braiding hair as you go to achieve your desired length and thickness.

Faux Hawk

A curly faux hawk looks so cool—and can be done in very few steps.

All you need is a comb, gel, and bobby pins. Start with clean, dry curls. Brush them back tight against the head, securing them with combs for the mohawk shape. Add bobby pins to secure and complete by applying gel to your edges for a slick, long-lasting finish.

Weaves

When you properly care for your weave, it can make for a great protective style. If your hair is braided completely beneath it, it's not subject to daily wear and tear. However, to maintain hair health, it's important to care for the hair beneath the weave by utilizing hydrating products.

"If you need to wash your weave, wash the hair in a downward direction to minimize tangles," Sang says. "Then, sit under a hood dryer or diffuse hair until the roots are completely dry."

Wigs

Wigs continue to be a popular protective style for several reasons. "The best part of wearing wigs is the versatility," Ashley points out. You can opt for different colors and lengths without compromising your hair. It's a great option for when you want to take a break from styling your hair."

There are several types of wigs on the market; however, Ashley says lace front wigs are the most common. "They feature a natural hairline, so it looks more realistic when you wear them," she says. "However, if you want a portion of your hair out, you can wear a V-part wig. This means there is a 'V shape' opening at the top [of the unit] for your natural hair to lay over the wig."

Clip-In or Drawstring Ponytail

When it comes to ponytails, clip-in or drawstring options can help you protect your natural hair. There are so many stylish options to choose from—brands like InsertNameHere offer endless varieties.

Headwrap

You can apply a headwrap or headscarf over braided, twisted, or natural hair for a stylish layer of protection against the elements. These can also be used to protect your style further.

Boho Braids

Boho braids are a cute and curly refresh on the classic box braids. This popular style is achieved with three-stranded plaits, weaving in synthetic or human hair throughout to add length and volume. You can stick with your natural hair color or add bits of differing hues, as seen on Blue Ivy Carter above.